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Posts published in “TV Business”

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

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]

Tips and Tricks for the TV Industry (PT171)

Alex and Nick share tips and tricks all about handling the TV writing industry. From managing contacts and representation, to juggling projects and dealing with staffing and writers’ room red flags, we look at common problems you may have and how to solve them.

How can you get to know working writers/showrunners? How should you maintain relationships when you don’t have anything new to share? How are you able to find the right manager or agent? How should you handle reps not providing enough meetings or sending samples out? Should you take freelance development work? What if you can’t find time to write outside work? How should you handle a bad work or writers’ room environment? Are your general meetings never leading to any jobs?

Content

1 – Problems with networking, managing contacts, and professional relationships (00:00:37)
2 – Issues with representation, agents, and managers (00:21:11)
3 – Handling and juggling multiple projects or development (00:41:51)
4 – Red flags in staffing, interviews, and hostile work environments (00:56:47)

Links

Tips and Tricks for TV Writing (PT93)
How to Meet People in LA (When You Don’t Know Anyone) (PT03)
Networking 101: How to Talk With People in Hollywood (PT05)
Knowing Your Worth as an Assistant: Expectations, Opportunities, and Negotiations (PT168)

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 Names, Rebranding, and Fellowship News – Paper Scraps Monthly (PT170)

Alex and Nick answer your TV writing questions about character names, fellowship specs, Paper Tease limits, and choosing representation based on packaging.

Plus, we look at some of the latest TV writing news, including Netflix removing titles, Disney dropping Fox names, and HBO Max productions.

Content

Post-Mixer and Shout-outs (00:32)
Audience Questions: Character names, packaging, 2020 specs, and Patreon (09:48)
TV Writing News: Censorship, OTT movies, and studio rebranding (28:21)

Links

Manager Communication, Assistant Work, and Staffing Starts (PT167)
Showrunning Daybreak ft. Aron Eli Coleite (PT159)
“Netflix Reveals Titles Pulled From Service Over Government Demands” – The Hollywood Reporter
“Disney Drops Fox Name, Will Rebrand as 20th Century Studios, Searchlight Pictures” – Variety
“Warner Bros. and HBO Max Team Up on New Label” – IndieWire
“‘Friends’ Reunion Special On HBO Max Nears Deal” – Deadline
Script Readiness, Contests, and Career Detours (PT160)
Altered Carbon Season 2 on Netflix

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]