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 Saturday, June 27, 2009
Sell Your Reality Show... Next Tuesday!
Posted by Chad
Hey, guys--
If you're hoping to sell the next The Bachelorette, American Idol, or Dancing with the Stars... or even if you just want to work on them... I'm teaching my reality TV seminar, "Writing the Reality TV Show," for mediabistro next Tuesday, July 7. If you're interested (and in Los Angeles), I'd love to see you there! Here's the scoop...
(Also, for those of you who have already emailed or asked... YES-- this is the class that was originally scheduled for Monday, July 13. It's been moved up.)
Writing the Reality TV Show
So You Think You Can Dance. The Real World. Rock of Love. The Amazing Race. From the
multi-million-dollar series of broadcast television to the low-budget
niche shows of cable, reality programming dominates television. But are
reality shows really "reality?" How much planning and production goes
into unscripted storytelling? And, most importantly, how can you get in
on the action?
This seminar lays the groundwork for anyone wanting to break into
the lucrative world of reality TV. We'll look at various types of
reality shows and what makes them tick, from docu-dramas and docu-soaps
(The City, Keeping Up With the Kardashians ) to game shows and elimination-style competitions (The Biggest Loser, Big Brother, Top Chef, Survivor) to personality-driven and "aspirational" series (Dietribe, Ruby, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition).
We'll then discuss how to conceive, develop, and sell your idea.
What are the critical elements of a pitch? Should you attach talent?
Does your series work as a strip? We'll explore how to structure your
reality pitch and get it to the right people. Who are the major
players? When should you attach a senior producer? What networks are
best for your concept? Whether you're a writer, producer, or host,
reality television's waiting for you.
In this seminar, you will learn:
- The differences between reality shows, and how to pitch them accordingly
- The critical elements every reality show and pitch must have
- How to structure a pitch both verbally and as a written document
- How to pitch to networks, studios, and production companies
- When to attach hosts or producers to your idea, and when not to
- What to expect when you're making your pitch, and what happens when you leave
Click here for more information...
WHEN: Tuesday, July 7, 7-10 pm
WHERE: Beverly Hills Bar Assoc., 300 S. Beverly Dr., 2nd Fl., Beverly Hills, CA 90212
COST: $65 ($50 for avantguild members)
TO SIGN UP: Call 212-547-7890 or click HEREHope you can make it!
Career Advice | Classes Seminars Workshops | Events Activities and Things To Do | Reality TV | Writing TV
Saturday, June 27, 2009 7:08:57 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00) 
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Wednesday, June 24, 2009
A Few of My Favorite Podcasts...
Posted by Chad
Thanks to the anonymous reader who posted in response to last week's post about Jen Grisanti's Storywise podcast, and their question...
"Which writing podcasts do you regularly download?"
To be honest, I don't listen to a ton of writing-specific podcasts... although I always wish I did... but I like to listen to some other fun/newsy Hollywood podcasts.
Here's a quick list of links to some of my favorite podcasts, as well as a couple which friends really recommend, and all of which can also be found on iTunes...
The New York Times' Front Page - The NY Times has a terrific lineup of outstanding podcasts. My favorite is its Front Page, which condenses the top stories of the day into a short 2-4 minute podcast.
Martini Shot - TV writer Rob Long's (Cheers, George & Leo, Big Wave Dave's) podcast/radio show is produced by local LA NPR station KCRW, and it's usually some funny/insightful bit about either A) what's going on in Hollywood, B) pop culture, C) Rob's life. But it's always entertaining.
The Business - Also from KCRW, The Business is a weekly podcast that explores topical business, creative, and political issues concerning the entertainment industry.
Programming Insider - In TV guru Marc Berman's daily podcast for Mediaweek, he goes over each day's TV ratings, talks about what they mean, and explores issues concerning TV. This podcast can be a little long and talky sometimes, but it's always informative.
Creative Screenwriting Podcast - Jeff Goldsmith does great interviews with some of today's top screenwriters like Brian Helgeland, Jody Hill, Christopher Hampton...
