Most of the WGA accepts we’re in an era of systemic change. The question is whether we want to work within the system as dictated by the large corps and incrementally skim off what we can, or, as the current leadership is attempting, be a larger part of dictating that change. That’s a scary road for a lot of people. And a disruptive one—certainly short term. I hear a lot of apocalyptic language as to what might happen if we try and have a heavy hand in a larger paradigm shift. My feeing is a lot of that is fear mongering masquerading as game theory.

Been thinking on @jonrog1 thread re showrunning from yesterday. Couldn’t agree w/ him more. It’s not that showrunning is a magical skill, it’s just that it IS A SKILL. Really, an accumulation of dozens of skills and practices one would have little use for as a writer. When TSCC was greenlit, I was adamant that I didn’t want another showrunner. I was sure I could do it alone. I knew the show. I knew what I wanted to make. I was sure I could figure out the rest. WBTV had to put a gun to my head to convince me to work with @WirthwhileTV.

And here I am without my completed MFA from USC Film School because I blew off the final requirement of paying them $50 to have my thesis script typed up on official paper. I don't think I've ever written this story down before. I enjoy it immensely but am quite aware that some people would say it makes me look RIDICULOUS. And I agree...

When you're just starting your chosen profession, inevitably your parents will have one ridiculous friend who they want you to talk to if you have questions about "breaking in." That friend is almost often completely useless. When I was in the process of optioning my first script for $2500, I had no lawyer or agent. My dad had grown up in L.A. but wasn't in the business & didn't live here. He thought it'd be great if I talked to one of his high school buddies about whether it was a good idea or not.

Let's clear something up with the whole "if this was a screenplay, execs would tell you it's too over the top or unbelievable" trope. No one ever tells you it's too over the top or unbelievable. No one ever says it's too on the nose, no one ever says it's too broad or obvious. When you write it broad, or obvious, or arch, or big, or make the subtext text, or the exposition too straight-forward, or the bad guys unbelievably bad, those things generally go unremarked upon. I can't remember the last time someone told me to tone it down.

During TSCC days we attended a WB. sexual harassment presentation. It was straight forward re "this is, this isn't," what your duties were as a supervisor, etc. But there was also an entire section on the Friends Writers Room lawsuit, when a woman sued re hostile working environment...