Category: Resources
40 years worth of TV writing experience and info, yours for the taking.
We Have Seen the Future – and It’s “Social TV”
…For everyone, including TV writers. We know cuz it says so right here:
Social TV – Does it Draw New Viewers? New Research Sheds Important Light
by Ed Keller
In a recent blog post I discussed new, in depth research for the CRE (Council for Research Excellence) on the topic of social media and television. The headline finding from that piece was that consumer interaction with social media in relation to television viewing is relatively modest compared to other forms of communication and lags behind other online media, TV promotions and, especially, offline communication. Only 12% of respondents use social media one or more times per day when it comes to primetime TV – posting, reading posts, or hearing about posts; and only 1.5% of people say they are influenced to watch a particular prime time show because of social media.
A second phase of analysis from that research was recently released, and reveals another important insight for TV marketers: Social media plays a significantly different role depending on whether people are repeat viewers of a program (i.e., those who watch regularly or occasionally) vs. those who watch infrequently (including non-viewers).
Internships for TV Writers?
We’ve touched upon related subjects briefly in the course ot TVWriter™’s long and occasionally illustrious life, but we don’t think we’ve ever specifically addressed the subject of television writers and internships. And now we don’t have to cuz Amanda, of The Aspiring TV Writer & Screenwriter Blog has done it for us. Newbies of the World thank you, Amand!:
What Kind of Internships Do I Need?
by Amanda
Ally writes: I’m college senior in New York City with six internships under my belt, three of which are administrative/ communications related, the other three in television and film. One of them was with a well-known film studio, the others two with independent, semi-well connected production companies. Basically, I’m reading a lot of scripts and running errands in the city. Since I want to be a script reader and television writer and I have a year left of school to apply for internships, I’m wondering: where should I go next? Should I continue applying for development internships with production companies, where I do coverage for free all day? Or should I apply to high profile film studios within other departments for the aesthetic sake of my resume?…
It sounds like you are doing everything right – and I don’t think there’s a “right” answer to your question. Six internships is a lot! If you want to be a writer, I do think it could be useful for you to be at an agency or management company, just to see that side of it, but don’t think about it as the way to get represented there – it’s probably just too soon for that. Really, any internship – development, studio, production company, etc., would be valuable. You just want to be A) learning something and B) meeting people who can help you get a paid job once you graduate…
Technobabble is Bad Drama
We’re really digging The Bitter Script Reader’s YouTube videos. They’re the perfect teaching tools for the SESAME STREET generation.
Here’s the Bitter Script Reader latest writing wisdom digested into three minutes, which is only about a minute and a half longer than our ADHD-addled brain can concentrate. But although we may be having a little trouble grasping all of BSR’s advice, we’re certain you won’t:
Writing good dialogue
Ken Levine, that wonderful blogger we don’t know (and who doesn’t know us), but whom we read whenever we can, is back with more worthwhileness. (Yeah, we know that isn’t a word. But it should be. Live with it.)
by Ken Levine
Here’s one of those Friday Questions that is worth an entire post.
It’s from Kevin Rubio: