TV Writer Podcast
By Gray Jones
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Podcast Description
The TV Writer Podcast, partner of Script Magazine, features interviews with working TV writers, screenwriting authors, and television industry experts. It is hosted by Gray Jones, a reality TV editor, produced writer and award-winning short film producer located in Toronto.
| Name | Description | Released | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Video056 - Brandon David Cole (Bristol Boys) | After studying at Tisch School of the Arts in New York, Brandon David Cole set a goal of writing and directing three feature films by the time he was 30. Not only did he hit that goal, but his three indie features, which he also produced and edited, all sold for distribution! Brandon David Cole started his filmmaking career making BMX videos at age 14 with his dad’s 2-piece VHS camera. Eventually filmmaking became more of a focus than BMX riding for Brandon and he found himself at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts Film & Television program. After graduation from NYU, Brandon wrote, directed and produced 3 independent feature films, all of which were sold for distribution. He has directed several television commercials and music videos, and edited a long list of reality television shows for MTV, VH1, Discovery, Spike, Speed, MSNBC, G4, Style and E!. Brandon has made his own dollies, jibs, car mounts other support gear for all three of his feature films, working with machinist friends to create custom rigs. When Brandon bought a Canon 7D DSLR camera and asked his neighbor to build him a shoulder rig in his machine shop, the Midas Mount brand of camera support was born. In addition to running the camera support brand Midas Mount, Brandon continues to write, produce and direct feature films, documentaries and reality television shows. For more information about Brandon's support gear, including the new SnapFocus, go to http://www.midasmount.com. Follow Brandon on Twitter: @MidasMount. Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 5/17/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 2 | Video055 - Jana Sinyor (Dark Oracle, Being Erica) | She won an International Emmy Award for her series Dark Oracle, and received 16 Gemini Awards for her series Being Erica. This week, we meet Canadian series creator and showrunner Jana Sinyor! After attending McGill for religious studies, it was an epiphany after a tough shift at a call center that led Jana Sinyor to pursue writing for the screen. In her interview, Jana shares how her time at the Canadian Film Centre and attending screenwriting functions and parties led to her first freelance script for Degrassi: The Next Generation, to writing for a children's series, and then to create her own original series, Dark Oracle, which won an International Emmy Award for Best Youth Drama. Next Jana created the CBC critically-acclaimed one hour drama Being Erica, on which she served as Executive Producer and Showrunner. Temple Street Productions produced the series, which subsequently sold to ABC Soapnet and many territories around the world. Being Erica has been nominated for 16 Gemini Awards - winning three. Jana is in active development on a new one hour series for ABC, as well as a new show for CBC with collaborator Aaron Martin. Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 5/11/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 3 | Video054 - Carole Kirschner (Hollywood Game Plan, Showrunner Training Program) | From executive at Amblin Entertainment to director of the Showrunner Training Program, Carole Kirschner has the goods on how to break in to Hollywood… so much so, she wrote a book about it! Carole Kirschner has worked as a senior level television executive for sixteen years. Her posts at CBS and as Vice President of Television at Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment have given her an insider’s angle on how to get in, move up and sell projects. She helped develop award-winning shows like Murphy Brown, Designing Women and Steven Spielberg Presents Tiny Toon Adventures. She is also a respected presenter and educator through USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and UCLA Extension, among others. Carole is the creator of the CBS Diversity Institute Writers Mentoring Program. She also collaborated with writer/producer Jeffrey Melvoin to develop the curriculum for the Writers Guild of America Showrunner Training Program, and as the Director, oversees it. A regular entertainment industry speaker, Ms. Kirschner leads seminars on how to succeed in Hollywood, including strategic networking, pitching and self-promotion for creative professionals who shy away from promoting themselves. Through her career coaching practice, Park on the Lot, she consults with both Hollywood beginners who need a roadmap on breaking in as well as seasoned writers, executives and other professionals who wish to move up and go bigger. Her book, Hollywood Game Plan: How to Land a Job in Film, TV and Digital Entertainment hit stores March 2012. Buy Hollywood Game Plan here: http://astore.amazon.com/tv-writer-podcast-20 Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 4/21/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 4 | Video053 - Sterling Anderson (Beyond Screenwriting, The Unit) | Sterling Anderson is an award-winning, Emmy-nominated screenwriter, TV writer, and author. His newest book, Beyond Screenwriting, goes where no other industry book goes… into the trenches of today's writer in Hollywood. Sterling Anderson has written for some of the most popular network television shows, such as 'The Unit' on CBS, as well as NBC's 'Medium' and 'Heist.' His teleplay 'The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn,' written for CBS and starring Sidney Poitier, received three Emmy nominations and won an Image Award. Sterling's extensive resume also includes screenplays written for Lions Gate, Disney, HBO, TriStar Pictures and Columbia Pictures. A graduate in English from St. Mary's College, the accomplished writer also spent five years teaching screenwriting courses as an adjunct professor at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. Sterling's first book, 'Does He Cheat?,' is a hair-raising, controversial expose on infidelity. He has written two books on writing, 'Writing Without Fear' (2010) and 'Beyond Screenwriting' (on Kindle and in paperback). The author often guest lectures and panels on screenwriting at film schools and festivals across the country. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Sterling spent his early childhood in Tuskegee, Alabama, before moving to Davis, California. He writes from Los Angeles today. His talents span far outside the world of writing. Sterling has a fifth degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and was an award-winning winemaker in Napa Valley. Follow Sterling on Twitter: http://twitter.com/byondscrnwrting. Visit Sterling's website: http://sterlingandersonwriter.com Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 4/4/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 5 | Video052 - Daniel Knauf (Carnivale, Bxx: Haunted) | Today is the launch of Bxx: Haunted! Register for your invitation at http://www.bxxweb.com. To celebrate this innovative new storytelling concept, Gray has an interview with its creator, Daniel Knauf. Daniel is best known for TV show he created, HBO'S Carnivale. You'll love his amazing story! Follow Daniel on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Daniel_Knauf. | 3/23/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 6 | Video051 - Troy Devolld (Dancing With the Stars, Reality TV) | Reality TV now represents 57% of American television… and yes, they need writers! This might just be the easiest way to break into the entertainment industry. Want to know more? Find out all the goods on reality TV, with author, writer, and producer Troy Devolld. Troy DeVolld is a writer and producer in the reality television genre. He began his career with Mtv’s Fear and The Osbournes and has gone on to write and/or produce major reality hits Dancing With the Stars, The Surreal Life, Flipping Out, Black Gold and more, including his current show, VH1's The Basketball Wives. In 2009, he was jointly nominated for a Daytime Emmy for his work on Style Network’s Split Ends. Troy is a graduate of Full Sail University and a member of The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, The Caucus for Producers Writers and Directors, and the WGA West’s Nonfiction Writers Caucus. Follow Troy on Twitter: http://twitter.com/RealityTVTroy. Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 3/10/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 7 | Video050 - Kyle Killen (Awake, Lone Star) | Four years ago, Kyle Killen faced an ultimatum from his pregnant wife: sell something, or call it quits on this "hobby." Fast forward to the present: Kyle has sold two features that have gone into production, and sold two pilots that have gone to series. One of those pilots is NBC's Awake, which has wowed critics and audiences alike. Kyle Killen was raised in a small Texas town, but grew up loving movies. He moved to Los Angeles to attend USC film school, but after a series of odd jobs and internships didn't pan out, he packed his bags and moved back to Texas. Despite following one of his USC professors' seemingly counterproductive advice to "quit writing if he could," Kyle found he couldn't shake the writing bug. Whenever he tried a new job, he ended up writing about it, and so decided to give Hollywood one more shot. The only complication: Kyle's wife was pregnant with twins, and gave him an ultimatum, for sell a script within the next 9 months, or change careers to something more stable. Around 9 months later, Kyla sold the critically acclaimed feature "The Beaver," which ended up going into production with Jodie Foster as director, and starring Foster and Mel Gibson! Kyle was on the map, and followed it up by selling the pilot "Lone Star" to Fox, who took it to series, but pulled the plug when the ratings didn't pan out. They believed in his storytelling, however, and asked him to sign a 2 year overall deal, and come up with a new series. That series was "Awake," which just launched Thursday nights on NBC. Critics are calling it the best pilot of this season! If you haven't had a chance, watch the pilot online, and tune in on Thursday night for the exciting second episode. Kyla also sold another feature, "Scenic Route," which is currently in production. Follow Kyle on Twitter: http://twitter.com/killen8 Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 3/5/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 8 | Video049 - William Rabkin (Writing the Pilot) | 5 years ago, a good spec TV script could land you a job on staff. Now, everyone wants spec pilots. So where are the resources on how to write one? Enter William Rabkin: not only has he written and/or produced hundreds of hours of dramatic television, but he literally wrote the book on pilot writing. William Rabkin served as showrunner on the long-running Dick Van Dyke mystery series “Diagnosis Murder” and on the action-adventure spectacle “Martial Law.” His many writing and producing credits include “The Glades,” “Monk,” “Psych, “Nero Wolfe,” “Missing,” “Spenser: For Hire,” “seaQuest 2032,” “Hunter” and “The Cosby Mysteries.” He has also written a dozen network TV pilots. His work has been nominated twice for the Edgar Award for best television episode by the Mystery Writers of America. Writing the Pilot is not