facebook_pixel Press "Enter" to skip to content

Looking to start your TV writing journey?

TV Calling

Earning Your Way Into the Writers’ Room ft. Ning Zhou (Ozark) (PT135)

Alex and Nick invite Ning Zhou, story editor on Ozark, to discuss how she worked her way up through the assistant ranks and into the fabled writers’ room.

What is the process of writing for Ozark? How do you transition into the writers’ room? How can you nail that assistant interview? What are ways of being a valuable showrunner’s assistant and writers’ assistant? Why is it important for the support staff to make their career goals clear? Why is communication so important in television?

The Paper Team moves up the Ozark writers room…

Content

Earning Your Way Into the Writers’ Room with Ning Zhou (00:32)
Final Advice, Resources, and Next Week On (47:08)

Links

Ning Zhou on IMDb
Ozark on Netflix
Damages
Bloodline

Resources

“Bird by Bird” – Anne Lamott

If you enjoyed this episode and others, please consider supporting us on Patreon at paperteam.co/patreon! :)

Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode.

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

Paper Team Mentorship II – “Mid-Death Crisis” Beat Sheet (PT134)

Alex and Nick continue their Paper Team Mentorship with winner Paul Chang, and his comedy pilot MID-DEATH CRISIS.

Step two: a beat sheet of the pilot episode, including general acts and story arcs.

We hear about the pilot episode, and discuss our thoughts live.

Content

Quick recap and listeners’ thoughts on the first mentorship episode (00:30)
“Mid-Death Crisis” – Beat sheet (06:41)
Discussion of the beat sheet (08:30)

Links

“Mid-Death Crisis” beat sheet
Paper Team Mentorship I – “Mid-Death Crisis” Overview (PT128)
Paper Team Mentorship I – Paul’s Update
Bringing the TV Writers’ Room Process Home (PT06)
Paul Chang on Twitter

If you enjoyed this episode and others, please consider supporting us on Patreon at paperteam.co/patreon! :)

Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode.

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

Warner Bros. Television Writers’ Workshop ft. Rebecca Windsor – Inside the TV Writing Programs (PT133)

Alex and Nick expand their “Inside the TV Writing Program” series – a deep dive into what goes on inside every major TV writing program from the decision makers themselves.

The fourth part is all about the Warner Bros. Television Writers’ Workshop, with Rebecca Windsor, director of the program.

We cover everything, from what they want in the application and selection process, to how they adapt the workshop to fit the evolving industry.

PT133 WBTV Writers Workshop Rebecca Windsor

Content

About the Warner Bros. Television Writers’ Workshop (00:50)
1 – The application process (03:43)
2 – The selection process (18:08)
3 – The program (31:54)
4 – After the program and final advice (45:44)

Links

Warner Bros. Television Writers’ Workshop
Warner Bros. Television Directors’ Workshop
WB TV Workshops on Facebook
WB TV Workshops on Twitter

If you enjoyed this episode and others, please consider supporting us on Patreon at paperteam.co/patreon! :)

Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode.

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