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TV Calling

TV Outlines: At Home and in the Writers’ Room (PT207)

Alex and Nick take a look at the outlining process in television writing. Whether you’re working on your own TV sample scripts, or asked to deliver outlines in a writers’ room, we dig into everything you should watch out for.

Why is outlining a critical step in television? How do we approach outlines? Have there been times we’ve decided not to outline? How early in the process do we outline? How do outlines differ between your own work and what is expected in a writers’ room? Why has there been a push against outlines by some showrunners?

Content

1 – Outlines in your own work: TV samples, specs, pilots (00:28)
2 – Outlines in a professional environment: TV writers’ rooms and pushback (19:21)

Links

From Outline to (First) Draft (PT28)
Twitter thread on TV outlines

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]

2020 Paper Team Mentorship VI – “The Pirate King” Strategy (PT206)

Alex and Nick conclude the 2020 Paper Team Mentorship with mentee Ben Warner, and his drama pilot THE PIRATE KING.

Final step of the process: strategizing on what to do with your new pilot script, from using this sample to attract representation, to using it as a TV staffing or selling tool, and much more.

Content

2020 Mentorship Recap and “The Pirate King” Script Updates (00:49)
Internal Strategies: Understanding your script and yourself (04:32)
External Strategies: What to do with your script? (19:54)

Links

2020 Paper Team Mentorship I – “The Pirate King” Overview (PT190)
2020 Paper Team Mentorship I – Ben’s Update
2020 Paper Team Mentorship II – “The Pirate King” Beat Sheet (PT193)
2020 Paper Team Mentorship II – Ben’s Update
2020 Paper Team Mentorship III – “The Pirate King” Outline (PT198)
2020 Paper Team Mentorship III – Ben’s Update
2020 Paper Team Mentorship IV – “The Pirate King” First Draft (PT201)
2020 Paper Team Mentorship IV – Ben’s Update
2020 Paper Team Mentorship V – “The Pirate King” Revised Draft (PT204)
Branding Yourself (PT86)
Branding Samples, Manager Opinions, and OTTs (PT145)
Tell Us About Yourself: Crafting the Personal Pitch (PT165)
TV Writing Competitions (PT33)
Script Readiness, Contests, and Career Detours (PT160)
TV Writer Representation 101 (PT31)
Networking 201: Cold Contact, Queries and Etiquette (PT121)
Putting Yourself Out There (PT75)
TV Staffing vs. TV Selling (PT182)

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]

Pitches, Pivots, and Pilots – Paper Scraps Monthly (PT205)

Alex and Nick answer your TV writing questions about pitching with a script, and pivoting towards a screenwriting career.

Plus, we discuss the latest news, including productions halting in LA, and pilot season during a pandemic.

Content

Editor Goodbye and Shout-Outs (00:31)
TV Writing Questions: Pitching with a script, pivoting towards a screenwriting career later in life (02:56)
TV Writing News: Warner Bros, Alex Trebek, and production shutdowns (17:58)

Links

Networking 201: Cold Contact, Queries and Etiquette (PT121)
Protecting and Over-Protecting Your TV Script: Copyright, Ownership and Idea Theft (PT23)
Breaking in as a TV Writer Later in Life ft. J. Holtham (PT92)
“Warner Bros will stream its 2021 films” – The Ringer
“HBO Max Planning Original DC Content for International Markets” – CBR
“The Hidden Depths of Alex Trebek’s Banter with Jeopardy Contestants” – The New Yorker
“SAG-AFTRA, Producers Guild & Advertisers Urge Temporary Shutdown” – Deadline

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]