SUBLIME PRIMETIME 2016 – Writing Advice From Emmy-Nominated Writers

Photo courtesy of Michael Jones/WGAW
Photo courtesy of Michael Jones/WGAW

by Kelly Jo Brick

Sublime Primetime, an annual event presented by the Writers Guild of America, West, the Writers Guild Foundation and Variety, hosted several of this year’s Emmy-nominated writers who discussed the inspirations for their nominated episodes, the importance of research and realism in the stories they tell, how they got their first breaks and the need for greater diversity both on the screen and behind the camera.

These Emmy-nominated writers shared with TVWriter.com their advice for writers who are just starting out in the business.

Joel Fields (THE AMERICANS) – Write a lot and read a lot. I remember once when I was having a moment in my career where I was struggling, I was talking to my agent about it and he gave me some great advice. He said, “Keep writing.” I think that’s what it’s all about. Find what you’re passionate about and the stories you want to tell and tell them. read article

Love & Money Dept – TV Writing Deals for 7/15/14

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

  • Joe Weisbert & Joel Fields (THE AMERICANS) have new overall deals with FX Productions. (Deals that could have gone to writers who are just as good if not better but aren’t running a major hit. That’s right, they’re discriminating against us noobs again. Aargh!)
  • Marti Noxon (GLEE) has yet another new development deal, this one to adapt Gillian Flynn‘s novel Sharp Objects into a series for EOne. (A deal that also could have gone to a writer who is just as good if not better but hasn’t run any major hits. So…again the discrimination against the inexperienced/unsuccessful thing. Damn.)
  • Scott Silveri (GO ON) has a new overall deal with 20th Century Fox TV in spite of the fact that he hasn’t had a success since FRIENDS, which has been off the air, like, forever, chumps. (But it’s cool, it’s cool. Scott’s a good peep. Everybody says so. And you and me, we’re good people too, no? So it’s just a matter of time until all the good people with credits – even ancient ones – are used up and then, oh, dood, are we gonna clean up, or what?)
  • Linda Woolverton (MALEFICENT) is developing a TV series adaptation of Jean M. Auel‘s Clan of the Cave Bear series of books for Lifetime TV. (Which isn’t an overall deal and Ms. Linda’s new when it comes to TV so yer munchie buddy here has decided this deal is cool even though newer and less recognized noobs like you and me have been aced out yet again on account of how TV peeps just don’t understand that creativity can strike anybody at any time and so they’re really missing a couple of great bets by not funneling money into our pockets to adapt the hell out of this caveman crap they want to believe is literature and oh, hell I dunno if I can take this rejection much more!!!

Love & Money Dept – TV Writing Deals for 8/7/13

Latest News About Writers Who Are Doing Better Than We Are

  • Marti Noxon (MAD MEN) & Sarah Gertrude Shapiro (SEQUIN RAZE) have co-written the pilot for UNREAL, based on Sarah’s prizewinning short film original (SEQUIN RAZE) for Lifetime, which just greenlighted the pilot. (Hey, there’s a way to get your new self an Old Media TV gig: Create something that can be interpreted as tried and true. See what winning a prize can do?)
  • Dustin Lance Black (MILK) is writing an 8-hour miniseries about the history of the gay rights movement for ABC. (To which we can only add: It’s about time!)
  • FX is developing a limited series cleverly called THE UNTITLED JOHN BROWN PROJECT about, we imagine, John Brown’s abolitionist raid in Virginia, which is usually identified as the event that started the Civil War. It’s based on Tony Horwitz’ book, Midnight Rising, and no writers are attached tothe project yet. (Iconoclasts that we tell ourselves we are, we’re wondering if John Brown’s action really was the cause of the war. After all, governments – and history – have kinda twisted the truth a little about the beginnings of other wars, haven’t they? Wouldn’t it be cool if that’s what this project really was about?)
  • Jonathan Lisco (SOUTHLAND) will be showrunner of AMC’s upcoming series HALT & CATCH FIRE as part of this new overall deal with the network. (AMC is the new TNT. Ahh.)

Marti Noxon Writing Sitcom Pilot for Showtime

Because we all know that her most successful previous show, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, was so chock full of sophisticated, Showtime-style laughs.

Marti Noxon in person, sorta

‘Buffy’s’ Marti Noxon Developing Divorce Comedy for Showtime – by Lacey Rose, Lesley Goldberg

Showtime is turning to Marti Noxon for laughs. read article