Paper Team

Alex and Nick host alongside Scriptd a live table read of JB June's WyldCats, the pilot script from one of their listeners. A great cast of talented actors joins us to bring to life this animated episode, followed by a live Q&A and a feedback session with the writer. WyldCats is a satirical animation in a world where a retired ThunderCats-like team of feline warriors reunite in an attempt to battle evil in a modern, technological society. Content WyldCats live table read (00:00:39) Live Q&A (00:52:06) Table read post-mortem and WyldCats feedback session (00:57:12) Links WyldCats pilot script on Scriptd JB June on Twitter Paper Tease episode with WyldCats' teaser About Scriptd Scriptd is a new storytelling platform that connects talented writers with fans and the industry to help find, promote and actualize film and TV's next big scripts. You can join them at https://www.scriptd.com About the Cast Justin Michael Terry (@JustinTheWalls) - Justin Michael Terry is an award winning writer and improviser based out of Los Angeles. He has developed projects for CRYPT.TV, MGM and NEWFORM Digital. With his writing partner, Ryan Marsico, he has developed for MGM and Orion Pictures as well as toured locally and internationally, teaching and performing with their duo improv group, redDoor. Jona Xiao (@JonaXiao) - Jona Xiao has been in over 25+ TV shows and films, including Gifted with Chris Evans and Keeping up with the Joneses with Gal Gadot. In addition, she has voiced lead roles in projects with Disney and Netflix. Fun fact: she is also a flag football quarterback and travels the world on the WFFN USA team. Ryan Marsico (@RyanMarsico) - After graduating FSC with a BA in Acting, Ryan quickly moved to LA to continue his studies. He makes his living teaching, performing, and writing; often with his improv/writing partner in their critically acclaimed duo "redDoor" or he can be seen performing in 'The Resistance' at UCB. His genuine love for comedy, storytelling, and life can be felt not just in his projects, but in everything he does. He currently resides in Los Angeles, CA with his loving wife Carol and their two dogs Prock and Shelpert. Amanda Noriko Newman (@AmandaNoriko) - Amanda Noriko Newman is a Japanese-American actress, writer, director, and fight choreographer. She is an active performer with The Murder Mystery Company and can currently be seen as Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet with The Porters of Hellsgate. Andrew Krug (@OctopusTotem) - Andrew Krug works in voice, stage, and screen. He can be heard on the D&D podcast Encounter Party, Olympus Burger, and the upcoming audio drama Terminal. Ben Prenderghast (@BenjiPea) - Ben Prendergast is an award-winning actor, voice artist, and mocap performer based in Los Angeles. In 2016 he was awarded a Green-Room Award for Best Actor. Film & TV credits include Preacher (AMC), Predestination (with Ethan Hawke), Frontier (NBC), Offspring and Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries. Theatre credits include The Distance for Melbourne Theatre Company, The Flick (Annie Baker – Pulitzer Prize) for Queensland Theatre Company, and numerous productions for the prestigious Red Stitch Actors Theatre, where he is an ensemble member. Stephanie Einstein (@Steph_Einstein) - Based in Los Angeles, Actress and VO artist Stephanie Einstein works on stage, screen, and behind the mic. Recent TV credits include roles on ABC's black•ish and Lifetime's My Crazy Ex. Recent stage credits include Madge in Picnic, Catherine in Proof, and Hermia in Midsummer Night’s Dream. She is a proud Company Member of The Road Theatre in North Hollywood, has narrated over 80 book titles on Audible, and voices international promos and commercials. If you enjoy Paper Team, please consider supporting us on Patreon at paperteam.co/patreon! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson For any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]

Alex and Nick are joined by Rochée Jeffrey (writer on SMILF and 90210) and April Shih (writer on You're the Worst, Undone and Mrs. America), to discuss the importance of self-care, growth mindset, knowing when to say no, and handling conflict in the writers' room. Why is it important to set intentions and goals for yourself? How do you manage impostor syndrome? What are growth and positive mindsets? How do you find community and support? How do you handle conflicts in a writers' room? When is it appropriate to quit a writing job? How do you deal with a hostile environment? Content Positive mindset, self-care, and growth (00:01:16) Resilience in the writers' room and handling conflicts (00:41:36) Final advice, resources and next week on (00:58:07) Links Rochée Jeffrey on Instagram April Shih on Twitter The TV Writer's Mindset: Dealing With Procrastination, Blank Page, and the Muse (PT17) Resource Ananda app Freedom app This episode brought to you by Roadmap WritersUse the code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF your Roadmap Writers Program 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]

Alex and Nick answer your TV writing questions about contests, script readiness, and career detours. Plus, we look at some of the latest TV writing news about the WGA negotiating committee, speed-binging, and moving up the ladder. Content Post-Austin and Shout-outs (01:04) Audience Questions: TV writing contests, script readiness, Los Angeles, and career detours (03:52) TV Writing News: WGA negotiating committee, speed-binging, moving up, and Game of Thrones news (27:35) Links "Breaking Into TV" AFF Twitter thread "Structuring a Series" AFF Twitter thread Feedback and Notes: Building Your Reading Onion (PT08) Moving to Los Angeles (and Things We Wish We Knew) (PT01) WGA announces 2020 MBA Negotiating Committee "Netflix tests speed-binge feature" - Entertainment Weekly "Game of Thrones Naomi Watts pilot not going forward" - Deadline "Game of Thrones House of the Dragon gets straight to series order" - Deadline Monica Beletsky's Twitter threads on questions regarding moving up "Jennifer Aniston says Friends cast is working on something" - Entertainment Weekly This episode brought to you by Roadmap WritersUse the code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF your Roadmap Writers Program 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]

