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Posts published in “Paper Team”

The TV Writer’s Mindset: Dealing With Procrastination, Blank Page, and the Muse (PT17)

Alex and Nick tackle how to get into a TV writing mindset and actually finish that script.
We talk about the psychological side of writing and practical ways of dealing with procrastination, deadlines, and the muse.

How do you beat the blank page? How do you deal with procrastination? How do you stay accountable with your work?

The Paper Team starts the clock…

SHOWNOTES

Content

1 – Approaching writing or the myth of “the muse” (00:38)
2 – Time-management and procrastination (06:45)
3 – External and introspective factors (21:36)
Takeaways and Resources (28:46)

Links

Parkinson’s Law
Pomodoro technique
Crave Cafe (Studio City)
Republic of Pies
Sublime Text
Highland
Fade In
Habitica
Ig Nobel Prize
The Art of Procrastination – John Perry
Pavlok
The Most Dangerous Writing App
Nathan For You – “Dating Website/Party Planner” (2×07)
Pumping Iron

Resources

Time Timer MOD
Rainy Mood
The War of Art – Steven Pressfield

Special thanks to Jason J. Cohn for helping us edit this episode.

If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :)

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

Managing Finances as an Assistant & Staff Writer ft. Kiyong Kim (PT16)

Alex and Nick invite Kiyong Kim to talk about everyone’s favorite subject: money.
We discuss all the basics about how to start a budget, investing, and managing your income when you’re working in the entertainment industry as an assistant, aspiring TV writer, and staff writer.

Why should you learn how to manage your money? Where to begin when you don’t know anything about budgeting? What are some ways to invest and use efficiently every amount of money you make?

The Paper Team diversifies its portfolio to tackle these questions…

DISCLAIMER: We’re sharing our thoughts/personal experiences with money, budgeting, and investing. Use our advice at your own discretion, caution, and risk.

SHOWNOTES

Content

1 – Budgeting and managing your income (01:15)
2 – Investing basics (16:12)
3 – Financial priorities as an assistant and TV staff writer (29:14)
Takeaway & Resources (43:27)

Links

Kiyong Kim on Twitter
Amazon Rewards Visa Card
“What is credit card churning?”
Secured credit card
Annual Credit Report
Credit Karma
Charles Schwab Bank
Wells Fargo Controversies
The Marshmallow Test (Video)
401k
Roth IRA
Value Investing
Mutual Fund
Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF)
“Is it Better to Rent or Buy?” – The New York Times
T-Mobile Tuesdays

Resources

Mint.com
You Need a Budget
“The Intelligent Investor” by Benjamin Graham
“The Millionaire Next Door” by Thomas J. Stanley & William D. Danko

If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :)

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

Act Breaks (PT15)

Alex and Nick discuss the goal and narrative impact of TV act breaks, also known as the structural core of every television episode ever.

Why do shows have act breaks? What is the difference between an act break in comedy versus drama? What impact has the inflation of act breaks in shows had on TV stories?

The Paper Team smashes to black…

SHOWNOTES

Content

1 – Introduction to act breaks (00:30)
2 – Act breaks and TV narrative (12:29)
3 – Inflation of act breaks and impact on pacing (18:28)
4 – Writing without acts (31:00)
Takeaways & Resources (40:04)

Links

Format of Gunsmoke
Over-the-top Content (OTT)
Smash to Black – TV Tropes
Coup de théâtre
One Mississippi
NBC’s Seeso
Julie Plec on Act Breaks
Tom Fontana

Resources

“Basic TV Act Structure” – Excerpt from “Showrunners” by Tara Bennett
“Cracking the Sitcom Code” – The Atlantic

Special thanks to Jason J. Cohn for helping us edit this episode.

If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :)

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