Who Inspires You: TV Writers Share Their Creative Inspirations

by Kelly Jo Brick

Whether a beginning writer or an experienced veteran, admiration helps fuel our creative endeavors. Writers from film and television share who has inspired them through the years.

JASON RICHMAN (LUCKY 7, DETROIT 1-8-7) – I always admired Lawrence Kasdan. First of all, as a viewer, as a fan of movies, but he was an inspiration because he did all kinds of different things. He wrote THE BIG CHILL, he wrote THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. I admire that, someone who has an idea that interests them, a world that interests them and then just goes where their creativity takes them. I think that he’s sort of the model to me of that person who just won’t be pigeonholed. To be so good in so many different genres is a real feat and to direct and do all those things is pretty cool. read article

Kelly Jo Brick: The Write Path With Liz Tigelaar, Part 2

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

tigelaar headshotWriter Liz Tigelaar (Life Unexpected, Bates Motel, The Astronaut Wives Club) rose through the television ranks, starting as an intern at the soap opera, General Hospital, then going on to work as a PA, a script coordinator, assistant to Winnie Holzman and a writers’ assistant before breaking in as a television writer. Continuing an interview that began last week, Liz shares the experiences and advice she’s learned along the way.

WHAT’S THE MOST COMMON QUESTION ASPIRING WRITERS ASK YOU?

People ask how to break in. I remember asking that when I was in college. I remember being on the cusp of graduating and being like, how do you get a writing job? You need an agent. Well, how do you get an agent? You need a writing job. And I’m like, I don’t understand. And it’s true, you kind of don’t understand. And in some ways there’s no rhyme or reason to. read article

Kelly Jo Brick: The Write Path With Liz Tigelaar, Part 1

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

tigelaar headshotAspiring 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.

Writer Liz Tigelaar (Life Unexpected, Bates Motel, The Astronaut Wives Club) rose through the television ranks, from intern to PA to script coordinator to writers’ assistant before breaking in as a television writer.

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

Love & Money Dept – TV Writing Deals for 12/8/12

Latest News About Writers Doing Better Than We Are

  • Liz Tigelaar (LIFE UNEXPECTED) is redoing her ABC drama pilot JONESES for Bravo. (A family with a secret moves to the burbs. Ooh!)
  • Krista Vernoff (GREY’S ANATOMY) is writing the pilot for RITA for Bravo, which will be adapted from a Danish drama series. (A teacher raises her teenage children while facing such vicissitudes as bureaucracy and overprotected parents at her schoo. Ooh, ooh!)
  • Michael Caleo (the upcoming MALAVITA) is writing a pilot for a rebooted version of IRONSIDE for NBC. (Genius cop in wheelchair torments his team by actings even jerkier than Dr. House while solving crimes. Oy!)
  • Alex Winter (actor in BILL AND TED, etc.) & Steven Pearl (?)  are writing the pilot for RIGHTS OF BILL for AMC. (Small town sheriff creates his own militia, becoming an outlaw while remaining a lawman. (Oy, oy!)

Sorry. We were working toward a punchline here with the “ooh” and “oy” thing, but it didn’t pan out because we couldn’t find our ending “Ahh.” Depressing, isn’t it? Hmm, wonder if instead of done deals we should write about the concepts that didn’t get sold? Like, you know, the good ones?