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Posts published in “TV Writing”

Knowing Your Worth as an Assistant: Expectations, Opportunities, and Negotiations (PT168)

Alex and Nick take an honest and practical look at what you should be expecting and asking for as an assistant in a TV writers’ room or entertainment industry desk.

From our real personal stories and tips negotiating your rate/benefits, to finding value from your job even when things get dire, this is a jam-packed episode you don’t want to miss, all about knowing and fighting for your worth as an assistant in Hollywood.

What should you expect from a support staff position in terms of salary and benefits? What are common ways you might get screwed over? How do you ensure that you are being compensated fairly for your duties? What are ways of getting the most out of every professional opportunity? Why is negotiating a rate important and how should you approach it?

Content

1 – Preface (00:00:55)
2 – Expectations versus reality: what pay and benefits you should expect, and how you might get screwed over (00:02:28)
3 – Getting compensated for your job: salary and negotiations (00:30:41)
4 – Creating opportunities during and after your job: creativity, relationships, and paying it forward (00:53:03)
Takeaways, Resources, and Next Week On (01:19:44)

Links

TV Writing Incubators and the Evolution of Access (PT125)

Resources

#PayUpHollywood Town Hall (Video)

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]

Manager Communication, Assistant Work, and Staffing Starts – Paper Scraps Monthly (PT167)

Alex is back with fellow writer Evelyn Yves to answer your TV writing questions about using life experiences, communicating with your reps, finding assistant gigs, getting started on staffing, and being critical of your own ideas.

Plus, we look at some of the latest TV writing news about FYC scripts and big data in Hollywood.

Reminder

We’re having our second mixer this week! Join us Friday, January 31 at Village Idiot on Melrose. The event starts at 7:30PM. More information available at http://paperteam.co/mixermelrose

Content

Audience Questions: life experiences, rep communication, assistant gigs, starting staffing, and handling idea criticism (01:24)
TV Writing News: Golden Globes, favorite shows, FYC scripts, and big data in Hollywood (29:41)

Links

Evelyn Yves on Twitter
Katy Keene premieres February 6 on The CW
Breaking in as a TV Writer Later in Life ft. J. Holtham (PT92)
Script Readiness, Contests, and Career Detours – Paper Scraps Monthly (PT160)
Perspective and POVs in TV Writing (PT88)
“Big Data Comes to Hollywood: The Brewing Antitrust Battle of the Streaming Era” – The Hollywood Reporter

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]

Finding Your Place in the Writers’ Room ft. Evelyn Yves (Katy Keene) (PT166)

Alex is joined by Evelyn Yves, writer on Katy Keene, to discuss ways of finding your place in the writers’ room, from pitching yourself in a showrunner’s meeting and prep work beforehand, to handling the first few weeks pitching in the writers’ room and figuring out your own skillset to contribute.

Reminder

We’re having our second mixer this month! Join us Friday, January 31 at Village Idiot on Melrose. The event starts at 7:30PM. More information available at http://paperteam.co/mixermelrose

Content

1 – Showrunner meetings and preparing before the room (01:02)
2 – The first few weeks in the room, learning the lingo, and pitching as a new writer (09:43)
3 – Finding your skills in the writers’ room (31:30)

Links

Evelyn Yves on Twitter
Katy Keene premieres February 6 on The CW
Tell Us About Yourself: Crafting the Personal Pitch (PT165)

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]