Alex and Nick invite Aron Eli Coleite, executive producer, co-creator, and showrunner of Netflix's Daybreak, to learn all about his writing process and running (or curating) the post-apocalyptic dramedy. From staffing a writers' room and breaking character stories, to communicating a creative vision and producing the show, we take a deep dive into what goes into creating a series from the inside. Content 1 - Beginnings and becoming a showrunner (00:01:09) 2 - Staffing Daybreak: reading samples, assembling the right staff, showrunner meetings, and creating opportunities (00:20:16) 3 - The Daybreak writers' room and writing process: blue-skying, breaking episodes, structure, and character arcs (00:37:26) 4 - Production of Daybreak: department heads and casting (01:05:37) Final advice, resources, and next week on (01:17:09) Links Daybreak on Netflix "The Only Podcast Left" - Daybreak scripted podcast on Spotify Aron Eli Coleite on Twitter Aron Eli Coleite on Instagram Resource "Understanding Comics" - Scott McCloud This episode brought to you by Roadmap WritersUse the code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF your Roadmap Writers Program 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]

Alex and Nick have their last Paper Tease session of 2019 by giving feedback on five more of your TV pilot teasers. Plus, we reveal the winner of our November 20 live table read, and share all the ticket information for this event. Announcement Tickets for our next live event are now available! The live table read will be on November 20 in DTLA. This event will be followed by a Q&A/feedback session, so we'd love to have you in the audience. All proceeds go to Art Share LA, the last community art space in the Arts District. You can get your tickets right here. Paper Tease Entries "Birdsong" by Jennifer Dunn "Principles" by Stephen Chrabaszcz "Wyldcats" by JB June "The Void" by Joshua Shine "Staff and Lute" by Tony Faria This episode brought to you by Roadmap WritersUse the code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF your Roadmap Writers Program 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]

Alex and Nick answer your TV writing questions about political tweets, topic suggestions, and predicting fellowship specs. Plus, we catch up on some TV writing news from the past few weeks, including the WGA election results, the announcement of a new OTT service, and a TV crossover event. Reminder Our next live event will be on Wednesday, November 20. We'll be doing a table read of a pilot script from one lucky Paper Tease winner! Join our Patreon to get early tickets. Content Announcements and Shout-outs (01:07) Audience Questions: Political tweets, TV writing education, and predicting speccable shows (05:56) TV Writing News: WGA election results, Peacock, and Apple Studios (18:54) Links The Paper Team 150th Episode Special (PT150) Should You Pay for TV Writing Education? (PT19) Results for WGAw's 2019 Officers and Board Of Directors Election NBCUniversal Announces Peacock as Name of its Streaming Service (PR) "Apple Launches In-House Studio" - The Hollywood Reporter "Tom Welling to reprise Smallville role for Arrowverse's 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' crossover" - EW This episode brought to you by Roadmap WritersUse the code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF your Roadmap Writers Program 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]

Alex and Nick delve into the nuances of editorializing on the page, and take a look at unconventional ways of breaking rules in your TV writing. What is the goal of breaking rules with prose? What are unique tools to convey information in scene descriptions? How do you direct on the page in an emotional way? When can you editorialize your writing? What is meta-prose and how should you use it? When is formatting worth playing with? The Paper Team comments... Content 1 - Preface (01:01) 2 - Editorializing the prose (04:19) 3 - Directing on the page (23:56) 4 - Meta-prose and breaking the fourth wall (30:25) 5 - Playing with formatting (37:48) Takeaways and Next Week On (44:16) Links TV Prose and Scene Description 101 (PT48) The Girlfriend Experience (TV Show) The Rules of Attraction (Movie) TV Characters 101 (PT46) The Hunt This episode brought to you by Roadmap WritersUse the code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF your Roadmap Writers Program 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]

Alex and Nick have another Paper Tease session and give feedback on five of your TV pilot teasers. Plus, we share some big Austin Film Festival news and we reveal the date of our next live event! Announcements 1 - Paper Team will be at the Austin Film Festival! It all happens Saturday, October 26. Nick's panel "Breaking into TV" will be at 10:45AM at the Driskill's Citadel Room. Alex's panel "Structuring a Series" will be at 3PM at the Driskill's Maximilian Room. We'll also be having a Paper Team Meetup at the Driskill bar at 5PM on that same Saturday. 2 - Mark your calendars for our next live event on Wednesday, November 20! We'll be doing a full table read of the pilot script from one lucky Paper Tease winner. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for all the ticket information. Paper Tease Entries "The Holy Cannolie's" by Alissa Rivas "Hotel Gramercy Park" by Max Weissberg "Sensitive" by Katie Parisi "Black Mold" by Jeremiah Lewis "The Red Riding Hoods" by David Michael Quiroz, Jr. Want to get feedback on the teaser of your TV pilot in an upcoming Paper Tease session? Find all the information you need at http://paperteam.co/teaser 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]

Alex and Nick invite Dan O’Keefe, writer on Silicon Valley, Veep, and Final Space, to talk about his experience writing on classic multicams, late-night comedy, and half-hour cable darlings. What are the differences working on single-cam and multi-cam? How do you keep a consistent career in comedy writing? What is it like working on a serialized half-hour? How do you tackle the politics of late-night and comedy rooms? What is some advice for pitching and selling shows? The Paper Team grins... Content Writing classic multicams, late-night, and cable comedy darlings, with Dan O’Keefe (00:39) Final Advice, Resources, and Next Week On (54:21) Links Dan O'Keefe on IMDb WGF Library 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]

Alex and Nick answer your TV writing questions about short-form content, musical scripts and the importance of mindfulness. Plus, we tackle some of the TV writing news of the past month, including thoughts on writers' rooms development hell, pay disparities, and a potential spec renaissance. Content Shout-outs and Austin Film Festival (00:35) Audience Questions: Short-form content, TV musicals, and mindfulness (02:08) TV Writing News: Pay disparity, WGA emails, specs, and development hell (19:11) Links "Zen in the Art of Writing" - Ray Bradbury "The War of Art" - Steven Pressfield "Crazy Rich Asians Co-Writer Exits Sequel Amid Pay Disparity Dispute" - The Hollywood Reporter Mike Royce's Twitter thread on TV spec scripts TV Writing for Comedy & Drama ft. Michelle Badillo & Caroline Levich (PT115) "Book Of Enchantment Disney+ TV Series Not Going Forward" - Deadline If you enjoyed this episode and others, please consider supporting us on Patreon at paperteam.co/patreon! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson For any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]

