Here's a dirty secret about writing for TV: very often you fall behind on scripts, particularly late in the season. If you don't have a script to shoot, production shuts down. This is incredibly expensive and stressful.
The standard remedy is to divvy up the script among the staff. One writer takes one act or several scenes. Another writer takes other scenes. Still another takes others. One writer will tie it together. You could have 4-5 writers on one script.
Traditionally, this process has been called "gangbanging a script."
Clearly a sexist and misogynistic term.
All tv writers need to reject this term. It's an offensive term but many writers are afraid to challenge it for fear of looking like they are trying to make the writers room politically correct space.
Fortunately, a lot of room ARE changing. They now call it "Frankensteining."
If your name is Frankenstein, we apologize in advance.
Other rooms simple call it "group writing." I'm sure there are other terms. Would love to hear from writers what their room is calling it.
The showrunner should make this a point of discussion on Day #1 of the writers room so everyone is clear.
It's 2018. Retiring this term is long overdue.
