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Posts tagged as “Diversity & Representation”

Less TV, Less Opportunity (PT186)

Alex and Nick discuss the current trend of diminishing episode orders and shorter seasons, and how that affects the size of writers’ rooms, opportunities for emerging writers, and other worrying consequences for television writing.

Why are TV season orders shrinking from twenty-two episodes down to as few as three? How does this affect professional opportunities for writers, both emerging and established? What does it mean for the TV business and distribution models? What are some of the long-term consequences for access and diversity in television? What are proactive ways of combating and solving these issues?

Content

1 – Shorter seasons and diminishing episode orders (00:34)
2 – How that affects writers and opportunities (10:17)
3 – How that affects business and creativity (29:34)

Links

“Michael Schur on What We Lose When TV Gets Shorter” – Vanity Fair
TV Writing Incubators and the Evolution of Access (PT125)
The Art of the TV Episode (PT20)

If you enjoy Paper Team, 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]

Being a Black Writer in Hollywood ft. WGAW Committee of Black Writers Chairs (Michelle Amor, Hilliard Guess, Bianca Sams) (PT181)

Alex and Nick invite the Chairs of the WGAW Committee of Black Writers, Michelle Amor (Playin’ for Love, Of Boys and Men, The Honorable), Hilliard Guess (Deadly Class, We Got Issues, Ticker), and Bianca Sams (Charmed, The Originals, Training Day), to have an in-depth discussion about systematic racism and injustice in the entertainment industry towards Black writers, representation in and out of the writers’ room, plus various ways TV writers and professionals of all levels can be part of the solution.

WGAW Committee of Black Writers

NOTE: We recorded this episode remotely so please excuse some minor audio glitches.

Links

Open Letter by the WGAW Committee of Black Writers (PDF)
WGA Inclusion Report 2020 (PDF)
WGAW Committee of Black Writers on Facebook
Michelle Amor on Twitter
Hilliard Guess on Twitter
Bianca Sams on Twitter

If you enjoy Paper Team, 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]

Nickelodeon Animation Writing Program ft. Katherine Wells – Inside the TV Writing Programs (PT179)

Alex and Nick bring back 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.

Our sixth part takes a look at the revamped Nickelodeon Animation Writing Program, with Katherine Wells, who heads it as the Manager of Creative Talent Development and Outreach.

We discuss everything about it, from their brand new application and selection process, to how they adapt the program’s content to the industry, and what comes after.

PT179 Nickelodeon Animation Writing Program Katherine Wells

Content

About the Nickelodeon Animation Writing Program (00:48)
1 – The application process (02:25)
2 – The selection process (16:00)
3 – The program (25:46)
4 – After the program and final advice (35:49)

Links

Nickelodeon Animation Writing Program
Nickelodeon Writing Program on Facebook
Nickelodeon Writing Program on Twitter

If you enjoy Paper Team, 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]