Alex and Nick invite Sue Chung, writer on Agent Carter, The Brave, and The Red Line, to discuss her experiences working on TV dramas, including comic-book adaptations, limited series, and action-driven content. What are ways of handling that first week in the writers' room? What was the writing process for Agent Carter and The Brave? How did The Red Line approach representation and social issues? What are differences writing on a limited series over an ongoing show? How was the experience of pitching and selling a pilot? The Paper Team parachutes... Content Writing comic-book adaptations, action-driven content, and limited series, with Sue Chung (01:30) Final Advice, Resources, and Next Week On (43:38) Links Sue Chung on Twitter The Red Line on CBS Agent Carter Gotham 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]

Alex and Nick renew their popular Paper Tease session and give feedback on five of your TV pilot teasers. Paper Tease Entries "Princi-pal" by Michael Hager "Black Market Freelancer" by David Crosman "The Psychics" by Varta Torossian "F.M.A.C." by Ahmed Aki Aslan "Leopold: The Lost Elephant" by Jordan Sandfer Want to get feedback on the teaser of your TV pilot in an upcoming Paper Tease session? Find all the information you need at http://paperteam.co/teaser 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]

Alex and Nick mark one hundred and fifty episodes of Paper Team with an incredible celebration all about your favorite moments from the podcast and new advice from past guests. Which favorite episodes and iconic moments have our listeners and guests chosen? How are writers staying at the top of their craft? What are the records Paper Team has shattered over a hundred and fifty episodes? We also feature updates and fresh insight from several of our TV writer friends, including: Liz Alper, Chris Monfette, Michelle Badillo, Caroline Levich, Gretchen Enders, and Ning Zhou. The Paper Team raises a glass... Content 1 - Favorite moments chosen by our listeners, our guests, and ourselves (00:00:44) 2 - Updates and new advice from past guests ft. Liz Alper, Chris Monfette, Michelle Badillo, Caroline Levich, Gretchen Enders, and Ning Zhou (01:33:07) 3 - Looking back at three years of Paper Team and special thanks (02:01:46) Links Breaking in as a TV Writer Later in Life ft. J. Holtham (PT92) TV Staffing 101 (PT101) International TV Writing Models ft. Des Doyle (PT122) Building Your Career as a TV Writer ft. LaToya Morgan (PT111) Comedy v. Drama II: Blurred Lines (PT143) Common Mistakes to Avoid in Your TV Scripts (PT148) Rewriting Your TV Script (PT90) Disney ABC Writing Program ft. Kristi Shuton (PT130) CBS Writers Mentoring Program ft. Jeanne Mau (PT131) NBC Writers on the Verge ft. Karen Horne (PT132) Warner Bros. Television Writers' Workshop ft. Rebecca Windsor (PT133) Fox Writers Lab ft. Moira Griffin (PT137) VR Storytelling ft. Michael Masukawa (PT102) Paper Team Mentorship I – “Mid-Death Crisis” Overview (PT128) Paper Team Mentorship II – “Mid-Death Crisis” Beat Sheet (PT134) Paper Team Mentorship III – “Mid-Death Crisis” Outline (PT138) Paper Team Mentorship IV – Staffing Update With Paul (PT147) Paper Team Mentorship Patreon updates TV Writing Programs and Fellowships ft. Andy Mathieson, Jenny Deiker Restivo and Thomas Reyes (PT85) Performing In and Out of the Writers' Room ft. Charla Lauriston (PT141) Meetings 101: Generals and TV Staffing (PT62) Putting Yourself Out There (PT75) TV Formula 101: Building an Engine For Your Show (PT117) Finding Stability as a Nascent TV Writer ft. Julia Yorks (PT120) An Evening in the Writers' Room (PT100) Finding Content for Digital TV ft. Hillary Levi (PT112) Networking 101: How to Talk With People in Hollywood (PT05) Networking 201: Cold Contact, Queries and Etiquette (PT121) Writing Samples and Preparing for TV Staffing ft. Liz Alper & Kai Wu (PT119) Writing Heroes and Breaking Genres ft. Tamara Becher-Wilkinson (PT144) Directing TV Comedy ft. Alethea Jones (PT118) Staying Productive During Hiatus (PT126) Comics and TV Writing: How to Bring the Page to Screen – Paper Team Live at WonderCon 2019 (PT129) TV Writing Incubators and the Evolution of Access (PT125) TV Writing for Comedy & Drama ft. Michelle Badillo & Caroline Levich (PT115) Writing and Pitching Across Formats ft. Gretchen Enders (PT124) Earning Your Way Into the Writers' Room ft. Ning Zhou (PT135) Liz Alper's #WGASolidaritychallenge grid If you enjoyed this episode and others, please consider supporting us on Patreon at paperteam.co/patreon! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson For any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]

Alex and Nick discuss the latest TV writing news on staffing submissions, and answer your TV writing questions about career obstacles, spec scripts, and how valuable ideas actually are. Plus, we announce an upcoming Paper Team travel. Reminder Paper Tease is back! If you'd like a chance to get feedback on the teaser of your TV pilot, you can now submit it at http://paperteam.co/teaser NOTE: We'll actually be off next week for Labor Day, but we'll return on Monday, September 9 for our jam-packed 150th Episode Special! Content Announcements: Austin Film Festival and Paper Tease (01:21) Audience Questions: Specs, the value of ideas, and impostor syndrome (03:44) TV Writing News: Fellowships, staffing submission threads, and commercials (22:42) Links "Desperate Networks" - Bill Carter The TV Writer's Roadmap - TV Calling Justin Marks' thread on cover letter submissions Justin Marks' thread on staffing "Disney Confirms Disney Plus-Hulu-ESPN Plus Bundle For $12.99 A Month" - Deadline "TV networks vowed to cut back on commercials. Instead, they stuffed in more" - LA Times 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]

