Category: Resources

40 years worth of TV writing experience and info, yours for the taking.

Asking another writer to collaborate

The Bitter Script Reader gives a good answer to an annoyingly dense question that anyone associated with film or TV writing gets all the time:

BitterLogoby The Bitter Script Reader

I got this email about a week or so ago:

Let me start by saying that I do not consider myself even a remotely professional writer. I pulled together some funny stuff that has happened in my life & put it into a “script”. I am a great story teller not so much a writer. I have faith that people will find hilarity in my story I just need help getting it to them. I’m thinking maybe a collaboration??? I will be more than happy to send a sample for you to see if it’s something you’d be willing to read. Please let me know your fee & hopefully we can work something out.  read article

Gamechangers: transforming genre conventions into storytelling possibilities

OverthinkingIt does it again!

(What’s it? Why The Dreaded Overthink, of course.)

Take a look: read article

Jason Reitman Conducts a “Live Read” of the BREAKING BAD Pilot

…And according to those in attendance, it was awesome:

Breaking-Bad-Pilot-Bryan-Cranston-550x320

Jason Reitman’s ‘Breaking Bad’ Live Read Featured Sharp Writing and Deleted Scenes From The Pilot Episode
by 

“If you’re a writer tonight, you might want to hide your knives,” said Jason Reitman at Tuesday night’s special summer live read. “This script is so good you’ll never want to write again. You f***er, Vince.” read article

LB: Do You Really Have to be ‘Hard as Nails’ to Make It As a TV Writer?

Glad You Asked Department 7/29/13

question_ditkoBeen awhile since I’ve done the question-answer thing. But the other day Kate sent in what I think is a good one:

“People say you have to be tough as nails to make it out in LA in the television industry. I believe them. But many writers are, as I’m sure you’re aware, sensitive by nature. I know I am. It’s a part of me that I like – it lets me see things from different angles, empathize with others, and I think it helps inform my writing by allowing me to feel deeply. It must be possible to have a tough outer shell and a soft interior. Is that what most television writers are like? If so, how do they do it? If not, what can I do?”

This question made me think long and hard. Even do a little soul searching. Here’s how it came out: read article

Cartoons: Enemies of the 4th Wall, Unite!

Attention all creators! Wiley’s brilliant strip, Non Sequitur, puts the “fourth wall” in its place:

nq130721Found at GoComics