Category: The TV Biz

Larry Brody’s TV Writing Tips & Tricks #1

Outlining & Writer’s Block
by Larry Brody

One of the big differences between beginning writers and “old pros” is that beginning writers are always telling me how much they love sitting down at the keyboard and “winging” their scripts, while the pros invariably stress the importance of having a good outline before they start writing.

As an “elder statesman” myself, I’ve tried both methods, and outlining your story is the way to go. In television we spend as much time on the outline as we do on all drafts of the script combined. read article

Last Week’s Most Important Cord Cutting Developments

Cord Cutters News gives us the latest on the cord cutting front. HBO Max Lands on Fire TV, Hulu Price Hikes, Pluto TV Channels, & More!

Cord Cutters Video Channel: https://twitter.com/CordCuttersNews
Cord Cutters Web Site: http://cordcuttersnews.com read article

When Herbie J Pilato Met Charlton Heston’s Family

by Herbie J Pilato

(LB’S NOTE: We’re so tickled to have found another Herbie J Pilato article that we didn’t know about that we’re bringing it to you today as mate to the one below. How tickled am I? Well, I actually used the word “tickled” without shame, didn’t I? Now if we could only get HJP to send us something new we would be, hmm, how about this? We’d be over the moon! Meanwhile, please enjoy the following:)

In 2011, I was privileged to attend the world premiere and special screening of Paramount Studio’s newly-restored and quite stunning edition of Cecil B. Demille’s 1956 feature film classic, The Ten Commandments, which just so happens to be my favorite movie of all time. read article

Herbie J Pilato Remembers ‘The Golden Girls’

by Herbie J Pilato

(LB’S NOTE: TVWriter™ Contributing Editor Emeritus Herbie J Pilato wrote this awhile ago, but for some reason it never came to our attention. We’re very glad to be rectifying that situation right now!)

Before I began my contracted 18 months as a Page for NBC in the spring of 1984, my tenure with the Peacock network was several times foreshadowed. In the fall of 1982, for one, while studying Television and Film at U.C.L.A. I had a celebrity brush with actress Bea Arthur, then best-remembered as the star of TV’s iconic Maude series (CBS, 1972–1978), and soon to be recalled to fame as one of NBC’s ground-breaking senior leads in The Golden Girls (1984–1991), alongside Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty. read article

WGA vs. WME Update

Welp, looks like WME – alias the William Morris-Endeavor Agency is using the same playbook as CAA. The two agencies are, in effect, working to break the Writers Guild.

Dunno about you, but, to quote LB, “Regardless of the outcome here, I’m going to do my best to never work in any capacity with either of these two companies or their subsidiaries. They’ve shown their colors and made it clear that they ain’t flying any flags that could do anything to help writers.” read article