Alex and Nick discuss the many common mistakes to avoid in your TV scripts. From structure and character to dialogue and formatting, we go over the frequent problems we've encountered, and our advice on fixing them. Content 1 - Before the draft (01:41) 2 - Macro mistakes: structure, acts, stories (13:54) 3 - Micro mistakes: scenes, dialogue, prose (28:37) 4 - On the page (42:07) 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]

Alex and Nick catch up with their first mentee Paul Chang, recently staffed on a Disney animated series, to hear about what he's been up to and get his perspective on being a new staff writer in television. How do you prepare yourself for staffing opportunities? How do gauge which representation is right for you? Why is it important to celebrate all the wins? How do you deal with imposter's syndrome? How do you stay present and useful in the writers' room? Links Paul Chang on Twitter Paper Team Mentorship I – "Mid-Death Crisis" Overview (PT128) Paper Team Mentorship I - Paul's Update Paper Team Mentorship II – “Mid-Death Crisis” Beat Sheet (PT134) Paper Team Mentorship II - Paul's Update Paper Team Mentorship III – “Mid-Death Crisis” Outline (PT138) Feedback and Notes: Building Your Reading Onion (PT08) 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]

Alex and Nick share the many TV business resources they use for networking, meetings, contact management, writing news, and everything to navigate the television industry. We go over our personal recommendations we've used over the years, and why they matter to us. Content 1 - Books (00:42) 2 - Apps/Software (11:34) 3 - Hardware/Tools (28:57) 4 - Websites (35:39) 5 - Podcasts (55:23) Links "Small Screen, Big Picture" - Chad Gervich "How to Manage Your Agent" - Gervich Chad "Hollywood Game Plan" - Carole Kirschner "This Business of Television" - Howard J. Blumenthal "Producing Animation" - Catherine Winder and Zahra Dowlatabadi "The One-Hour Drama: Producing Episodic Television" - Robert Del Valle "Desperate Networks" - Bill Carter "Make Your Contacts Count" - Anne Baber and Lynne Waymon Networking 101: How to Talk With People in Hollywood (PT05) Airtable Contacts+ Teamweek Trello Boomerang Slack Discord WhatsApp Line WeChat Google Voice @Voice Aloud Reader (TTS Reader) Evernote Google Keep Venmo Vistaprint Moo Stickermule Whatshalfway Doodle IMDb Pro Studio System Variety Insights WGA Find a Writer Screenwriters Rant Room The Business Industry Standard The Treatment WGF Podcast Australian Screenwriters Podcast Screen Australia Podcast Happier in Hollywood 3rd & Fairfax The Writers Panel Scriptnotes Children of Tendu 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]

Alex and Nick look at the latest TV writing news and answer your questions about classes, branding yourself as a nascent writer, and advice about managers. Plus, we announce the return of a fan-favorite segment and we need your help for a very special episode. Announcements 1 - Paper Tease is back! If you'd like a chance to get feedback on the teaser of your TV pilot, you can now submit it at http://paperteam.co/teaser 2 - We need your help for our 150th episode! Do you have a favorite Paper Team moment, guest, or episode? Send us your suggestions at [email protected] to be featured during our milestone event. Content Announcements: Mentorship update, the return of Paper Tease, and our 150th episode (00:28) Audience Questions: TV writing classes, branding, and managers (05:08) TV Writing News: Big Little Lies drama and new OTTs (21:09) Links Paper Team Mentorship Updates on Patreon Should You Pay for TV Writing Education? (PT19) TV Writing Resources We Use (PT139) Comedy v. Drama II: Blurred Lines (PT143) "Inside Andrea Arnold’s Loss of Creative Control" - IndieWire "WarnerMedia confirms its Netflix rival will be called HBO Max" - The Verge "Disney Unplugs FX Plus Subscription Service After Fox Merger" - Deadline 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]

Alex and Nick invite Tamara Becher-Wilkinson, writer and co-executive producer on Doom Patrol and Daredevil, to discuss her writing process, breaking stories across different genres, and her experiences in the writers' room. What are ways of overcoming procrastination and imposter's syndrome? How can you stay creatively fulfilled while working across multiple genres? What has the experience been working on both DC and Marvel properties? What was the writers' room of Doom Patrol like? Why does representation matter in genre? How do you balance meta and absurdity with grounded characters and stakes? The Paper Team patrols... Content Writing Heroes and Breaking Genres with Tamara Becher-Wilkinson (00:32) Final Advice, Resources, and Next Week On (48:09) Links Tamara Becher-Wilkinson on Twitter Doom Patrol on DC Universe Daredevil on Netflix Runaways on Hulu Warehouse 13 Covert Affairs Cop Land "When Rabbit Howls" - Truddi Chase Resources "Writing for Emotional Impact" - Karl Iglesias Children of Tendu 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]

Alex and Nick revisit the topic of one of their seminal episodes: Comedy versus Drama. Should you still declare a major in the age of dramedies and blurred formats? Are boundaries and page-count still relevant as a TV writer? How should you approach staffing and your writing samples in today's era? Content 1 - What we covered three years ago and what prompted this episode (00:33) 2 - How these blurred lines have affected TV staffing and the industry (11:52) 3 - How this evolution has impacted our own TV writing (21:30) 4 - Frequently asked questions (31:26) Links Comedy v. Drama: Declare Your TV Major (PT02) TV Writing for Comedy & Drama ft. Michelle Badillo & Caroline Levich (PT115) Paper Scraps Monthly – Records, Routine, and Resolution (PT140) 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]

Alex and Nick discuss how to take feedback in your TV writing. Whether you're on staff or working on your own projects, why and how should you take notes, and when should you say no? Why is it important to be malleable with your TV scripts? What are the differences in approaching notes as a staff writer and with your own material? How do you deconstruct feedback and understand what needs to be fixed? How should you take a note? When is it worth saying no? How do you reject a note? Content 1 - The mindset of receiving criticism (00:23) 2 - Why and how to take a note (07:26) 3 - Deconstructing feedback and "the note behind the note" (15:10) 4 - Why and how to reject a note (20:16) Takeaways and Next Week On (27:28) Links Feedback and Notes: Building Your Reading Onion (PT08) 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]

