Tag: Carol Mendelsohn

Kelly Jo Brick: The Write Path with VJ Boyd

A series of interviews with hard-working writers –
by another hard-working writer!

by Kelly Jo Brick

Photo courtesy of the Austin Film Festival
Photo courtesy of the Austin Film Festival

Aspiring writers often wonder how the pros got where they are. The truth is, everyone’s story is different, but there are some common elements: dedication, persistence and hard work.

VJ Boyd came up through the assistant ranks before breaking in as staff writer on JUSTIFIED. He’s gone on to write for THE PLAYER and is producing his pilot THE JURY for ABC. He, along with writer Mark Bianculli and producer Carol Mendelsohn, recently sold the drama DOOMSDAY to ABC.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST KNOW YOU WANTED TO BE A WRITER? read article

Love & Money Dept – TV Writing Deals for 7/4/14

Latest News About Writers Who Are Doing Better Than We Are
by munchman

  • Lodge Kerrigan & Amy Seimetz (newbies who scored big at Sundance this year) are writing and directing the Starz adaptation of a little sex type film directed by Steven Soderburgh called THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE. (Which is often referred to as “Steven Soderbergh’s THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE even though that film was written by David Levien & Brian Koppleman. Hollywood credits! How can we ever be sure who is or was responsible for what?)
  • Reuben Fleischer (GANGSTER SQUAD) has an overall deal with Universal TV to develop both dramas and comedies. (The big thing about this big deal is that Reuben was first noticed as a writer-director of various Funny or Die.Com videos, once again proving – “Start on the web, young man/woman, by all means start on the web.”)
  • Matt Nix (BURN NOTICE, baby!) has yet another new overall deal at Fox TV, this time to develop cable and broadcast series. (No snark here. Matt’s a bud. We love seeing his success. Have at the sons of bitches, dood!
  • Jim Sharp is the new Executive Vice President of Original Programming & Development at Comedy Central. (And even though he isn’t a writer and therefore doesn’t have his name bolded, we’re rooting for him cuz, well, it’s always nice to cozy up to development head, don’tcha think? In the words of Yer Friendly Neighborhood Munchman, “Hey, ya never know when you’ll find yourself in the croc’s mouth so wouldn’t it be cool to know his name?”
  • As long as I’m munching about network executives (AKA The Enemy), Ken Segna has continued his 4 year climb over at Starz, going from executive assistant to Vice Prez of Original Programming. (munchie lurves a good success story, but here’s the question: Will Ken really be able to give us something “original?” What is “original programming” in the eyes of those in the executive suites anyway?)

Love & Money Dept – TV Writing Deals for 6/27/14

Latest News About Writers Who Are Doing Better Than We Are
by munchman

  • Beatrice Springborn is the new Head of Originals for Hulu’s new Content Department. (So, theoretically, if you know Ms. Springborn and have an original series idea you should ring her up ASAP. Yer Friendly Neighborhood Munchman’s prob, however, is that I can’t for the life of me figure out what “original” means in this context. Nor, for that matter, am I all that sure I trust any company that hands out titles like “Head” instead of, you know, “Vice President” or “Director.” For now I’ll just chalk this up to Hulu trying to be “original.” Which, actually, makes me more confused than ever.)
  • Dana Vachon (MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS) is adapting Stephen Frey‘s novel The Chairman into drama series for Spike TV. (And el muncho sure wishes I could keep track of the Stephen Freys and Frys and whatever cuz I’d love to find some scandal to report but gotta make sure I’m nailing the right guy. Can somebody help me out here?)
  • Nick Kreiss & Ian Wolterstorph (newbies) have sold EAST OF EXURBIA, a fantasy novel about brothers, debauchery, and a magical portal between worlds to X-Box for development as a series. Gotta admit – they had me at “debauchery.”
  • Speaking of debauchery – kidding, kidding, I swear!!! – Carol Mendelsohn (CSI) has left that show after 14 fucking years – not really fucking, I swear!!! – for undivulged reasons. (Which means that if you know her, give me a yell and let me know if something wonderful has happened that will affect TV writing and the future of humanity, or if Carol’s just made so much damn money as showrunner that she’s going to take it easy for the rest of her life, or anything in between. Thank you kindly.)
  • Stephen Scaia (HUMAN TARGET) is Kickstarting a new “love letter to Indiana Jones…featuring Indy’s daughter trying to track down her missing father.” (Does Stephen have the rights to do this as a TV or film project? How about Steven Spielberg’s blessing? Or George Lucas’? Hope not cuz that way, when this gets off the ground (it’s already reached its funding goal), the Lords of Legal Hell will go nuts and Chaos will rule. And you know how munchareeno luvs chaos!