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Posts tagged as “Contests”

Writing a Contest-Winning Script ft. Jorge Gonzalez (Tracking Board/Launch Pad Writing Competitions) (PT69)

Writing a Contest-Winning Script ft. Jorge Gonzalez (Tracking Board/Launch Pad Writing Competitions) (PT69)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:10 — 33.3MB)

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Alex and Nick invite Jorge Gonzalez, from the Tracking Board and Launch Pad Writing Competitions, to discuss what makes a contest-winning script.

How does the selection process of a TV writing competition work? What do readers look for when evaluating scripts and pilots? What separates top-tier screenplays from all others? What should writers watch out for before submitting their scripts?

The Paper Team strikes gold…

SHOWNOTES

Content

Getting involved with Tracking Board, the Launch Pad Competitions, selection process, what readers look for, finding top-tier scripts, common mistakes and faux pas, overdone tropes and cliches, what happens after the win, maximizing the opportunities, and notable success stories (00:54)
Resources and Next Week On (28:53)

Links

Launch Pad Writing Competitions
“The Mailroom” – David Rensin
Taylor Sheridan
“TV Writing Competition Winners: What Happens Next?” (PT55)
Kate Trefry
T.A. Snyder
Eric Koenig
Industry Standard w/ Barry Katz
Big Mouth

This episode brought to you by Tracking Board’s Launch Pad Writing Competitions

Use code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF when you enter a Launch Pad Competition

Special thanks to Alex Switzky 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]

Adapting Content for TV (PT65)

Adapting Content for TV (PT65)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:07 — 48.8MB)

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Alex and Nick share their experiences adapting preexisting material to television, from established novels and properties to historical events.

What constitutes an adaptation? How do you balance existing content and personal take? How close should you stick to the original source? How do you stay historically accurate while telling a compelling story? When should you spec an existing property without having the rights?

Plus, a new venue for feedback and an update on the Fox Writers Lab.

The Paper Team gets inspired by…

SHOWNOTES

Content

Paper Scraps: Voicemail and Fox Writers Lab Update (00:51)
1 – Defining what is an adaptation: IPs, properties, and real events (07:24)
2 – Choosing the right format, tips on adapting history and existing content (16:14)
3 – Speccing established IPs without having the rights (38:59)
Takeaways and Resources (49:15)

Links

“TV Writing Competitions” (PT33)
“TV Writing Competition Winners: What Happens Next?” (PT65)
Send a voicemail to TV Calling and Paper Team
“Inspiration vs. Stealing in TV Writing” (PT58)
The Wolf of Wall Street
Wall Street (Movie)
Spotlight
Kingsman: The Secret Service
W.
Band of Brothers
Rome
Revenge
The Count of Monte Cristo
“Why The Expanse is transforming TV” – Wired
“Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” – Tom Stoppard
Star Trek: Terran

Resources

“Beyond Fidelity: The Dialogics of Adaptation” – Robert Stam (PDF)
DP/30 interview with Eric Heisserer (Arrival)
The Writers’ Panel with Eric Heisserer

This episode brought to you by Tracking Board’s Launch Pad Writing Competitions

Use code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF when you enter a Launch Pad Competition

Special thanks to Alex Switzky 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]

TV Writing Competition Winners: What Happens Next? (PT55)

TV Writing Competition Winners: What Happens Next? (PT55)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:04:24 — 59.2MB)

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Alex and Nick invite three TV writers to discuss what comes after winning a major screenwriting or TV writing competition.

Guests include: Talia Gonzalez (Teen Wolf/iZombie) from the 2013 Tacking Board Launch Pad Feature Competition, David Hoffman (Timeless) from the 2015 Launch Pad Pilot Competition, and T.A. Snyder from the 2017 Launch Pad Pilot Competition.

Why is entering screenwriting competitions important? What should you look out for before submitting a script? What should you expect and do after winning a writing contest? How should you brand yourself as a TV writer with your samples? What is the process of selecting the right agent or manager for you? How do you balance working on a TV writing staff and developing your own projects?

The Paper Team competes…

SHOWNOTES

Content

Winning a screenwriting competition and what comes after (01:08)
Resources and Outro (59:50)

[NOTE: Our usual “Next Week On” segment at the very end was unexpectedly cut. We’ll be talking about working in TV as immigrants in next week’s episode!]

Links

David Hoffman on Twitter
Talia Gonzalez on Twitter
T.A. Snyder on Twitter
Matthew Weiner
Charlie Kaufman
Shawn Ryan
Eric Kripke
Launch Pad mentors
TV Writing Fellowships
WTF with Marc Maron Podcast
Radiolab Podcast
Traffic
The Limey

This episode brought to you by Tracking Board’s Launch Pad Writing Competitions

Use code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF when you enter a Launch Pad Competition

Special thanks to Alex Switzky 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]