Alex and Nick welcome Charla Lauriston, writer on Hoops, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and People of Earth, to discuss pitching in the writers' room and working as a stand-up comedian. How can you be effective in a writers' room? Should you gauge your own pitches? How does stand-up translates to TV writing? What is the process of writing a comedy routine? How do you sustain a TV writing career beyond that first job? The Paper Team is a laugh riot... Content Performing In and Out of the Comedy Writers' Room with Charla Lauriston (00:30) Final Advice, Resources, and Next Week On (46:33) Links Charla Lauriston Charla Lauriston on Twitter Charla Lauriston on Instagram Hoops on Netflix 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]

Alex and Nick answer your questions about writing routine, episode formats, and international writing education. Plus, we give our thoughts on the latest TV writing news, including The Good Place's final season and the UTA/Paradigm rumors. Content Records, shout-outs and reviews (00:28) Audience Questions: international writers, music routine, formats, experience (07:39) TV Writing News: The Good Place and UTA/Paradigm (25:09) Links Should You Pay for TV Writing Education? (PT19) TV Writing Resources We Use (PT139) La Femis (Cursus Ecriture et Création de Séries) Storyhive Putting Yourself Out There (PT75) Breaking in as a TV Writer Later in Life ft. J. Holtham (PT92) "The Good Place Boss Explains Why He's Ending the Show" - TV Line "UTA-Paradigm Deal Chatter Heats Up as Agencies Feel Urge to Merge" - The Hollywood Reporter 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]

Alex and Nick share the TV writing resources they use for the screenwriting craft, from books, websites, and podcasts, to apps, tools, and hardware. We go over some of our personal recommendations for television writer resources that we've discussed over the years, and why they matter to us. Content 1 - Books (00:30) 2 - Finding Scripts (11:05) 3 - Apps/Software (14:19) 4 - Hardware/Tools (19:08) 5 - Websites (25:46) 6 - Podcasts (34:55) 7 - Miscellaneous (39:06) Links "The Cheeky Monkey" - Tim Ferguson "Writing the TV Drama Series" - Pamela Douglas "Television Writing from the Inside Out" - Larry Brody "The TV Writer's Handbook" - Ellen Sandler "Write to TV" - Martie Cook "Elephant Bucks" - Sheldon Bull "Crafty TV Writing" - Alex Epstein "Successful TV Writing" - Lee Goldberg and William Rabkin "The Coffee Break Screenwriter" - Pilar Alessandra "The War of Art" - Steven Pressfield "The Hollywood Standard" - Christopher Riley "The Emotion Thesaurus" - Becca Puglisi and Angela Ackerman William C. Martell's Blue Book series "On Writing" - Stephen King WGF Library TV Calling Script Library Other TV script library Final Draft Highland Scrivener Sublime Text Slack Moleskine Notebooks Kindle eReaders Kobo eReaders Time Timer ThinkVision P27h-10 IPS Monitor TV Tropes John August Blog Go Into The Story Blog r/screenwriting (reddit) r/worldbuilding (reddit) "Screenwriting Lessons From" series on TV Calling Hemingway Editor Thesaurus RhymeZone Rainy Mood Bose QuietComfort 35 II Noise-Cancelling Headphones Paper Team Cheat Sheets on Patreon Breaking Bad Insider Podcast Battlestar Galactica podcast by Ron Moore The Writers Panel 3rd and Fairfax To Live and Dialogue in LA Scriptnotes Children of Tendu Draft Zero Parker/Stone NYU Lecture (Video) Big Brother Live Feeds 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]

Alex and Nick advance in their Paper Team Mentorship with winner Paul Chang, and his comedy pilot MID-DEATH CRISIS. Step three: an outline of the pilot episode, with every act broken down scene-by-scene. We answer some feedback and discuss our thoughts on the outline live. Content Updates and listeners' thoughts on the second mentorship episode (00:37) Discussion of the "Mid-Death Crisis" outline (07:24) Links "Mid-Death Crisis" outline Paper Team Mentorship I – "Mid-Death Crisis" Overview (PT128) Paper Team Mentorship I - Paul's Update Paper Team Mentorship II – “Mid-Death Crisis” Beat Sheet (PT134) Paper Team Mentorship II - Paul's Update 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]

Alex and Nick return to their "Inside the TV Writing Program" series – a deep dive into what goes on inside every major TV writing program from the decision makers themselves. Our fifth part takes a look at the Fox Writers Lab, with Moira Griffin, who oversees the program as Executive Director of Production and Creative Labs for 21st Century Fox. We discuss everything, from the latest update about the program and its application process, to what they focus on in scripts, loglines, and what comes after. Content About the Fox Writers Lab (00:43) 1 - The application process (06:41) 2 - The selection process (23:27) 3 - The program (31:10) 4 - After the program and final advice (41:33) Links Fox Writers Lab Fox Directors Lab Moira Griffin 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]

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]

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]

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]

Alex and Nick expand their "Inside the TV Writing Program" series – a deep dive into what goes on inside every major TV writing program from the decision makers themselves. The fourth part is all about the Warner Bros. Television Writers' Workshop, with Rebecca Windsor, director of the program. We cover everything, from what they want in the application and selection process, to how they adapt the workshop to fit the evolving industry. Content About the Warner Bros. Television Writers' Workshop (00:50) 1 - The application process (03:43) 2 - The selection process (18:08) 3 - The program (31:54) 4 - After the program and final advice (45:44) Links Warner Bros. Television Writers' Workshop Warner Bros. Television Directors' Workshop WB TV Workshops on Facebook WB TV Workshops 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]

