facebook_pixel Press "Enter" to skip to content

Looking to start your TV writing journey?

Posts tagged as “Production”

Episodes, Actors, and Contagion – Paper Scraps Monthly (PT175)

Episodes, Actors, and Contagion – Paper Scraps Monthly (PT175)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:04 — 27.7MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | Email | RSS | More

Alex and Nick answer your TV writing questions about episodic versus serialization, actor schedules, and fellowship specs.

Plus, we look at some TV business news tied to the coronavirus and the upcoming WGA-MBA negotiations.

NOTE: This episode was recorded before the current “shelter in place” orders.
Get the latest updates and resources about COVID-19 in California at https://covid19.ca.gov. Stay home, stay safe.

Content

Announcements and Shout-outs (00:51)
TV Writing Questions: Episodic v. serialized, actor schedules, fellowship specs (05:12)
TV Writing News: WGA-MBA negotiations and coronavirus (17:24)

Links

Javi’s Twitter thread on serialization
The Art of the TV Episode (PT20)
Writing Episodic vs. Serialized TV (PT95)
Jeffrey’s Twitter thread on scheduling
“WGA And AMPTP Set Date To Start Contract Talks” – Deadline
“SXSW 2020 canceled” – USA Today
“TV Academy Bans Audience Interaction With Talent at FYC Panels” – Variety

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]

Showrunning Duncanville & The Simpsons ft. Mike Scully (PT172)

Showrunning Duncanville & The Simpsons ft. Mike Scully (PT172)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:18:58 — 72.5MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | Email | RSS | More

Alex and Nick invite Mike Scully, executive producer, co-creator, co-showrunner of FOX’s Duncanville, long-time writer/showrunner of The Simpsons, and writer/producer on Parks and Recreation/The Carmichael Show/Everybody Loves Raymond, to learn all about his writing process and running a comedy room.

From staffing a writers’ room and reading samples, to breaking episodes and producing an animated show, we take a deep dive into what goes into creating a comedy series from the inside.

PT172 Mike Scully

Content

1 – Beginnings, pitching, and becoming a showrunner (00:00:43)
2 – Staffing Duncanville and other writers’ rooms: reading samples, assembling the right staff and advice for showrunner meetings (00:09:19)
3 – The Duncanville & Simpsons rooms and writing process: best practices, format differences, blue-skying, breaking episodes, tone, structure, and character arcs (00:23:53)
4 – Production of Duncanville: animation, department heads, casting and punch-ups (00:40:47)
Final advice, resources, and next week on (01:11:38)

Links

Duncanville on FOX
Mike Scully on Twitter
Everybody Loves Raymond
Parks and Recreation
The Carmichael Show
What a Country!
Out of This World

Resource

“Tinker in Television” – Grant Tinker

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]

Writing Classic Multicams to Cable Darlings ft. Dan O’Keefe (Seinfeld/Veep) (PT154)

Writing Classic Multicams to Cable Darlings ft. Dan O’Keefe (Seinfeld/Veep) (PT154)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 58:38 — 53.9MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | Email | RSS | More

Alex and Nick invite Dan O’Keefe, writer on Silicon Valley, Veep, and Final Space, to talk about his experience writing on classic multicams, late-night comedy, and half-hour cable darlings.

What are the differences working on single-cam and multi-cam? How do you keep a consistent career in comedy writing? What is it like working on a serialized half-hour? How do you tackle the politics of late-night and comedy rooms? What is some advice for pitching and selling shows?

The Paper Team grins…

PT154 Dan O'Keefe

Content

Writing classic multicams, late-night, and cable comedy darlings, with Dan O’Keefe (00:39)
Final Advice, Resources, and Next Week On (54:21)

Links

Dan O’Keefe on IMDb
WGF Library

If you enjoyed this episode and others, 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]