Filmspotting - To be fair, I don't actually listen to this movie review podcast by Adam Kempenaar and Matty Robinson all that often. But my friend Rick swears by it, and the few times I've listened, I've really enjoyed it.
On the Page - Screenwriting teacher Pilar Alessandra's podcast covers everything from writing tips and advice to interviews with actual writers. (My friend Jen loves this podcast...)
And, of course, my ABSOLUE FAVORITE PODCAST OF ALL TIME... it's not Hollywood-related, but it is-- as far as I'm concerned-- the BEST NEW MUSIC PODCAST OUT THERE...
Bands Under the Radar - Featuring unsigned bands and indie artists, Kami Knake used to book for the Viper Room before moving to Nashville, and I swear-- she has some of the best ears for new music out there! Thanks to her, I discovered the Pierces, the Pipettes, maybe even the Fratellis. I live for this podcast... check it out!
I'm always on the lookout for other great podcasts, so if you have some favorites, please post below and let me know! Especially if you know of great new music podcasts... I'm always in need of great new music!
Books Tools Resources | Digital Media and Web Series
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 12:27:31 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Monday, June 22, 2009
The Future of TV: CBS vs. NBC
Posted by Chad
Hey, all--
Just wanted to point out a great article from Brian Steinberg in this morning's Ad Age... he does a nice job of pointing out how NBC (which is seemingly in a deadly tailspin) and CBS are both programming their air in vastly different ways-- and how their two strategies reflect the seismic shifts going on across television.
Click HERE for "NBC, CBS Have Conflicting Visions of Broadcast Future." (Also, I'm linking to TVWeek's pickup of the article, since Ad Age usually takes their pieces down after a day or two.) (Damn those businesses that actually want to get paid for their services!)
Industry Updates | Interesting Talking Points | Writing TV
Monday, June 22, 2009 8:11:14 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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More on Ageism in Hollywood...
Posted by Chad
Some of you may remember, a few weeks back when loyal reader Jon sent in a question and we had an ongoing discussion about ageism.
Well, thanks to Jon for sending in "What Hollywood Is Not Letting You See," a recent piece from Robert Elisberg in The Huffington Post.
It's a great piece... click HERE to check it out!
Interesting Talking Points | Reader Questions
Monday, June 22, 2009 4:59:57 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Storywise: All Your Favorite Writers... In Their Own Words!
Posted by Chad
Hey, folks--
This is gonna sound like shameless promotion, and maybe it is-- especially considering Jen Grisanti is a friend of mine-- but this is a great new resource that you should all check out.
Jen, who used to run current programming at Spelling TV and is now coaching countless of top-notch writers and directors through Jen Grisanti Consultancy, has launched Storywise... a monthly periodic podcast of interviews with A-list screenwriters and TV writers.
Her first episode features an awesome interview with TV writer and executive producer Glen Mazzara (The Shield, Life, Crash, Hawthorne), and her latest interview is with feature writer Jason Filardi (Bringing Down the House, 17 Again).
If you love hearing writers talk about their own paths, definitely check this out!
Also-- as a lot of you know-- I'm a HUGE proponent of podcasts... I'm always shocked that they haven't become more mainstream, especially since they're downloadable, making them portable enough to listen to in your car, at the gym, as you're cooking dinner-- wherever you want!
Anyway, for writers looking to learn from other writers' experiences, Storywise a great way to get wonderful advice right from the source!
Click HERE to check it out...
Digital Media and Web Series | Fun Stuff
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 3:40:15 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Friday, June 12, 2009
35 Tips on Indie Filmmaking... According to Nikki Finke & Friends
Posted by Chad
At last weekend's Producers Guild/Produced By conference, a Deadline Hollywood Daily stringer compiled a list of 35 tips on producing indie films, from the mouths of folks like RJ Cutler, Roger Corman, Lawrence Bender, and a host of great execs, producers, and agents.
Click HERE to check it out!