Alex and Nick pursue their "Inside the TV Writing Program" series – a deep dive into what goes on inside every major TV writing program from the decision makers themselves. Part three centers on the NBC Writers on the Verge Program, with its director Karen Horne, Senior Vice President of Programming Talent Development & Inclusion for NBC Entertainment and Universal Television Studios. Everything is discussed, from what they look for in spec scripts and essay questions, to the importance of the interview process and how the program has evolved over the years. Content About the NBC Writers on the Verge program (00:49) 1 - The application process (02:28) 2 - The selection process (13:07) 3 - The program (23:05) 4 - After the program and final advice (33:49) Links NBC Writers on the Verge Program NBC Diverse Staff Writer Initiative NBCUniversal Late Night Writers Workshop NBC Emerging Director Program NBC Female Forward NBC Alternative Director Program StandUp NBC NBCUNI TIPS on Facebook NBC WOTV on Facebook Karen Horne 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]

Alex and Nick continue their "Inside the TV Writing Program" series – a deep dive into what goes on inside every major TV writing program from the decision makers themselves. Our second part focuses on the CBS Writers Mentoring Program, with its supervisor Jeanne Mau, Senior Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion at CBS. We go over everything, from the importance of the letter of interest and scripts, to the interview process and how the program helps its writers navigate a room. Content About the CBS Writers Mentoring program (00:42) 1 - The application process (03:48) 2 - The selection process (13:40) 3 - The program (21:11) 4 - After the program and final advice (29:55) Links CBS Writers Mentoring Program CBS Directing Initiative CBS Sketch Comedy Showcase CBS Diversity Website CBS Entertainment Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) on Twitter CBS EDI on Instagram 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]

Alex and Nick begin their "Inside the TV Writing Program" series - a deep dive into what goes on inside every major TV writing program from the decision makers themselves. Our first part is all about the Disney ABC Writing Program (now known as the Walt Disney Television Writing Program), with Kristi Shuton, who oversees the Disney writing program as Manager of Creative Talent Development & Inclusion at the Disney ABC Television Group. All the ins-and-outs are covered, from the application and selection process, to the content of the Disney writers program and what comes after. Content About the Disney ABC Writing program (00:48) 1 - The application process (04:02) 2 - The selection process (18:16) 3 - The program (31:25) 4 - After the program and final advice (40:10) NOTE: Since the recording, the Disney ABC Program application has been updated to two original samples (instead of one original and one spec). Links The Walt Disney Television Writing Program (FKA Disney ABC Writing Program) Disney ABC CTDI (Creative Talent Development & Inclusion) on Facebook Disney ABC CTDI on Instagram The Disney ABC Directing Program 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]

Alex and Nick host an insightful panel at WonderCon 2019 about comics and television writing. From Batgirl and Doom Patrol to Watchmen and Y: The Last Man, an ever-expanding number of comic-based TV shows have graced our screen, but how do you translate one visual format to another? To discuss the topic, we are joined by an all-star cast of writers, including Marc Bernardin (Castle Rock, Treadstone), Julie & Shawna Benson (Batgirl and the Birds of Prey, The 100), Christopher Monfette (Hellraiser, 12 Monkeys), J. Holtham (Cloak & Dagger, Pitch), and Samantha Levenshus (Nightflyers, Neon Future). Why do comics make for great television? What is the process of writing a comic-book series as opposed to a TV show? How do you adapt a comic to TV, while staying true to the original material? What lessons can be learned from writing TV and comics to bring into the other medium? How can you go about interacting with the key holders of the comics? What is a "shared love space"? The Paper Team goes live in room 207... Links Marc Bernardin on Twitter Shawna Benson on Twitter Julie Benson on Twitter J. Holtham on Twitter Samantha Levenshus on Twitter Christopher Monfette on Twitter Castle Rock on Hulu Treadstone Carnival Row Marc Bernardin on Comixology The 100 on The CW Wu Assasins on Netflix Batgirl and the Birds of Prey Cloak & Dagger on Freeform Jessica Jones on Netflix Nightflyers on Syfy Neon Future 12 Monkeys on Syfy 9-1-1 on Fox Hellraiser Seduth This episode brought to you by Script PipelineSubmit by May 1st to the 2019 Script Pipeline contest for a reduced entry fee If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]

Alex and Nick start the Paper Team Mentorship with winner Paul Chang, and his new comedy pilot MID-DEATH CRISIS. Step one: a basic series overview with premise, characters, themes and arcs. We hear for the first time Paul's pitch, and share our thoughts live. The mentorship begins... Content About the PT Mentorship and Paul (01:07) "Mid-Death Crisis" - Basic series overview (08:07) Discussion of the basic series overview (14:59) Links Paul Chang on Twitter "Mid-Death Crisis" basic series overview document This episode brought to you by Script PipelineSubmit by May 1st to the 2019 Script Pipeline contest for a reduced entry fee Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]

Alex and Nick give feedback on eight more teasers in the final Paper Tease session for a while. Plus, we finally reveal the winner of our upcoming Paper Team Mentorship. The Paper Team goes in... Content March Paper Tease Session (01:07) Paper Scraps: Quick word about the WGA/agency negotiations (53:21) Paper Tease Entries "Ash & Bone" by Dean Benamor "D.O.A." by Tom Andrade "Finding Satoshi" by Shruti Saran "Monsters Don't Kill" by Anthony Decimus "Two Timing" by Megan Kingsbury "Super" by Michel Lichand "Vigilante" by Christina Arango Downling "White Rose" by Matt Michael Melvin Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]

Alex and Nick discuss ways of surviving your hiatus and staying productive during the off season. Why is being active all year long important? How do you look for a next job? How do you keep in touch during a hiatus? Why are hobbies and social interactions vital? How can you keep yourself healthy and financially stable? Plus, we make three major Paper Team announcements about what is coming up. The Paper Team doesn't wait... Content Announcements: WonderCon 2019, TV writing programs, final Paper Tease (00:23) 1 - Why staying active during a hiatus is important (04:02) 2 - Being productive in your writing (08:22) 3 - The importance of hobbies (12:10) 4 - Social interactions (15:24) 5 - Fitness and health (17:34) 6 - Money and finances (20:36) Final advice and next Week On (23:38) Links Details of Paper Team at WonderCon 2019 "The TV Writer’s Mindset: Dealing With Procrastination, Blank Page, and the Muse" (PT17) "Managing Finances as an Assistant & Staff Writer" (PT16) "Supplemental Income for Writers" (PT35) Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]

