Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #TVWriting
Most recents (12)
Writers life; I was brought in on a troubled TV show (fired Showrunner) as consulting producer. Didn't do very much, good or bad. Then more internal troubles, not to do w/ me, & I was fired after 8 days. I'll be paid out my deal, which means something like $7000/day. Way I 1/5
Look at it, this makes up for those many stories I wrote for The Nation for like $500 each back when I was young journalist or the many short stories I published in lit journals for no money or $200 bucks. Maybe it all adds up as a writer, you're either earning 2/5
a nickel an hour or $1000 an hour. It's just that when you really need the money, the high paying gigs aren't there. They only show up when you don't really need it. But when you're broke, someone will definitely ask you for a piece and offer to pay nothing. My only wisdom: 3/5
AVAIL for staffing. I just wrapped up in a room as a staff writer. If you have LL one hour drama needs, I’M AVAIL. Now I’m gonna go into a thread about some of the things I’ve observed/learned/reinforced etc. This isn’t a “how to,” so take w/grain of salt. Hope it’s helpful.
The SR has to want to invest in you esp as LL. Of course, script has to be knockout to get the SR mtg & your persona has to be a fit BUT SR has to want you and invest in you and your growth. This sometimes can trump even a mediocre script etc if they believe in your voice.
Related to that if you’re like me where you did fwsp, asst, sold stuff and no dice. Know it’s not personal. You’re doing okay and if someone hasn’t told you you’re awesome, I am. Sometimes being qualified is a part of it. Now it’s a matter not of if but when. Hang in there.
I need to write an outline, which makes this the perfect time to procrastinate by diving into giving screenwriting advice on Twitter… 🧵/1 #screenwriting #tvwriting
What I talk about most in our room, and look for in script samples, is making a story PROPULSIVE. #screenwriting
Is your character driving towards something? And does each scene lead from one to the next, each one CAUSING whatever happens next?
The Hegelian Dialectical approach to #TVWriting scenes.
Thesis: Driving character wants something.
Antithesis: Another character or force opposes that want.
Synthesis: The world changes, causing the character to modify their approach/understanding/goal.
1/?
Thesis: Driving character wants something.
Antithesis: Another character or force opposes that want.
Synthesis: The world changes, causing the character to modify their approach/understanding/goal.
1/?
This applies to scenes and or sequences as a whole but can also apply to any given exchange of dialogue or action. Some examples:
2/?
2/?
THESIS: EVIL COP wants HAPLESS MAN to admit guilt to a crime he didn't commit.
ANTITHESIS: Hapless knows if he talks, he's screwed.
SYNTHESIS: Evil Cop throws Hapless into cell with Psychopath.
3/?
ANTITHESIS: Hapless knows if he talks, he's screwed.
SYNTHESIS: Evil Cop throws Hapless into cell with Psychopath.
3/?
Saving a Cancelled Show! A #TVWriting spew. 1/?
So your favorite show just got cancelled! Can you save it? Maybe. But it's complicated. Fan support has absolutely helped save shows like #StarTrek #Lucifer and #TheExpanse, for example. But it's really really hard. I'll try to explain why. 2/?
First and foremost, the studio, the people actually paying for the show, must also WANT to save it. Fan support can bolster this, but ultimately, its all up to the studio. 3/?
A key part of #TVwriting that isn’t often taught AFAIK is the #ProductionRewrite: revs required by budget, schedule, unforeseen circumstances etc. So here are some exercises to try with a completed script. For added realism give yourself a time limit, such as a day. Or 2 hrs😳
1/
1/
Your episode is over budget on cast. You can keep your main characters, but reduce your script’s secondary characters by at least 50%. (tip: Who can you cut or combine? Can you give dialogue to existing characters?) #ProductionRewrite #TVwriting
2/
2/
In prep, the director found a new location everyone loves, including you. Pick a location in your script where at least three scenes take place and rewrite those scenes for a completely different location. #ProductionRewrite #TVwriting
3/
3/
Randomly decided to watch #DS9 “Emissary” for the first time in a decade or so. Great opening! We meet Sisko in battle against hopeless odds. He loses his wife and saves his son all in the first five minutes. Rooting interest established. 1
Struck by the handheld camera work in the opening sequence, which was unheard of for #StarTrek at the time. Adds tension, energy, and verisimilitude. 2
God I wish they’d pay to up res #DS9. It looks so grainy. 3
How to Kill a Character. A Writing Spew in Many Parts. (Inspired by various recent pop culture events.) /BeginSpew 1
Okay, you’re a writer. You’ve got a mess of characters. You want to move your audience. So it’s time to take out the old writer’s ax and chop chop chop! But how do you do it with maximum impact without your audience turning against you forever? 2
Pull up a chair and Uncle Robert will explain it to you! #TVWriting #Novels 3
So... what’s the hardest part of #TVWriting, you ask? (You are a metaphorical construct, but whatevs) Is it the long hours? The pressure? The actual struggle to fill blank pages with perfect words? No. TBH, it’s the constant soul-crushing rejection. 1
For every TV show that makes it to air, there are dozens that were pitched, several shot. Stacks of scripts and pitches as high as the sky, each representing hundreds of hours of work. 2
And the closer you get to the win, the more bitter the disappointment of the loss. So for many in #TVWriting, the next few weeks are going to be rough. 3
Our TV pilot SISTER BOUND is one of the top scripts on The Black List!!!
See what @theblcklst says about our TV pilot SISTER BOUND – “Greer's someone that most people will read about and think 'I wish I would have had a friend like her in high school.' ” #AmWriting bit.ly/2FTFsGa
@theblcklst See what @theblcklst says about our TV pilot SISTER BOUND – “The characters are extremely well crafted and easily relatable.” #scriptchat bit.ly/2FTFsGa
So... been thinking a lot about all the beautiful scripts out there that will never seen the light of day. The stillborn and the misbegotten. They'll never be filmed. They're just paper now. How would you like to read one?
Tell you what... I'm going to post my failed Syfy pilot Defender here, one page at a time, for the next 95 days. It's got starships and sword fights, space battles and ballroom dancing. And yes, some kissing.
NOTE: 1. I changed the title (& ship name) back to MORNINGSTAR. I only renamed it DEFENDER because of a network note & I like MORNINGSTAR better. 2. This script was work for hire & is (I think) property of UCP. But per WGA rules, I retain publishing rights. So there's that.
Want to know what it’s like to run a TV writers room? Try DMing a #DnD game! BEGIN SPEW! #TVWriting 1/?
No seriously. Refereeing a #DnD game may be the best training you can get for running a TV writers room. #TVWriting 2/?
NOTE: Doesn’t have to be #DnD. Any paper and pencil RPG will do. #Runequest #Traveler #Champions #Shadowrun… but maybe not #CallOfCthuhlu or #Paranoia. More on that in a bit. #TVWriting 3/?