Books Tools Resources | Career Advice | Conferences and Festivals | Production | Screenwriting (Film)
Friday, June 12, 2009 3:48:10 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Thursday, June 11, 2009
Melissa Scrivner: From Writers Assistant to TV Writers Room (Courtesy of HWAS)
Posted by Chad
Hey, TV writers--
The good folks over at the Hollywood Writers Office Assistants Social (HWAS) have put up another great interview, this time with a good friend of mine... Melissa Scrivner, who was a writer last year on NBC's tragically under-appreciated cop show, Life. For those of you fighting to get into a writers room, it's an interesting read... Melissa talks openly about how she got into the room... what she learned... how to play your cards.
Click HERE to take a look!
Career Advice | Guest Perspectives | Writing TV
Thursday, June 11, 2009 11:57:42 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Are Emmy's Writing Awards Inaccurate?
Posted by Chad
Hey, guys-- just wanted to let you all know about a piece I have in today's issue of Variety about the Emmy's "Outstanding Writing" category... and whether or not it's fair and accurate. Take a look... and lemme know if you think the Emmys' process is fair, accurate, or dead-on!
Click HERE to read...
Industry Updates | Interesting Talking Points | Writing TV
Wednesday, June 10, 2009 7:31:29 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Back to the Futurama
Posted by Chad
Hey, guys--
If you're a fan of Matt Groening and David Cohen's Futurama, which was canceled by FOX six years ago, check out this Hollywood Reporter article, hot off the press...
Comedy Central has picked up the series, and new episodes will begin debuting next year!
Fun Stuff | Industry Updates
Tuesday, June 09, 2009 11:12:36 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Hung Up on the Hangover!
Posted by Chad
Hey, guys--
Thanks to Brian, who pointed out this great article on Nikki Finke's Deadline Hollywood Daily about how The Hangover came to be written... it's a pretty fun story-- check it out!
Fun Stuff | Industry Updates | Screenwriting (Film)
Tuesday, June 09, 2009 5:04:50 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Friday, June 05, 2009
Getting Canceled: Terminator-Style
Posted by Chad
So, I'm not sure how many of you are/were fans of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, which was recently canceled by FOX (personally, I LOVED the first season and Tivoed most of the second, but haven't watched it yet), but either way...
You have to read this blog post from Josh Friedman, one of the creators and showrunners.
I don't know if this was the smartest career move for Josh-- I mean, he rips new assholes for FOX, Warner Brothers, even Chuck Lorre (kind of)-- but he certainly captures the pain, frustration, anger, betrayal, and heartbreak of having your show canceled.
It's truly a rare, uncensored glimpse into the mind of a screenwriter dealing with the brutal side of Hollywood... IN THE MOMENT... as it's happening.
(Also, I don't know how network and studio execs will react to Josh's post, but the truth is... if they don't know how much it hurts to have your show killed... and how it often happens in the most brutal ways... then they're not very good executives. I'm sure they'll look at this and A) feel defensive, B) laugh a little-- because hey, some of it really is funny-- and C) TAKE NOTHING AWAY FROM IT. But the truth is... we work in a business that does this to people ON A REGULAR BASIS. And on one hand, sure-- that may be the nature of the game. Yet on the other-- come on, Hollywood, surely there are better ways of handling these things?)
Click HERE to check it out...
(By the way, Josh has some other really fun, interesting posts re: life in Hollywood. He doesn't post much, but when he does, it's always entertaining. So if you get a chance, check out the whole blog.)
Fun Stuff | Writing TV
Friday, June 05, 2009 4:33:01 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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PITCH WORKSHOP: Preston's psychological thriller
Posted by Chad
Hey, folks--
Today's Pitch Workshop submission comes from Preston in Chicago, who's working on a screenplay and wants us to-- these are his words, not mine, I swear!-- "rip [his] work apart" so he can "fix it right" and "become the next Diablo Cody."
All right, Preston-- you asked for it.
Folks... here's Preston's synopsis for his psychological action-thriller, Thy Brother's Keeper...