Alex and Nick have a candid discussion about the emergence of TV writing incubators, and the current state of access in the television industry for up-and-coming writers. What are TV writing incubators? What do those programs mean for our industry? Is every facet of TV writing going to be turned into a competition? How have TV writing opportunities changed for new writers? What are ways of improving the situation? The Paper Team takes a chance... Links Imagine Impact Rideback TV Incubator Sundance Episodic Program Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]

Alex and Nick invite Gretchen Enders, writer on TV series (Queen America, Grace and Frankie, Take My Wife, Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street) and audio originals (Bedtime Stories for Cynics, This Sounds Serious), to discuss working and pitching shows across formats. How do you blend your voice within an established show? How do you find stability as a TV writer between seasons? What is good advice when taking a general meeting? How were the rooms of Queen America, Grace and Frankie, Take My Wife, and Gortimer Gibbons? How does writing radio plays compare with writing for television? What should you keep in mind when pitching and selling shows? What was it like winning a WGA award? The Paper Team intently listens... SHOWNOTES Content Writing and Pitching Across Formats with Gretchen Enders (00:34) Final Advice, Resources, and Next Week On (44:12) Links Gretchen Enders on Instagram Queen America on Facebook Grace and Frankie on Netflix Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street on Amazon Take My Wife "Directing TV Comedy ft. Alethea Jones" (PT118) "Room to Dream" - David Lynch & Kristine McKenna Northern Exposure Level Up "Gortimer, Ranger and Mel vs. The Endless Night" (2x13 - Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street) Aminta Goyel Shauna McGarry Nick Offerman's Bedtime Stories for Cynics This Sounds Serious Patriot Resource "The Hollywood Standard" - Christopher Riley Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]

Alex and Nick give feedback on five Paper Tease entries and take a look at some TV writing news, including Twitter threads on staffing and articles about the syndication of iconic shows. The Paper Team licenses itself... SHOWNOTES Content Paper Tease Session (00:24) Paper Scraps: Law & Order, The Simpsons, The Critic and Twitter threads (28:16) Paper Tease Entries "Motel Verse" by Dallas Rico "Inept" by Matty Mendez "Rogue Galaxy" by J.R. Curry "Diabolical" by Renier Murillo "Evangelist" by Seth Yergin Links "Why Isn’t Law & Order Streaming Anywhere?" - Vulture "What Will Happen to The Simpsons as Disney Takes Over Fox?" - Variety "It Didn’t Stink, So Why Did The Critic Fail to Become a Hit Show?" - Consequence of Sound Gloria Calderón Kellett's Twitter thread about staffing Gloria Calderón Kellett's Twitter thread about pilots Doctor Who's latest scripts (BBC Digital Library) Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]

Alex and Nick invite Des Doyle, director of the Showrunners documentary, and behind several writing programs for Screen Skills Ireland, to discuss international TV writing and exporting the showrunner model to other markets. How does the American showrunner model differ from the way television is written internationally? How do you create that setup globally? How does auteur theory impact TV? Why is there a rising cost in television production? How do you move up the ladder of TV writing outside America? Is the showrunner model the best for a writers' room? The Paper Team exports itself... SHOWNOTES Content Showrunning and International TV models with Des Doyle (00:53) Final Advice, Resources, and Next Week On (51:56) Links Des Doyle on Twitter Showrunners documentary "Showrunners" - Tara Bennett Screen Ireland Screen Skills Ireland "Judge Dredd Owner Rebellion Sets Up $100 Million U.K. Film and TV Studio" - Variety Resources Children of Tendu 3rd & Fairfax: The WGAW Podcast This episode brought to you by Script PipelineSubmit by March 1st to the 2019 Script Pipeline contest for a reduced entry fee Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]

Alex and Nick discuss cold contacting people. From formulating queries for your scripts to the proper etiquette when reaching out, learn how you should go about contacting people who don't know you. What are the best ways of contacting people cold? Do query letters work? What should you put in a query letter? How do people perceive you when you reach out? What is the proper etiquette to cold contacting people? Plus, we celebrate our new Patreon subscribers! The Paper Team formulates... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - How to cold contact people (02:24) 2 - Query Letters (17:30) 3 - Etiquette: Dos and donts (26:03) Takeaways, Resources, and Next Week On (35:51) Links Paper Team on Patreon "Networking 101: How to Talk With People in Hollywood" (PT05) "Managing TV Writers ft. Daniela Garcia-Brcek (Circle of Confusion)" (PT59) "TV Writer Representation 201" (PT108) "How to Follow Up (Without Seeming Desperate)" (PT07) Resources Star Wars Cover Letter This episode brought to you by Script PipelineSubmit by March 1st to the 2019 Script Pipeline contest for a reduced entry fee Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]

Alex and Nick invite Julia Yorks, writer on The Adventures of Puss in Boots, Skylanders Academy, and Trolls: The Beat Goes On, to discuss finding stability as a nascent TV writer and moving up the ladder. How do you navigate building a career as a new TV writer? How do you deal with the instability of the profession? How can you balance other jobs with writing? What is the process of transitioning to full-time staff writer? How was the writing process of Puss in Boots, Skylanders Academy and Trolls? The Paper Team steps up... SHOWNOTES Content Finding stability as an up-and-coming TV writer with Julia Yorks (00:53) Final Advice, Resources, and Next Week On (42:17) Links Julia Yorks on Twiter The Adventures of Puss in Boots Skylanders Academy Trolls: The Beat Goes On "Finding Content for Digital TV ft. Hillary Levi (VRV)" (PT112) Jack Reacher (Film) Julia Yorks on Cinemorgue Resources "Save The Cat" - Blake Snyder This episode brought to you by Script PipelineSubmit by March 1st to the 2019 Script Pipeline contest for a reduced entry fee Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]

