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Posts published in “TV Writing”

Paper Scraps Monthly – Similar Ideas, Quality of Dialogue, and Staffing Opportunities (PT136)

Paper Scraps Monthly – Similar Ideas, Quality of Dialogue, and Staffing Opportunities (PT136)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:24 — 38.1MB)

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Alex and Nick answer audience questions about similar premises, quality of dialogue, and cultural experiences.

Plus, we catch up on some of the TV writing news from the past few weeks, including a discussion on staffing opportunities, Netflix and Disney.

Content

Shout-outs (00:24)
Audience Questions: Similar ideas, quality of dialogue, cultural experience, animation (02:46)
TV Writing News: Staffing opportunities, Netflix and Disney (20:29)

Links

“To Live & Dialogue in LA” podcast
Inspiration vs. Stealing in TV Writing (PT58)
TV Dialogue 101 (PT51)
Writing Samples and Preparing for TV Staffing ft. Liz Alper & Kai Wu (PT119)
“Feeling the Churn: Why Netflix Cancels Shows After A Couple Of Seasons” – Deadline
“Disney+ to Launch in November” – Variety

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]

Earning Your Way Into the Writers’ Room ft. Ning Zhou (Ozark) (PT135)

Earning Your Way Into the Writers’ Room ft. Ning Zhou (Ozark) (PT135)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:49 — 49.5MB)

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Alex and Nick invite Ning Zhou, story editor on Ozark, to discuss how she worked her way up through the assistant ranks and into the fabled writers’ room.

What is the process of writing for Ozark? How do you transition into the writers’ room? How can you nail that assistant interview? What are ways of being a valuable showrunner’s assistant and writers’ assistant? Why is it important for the support staff to make their career goals clear? Why is communication so important in television?

The Paper Team moves up the Ozark writers room…

Content

Earning Your Way Into the Writers’ Room with Ning Zhou (00:32)
Final Advice, Resources, and Next Week On (47:08)

Links

Ning Zhou on IMDb
Ozark on Netflix
Damages
Bloodline

Resources

“Bird by Bird” – Anne Lamott

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]

Paper Team Mentorship II – “Mid-Death Crisis” Beat Sheet (PT134)

Paper Team Mentorship II – “Mid-Death Crisis” Beat Sheet (PT134)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:38 — 40.2MB)

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Alex and Nick continue their Paper Team Mentorship with winner Paul Chang, and his comedy pilot MID-DEATH CRISIS.

Step two: a beat sheet of the pilot episode, including general acts and story arcs.

We hear about the pilot episode, and discuss our thoughts live.

Content

Quick recap and listeners’ thoughts on the first mentorship episode (00:30)
“Mid-Death Crisis” – Beat sheet (06:41)
Discussion of the beat sheet (08:30)

Links

“Mid-Death Crisis” beat sheet
Paper Team Mentorship I – “Mid-Death Crisis” Overview (PT128)
Paper Team Mentorship I – Paul’s Update
Bringing the TV Writers’ Room Process Home (PT06)
Paul Chang on Twitter

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]