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Posts published in “TV Business”

Reverse-Engineering Scripts, TV References, and Release Schedules – Paper Scraps Monthly (PT191)

Reverse-Engineering Scripts, TV References, and Release Schedules – Paper Scraps Monthly (PT191)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:09 — 39.7MB)

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Alex and Nick answer your TV writing questions about non-adult animation, reverse-engineering shows, and cultural references.

Plus, we reveal details of our online virtual mixer and discuss the latest TV news, including broadcast comedies under threat, productions resuming, and controversial release schedules.

Reminder

We’re having our first online virtual mixer this week!
Join us Saturday, October 3 at 6PM PST over Zoom.
Link and information available at http://paperteam.co/onlinemixer

Content

Virtual Mixer Announcement and Shout-Outs (00:33)
TV Writing Questions: Non-adult animation, reverse-engineering shows, and cultural references (03:54)
TV Writing News: Controversial release schedules, broadcast comedies, freelance laws, and productions resuming (26:05)

Links

Nickelodeon Animation Writing Program (PT179)
ScreenplaySubs extension
“The Boys Showrunner Addresses Backlash to Season 2 Release Schedule” – CBR
“Network Comedies’ Future Threatened By Outdated Broadcast Business Model” – Deadline
California Assembly Bill 5 (2019)
“‘For Life’ Suspends Production Due to ‘Inconsistent’ COVID-19 Test Results” – 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]

Character Arcs, Writer Mutiny, and Gamemaster – Paper Scraps Monthly (PT188)

Character Arcs, Writer Mutiny, and Gamemaster – Paper Scraps Monthly (PT188)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:01 — 34.1MB)

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Alex and Nick answer your TV writing questions about character arcs and animated script length, and discuss the latest TV writing news involving the All-Rise writers’ room mutiny and the WarnerMedia restructure.

Plus, we talk with director Charles Mruz about his new board-game documentary Gamemaster, and tease an upcoming Paper Team mixer.

Content

Mixer Tease and Shout-Outs (00:35)
TV Writing Questions: Character arcs and animated script length (05:31)
Gamemaster documentary with director Charles Mruz (14:45)
TV Writing News: All-Rise mutiny and WarnerMedia restructure (25:16)

Links

Gamemaster Documentary on Linktree
Independent Producing ft. Jimmy Nguyen (Showrunners) (PT32)
“Writers Mutiny at ‘All Rise,’ the Rare CBS Show With a Black Female Lead” – New York Times
“Bob Greenblatt, Kevin Reilly Out at WarnerMedia in Management Shakeup” – 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]

Less TV, Less Opportunity (PT186)

Less TV, Less Opportunity (PT186)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 48:39 — 44.8MB)

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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]