Title: Thy Brother's Keeper
Genre: Psychological Action Thriller
Log-line: Ronald Davis’s jealousy and envy causes him to sabotage his twin brother Rashawn’s college basketball scholarship chances by planting steroids in his locker. This ends up sending Rashawn to prison, while Ronald goes on to lead a successful corporate career. Upon Rashawn’s return to the world as a criminal minded thug, he finds Ronald was the cause of his demise. He then sets out to destroy his twin brother’s life by assuming his identity and going on a murderous crime spree. Ronald has to leave his corporate life and turn to the streets to stop his twin brother. After chasing Ronald threw the streets of Los Angeles, it will take detectives Garrison and Rodriguez to find out that Rashawn died at birth, but yet lives in the schizophrenic mind of the surviving twin Ronald.
There you go, everyone... CRITIQUE AWAY!!
Coming up, we'll have pitch submissions from Gareth and Gail, some long overdue reader questions, book reviews... and much more!
SCRIPT NOTES PITCH WORKSHOP
Friday, June 05, 2009 12:57:31 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Wanna Sell Your Spec Pilot?...
Posted by Chad
Hey, everyone--
If you missed it a few months ago...
I'm teaching another "Writing the TV Pilot" seminar in Los Angeles this month, and I hope you can all make it!
Spec pilots are selling like hot cakes these days... Matthew Weiner's Mad Men on AMC was a spec pilot... and so was Sons of Tucson, FOX's new midseason comedy. Yours could be next!
This is a great class for anyone working on a spec pilot or thinking of writing a spec pilot... or even if you want to be a producer, agent, or executive developing pilots at networks, studios, or production companies.
We'll also have a special guest... Stacy Traub, creator of ABC's Notes from the Underbelly, who's also written and produced for Spin City, Happy Family, Kitchen Confidential, Suddenly Susan, and HBO's upcoming Washingtonienne. (Last time we had Lesley Wake-Webster, who has written and produced for Kitchen Confidential, What I Like About You, Ruby & the Rockets, and That '80's Show.)
Here's the scoop... hope to see you there!
Writing the TV Pilot: Create & Sell Your Own Series
Now that E.R., My Name Is Earl, The Sopranos, and Friends are
off the air, networks are looking for the next great new show. And with
so many cable networks actively seeking original programming, the time has never been better to develop and pitch your own series idea.
This seminar will show you how to develop and write a pilot, detail
what to include in a proposal, and discuss the elements of the perfect
pitch.
In this seminar, you will learn:
- Which types of shows the networks are looking for
- Where to pitch and who to pitch to
- How to write a synopsis that captures producers' attention
- How to create compelling characters
- How to generate ideas for a season's worth of episodes
- What to include in your pitch -- and what to leave out
- How to write a saleable pilot
WHEN Monday, June 15, 7-10 pm
WHERE Beverly Hills Bar Assoc., 300 S. Beverly Dr., 2nd Fl., Beverly Hills, CA 90212
FOR MORE INFO CLICK HERE or call 212-547-7890
PRICE
$65 ($50 for  ) And here for your viewing pleasure is a preview scene from FOX's upcoming half-hour comedy, Sons of Tucson, which was bought as a spec script written by Princeton college buddies Greg Bratman and Tommy Dewey...
Sons of Tucson
Classes Seminars Workshops | Events Activities and Things To Do | Writing TV
Tuesday, June 02, 2009 8:38:06 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Monday, June 01, 2009
PITCH WORKSHOP: Erica's Feedback
Posted by Chad
Hey, guys—
Wanted to respond to Erica’s Pitch Workshop Submission from a few weeks ago… sorry this is a little late, Erica!
Here’s Erica’s logline and synopsis:
LOGLINE:
“When the romantically inept son of Dracula travels to New York to find a powerful amulet, he finds he must learn the art of seduction to coax it from a sexually frustrated woman cursed by its dark magic.”
SYNOPSIS:
“Dracula’s son Dragos has come to New York to escape arch-vampire hunter Adam Van Helsing…and find a powerful amulet, the Eye of Khamsa. It’s the only thing that can protect him from the incantation Van Helsing has already used to destroy his father. But Reinfeld has given the amulet to his daughter, Rachel, a sexually frustrated virgin who doesn't realize her spectacularly doomed romances are caused by the amulet's dark magic.
“While Dragos might have his father’s strength and good looks, he lacks his debonair charm. Unable to talk to girls, he relies on his powers to get by. But when his powers fail to control Rachel, he finds he must learn the art of seduction to get the amulet back…slowly falling in love in the process. But after his parents tragic romance, he fears only the worse will come of it.”