Bill's first book… he also co-wrote Successful Television Writing (2003), with Lee Goldberg. Bill is also the author of the novels “A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Read,” “Mind Over Magic,” “The Call of the Mild,” “A Fatal Frame of Mind” and “Mind-Altering Murder.” Bill is the co-creator and co-editor of “The Dead Man,” a monthly series of supernatural action thrillers published by Amazon’s 47North imprint, and has written three instalments. Rabkin is part of the core faculty of UCR-Palm Desert’s M.F.A. in Creative Writing & Writing for the Performing Arts. Follow Bill on Twitter: http://twitter.com/writingthepilot Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 2/24/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 9 | Video048 - Manager Brandy Rivers (Gersh Agency) | Brandy Rivers is currently a literary manager/producer working at Gersh Agency, in both film and television. She is responsible for representing authors, screenwriters, and directors as well as developing underlying material including novels, articles, blogs, video games and life rights for production. Among her many clients, she currently represents Dave Lease (THE LEFT TURN set up at Lionsgate Films), Chris McKenna (Co-Executive Producer on COMMUNITY), Craig Titley (CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN, PERCY JACKSON AND THE LIGHTNING THIEF), Robyn Harding (CHRONICLES OF A MIDLIFE CRISIS in TV development with Gary Fleder/ABC Studios), Angela Nissel (SCRUBS, TIL DEATH, BROKE DIARIES in development at Lionsgate, MIXED previously in development with Halle Barry/HBO), and Myra McEntire (HOURGLASS set to debut in May ‘11 by Egmont). Brandy is also a producer on the upcoming Lifetime pilot DEAR HAILEY based on the book SHATTERED SILENCE. Prior to becoming a manager, Brandy worked in development, most recently at Underground Films, a production/management company whose credits include REMEMBER ME, a film she helped oversee from development through post production. Previously, she worked at Summit Entertainment where she helped develop such projects as the TWILIGHT FRANCHISE, SEX DRIVE, and KNOWING. She began her career at Jerry Bruckheimer Television where she worked on over 430 hours of primetime network television including the CSI FRANCHISE, WITHOUT A TRACE, COLD CASE, E RING, and CLOSE TO HOME among many others. Brandy is a proud graduate of the University of North Carolina where she received a BA in Psychology and played Division 1 Soccer. CONTEST: buy Troy Devolld's book, "Reality TV: An Insider's Guide to TV's Hottest Market," read it, and submit questions to mail@tvwriterpodcast.com by February 1st. If you win the random draw, you'll receive a copy of the new 3rd edition of Pamela Douglas's book, "Writing the TV Drama Series." Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 2/1/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 10 | Video047 - Ross Brown (The Cosby Show, Byte-Sized Television) | From family TV to teaching web series writing… Ross Brown wrote for some of the biggest family sitcoms of the eighties and nineties, including creating a show that would be the launching pad for Halle Berry's career. Few of us have more humble beginnings… Ross Brown literally started out on his hands and knees, as a stand-in for a dog in a dog commercial. Clearly there was nowhere to go but up! And up he went, as a 2nd assistant director and then 1st assistant director on such hits as films Private Benjamin and National Lampoon's Vacation, as well as TV series Knots Landing. But Ross wanted to write… and write he did. A spec Webster episode led a staff gig on The Cosby Show, then it was The Facts of Life, Who's The Boss, Step by Step, and many other popular sitcoms. He also created prime time series for ABC, CBS and the WB, such as Living Dolls, in which he helped cast young model Halle Berry in her first acting role. Ross then began teaching, and expanding his writing horizons. His play Hindsight received two staged readings at the Pasadena Playhouse (Pasadena, California) in July of 2007. His short play Field of Vision was performed in Chicago at the Appetite Theater’s Bruschetta 2008 festival. Currently Ross is an Assistant Professor of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University in Orange, CA, where he developed a series of cutting-edge courses on creating TV series for the Internet. This series led to his popular book, "Byte-Sized Television: Create Your Own TV Series for the Internet." Discover more about Ross at his website: http://bytesized.tv. CONTEST: buy Troy Devolld's book, "Reality TV: An Insider's Guide to TV's Hottest Market," read it, and submit questions to mail@tvwriterpodcast.com by February 1st. If you win the random draw, you'll receive a copy of the new 3rd edition of Pamela Douglas's book, "Writing the TV Drama Series." Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 1/15/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 11 | Video046 - John Vorhaus (Comic Toolbox, Married… with Children) | John Vorhaus is best known as the author of The Comic Toolbox: How to be Funny Even if You’re Not. This seminal book on writing comedy for television and film is now available in four languages, and continues to be a definitive source of information and inspiration for writers from Santa Monica to Scandinavia. An international consultant in television and film script development, Vorhaus has worked for television networks, film schools, and production companies in 30 countries on four continents. Vorhaus’ own screenwriting credits include 'Married… with Children,' 'Head of the Class,' 'The Sentinel,' 'The Flash' and many overseas television shows and films, including the sitcoms 'House Arrest' and 'Pretty, Sick and Twisted,' and the movie 'Save Angel Hope.' John is also the author of the six-volume Killer Poker series, plus miscellaneous other books on the subject, including the novel Under the Gun, a “how-to whodunit” set in the world of high stakes tournament poker. His other novels include The California Roll and its upcoming sequel, The Albuquerque Turkey. Vorhaus is a graduate of Carnegie-Mellon University and a member of the Writers Guild of America. He has taught writing at Northwestern University and the American Film Institute, and lectured for such disparate groups as Mensa and the New Jersey Romance Writers Association. Discover more about John at his website: http://johnvorhaus.com. Follow John on Twitter: @TrueFactBarFact. CONTEST: buy Ross Brown's book, "Byte-Sized Television: Create Your Own TV Series for the Internet," read it, and submit questions to mail@tvwriterpodcast.com by January 1st. If you win the random draw, you'll receive a copy of Troy Devolld's book, "Reality TV: An Insider's Guide to TV's Hottest Market." Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 12/22/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 12 | Video045 - Sarah McLaughlin (Drop Dead Diva, That 70's Show) | The doctor is in! This week features none other than the TV Script Doctor herself, Sarah McLaughlin, who also happens to be a successful comedy writer on shows such as That 70's Show and Drop Dead Diva. Growing up in New York, Sarah McLaughlin wasn't allowed to watch television… fascinated by the forbidden fruit, she pursued journalism at the University of Colorado, and before long she was in Los Angeles working as a production assistant on the final season of Home Improvement. On Home Improvement, she fell in love with scripted television, but didn't know anything about the industry. She used her time there wisely, talking to as many people in different TV jobs as she could, and reading as many scripts as she could get her hands on. After taking a course at UCLA and writing some spec scripts, she landed a spot in the Warner Brothers Writers Workshop. Though tremendously helpful, it didn't directly land her a writing gig. However, she was able to use her position as a writer's assistant on That 70's Show to pitch and write her own episode, and her writing career took off! After a few short stints on other shows, she ended back on That 70's Show, where she worked her way up for several seasons. She went on to work on 'South Park,' and sell pilots to MTV and Sony Television, before landing work on her current show, 'Drop Dead Diva.' Between her staff experience, and her work as a script evaluator and creative consultant for the Warner Bros. Writers Workshop and The Disney/ABC writers fellowship, Sarah understands what it takes to have your script go from the "reject" pile to the "yes" pile. In this podcast, she shares many great tips on how to improve your spec or pilot script, as well as sharing how a TV episode goes from idea to finished product. Sarah works as a consultant to both new and working writers through her website: http://tvscriptdoctor.com. Follow Sarah on Twitter: @tvscriptdoctor. CONTEST: buy Ross Brown's book, "Byte-Sized Television: Create Your Own TV Series for the Internet," read it, and submit questions to mail@tvwriterpodcast.com by January 1st. If you win the random draw, you'll receive a copy of Troy Devolld's book, "Reality TV: An Insider's Guide to TV's Hottest Market." Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 12/17/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 13 | Video044 - John Finch (A Family At War, Sam, Coronation Street) | This week we are proud to welcome the creator of some of the UK's finest and highest rated TV series of the 1970's, recipient of the Best Series writer award by the Writers Guild of Great Britain, writer-author-series creator John Finch! John Finch was born in Liverpool in the depression. When his father disappeared, he moved with his mother to a mining community in Yorkshire. Life was tough, and by the time he left school at the age of fourteen he had been to twelve schools, including an orphanage. At the outbreak of war, hey joined the Merchant Navy at the age of sixteen and sailed from Liverpool in 1941. He served as a sparks on a freighter, a tanker, a troopship and a rescue tug before being medically discharged in 1944. He worked various jobs upon returning from the war, gradually moving toward writing as a career. In this time, he wrote for various magazines such as Illustrated and Picture Post with occasional contributions to the BBC, and his first play, the first in television to have an industrial setting, was transmitted in 1958. In 1960, he became the first trainee writer to be contracted to write Coronation Street, now the world's longest running TV soap opera, and later became editor and producer. He went on to became Granada’s most prolific writer and created, wrote and edited many of the companies longest running serials and series. These included the 52 hour series A Family at War which sold throughout the world and is still being transmitted In countries such as India, Pakistan and the Middle Eastern countries. Norwegian viewers recently voted it the best television series ever. He later created and personally wrote every episode of the 39 hour series SAM, a tribute to his mining village upbringing, and went on to create and write many other long running series. In 1975 he was given the award of Best Series writer by the Writers Guild of Great Britain, and received the Broadcasting Press Guild Critics Award for SAM in the same year. His novel, Cuddon Return, sold out, and in 2002 he completed his first play for the theatre, JOE, described as a play for two actors and a load of junk. It has been warmly praised by critics, producers, actors and fellow writers. He has lived with his family for many years in the Yorkshire Dales. Visit John's website: http://johnfinch.com/ CONTEST: buy Ross Brown's book, "Byte-Sized Television: Create Your Own TV Series for the Internet," read it, and submit questions to mail@tvwriterpodcast.com by January 1st. If you win the random draw, you'll receive a copy of Troy Devolld's book, "Reality TV: An Insider's Guide to TV's Hottest Market." Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 12/10/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 14 | Video043 - Pamela Douglas (Writing the TV Drama Series, USC) | She wrote the book on TV writing… literally! And she also started what has become the most esteemed graduate school for television writing. This week Gray has a wonderful chat with author, writer, and professor Pamela Douglas. Born and raised in New York, Pamela Douglas wrote poetry, stories and plays, and was involved in journalism. Her work was published in small magazines, and won her some prizes… this led to a job offer across the country, as program director for experimental public TV station in Los Angeles. When the station went broke, a bold interview led to her being hired as an executive in feature film development at MCA-Universal. She honed her craft there, writing several unproduced features, but grew to realize that television was where she wanted to be. The first TV episode she ever wrote, for Trapper John M.D., won an Emmy for actress Madge Sinclair, and Pamela was off to the races! She worked on many well known shows, and was honored with many awards, such as a Humanitas Award for 'Between Mother and Daughter,' an original drama which also won a nomination for a Writers Guild Award. Multiple Emmy nominations and awards from American Women in Radio and Television went to other dramas she has written. Seeing a need in the industry, Pamela started the TV writing program at the School of Cinematic Arts of the University of Southern California, and is now a tenured professor there. Her book, "Writing the TV Drama Series: How to Succeed as a Professional Writer in TV" is considered one of the premiere books on the subject, and has just been updated with a third edition. Other projects include her book "Back to Life: A Journey of Transformation through Back Surgery," and also exhibiting her paintings. You can find out more about these works on her websites: http://pamdouglasbooks.com and http://pamdouglasart.com. Congratulations to Cortney M, who won Ross Brown's book, "Byte-Sized Television: Create Your Own TV Series for the Internet." You could win a book too… just buy Ross's book (follow the link), read it, and submit questions to mail@tvwriterpodcast.com by January 1st. If you win the random draw, you'll receive a copy of Troy Devolld's book, "Reality TV: An Insider's Guide to TV's Hottest Market." Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 11/30/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 15 | Video042 - Alan Cross (Weird Science, Dawson's Creek) (New) | From Robert McKee's Screenwriting 101 class at USC, to co-developing a successful spinoff of a John Hughes classic, to writing on some of the most well known shows of the last two decades, writer-producer-author-director Alan Cross has a lot of stories to tell! Born and raised in Alaska, Alan filled his time with watching TV. He came to California to attend art school, but when he discovered a TV writing book, he was hooked. He switched to USC, where he had the fortune of attending Robert McKee's "Screenwriting 101" class. After working some odd jobs, he finally landed a staff TV writing job, and his dream of working in TV was realized! After several seasons of the comedy 'Parker Lewis Can't Lose,' he and his writing partner co-developed the TV adaptation of the John Hughes classic teen comedy 'Weird Science,' which he ran as co-executive producer for its successful five season run. After Weird Science, Alan co-executive produced 'Veronica's Closet' as well as 'Get Real,' and was a consulting producer on 'Dawson's Creek.' Since then, Alan has written on well known shows 'Star Trek: Enterprise,' 'Desperate Housewives,' 'Reaper,' and more. Follow Alan on Twitter: @Alancrossss. Visit Alan's website: http://www.alancrosswriter.com. In the Video Tips section, Gray has a very practical lesson on holding the camera steady with or without extra gear, applicable to shooting with a still camera, camcorder, or DSLR camera. Featured products include the Steady Freddy by camcrane.com and AIRsupport by Indisystem.com. Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. | 11/21/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 16 | Video041 - Pilar Alessandra (The Coffee Break Screenwriter, On The Page) | It's podcast mashup time! Instructor, author, and script consultant Pilar Alessandra, host of the On The Page podcast, joins Gray for a wonderful interview. Pilar Alessandra moved to L.A. from Boston to pursue acting, but immediately fell in love with storytelling, and got a job as a script reader for Amblin Entertainment. With the formation of DreamWorks, she became Senior Story Analyst and a reader liaison between the studio and Robert Zemeckis's company, ImageMovers. Her expert script analysis was also sought out by The Robert Evans Company, Cineville Entertainment, Handprint Entertainment and Saturday Night Live Studios, and work at Interscope Communications led her to a position as Senior Story Analyst for Scott Kroopf's production company Radar Pictures. Pilar was later bitten by the "teaching bug" while teaching screenwriting and story analysis at the UCLA Writers? Program.?In 2001 she started her own company, "On the Page," and in 2004 opened the On the Page Writers Studio in Sherman Oaks, California. In the interest of expanding access to her teaching tools, she presents weekly "On the Page" podcasts with guest hosts from within the industry. The shows regularly appear in the iTunes Top 100 list of film and TV podcasts. In this interview, she discusses overcoming writer's block, how a writer's group mixing TV & feature writers can actually benefit both groups, what are the most important elements when pursuing a writing career, and much more! In the Video Tips section, Gray talks about the potentially infinite capabilities Noise Industries' FxFactory Pro can add to your video editing applications. Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 11/12/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 17 | Video040 - Phil Klemmer (Veronica Mars, Chuck) | Today brings not just one but two interviews with Phil Klemmer, a writer on all five seasons of Chuck, and all four seasons of Veronica Mars. We also launch the new "Video Tips" segment of the podcast, and welcome a number of new sponsors. After graduating with a classics major at Stanford, Phil Klemmer moved to L.A., and become a reader for Propaganda films. There, he worked with such names as Michel Gondry and Spike Jonze, though his first break would come through Rob Thomas, who he had met through Rob's "crazy Hallowe'en parties." Based on a 'Six Feet Under' spec script that Phil wrote in two weeks, Rob hired him to write on 'Veronica Mars,' a job that would last 4 seasons. After Veronica Mars, Phil got a job on NBC's Chuck, a show that has always been on the bubble for renewal. After the third season, renewal news came late, and most of the Chuck writers, including Phil, took jobs on other shows. Phil describes what it was like to work on NBC's 'Undercovers,' a show that he says was doomed even before it aired, and then how he fortuitously returned to Chuck mid-season, immediately after Undercovers was cancelled. Then he takes us to the present, sharing how the cast and crew are gelling like never before, but are already nostalgic about the end, as Chuck wraps up production for good on December 7th. In the Video Tips section, Gray talks about how easy it is to add custom color looks to your showcase film or webisodes using Red Giant's Magic Bullet Suite. Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 11/5/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 18 | Video039 - Eric Kaldor (Kojak, Rockford Files) | He was born on the first day of the Great Depression, did competitive ski racing in Europe, and went to spy school to became a special agent. But a passion for writing led Eric Kaldor to Hollywood, and he has many stories to tell about his journey! After spending some time as a sports producer, Eric Kaldor landed his first TV writing gig. He then went on to write for some of the most well known hits of the 1970's: Emergency, Kojak, The Rockford Files, and The Incredible Hulk. You'll love hearing about how TV writing worked in the 1970's, and how much it differs from the group writing of today. Also, Eric is full of amusing anecdotes about his path to and through Hollywood. After 1980, Eric left TV writing to raise his family and build a successful family business with his wife. He started acting, and has had parts in many recent films and TV shows, including Hollywoodland, ER, and House. Eric never stopped writing? he is currently working on a novel, and publishing it a chapter at a time on his website at erickaldor.com. Follow Eric on Twitter: @EricKaldor. Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 10/28/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 19 | Video038 - Kristin Newman (Chuck, That 70's Show) | Comedy writer Kristin Newman spent almost 10 years writing on very well known comedies, including having her own pilot shot and picked up to series (though not aired). She now brings her talents to a one-hour drama, on NBC's Chuck. Kristin Newman got an early break, with a production staff job on 'Everybody Loves Raymond.' She graduated to writer's assistant on 'Nikita,' 'Mad About You,' and 'That 70's Show.' She ended up stuck in the 70's (in a good way!) for the next 7 years, rising up from staff writer to supervising producer. Moving on to 'How I Met Your Mother' as co-executive producer, she also landed an overall deal at Fox? which was unfortunately cut short when the writers strike happened. Because of an injury, Kristin was not able to walk the picket lines. What could she do? She wrote the pilot 'Single with Parents,' which was shot with Alyssa Milano and Beau Bridges, and picked up to series? though it unfortunately never aired. Then came NBC's 'Chuck!' She entered the staff as co-executive producer in its fourth season, and is currently breaking the series finale. Make sure to watch the final season, when Chuck returns on Friday, October 28th! Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 10/18/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 20 | Video037 - Christopher Yost (Killer of Demons, The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes) | This week we hear from another animation writer / story editor: Christopher Yost has been working on animated TV series, comics, and features for almost ten years, for well known Marvel and D.C. franchises. After a number of years as an advertising producer in Detroit, Michigan, Christopher Yost decided he needed to make the jump to Hollywood. He attended the Peter Stark Producing program at USC, but realized while there that writing was really his passion. An internship at Marvel Studios led to his first break, writing a script for Marvel's animated property 'X-Men: Evolution.' Soon he was writing such well known titles as D.C.'s The Batman and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and eventually became head writer and story editor on Fantastic Four, Iron Man: Armored Adventures, and The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes. During this time he also wrote two animated DVD features, Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow, and Hulk Vs. Wolverine. Yost also works in comic books, writing for Marvel's X-Men and Spider-Man franchises, DC's Batman franchise, and the adaptation of the sci-fi classic 'Ender's Game.' His first creator-owned original graphic novel 'Killer of Demons' debuted in March of 2009 to critical acclaim. Yost is currently working in the Marvel Writers Program, helping develop potential live-action feature properties for Marvel Studios as well as handling additional writing and reshoot scenes for the Marvel Studios film 'Thor.' Follow Christopher on Twitter: @Yost. Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 10/13/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 21 | Video036 - David Dias (Max & Ruby, Redakai) | Animation writer / creative producer / story editor David Dias was a hit on the TV Writer Chat several weeks ago, and is back for a full one hour interview discussing all the ins and outs of writing animation for all ages, including many great tips on breaking in, pitching, and getting your idea off the ground. After a BFA in Film Production from York University in Toronto, David started assistant editing at Nelvana, one of the biggest animation companies in Canada. He soon realized that he wanted to write, and landed a job on an in-house writing staff. For the next five years, he wrote for a large variety of shows, before becoming an independent writer-producer. David has credits on over 40 animated shows from the mid-1990's to the present, including such well known titles as Franklin, The Berenstain Bears, Doodlebops, Caillou, The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That, Magi-Nation, Max & Ruby, and Redekai: Conquer the Kairu. Breaking the usual chronological interview format, Gray and David spend almost a full hour talking about all aspects of animation writing, including how to know which companies are accepting open pitches, what you need to be able to pitch, how the quality of art can make or break a pitch, how to land an artist without having to pay up front, and much more! Follow David on Twitter: @DiasDave. Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 10/5/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 22 | Video035 - Mike Alber (Death Valley, Ultradome) | Ever heard of someone who didn?t live in L.A. or New York landing a staff TV writing gig? How about sight unseen, hired from a phone interview? Meet Mike Alber, who sold many pitches to a major network, wrote on a web series, and even landed a staff writing gig while not even living in the same state! Mike & writing partner Gabe Snyder met in high school, and clicked right away. Despite going to different colleges in different cities, they wrote together constantly. Mike was on track to be a doctor, but after starting med school he realized that writing was his passion, so he switched his masters studies to creative writing. Gabe moved to L.A. in 2006, but Mike continued his studies in Ohio. They placed in several screenplay competitions, but it was through an honorable mention at a trackingb.com contest that they got their first option. They were on the map! One relationship led to another, and soon they sold several pitches to Spike TV, worked on the web series ?Ultradome,? signed for management and representation, and were taking meetings all over town. Mike tells the amazing story of how his newborn daughter kept him away from L.A., yet he was able to land his first TV staff gig, on MTV?s ?Death Valley,? with a phone call from the hospital waiting room! Mike finally did move to L.A. this year, and does advise that everyone else should move to L.A. first ? his luck is not easy to repeat! Mike and Gabe are idea machines, and Mike has great advice on how you can be one too! Follow Mike on Twitter: @malber. Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 9/25/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 23 | Video034 - Sheri Elwood (Call Me Fitz, Defying Gravity) | Within 7 years of graduating from film school, Sheri Elwood had not only created her own successful TV series, but had written and directed a feature film starring Kirsten Dunst and Lynn Redgrave. Fast forward to the present: her current series, Call Me Fitz, which was inspired by her own family, has just won 7 Gemini Awards. After graduating from Ryerson University?s Film Program in Toronto, Sheri Elwood was awarded the National Apprenticeship Award from the Academy of Canadian Film and Television. This launched her to many seasons of comedy writing for networks such as Disney, Fox, The Family Channel and YTV. By 1999, she had created her own series for tweens, "I Was a Sixth Grade Alien," which went two full seasons. In the off season, Sheri wrote and directed a Gemini nominated short film, "Eb and Flo," and her first feature film, the romantic teen drama, "Deeply," starring Lynn Redgrave, Kirsten Dunst and Brent Carver. Deeply premiered to a 4-star review at the Toronto International Film Festival, and was also nominated for four Genie Awards. Elwood teamed with Lionsgate TV to create the comedy series "Beta Males" for the CW Network, and also wrote for the 1-hr ABC/CTV drama "Defying Gravity" for Fox Television Studios with creator Jim Parriott (Grey?s Anatomy). Fulfilling a dream to capture the spirit of her loving and unique family on TV, Elwood created the edgy cable series "Call Me Fitz," starring Jason Priestly, for TMN/Movie Central. They have just begun shooting season 3, with Elwood writing, directing and showrunning. You can catch Call Me Fitz on HBO Canada, or in the US on Netflix or DirecTV. Elwood has just signed a blind development deal with Jerry Bruckheimer Television. Sheri splits her time between Los Angeles and Nova Scotia where she and her family spend time at their century old schoolhouse and love to ring the bell. Follow Sheri on Twitter: @elwoodink. Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 9/11/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 24 | Video033 - Koo (The West Side, NoFilmSchool.com) | Want to shoot a showcase film? Web series? Crowd fund a project? This week Gray talks to Koo -- a Webby Award winner, DIY filmmaker, and the creator of NoFilmSchool.com and its excellent free "DSLR Cinematography Guide." Koo co-wrote, directed, shot, and edited the "urban western" web series The West Side (http://thewestside.tv), which won the Webby Award for Best Drama Series. Filmmaker Magazine heralded the series as "ingenious low-budget independent filmmaking that just happens to be viewable only on the Web," and named him one of their 25 New Faces of Film. Koo has shot for Focus Features, The Workbook Project, and Ralph Lauren; he has written for Filmmaker Magazine and Weblogs, Inc.; and he has served as Senior Designer for Rhapsody and MTV. His films have been official selections at several film festivals nationwide, and he was the recipient of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. His website NoFilmSchool.com focuses on DIY filmmaking and independent creativity, and won Total Film's Best Creative Blog award. He is in pre-pre-production on his first feature film, "Man-Child," which is being funded through a crowd funding Kickstarter campaign. Follow Koo on Twitter: @ryanbkoo. Visit Koo's web site: NoFilmSchool.com. Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. Koo PR photo by Mario Torres. | 9/5/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 25 | Video032 - Rob Thomas (Veronica Mars, Party Down) | Do spec pilot scripts sell? What about pilots shot on spec? This week Gray talks to successful author-writer-producer Rob Thomas, creator of Cupid, Veronica Mars, and most recently, Party Down. Rob Thomas has a fascinating story. He went from basketball and football player to rock band bassist, then graduated from college with a history degree and taught high school? all by his early twenties! He moved to LA in the early 1990's to work at Channel One News, an LA-based TV news show aimed at teenagers. He then got a book deal, and published four young adult novels and a collection of short stories. One of his novels led him to his break in Hollywood, and he got on the staff of Dawson's Creek in its first season. 14 months after starting Dawson's Creek, Rob wrote and sold the pilot Cupid, which was picked up! Halfway through its first season he became the showrunner. Rob shares some great stories about how he came up with the idea for the critically acclaimed Veronica Mars, which he wrote on spec, and also how he not only wrote Party Down on spec, but shot the pilot with his own money at his own house! Follow Rob on Twitter: @slaverat1. Visit Rob's web site: www.slaverats.com. Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 9/5/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 26 | Video031 - Dan Goor (Parks and Recreation, Late Night with Conan O'Brien) | We have another Harvard grad this week? comedy writer Dan Goor, currently supervising producer of the hit sitcom Parks and Recreation. Though Dan actually studied biochemistry at Harvard, he spent his free time doing improv and theatre. He was accepted to med school, but deferred his admission, as he got an amazing travel grant for a one year trip around the world. When he returned, his friend Charlie Grandy was applying for writing jobs, and Dan asked is they could apply together. Their application was approved at The Daily Show, and the rest was history! After writing for several years on The Daily Show, Dan & Charlie decided to discontinue their writing partnership, and Dan went on to write for Last Call with Carson Daily, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, the Office, and now Parks and Recreation. In this long interview, Dan goes into great detail about the process of writing Parks and Recreation, with very helpful tidbits from behind the scenes, including how to build a story, how to get the most out of the various departments, and the role of improv in the performances. He also gives very practical advice on writing your own pilots and spec scripts. You don't want to miss this one! Make sure you check out the TV Writer Podcast Summer Contest, with some amazing prizes! Find out more at tvwriterpodcast.com. Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 8/14/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 27 | Video030 - Ari Posner (Reba, Popular, Call Me Fitz) | Writer-producer Ari Posner delivered a humorous valedictorian speech to his Harvard class in 1986, and has been making us laugh ever since! After graduating from Harvard, Ari worked as a reporter for numerous publications such as the Miami Herald, The Boston Phoenix, and The New Republic. However, he found himself continually drawn toward writing comedy. Awarded a full scholarship to study at USC, Ari moved to L.A., and soon after graduating was on his first sitcom staff, Fox's Partners. Since then he has worked on numerous multi-camera sitcoms, hour long dramas, and single camera comedies, including such titles as Popular, Reba, Mental, and Call Me Fitz, which was recently nominated for 16 Gemini Awards. He has also written and developed many pilots, for such companies as Sony Pictures Television, Happy Madison Productions, Gary Sanchez Productions, CBS, and Disney Channel. In this interview, Ari takes us on an entertaining look at his journey through the industry, and gives incredibly helpful tips on writing pilots and other original material, and how to use that material to break in. Make sure you check out the TV Writer Podcast Summer Contest, with some amazing prizes! Find out more at tvwriterpodcast.com. Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 8/9/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 28 | Video029 - Sheldon Bull (author, "Elephant Bucks") | Writer-producer-author Sheldon Bull was challenged by friend and co-writer Blake Snyder to write a "Save the Cat" for sitcom writing. Thus was born "Elephant Bucks: An Inside Guide to Writing for TV Sitcoms." Sheldon Bull has earned Elephant Bucks as a highly successful TV writer and producer for thirty years. He has held positions from Story Editor to Executive Producer on eleven different prime time network situation comedies, working with and writing for stars like Bill Cosby, Alan Alda, Danny DeVito, Bob Newhart, Henry Winkler, Craig T. Nelson, Loni Anderson, Betty White, and Melissa Joan Hart. Sheldon has produced a string of hit series including Newhart, A Different World, Coach, and Sabrina ? The Teenage Witch. He lives in the Los Angeles area? You can visit his website at www.sheldonbull.com. Make sure you check out the TV Writer Podcast Summer Contest, with some amazing prizes! Find out more at tvwriterpodcast.com. Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 7/21/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 29 | Video028 - Tamiko Brooks (8 Simple Rules, Half & Half) | Writer Tamiko Brooks grew up in Detroit, but knew from an early age she wanted to work in the entertainment industry. She was not only the first Nickelodeon live action fellow, but was also accepted to the Disney/ABC writing fellowship. Tamiko Brooks earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia College Chicago. After graduation, she headed west to LA, and got a job as an assistant on the TV sitcom, Moesha. Under the mentorship of some of the writers, Tamiko began writing spec sitcoms and ultimately received her first writing credit in 1999 with an episode of Moesha. Soon after, Tamiko was accepted to the first year of the Nickelodeon Writing Fellowship, along with former podcast interviewee Courtney Lilly. She was relocated to Orlando, FL to work on the Nick sitcom, Taina. After that, she became an ABC/Disney writing fellow. As a result, she was placed on the sitcom, 8 Simple Rules for Dating my Teenage Daughter. The head writer was so impressed with her that he hired her on staff, and she was with the show for two seasons until its cancellation. Tamiko was then hired as a writer on Half & Half. Additionally, Tamiko has written freelance assignments for The Proud Family and the daytime drama One Life to Live. You'll learn a lot from Tamiko about navigating the industry, and dealing with the ups and downs and cyclical nature of TV schedules. Make sure you take part in the TV Writer Chat this Sunday night, as it will feature the launch of the first TV Writer Podcast contest, with some amazing prizes! Get the details about the chat at tvwriterchat.com. Follow Tamiko on Twitter: @TamikoBrooks. Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 7/13/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 30 | Video027 - Eric Haywood (Soul Food, Relative Stranger) | Writer/Director Eric Haywood started out as a successful Atlanta-based music video director, but since moving to Los Angeles has written for cable and network television, has written a TV movie, and has written and directed many short films. You'll love hearing how he has approached every step of this interesting journey through the industry! Eric was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He began his career as a music video director while still enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Filmmaking. After relocating to Atlanta, Eric went on to direct and produce videos featuring such artists as Usher, Cee-Lo Green, Outkast, New Edition, Ice-T, Tupac Shakur, and legendary Parliament-Funkadelic bassist Bootsy Collins. His video for Bay Area rapper E-40's song "Sprinkle Me" was selected by MTV and XXL Magazine as the #10 Greatest West-Coast Rap Video of All Time. Eric then turned his focus to writing, and moved to Los Angeles, where he landed jobs as a writer on all five seasons of Showtime's "Soul Food: The Series," and NBC's police drama "Hawaii." Along the way, he has periodically returned to his filmmaking roots, writing and directing three short films ("Staring at the Sun," "Intersection," and "Nick of Time,") each of which has screened at a number of film festivals around the country. Most recently, Eric wrote the Hallmark Channel Original Movie "Relative Stranger," starring Eriq LaSalle and directed by Charles Burnett. After premiering in the spring of 2009, the film garnered three NAACP Image Award nominations and a Best Supporting Actress Emmy nomination for Cicely Tyson. Follow Eric on Twitter: @Eric_Haywood. Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 7/1/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 31 | Video026 - Jen Grisanti (author & story career consultant) | Jen Grisanti is a story career consultant, independent producer, writing instructor for Writers on the Verge at NBC, blogger for The Huffington Post and author of the new books, Story Line: Finding Gold In Your Life Story and TV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write a Script That Sells. Jen spent 12 years under the mentorship of Aaron Spelling, eventually running Current Programs at Spelling Television Inc., covering all of Spelling?s shows including Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place and Charmed. In 2004, Jen was promoted to VP of Current Programs at CBS/Paramount, where she covered such shows as Medium, Numbers, NCIS, 4400 and Girlfriends. While at CBS/Paramount, she served as a mentor in the CBS Diversity Program, which seeks out and nurtures young writers and directors. In January 2008, Jen launched Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., a consulting firm dedicated to helping talented writers break into the industry. By drawing on her 12-year experience as a studio executive where she gave daily notes to executive producers & showrunners, Jen personally guides writers to shape their material, hone their pitches, and focus their careers. Since launching, Jen has worked with over 300 writers working in television, features and novels. In the first 3 years, already 20 of her clients have staffed as writers on television shows and two have sold pilots that went to series. In 2008, Jen was hired to be the Writing Instructor for NBC?s Writers on the Verge. Her brand is Developing From Within. Her company hosts Storywise Seminars and Teleseminars as a way to get this message out. In addition to her books, she has CDs and workbooks, and also has an excellent Storywise Podcast Series available on iTunes and her website. Visit her website at jengrisanticonsultancy.com. You can also follow Jen on Twitter: @JenGrisanti. Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 6/24/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 32 | Video025 - Karey Dornetto (Portlandia, Community) | Comedy writer & stand-up comic Karey Dornetto has worked on all kinds of comedy shows, from sketch to traditional sitcom, and many in between. The daughter of a military professor and an ex-nun, Karey was headed for a life of financial trading, before taking the plunge to join the sketch comedy group The Perch, in Charlotte, NC. Still working in finance, she moved to New York and began to perform stand-up comedy. In New York, she wrote a story called "Fat Basketball Diaries" for the online magazine, Girlcomic.net? this story would prove to be a major turning point for her, as the response to the story convinced her she could become a writer. It also helped her land management in L.A., and her first TV writing gig, on South Park. Moving to Los Angeles, Karey landed gig after gig on a wide variety of comedy shows, such as The Jamie Kennedy Experiment, Dog Bites Man, Arrested Development, Community, and her most current show, Portlandia. She has a lot of great stories about her path through the industry, as well as her experiences with the different comedy and writing styles. For more information and writing samples, visit her website at kareydornetto.com. You can also follow Karey on Twitter: @KareyDornetto Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 6/18/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 33 | Video024 - Courtney Lilly (The Cleveland Show, My Boys) | Comedy writer Courtney Lilly has only been in Hollywood 11 years, and yet has had tremendous success on a number of well-known sitcoms, including Arrested Development, Everybody Hates Chris, My Boys, and The Cleveland Show. You're going to love his story! Working as a journalist on the east coast, Courtney Lilly decided pretty quickly that journalism was not for him. He knew nothing about TV writing, but read everything he could about it, and got accepted to the Nickelodeon Fellowship's first year, in 2000. After staffing on the animated show Invader Zim, Courtney tells how he ended up as an assistant to a lawyer in Encino. Though it seemed like he was far from his goal, he shares how "prepared luck" landed him an influential manager, who helped him land a staff gig on Arrested Development. From there, Courtney goes into great detail about time on Arrested Development, Everybody Hates Chris, My Boys, and his current show, the Family Guy animated spinoff, The Cleveland Show. He gives a lot of great tips on breaking in, including the wisdom: "Everyone takes bets? you might as well bet on yourself!" Follow Courtney on Twitter: @CourtneyLilly Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 6/17/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 34 | Video023 - Jennica Harper (Shattered, Mr. Young) | Next in our "writers who have done it all" series is Vancouver-based TV/feature/graphic novel writer, poet, and standup comic Jennica Harper. Not only has she worked in many genres and mediums, but she has great tips and anecdotes about them. Jennica Harper has published poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction in over 25 publications in Canada and the United States, as well as two poetry collections, and a graphic novel "Abigail's War," which she currently developing as a feature with Zeros2Heroes Media. An award-winning stand-up comic, Jennica is a lot of fun to listen to? You'll love the discussion on how story editing for Canadian features has many similarities to TV writing in Hollywood, yet how Hollywood feature writing differs from the Canadian approach. Jennica also has a lot of great tips about breaking in, planting many seeds, and being aggressive at going after what you want. Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 6/2/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 35 | Video022 - Andrea Moodie (Psi Factor, Property Virgins) | This week we meet another writer who has done it all? Toronto-based writer Andrea Moodie has worked in features, scripted dramatic televsion, documentaries, reality and lifestyle television, interactive games, and web series. She has a lot of tips on writing for these different mediums, and the differences between them! Most writers interrupt their lives to write -- Andrea interrupts her writing for life. Writing in all forms consumes her, and so it's not surprising she's written material for many mediums, and many of her projects have won awards and critical acclaim. You might recognize some of the titles of shows she's written for -- Property Virgins, Animals at Work, The List, the sci-fi drama Psi Factor, and webisode missions for SyFy's Sanctuary, among many others. A graduate of Queens University Film Studies, The Drama Studio London USA, and the Canadian Film Centre, Andrea is an active member of the writing community as a juror for the Dora, Gemini and Writer?s Guild Top Ten Awards. Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 5/21/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 36 | Video021 - Chad Gervich | Do you want to write comedy? Reality? Scripted? Work in development? Write a pilot? Web series? Or maybe work as an executive? This week we have a massive 82 minute podcast with Chad Gervich? and he's done it all! Chad Gervich is a television producer, bestselling author, and award- winning playwright who currently has a comedy development deal with 20th Century Fox, and is a writer-producer for After Lately, E!'s hit half-hour comedy starring Chelsea Handler. As a writer and producer, Chad created Style Network?s hit comedy/reality show, Foody Call, before going on to write, produce, and develop shows (both scripted and reality) for ABC, FOX, Warner Brothers, Endemol, E!, Overbrook, SuperDelicious, CBS Studios, TruTV, Zoo Productions, Fox Reality Channel, Renegade 83, Food Network, and the Weinstein Company. His credits include Wipeout, Cupcake Wars, Reality Binge, Speeders, and others. Prior to producing, Chad spent five years as a development executive with the Littlefield Company, former NBC president Warren Littlefield's production company, developing pilots and series for NBC, ABC, UPN, the WB, and Paramount TV. Chad also worked in production on shows such as The Wanda Sykes Show, Star Search, The Academy Awards, and Malcolm in the Middle. As an author, Chad?s best-selling TV-writing handbook, Small Screen, Big Picture: A Writers Guide to the TV Business, debuted in 2008 to critical acclaim and outstanding sales, and it?s presently being used as a textbook in the CBS Diversity Writing Program, the WGA Showrunners Training Program, NBC?s Writers on the Verge, NATPE?s Diversity Fellowship, California State, and USC?s TV classes. Chad currently writes Script magazine?s popular weekly ?PrimeTime? blog, and contributes regularly to many other publications, including Daily Variety. In addition, he created and produced Morning Call Time, Hollywood?s first daily audio news podcast. One of Chad?s passions is teaching. With a Playwriting MFA from UCLA, he has spent years teaching writing and producing classes for Mediabistro, Gotham Writers Workshop, Writing Pad, and StoryStudio Chicago, as well as lecturing at colleges and schools such as UCLA and Vanderbilt. He also speaks at festivals and conferences such as the TV/Film Summit, and the Great American Pitchfest. Follow Chad on Twitter: @ChadGervich Visit his website: www.chadgervich.com Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 5/15/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 37 | Video020 - Social Media & The Writer Round Table - Part 2 | This week features the conclusion of our round table discussion on social networking for the writer, and our three esteemed guests were back in full form: Jeanne Villette Bowerman and Jamie Livingston of #Scriptchat, and Joshua Stecker of Script Magazine; Gray Jones, in addition to moderating, represented Ink Canada. In part 2, we get a lot more specific. We discuss several resources on Facebook, Twitter, and the web in great detail. Jeanne demonstrates how you can attack Twitter with the same creativity with which you attack a script, and maybe even land a job or an agent from it. We expound on blogs and bloggers, of course we talk about more dos and don'ts, and there is an exciting call to arms at the end. We cover all of this and much more in part 2 of our massive 100 minute discussion. Meet our panel: Jeanne Veillette Bowerman is the Co-Founder and moderator of the weekly Twitter screenwriters? chat, #Scriptchat, and a regular columnist for Write On Online and Script Magazine. A graduate of Cornell University, she?s written several spec scripts, including the adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Slavery by Another Name, with its author, Douglas A. Blackmon, senior national correspondent of The Wall Street Journal. Jamie Livingston is a writer, Co-Founder of #Scriptchat, and President of Romance Writers of America Screenwriting Chapter Script Scene. She's a business owner and former magazine writer. Joshua Stecker is the West Coast/Web editor of Script Magazine, co-owner/producer of Modjeska Playhouse theatre company, a part-time actor, and is currently living in Los Angeles with his wife and two pups. Gray Jones is a reality TV editor, produced writer, and internationally award winning short film producer. In addition to hosting the TV Writer Podcast in partnership with Script Magazine, he also hosts Chuck vs. the Podcast for NBC's Chuck, which has been voted the #1 TV-themed podcast in the entire world continuously for the last 28 months. He also runs a database of TV Writers on Twitter, which contains 700 writers and continues to climb. Follow the round table participants on Twitter: Jeanne Veillette Bowerman: @jeannevb Jamie Livingston: @Jamie_LD Joshua Stecker: @joshuastecker Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 4/28/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 38 | Video019 - Social Media & The Writer Round Table - Part 1 | To tackle the immense, cutting edge topic of social networking for the writer, we needed to call in a panel of experts? in a round table discussion set in a cool 3D environment, our three esteemed guests were Jeanne Veillette Bowerman and Jamie Livingston of #Scriptchat, and Joshua Stecker of Script Magazine; Gray Jones, in addition to moderating, represented Ink Canada. Are you getting the most out of Facebook and Twitter? What are the differences between them? What pitfalls should you avoid and/or protect yourself against? Why are some people getting a lot more Twitter followers than you? How can you network with top writers without seeming too pushy? We cover all of these topics and much more in part 1 of our massive 100 minute discussion. Meet our panel: Jeanne Veillette Bowerman is the Co-Founder and moderator of the weekly Twitter screenwriters? chat, #Scriptchat, and a regular columnist for Write On Online and Script Magazine. A graduate of Cornell University, she?s written several spec scripts, including the adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Slavery by Another Name, with its author, Douglas A. Blackmon, senior national correspondent ofThe Wall Street Journal. Jamie Livingston is a writer, Co-Founder of #Scriptchat, and President of Romance Writers of America Screenwriting Chapter Script Scene. She's a business owner and former magazine writer. Joshua Stecker is the West Coast/Web editor of Script Magazine, co-owner/producer of Modjeska Playhouse theatre company, a part-time actor, and is currently living in Los Angeles with his wife and two pups. Gray Jones is a reality TV editor, produced writer, and internationally award winning short film producer. In addition to hosting the TV Writer Podcast in partnership with Script Magazine, he also hosts Chuck vs. the Podcast for NBC's Chuck, which has been voted the #1 TV-themed podcast in the entire world continuously for the last 28 months. He also runs a database of TV Writers on Twitter, which contains 700 writers and continues to climb. Follow the round table participants on Twitter: Jeanne Veillette Bowerman: @jeannevb Jamie Livingston: @Jamie_LD Joshua Stecker: @joshuastecker Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 4/24/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 39 | Video018 - Corey Miller (CSI, The Forgotten, Body of Proof) | What's another way to spell "juggernaut?" You could easily spell it C-S-I, or N-C-I-S. The franchises spawned by these shows dominate the ratings, and continue to deliver week after week, month after month. We are very fortunate to have writer-producer Corey Miller with us this week? you're going to love his story! Wannabe writers are often told: "get a job as an assistant!" Corey took this to a new level? you'll love hearing how youthful naivete helped him to land a job with Oliver Stone, why life on Lois & Clark was much better without email, and how he spent much longer than usual in various assisting and coordinating positions before becoming a staff writer, and why it was worth the wait. Through it all, Corey kept writing, and even though he didn't have an agent, he sold two freelance scripts to CSI, and his next chapter began! In addition to a story he and then co-writer Philip Chung had sold to Lois & Clark, Corey has also written for six seasons of CSI: Miami, for NCIS: Los Angeles, The Forgotten, and Body of Proof. Corey also wrote the independent feature Border to Border, and recently sold a pilot to The Peter Chernin Company and Fox. Follow Corey on Twitter: @TooMuchFire Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 4/19/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 40 | Video017 - Steven Darancette (animation) | Just like there are far fewer resources for learning TV writing than for learning to write features, there are an incredibly small number of resources for learning to write for animated TV. That's why it is a great privilege to have animation writer Steven Darancette open a window for us into this field. As an L.A.-based episodic TV animation writer, Steven has written for shows at Warner Bros. Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and others, including such well known animated shows as Ozzy & Drix, and Krypto - The Superdog. He has also created over a dozen animated TV series pitches that are in varying stages of development. He has a lot of wisdom to share! Why will learning to draw help you to write scripts for animation? How does the pay structure for daytime animation work, and why is it highly different from primetime animated shows? Is it true that you pitch by email, even without an agent? If so, how? What problems will a US writer face if they want to tap into the large Canadian animation market? Steven has also written and produced features, and has a number of projects in development. He has some interesting advice on what to do with the unsold feature scripts you're written, which are now collecting dust in your drawer? Follow Steven on Twitter: @sdarancette Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 4/11/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 41 | Video016 - Ellen Sandler (author, TV Writer's Workbook) | This week we have an absolute treat? a 46-minute interview with Emmy-nominated writer-producer, playwright, director, and author of the TV Writer's Workbook, Ellen Sandler! Entertainment Today calls Ellen Sandler the Dalai Lama of television writing? her "TV Writer's Workbook" is used by the top film schools in the world, including USC, UCLA, and NYU. The praise is well-deserved? like "Save the Cat" by Blake Snyder does for feature writing, Ellen's book comes from a writer's approach, telling you in very simple, easy to understand terms, virtually everything you need to know to be a successful TV writer. Ellen is a seasoned writer -- she was nominated for an Emmy for her work as a Co-Executive Producer of the CBS hit series, Everybody Loves Raymond. She has written for many other prime time network television comedies, including ABC?s Coach, and has created original television pilots for ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox Family, Oxygen Network, and the Disney Channel. Both a teacher and a consultant, Ellen provides script development and career coaching for professionals and emerging writers in the entertainment industry, as well as writing workshops and seminars at conferences and universities both in the US and abroad. Do we need to tell you she has a ton of wisdom to share? Even if you haven't read her book, you'll benefit greatly from the interview. If you have, you'll get a lot of extra depth. Follow Ellen on Twitter: @sandlerink -- and visit her website at www.sandlerink.com. Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 4/2/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 42 | Video015 - TV/Feature Writer Wil Zmak | He moved permanently to Los Angeles! And then the phone started ringing for Canadian jobs... Canadian TV & feature writer-producer Wil Zmak is sure to win records for the longest commute! Wil Zmak grew up in Toronto, and studied film at Toronto's York University (around the same time Gray was there), as well as the Canadian Film Centre. Then, his wife's career demanded a move to the US, and it was off to Los Angeles! Now permanently planted in L.A., Wil was offered the first of many Canadian jobs, that would see him travel to Canada for several months at a time, flying home on weekends to be with his family. Since then, Wil has worked as a writer, producer, and story editor on several Canadian television series, including The Listener (CTV, FOX International), The Aladdin Project (CTV),?Stone Undercover (Tom Stone - CBC / US syndication), Jinnah?on Crime (CBC), and Being Erica (CBC). Hear the fascinating story of how a conversation with director Paul Fox on the state of film storytelling resulted in Wil writing the script for the 2005 thriller "The Dark Hours," which has won fifteen awards at international festivals, including seven for Best Feature. Wil has also worked in development for both TV and features, and offers many helpful tips, including the best way to adapt novels to the screen; what adaptations can teach you about your original material; targeted networking; and why you shouldn't limit yourself to the hero's journey and commonly taught story structures. Follow Wil on Twitter: @wilzmak. Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 3/27/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 43 | Video014 - TV/Feature Writer Matt MacLennan | Whether you live in Los Angeles, Toronto, or anywhere else, you're going to love this interview with Canadian TV & feature writer Matt McLennan. Not only is it full to the brim with tips on breaking in and getting ahead, but you'll be inspired by Matt's tenacious "never give up" attitude, his resourcefulness, and his desire to mentor. Once Matt set his eyes on the goal, nothing would stop him from achieving it. He read books, worked as a script reader, sent out hundreds of unsolicited emails, worked as personal assistant and production assistant, and met with anyone who could give him advice on the industry. When one door would close, Matt would open another. When he did get a job, he would milk it for all it was worth, volunteering his time for duties outside his job description, so he could learn as many aspects as possible of what it takes to put a show together. Learn the amazing story of how he proposed an innovative solution to a modestly budgeted teen show, to use indie local bands for fresh but inexpensive music. Matt ended up helping to promote many bands that would use the TV show to springboard to greater success, and at the same time he was credited not only for his writing, but for his music supervision as well! To top it all off, Matt graciously offers his email address to any writers who would like to seek his advice or help. if you've learned anything from Matt, take him up on the offer! Matt's latest show, HBO Canada's "Call Me Fitz," starring Jason Priestley, begins airing in the US in April. Watch for it on DirecTV! Follow Matt on Twitter: @mattmaclennan . This episode also features our new sponsor the Toronto Screenwriting Conference, and a highlight video from the Toronto Ink Drinks event attended by Gray on March 18th. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 3/19/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 44 | VideoSpecial - Ink Drinks Toronto (HD) | In episode 012, writer-producer Karen Walton told us about the online group she founded, called "Ink Canada," and their "Ink Drinks" events. This week, Gray had the opportunity to bring a video camera to Ink Drinks Toronto. It was a blast, and Gray has put together a special high definition mini-episode highlighting the event. Follow Karen Walton on Twitter: @inkcanada. Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 3/19/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 45 | Video013 - TV/Feature Writer Tim Stubinski | The prevailing wisdom says that "you must move to L.A." if you want to make it as a TV or feature writer. This week we meet Tim Stubinski, a Canadian writer who has not only had several features optioned, but got an award winning television pilot produced and on the air -- all while living in a small town 5 hours away from Toronto. Are you frustrated, trying to work at a day job, while writing in your spare time? Tim Stubinski continues to work as a salesman in his small town, yet is constantly networking, pitching, and writing. He offers great tips on how to write the best query letters, how to pitch over the phone, and how social media tools like Facebook and Twitter are invaluable to anyone trying to break into writing, but especially the "remote writer." Hear how he and his writing partner Michael Markus managed to get several feature scripts optioned, and how they made the decision to turn one of their features into a TV pilot, called Wolf Canyon. This pilot got produced by Really Real Films out of Vancouver, starring Kevin Sorbo, Lorne Cardinal and comedienne Nikki Payne? it aired nationwide in Canada, and won five LEO awards! As a salesman and successful writer, Tim offers much encouragement to other remote writers. He shares openly about the statistics he has observed in how many rejections he must get through before he finds someone who will read and respond to his script, and reminds us all that when selling a script, it's the "yes" that matters! Follow Tim on Twitter: @timstubinski Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 3/12/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 46 | Video012 - TV/Feature Writer Karen Walton | Best known as the writer of the original cult horror film, Ginger Snaps, award-winning writer-producer Karen Walton has developed original and adapted film projects in almost every genre with top producers in Canada, the UK and the American studio system for almost twenty years. The episode starts with? homework! For the first time, Gray assigns a book to read ? The TV Writer's Workbook, by Emmy-nominated writer Ellen Sandler ? as he'll be talking to Ellen on April 1st, and wants to solicit informed questions about her book. Then on to the interview with Karen Walton? After graduating from the Canadian Film Centre, Karen wrote a critically acclaimed independent horror film, Ginger Snaps, that has become a cult hit, and is listed by many critics on their all-time top 10 lists of high school horror films. This film led to many years of assignment writing, and Karen shares the differences between writing an independent feature versus feature development in the studio system. Karen has also written critically acclaimed TV movies, including the Gemini-winning The Many Trials of One Jane Doe, and she talks about the challenges of adapting true events, writing socially and morally conscious material, and writing a movie within the confines of the television format. Karen has also been busy in series television, including freelance episodes of CBC's Straight Up and CTV's The Eleventh Hour, being a executive story editor on Showtime's Queer as Folk, and just recently, she has started as a writer-supervising producer on season 4 of CTV's Flashpoint, which airs on CBS in the US. But wait, there's more? Karen is the executive producer of the successful web series for tweens, Ruby Skye P.I.; has an original paranormal series currently optioned; is an active member of the Writer's Guild of America - West, Canada, and Quebec's SARTEC; and if that's not enough? is the founder and current editor of the online writer's community Ink Canada. Follow Karen Walton on Twitter: @inkcanada. Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 3/4/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 47 | Video011 - TV & Feature Writer Daegan Fryklind | This episode serves as the end of our Women TV Writers series and the beginning of our Canadian TV Market series, which will run through the month of March. Today we meet Daegan Fryklind: a well-established Canadian writer who lives in Vancouver, but often comes to Toronto for writing jobs. In addition to working on well-known series Being Erica, The Listener, and Cold Squad, she has won a Leo Award for Best Dramatic Series Screenwriting (Jpod), has been nominated for a Canadian Screenwriter Award (Robson Arms), and co-wrote the animated feature Edison & Leo, which won "Best Animated Feature" at the Bangkok International Animation Film Festival. In our longest interview yet, she touches on many aspects of the Canadian writing market, from why animated shows are an excellent way to develop dialogue writing skills, to how Canadian TV writing fellowships differ from US fellowships, to rewriting scripts to meet Canadian funding guidelines, to the changing landscape for writers in Vancouver vs Toronto. Because the Canadian writing market is in many ways tougher than the US market, writers like Daegan can offer great tips to US writers who are trying to break in? plus, find out what part of the Canadian industry might actually entice US writers to move north! Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 2/25/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 48 | Video010 - Keto Shimizu (The Cape) | Next up in our Women TV Writers series, we meet Keto Shimizu, an alumnus of the NBC Writers on the Verge program, who landed a staff writing gig on NBC's 'The Cape' in her mid-twenties, just three years after arriving in L.A. Want to find out how? Though young, Keto has a lot of very practical advice for getting started in the business. Find out how she used her connections from Boston's Emerson College to land several jobs in L.A., including post-production assistant on the recent TRON: Legacy. Then, learn all about the NBC Writers on the Verge program, and how continuing to network with its participants helped her to draft a new TV pilot that was instrumental in her securing representation. Finally, find out about 'The Cape' -- how advice to "geek out" paid off in landing the gig as a full staff writer, and also a great behind the scenes look at the writers room and how the first season has gone from script to screen! Make sure you watch 'The Cape' on NBC, Mondays at 9/8c, just after Chuck! Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 1/23/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 49 | Video009 - Elisabeth R. Finch & Kate Barnow (True Blood, No Ordinary Family) | As we continue our Women TV Writers series, we are excited to present our first writing team, Elisabeth R. Finch and Kate Barnow, who wrote for HBO's True Blood, and now are staffed on ABC's No Ordinary Family. They had very different paths into the industry? Elisabeth was a playwright from Jersey and Kate a former history major writing an unproducible period piece. Which women's career website connected them with True Blood? And how did their jobs as assistant and script coordinator equip them to write the True Blood comic book? Find out how they managed to write three freelance True Blood scripts while still performing their other job duties, and then how they made the jump to full staff writers at No Ordinary Family. They also share many of the ways that the writing process varies between cable shows and network shows. Make sure you watch 'No Ordinary Family' on ABC, Tuesdays at 8pm! Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 1/18/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 50 | Video008 - Ali Adler (Chuck, No Ordinary Family) | As we begin our Women TV Writers series, we are excited to have two interviews with Ali Adler, Co-Executive Producer and writer of ABC's exciting new show, No Ordinary Family. Gray kicks off the episode with a discussion on the current employment statistics for women and minorities in TV writing. Then, we feature an interview Gray had with Ali in February 2009, when she talked about how she got started writing, her career path, her work with the Young Storytellers Foundation, and also much about the process of writing Chuck. In Gray's latest interview with Ali, they discuss her experiences on various staffs, her opinion on how to motivate women to break in, and much about her experiences on her new show, No Ordinary Family. She answers many fan questions, and teases about what's to come in what she promises are some very strong upcoming episodes. Make sure you watch 'No Ordinary Family' on ABC, Tuesdays at 8pm! Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 1/7/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 51 | Video007 - V Showrunner Scott Rosenbaum | What if you were called in to run a show that had just aired its first four episodes, and was put on hold? That happened to former Chuck writer/co-executive producer Scott Rosenbaum, and it he accepted the challenge! It wasn't easy, but Scott steered the show 'V' into new waters, and it has gotten stronger and stronger ever since. You'll be fascinated to hear how Scott lost his writing staff due to production delays, and had to deliver the last two episodes and the pitch for season 2 by himself, with just the studio as a sounding board! Hear also how he selected the season 2 writing staff, his advice for writing spec scripts, how to properly prepare for a staffing interview, and how a chance meeting ended up securing an actor for one of the most important new characters in season 2. We also include an interview Gray had with Scott back in March 2010, just before his first V episodes started to air. In this interview he shares his career path, from how he got started as a writer to his work on Chuck, including insight on why "bottle episodes" often end up being the strongest. Make sure you watch 'V' on ABC, Tuesdays at 9pm, as its exciting second season begins January 4th. Didn?t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find out more details and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 1/1/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 52 | Video006 - TV & Feature Writer Dan McDermott | Are you wondering whether to write features or television? To try to get a pilot produced, or to work on a staff? Or are you concerned you don't have enough time to write because of your busy family life? This week we meet someone who does it all? Dan McDermott, co-executive producer and writer on Fox's Human Target, which begins its second season this Wednesday. You'll love hearing how Dan manages to write both features and television at the same time, with great success! While writing the action-packed blockbuster "Eagle Eye," he also successfully sold the pilot for and executive produced the TV series "Angela's Eyes." He shares many cool stories, including how he came up with the idea for "Eagle Eye," his work on the "Romancing the Stone" remake, and why the iconic ending of the original "Soylent Green" is only the midpoint of his adaptation of the story. Oh, yeah? and he does this all with a wife and son! He shares practical advice on how to balance family life, features, and television at the same time. Make sure you watch Dan's work on Human Target, airing on Fox on Wednesdays at 8/7c. Also, check out our interview with Human Target showrunner Matt Miller if you haven't already! Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter at @GrayJones so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find out more details and other resources at tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 11/15/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 53 | Video005 - Emmy Winning Comedy Writer Rob Kutner | He's won 5 Prime Time Emmys, a Grammy, a Peabody, and a Television Critics' Association Award, and was even named a "SuperJew" by Time Out New York. No, he doesn't have superpowers, but that hasn't stopped comedy writer Rob Kutner from writing over 1000 episodes of great comedy shows "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien," "The Daily Show" with Jon Stewart, and "Dennis Miller Live." Oh, and did we mention that he's a best-selling author too? His recent satirical end-of-times bestseller "Apocalypse How: Turn the End Times into the Best of Times!" is one of the top 100 parodies at Amazon.com. You'll love hearing how he got his comedy start as the only Jewish kid in a Christian kindergarten class... How studies at Princeton led to him being deported from Uzbekistan... how Dennis Miller gave him his first break... and all his tips for getting in to comedy writing. Rob recommends several books in the podcast -- you can find them all, including his book "Apocalypse How," in the TV Writer Podcast mini-Amazon store. Find out more at tvwriterpodcast.com. Rob also takes the time to answer many fan questions that came in over Twitter... You can follow him at @ApocalypseHow. Didn't get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter at @GrayJones so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for several hundred TV writers. Find out more details and other resources at tvwriterpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 10/6/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 54 | Video004 - Eureka's Jaime Paglia & Neil Grayston | In the final part of our series on the crossover between SyFy's hit shows Warehouse 13 and Eureka, this week Gray talks to the co-creator and showrunner of Eureka, Jaime Paglia, and the actor who made the crossover, Neil Grayston. You'll love hearing about how Jaime Paglia and Andrew Cosby came up with the idea for this sci fi comedy hybrid, set in a fictional small town with a Northern Exposure feel. Jaime explains exactly what has made this show a hit for SyFy, bringing millions of new viewers to the network who might not ordinarily watch sci fi. He also talks about how he and Jack Kenny came up with the idea for the crossover episode, and how a chance plane ride with Stan Lee resulted in a cameo on the show! Then we have the privilege of hearing from actor Neil Grayston, who plays Douglas Fargo on Eureka. He shares about his process when he gets a script, how his character has changed over Eureka's four seasons, and what it was like to shoot the crossover episodes. Plus, he tells some funny anecdotes about Terminator and Star Wars throwbacks, and working with his BFF Allison Scagliotti. Gray also tells about some cool resources, including the new TV Writer Twitter Database, and an interview with Chuck co-creator Chris Fedak on his other podcast, at chuckpodcast.com. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 9/11/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 55 | Video003 - Warehouse 13 Writer Ian Stokes | Continuing our series on the crossover between SyFy's hit shows Warehouse 13 and Eureka, this week Gray talks to the writer of the crossover episode on the Warehouse 13 side, Ian Stokes. We've heard from two showrunners... this week, we have the privilege to hear a very fresh breaking in story, as Ian has very recently made the jump from assistant to full staff writer. You're sure to love Ian's story, how he went from being a P.A. for Robert Zemeckis to being a staff writer on SyFy's #1 show, in only four years! He also shares some interesting perspectives about working in development at SyFy Network before getting the job on Warehouse 13, and also some valuable and practical tips to writers trying to break in to television writing. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 9/1/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 56 | Video002 - Warehouse 13 Showrunner Jack Kenny | Warehouse 13 has been breaking records for SyFy network since its launch. Today we are pleased to bring you an interview with Warehouse 13 showrunner Jack Kenny. A graduate of the Juilliard School Theatre Center, Jack was a member of John Houseman's "The Acting Company" and has acted on Broadway. He is also a director, and a successful show creator. He talks about co-writing and going solo, his experiences creating the controversial show "The Book of Daniel," and how he serendipitously came to run Warehouse 13. He also shares many great stories of how Warehouse 13 came to be, the changes he made after the pilot, experiences writing and shooting the show, and what's to come toward the season finale in September. Of special interest is the recent crossover episode between Warehouse 13 and Eureka (SyFy). The cross-pollination was a success, increasing ratings not only for the crossover, but also subsequent episodes. Hear Jack tell how a chance meeting at Comic-Con and someone's BFF led to the crossover. After the interview, you'll hear about a new database of TV writers on Twitter, and if you're watching the video, you'll see how you can contact any of Warehouse 13's writers on Twitter. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 8/28/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 57 | Video001 - Human Target Showrunner Matt Miller | Welcome to the TV Writer Podcast, partner of Script Magazine! As the first of our ?Countdown to Launch? promotion, this episode features not one but two interviews with Human Target show runner Matt Miller. The first interview was done by host Gray Jones on his other show, Chuck vs. the Podcast, and talks about Matt?s career path and how he ended up on Chuck. Then Gray?s second interview with Matt takes you to the present ? hear all about his plans for season 2 of Human Target. Please visit tvwriterpodcast.com to purchase any of the writing books Matt recommended, and help support the podcast in the process! Gray also introduces you to the podcast, website, Facebook Group, partnership with Script Magazine, and much more. Hosted by Gray Jones, the TV Writer Podcast is devoted to interviews with working TV writers. It is brought to you by Script magazine and Scriptmag.com, the leading source for scriptwriting information in print and on the web; and by Final Draft scriptwriting software, the entertainment industry standard for scriptwriting worldwide. | 8/12/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
| Total: 57 Episodes |
Customer Reviews
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WHY IS THIS A VIDEO PODCAST??? Unnecessary video eats up space on my devices.
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I'm loving the podcasts. The interviews give me such a refreshing insight into the world of tv writing. I'm trained as an actor, but in this age it's practically imperative to be a jack of many trades. I always wanted to write for tv and this podcast is encouraging me to do so. I'm surprised there aren't many reviews for this.
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