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Posts tagged as “Flash Videos”

THR’s 2015 Showrunner Emmy Roundtable (Comedy & Drama)

Just in time for tomorrow’s Emmys, you can check out a few of The Hollywood Reporter’s annual roundtables on their website.
This is kind of like that time we covered the same thing in 2009, except with much nicer tables, and in glorious HD.

Here are the two most important (and interesting) ones to watch, both clocking at around an hour runtime:

The full, uncensored Drama Showrunner Emmy Roundtable, featuring Lee Daniels (Empire), Damon Lindelof (The Leftovers), Alex Gansa (Homeland), Sarah Treem (The Affair), Michelle King (The Good Wife), and Beau Willimon (House of Cards).

The full, uncensored Comedy Showrunner Emmy Roundtable, featuring Jill Soloway (Transparent), Jay Duplass (Togetherness), Steve Levitan (Modern Family), Robert Carlock (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), Kenya Barris (Black-ish), and Alec Berg (Silicon Valley).

James Gunn on Screenwriting

“There’s somebody out there who’s writing harder than you are. Write harder than that person.” – James Gunn

Over a decade ago, Lloyd Kaufman published the “Make Your Own Damn Movie” DVD set. Although I can’t vouch for the product’s quality, it does feature a couple of interesting interviews. This is one of them.

In this semi-impromptu interview before he became a big-time Marvel director, Guardians of the Galaxy‘s James Gunn discusses his entry into the screenwriting business, building a reader base, taking notes, rewriting, getting an agent, script formatting, structure/acts, index cards, endings, adaptations, blockbusters, and production.

He even admits screenwriters don’t make the big bucks!

The Mike Wallace Interview Featuring Rod Serling (1959)

As The Twilight Zone was about to premiere on CBS, journalist Mike Wallace interviewed on his show Rod Serling. The fascinating television writer expresses his opinion of the medium and goes through his career as one of the pioneers of TV.

Over 55 years later, everything Serling has to say it still very relevant.

Topics include: (pre-)censorship, pressure by sponsors and networks, viewers’ complaints, the Lassie series, story content, creating shows, The Twilight Zone‘s place in his career, writing outside of television, why TV isn’t just a “commercial medium”, working 14-hour days, and making money vs. making art.

Rod Serling also exposes his frustration towards sponsor-run television content. “I think it’s criminal that we’re not permitted to make dramatic note of social evils as they exist; of controversial themes as they are inherent in our society.”

Funnily enough, Serling also points out that his upcoming 30-minute show (The Twilight Zone) “doesn’t use scripts as vehicles of social criticism. [They’re] strictly for entertainment.” He continues claiming that “because [the stories] deal in the areas of fantasy, imagination and science-fiction, there are no opportunities to cop a plea or chop an ax or anything.”

The TV writer doth protest too much, methinks.