First of all, Erica, thank you so much for submitting. As you know, it is SOLID, INARGUABLE FACT that the greatest show in television history (and possibly mankind’s greatest artistic achievement EVER) is “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” so you’re already playing in territory I love. I also love the fusion of horror/fantasy with comedy… and you’re clearly using the vampire mythos to comment on the difficulties of love and dating, which I love. Joss Whedon would be proud.
Secondly, kudos to Matt Star for his dead-on and lengthy feedback to your original logline post. I don’t know Matt personally, but someone should give him a job in development. And since he already commented on your original logline, I’m gonna comment on your revised logline and synopsis. So here we go…
DRAGOS FEELS TOO REACTIVE. In other words, he’s not proactive, or in active pursuit of anything… he’s simply responsive. He “escapes” to New York, and while sure, he’s in search of the Eye of Khamsa, his real motivation is just to “survive” and be “protected.”
I think you need to make Dragos genuinely PRO-active: he wants to destroy Adam Van Helsing, and the only way to do that is with the magic amulet. Or he needs to sleep with a virgin (Rachel) to get immortality, and he needs the magic amulet to help him seduce her. It’s much easier to invest in and root for pro-active characters, and right now he feels a bit too reactive.
THE MYTHOLOGY SEEMS MUDDY. You’re obviously playing with the traditional vampire mythos here, which is great, but there are a few points which are confusing to me…
• What, exactly, are Dragos’s powers? For instance, you say he’s “unable to talk to girls, [so] he relies on his powers to get by”—and then, a moment later, you his “his powers fail to control Rachel,” suggesting he’s able to control OTHER girls. So which is it?... Do his powers usually allow him to control women, in which case he IS able to talk to girls (and if he’s not able to talk to them—so what? I’d much rather be able to control people magically then have to work at talking to them)? Or is Dragos a nerdy, anti-social vampire whose powers have nothing to with talking to girls, in which case Rachel is no different than anyone else (except he falls in love with her)?
(On a similar note, why does Dragos need to seduce Rachel at all to get the amulet? If he’s a vampire with magical powers, and she’s human, can’t he simply fly into her room and TAKE the amulet? Or attack her? Or bust open her safe with his super-strength? Or turn into fog and sneak into her hiding place?)
• I love that Dragos must seduce Rachel in order to retrieve the amulet, but what does the amulet actually DO? On one hand, it seems to give Dragos strength and power (yet you also say he has Dracula’s strength, so I’m not sure what more he needs). On the other hand, the amulet is responsible for ruining all of Rachel’s relationships. This seems contradictory to me. It seems like the amulet needs to have a very specific power… like boosting sexual/romantic prowess. So Dragos needs it to become as “manly” and strong as possible… and when Rachel gets a hold of it, it turns her from a geeky bookwork into a sexual dynamo.
• Who were Dragos’s parents, and why was their relationship tragic enough to make him afraid of romance? (Is his mom Mina or Lucy? A new character?)
• Lastly, and this may sound silly or obvious—but why does Adam want to destroy Dragos? Sure, Adam is a Van Helsing and Dragos is the son of Dracula… but this story lives in a world where vampires can be likeable and good… and frankly, Dragos doesn’t seem very threatening. He’s an anti-social dork who can’t talk to girls and then falls in love… is he really dangerous enough that he warrants being killed? Or—is Adam “evil,” so obsessed with killing vampires that he can’t distinguish the good ones? I think this relationship needs to be clarified and articulated.
Anyway, having said all that… I still love this—and I can’t wait to see it on the big screen, shot with a $100 million budget!
For the rest of you, if you have loglines you'd like to workshop as party of the Script Notes Pitch Workshop, please feel free to post them in comments here, or simply email them to me at WDScriptNotes@FWPubs.com.
In the mean time, coming up... we have many more reader questions, pitch submissions, book reviews, and much more! Don't go anywhere!
SCRIPT NOTES PITCH WORKSHOP
Monday, June 01, 2009 1:28:22 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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