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TV Calling

Thirteen Years of TV Calling

I’ve been MIA for a while after the past year, but today is a special day.

We are marking, incredibly, the 13th birthday of TV Calling!

This site, this community, this platform could not exist with you. You right here, reading this. As always, I want to give a huge THANK YOU for your support of TV Calling even through the hard times. I might say it every year, and it is still true after all this time.

We took a break from Paper Team a few months ago, however (much like this site) it isn’t the end. Just a little pause until we get our bearings straight.

Despite all this, the past twelve months have been, once again, our strongest on record. We achieved a new peak back in October and November with nearly 2,000(!) daily visitors on TV Calling. Paper Team also reached new milestones earlier this year, with over 350,000(!) downloads. Sublime.

It is true that I haven’t been as active online as I’ve been in the past. I’ve drifted away from social media. There wasn’t a spec list this year, in part due to fellowships moving away from specs. However, specs continue to make a comeback on the professional side, with showrunners reading more and more of them. So perhaps the spec list will make its return in the future.

We know how much you value our TV writing content, which is why we hope this little break isn’t stopping you from continuing your own journey. We’re in tough times, but (despite everything going on) know that you’re not alone.

Here’s to year fourteen, and even more beyond.

Write on.

Paper Pause (PT212)

Alex and Nick announce that they’re taking a break from Paper Team. From new content to COVID fatigue, we go over all the reasons behind our decision in this episode.

Plus, we discuss the future of the podcast and our Patreon campaign.

Links

Survivor: Hollywood – Emotional and Practical Realities of TV Writing (PT209)
COVID-19 and Hollywood: How We Adapt (PT177)

You can find Paper Team on Twitter:
Alex@TVCalling
Nick@_njwatson

For any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]

TV Access, Financial Support, and Finale History – Paper Scraps Monthly (PT211)

Alex and Nick answer your TV writing questions about the usefulness of being an assistant, limited access for lower-level writers, and supporting yourself financially.

Plus, we discuss the latest TV writing news, including the Paramount+ presentation and a series finale’s oral history.

Content

Review shout-out (00:32)
TV Writing Questions: Usefulness of being an assistant, supporting yourself financially, and limited access for lower-levels (01:18)
TV Writing News: Paramount+ presentation, revivals, and the oral history of Lost‘s series finale (22:25)

Links

Dunbar’s number
James Hamilton’s Twitter thread on supporting yourself financially
Michelle Denise Jackson’s Twitter thread on diminishing lower-level access
TV Writing Incubators and the Evolution of Access (PT125)
Less TV, Less Opportunity (PT186)
WGAw’s 2020 Inclusion Report (PDF)
“ViacomCBS Bets on Big-Tent Strategy for Streaming Growth With Paramount Plus” – Variety
“Avatar: The Last Airbender To Expand With Launch Of Avatar Studios” – Deadline
“The Oral History of Lost’s Series finale” – Vulture

If you enjoy Paper Team, please consider supporting us on Patreon at paperteam.co/patreon! :)

You can find Paper Team on Twitter:
Alex@TVCalling
Nick@_njwatson
For any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]