Category: Resources

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

Larry Gelbart on Writing Television Comedy

Yesterday we posted comedy writer Ken Levine’s tribute to the irreplaceable Neil Simon, the comedy paradigm-changing playwright who for all practical purposes set the bar for Broadway comedy (and perhaps drama as well).

We were never satisfied with any of the available interviews with “Doc” Simon, but late last night we came across an 8 part video interview with another comedy writing legend, Larry Gelbart, who worked on many of the same TV shows as Simon.  Gelbart died in 2009, but his work lives on…and so do his words of writing wisdom, thanks to this video – and 7 others – in the archives of the Television Academy.

More about – and from – Mr. Gelbart HERE

Diana Black: TV Writing Checklist Part 3

EDITOR’S NOTE: If you haven’t already read Part 1 & Part 2, now would be a good time.

by Diana Black

We’re now ready to step into the story-world and start seriously playing, but we do have some decisions to make first…who said screenwriting was easy… read article

The Legacy of Neil Simon

Ken Levine has written a primer on the man who we believe was the most influential comedy writer of the 20th Century. Share it with your friends!

by Ken Levine

Back from two weeks in Europe. During my trip I saw that Neil Simon had passed away but I was on the run and unable to really address it at the time. Now I’m home and now I have some thoughts. read article

Larry Brody: Anybody Remember ‘Tomb of Dracula?’

by Larry Brody

Back in pre-history, AKA in the third quarter of the 20th century, one of my favorite comics was Tomb of Dracula, created by my writer-producer bud Gerry Conway and Gene Colan, one of comics best artists, whom, unfortunately, I never got to know. (He died in 2011. Oh, and he also was part of the team that created the vampire-hunting character Blade)

As a writer who often has found himself at odds with collaborating directors and artists (and the occasional actor as well), I’m always fascinated by the way the more visual collaborators like Gene think. More so now, at a time when comic book heroes and the horror genre have become so big on TV.

In this interview, we get a glimpse of how amazingly cinematic Gene. Colan’s personal universe was: read article

Script Reader Pro’s Downloadable List of Screenwriting Managers

Speaking of our favorite websites (as we were just a post ago, i.e. HERE), we don’t think we’d be out of line to say that Script Reader Pro is at the top of the top tier of sites that give writers, especially new ones, the kind of pragmatic advice they/you/we need. Witnesseth:

Over 130 Of The Top Screenwriting Managers Looking For New Writers
by Script Reader Pro

This is a comprehensive list of the top screenwriting managers and literary management companies currently working (mainly in Hollywood) who are worth submitting queries to. There are over one hundred and thirty managers on the list, and the best news is that each one is actively looking for new writers just like yourself. read article