Alex and Nick invite fellow TV writers Liz Alper (The Rookie/Hawaii Five-0) & Kai Wu (Deception/The Flash) to debate what samples are worth writing, and how they get ready for staffing season. Are features better samples than TV pilots or specs? Should writers chase trends? What are ways of researching a spec script? How can you get ready for staffing season? How do you handle a difficult showrunner as a staff writer? Plus, we give feedback on three Paper tease entries and discuss the latest TV writing news. The Paper Team cuts deep... SHOWNOTES Content Paper Tease Session (00:00:48) 1 - TV writing samples and getting ready for staffing season with Liz Alper & Kai Wu (00:17:33) 2 - Paper Scraps: SMILF allegations, Bandersnatch, and TV watching (00:52:16) Final Advice and Next Week On (01:07:53) Paper Tease Entries "Endwell" by Diana Lampiasi "Test.ed" by Melissa Long "Mediocre" by Chris Thomas Links Liz Alper on Twitter Kai Wu on Twitter The Rookie on ABC Deception Daniel Kunka's Twitter thread Kai and Liz's Twitter responses Edgar Wright & Simon Pegg on Writing (Video) "'SMILF' Creator Frankie Shaw Investigated Over Misconduct Claims" - The Hollywood Reporter "Sexually Explicit Casting Contract for HBO's 'Westworld' Extras Has SAG-AFTRA Concerned" - The Hollywood Reporter "HBO Hires “Intimacy Coordinators” To Monitor On-Set Sex" - Deadline "Inside the 2-Year Journey of 'Bandersnatch'" - The Hollywood Reporter Lords & Ladles Tidying Up with Marie Kondo Nailed It! This episode brought to you by Script PipelineSubmit by March 1st to the 2019 Script Pipeline contest for a reduced entry fee Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]

Alex and Nick invite Alethea Jones, director on Queen America, Wrecked and Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street, to discuss what goes behind directing TV comedies and half-hour shows. What is the role of a director in television? How can writers better convey action for directors? How does a director work with a TV writer on set? What are differences between directing children's television and comedies? How do directors handle crossboarding? What are the responsibilities of being a producing director? The Paper Team takes the shot... SHOWNOTES Content Directing for TV comedies and dramas with Alethea Jones (00:43) Final Advice, Resources and Next Week On (44:27) Links Alethea Jones on Twitter Queen America on Facebook Wrecked Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street Strictly Ballroom Gretchen Enders Charles Randolph Babylon Berlin Succession Resources DaFont Shot Designer Scriptation This episode brought to you by Script PipelineSubmit by March 1st to the 2019 Script Pipeline contest for a reduced entry fee Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]

Alex and Nick discuss why TV formulas still matter and how to build a successful TV engine for your pilot and show. What is a TV engine? Why is a "formula" a necessary ingredient for a sustainable TV series? What are some ways serialized and character-based series use formulas to their advantage? How do you generate a sustainable and compelling engine for your show? How do you express that formula in a script? Plus, we launch our Patreon page and are hosting a mixer to celebrate! The Paper Team regenerates... SHOWNOTES Announcements 1 - Paper Team is now on Patreon! You can support us starting as little as $2/month and get exclusive TV writing advice in exchange, including cheat sheets and bonus episodes. Join us at https://www.patreon.com/paperteam 2 - To celebrate the launch, we're having a free mixer! Join us Saturday, January 19 at the Harlowe Bar in West Hollywood. The event starts at 5PM and runs all evening. More information available at http://paperteam.co/mixer Content Announcements: Patreon launch and Mixer details (00:26) 1 - Why formulas are still important in TV (03:39) 2 - How to generate a TV engine (09:09) 3 - Common questions and problems (22:44) Takeaways and Next Week On (26:34) Links TV Pilot 101 (PT30) TV Pilot 201: Keeping the Reader Interested (PT84) Day Break Act Breaks (PT15) Weaving Storylines: A/B/C Stories (PT53) Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode and everyone else who supported us this year. You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]

Alex and Nick celebrate the holidays by taking a look back at an eventful 2018, for both Paper Team and TV writing, as well as revealing what's next for the podcast in the new year. What were the most popular Paper Team episodes of the year? What were our favorite shows, movies, music and books of 2018? What are some of our goals for 2019? What gifts did Alex and Nick exchange? Plus, big things are coming in the next month. The Paper Team parties on... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - Paper Team Announcements: Patreon, Mixer and Mentorship (00:54) 2 - Paper Team 2018: A year in review (04:51) 3 - Best of 2018 (TV, movies, music, books, episodes) (21:47) 4 - Paper Team goals for 2019 (43:11) Gift Exchange and Next Time On (45:25) Links Paper Tease TV Script Competition The TV Writers' Room - A TV Calling Community (Facebook Group) "An Evening in the Writers’ Room" (PT100) "TV Writing Programs and Fellowships" (PT85) "TV Pilot 201" (PT84) "Analyzing Great TV Characters" (PT72) "Tips and Tricks for TV Writing" (PT93) Counterpart Bodyguard The Haunting of Hill House (TV Show) Gerald's Game (Movie) Killing Eve The Good Fight Big Mouth Barry "Flight of the Conchords: Live in London" "The Sincerest Form of Flattery" (1x07 - Counterpart) "Two Storms" (1x06 - The Haunting of Hill House) "Kiksuya" (1x08 - Westworld) "Chapter Seven: Loud, Fast, and Keep Going" (1x07 - Barry) "Free Churro" (5x06 - BoJack Horseman) "The Ballad of Donkey Doug" (3x06 - The Good Place) Bluey Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj "Airborne" by Prinze George "Between Two Shores" by Glen Hansard A Star Is Born (2018 Movie) Avengers: Infinity War Widows (2018 Movie) "The Hidden Life of Trees" by Peter Wohlleben "Thrawn" by Timothy Zahn "Building Your Career as a TV Writer ft. LaToya Morgan" (PT111) "Creating Animated TV Shows ft. Tom Ruegger" (PT89) "The Paper Team 99th Episode Special" (PT99) "TV Spec Script 201" (PT79) "TV Writer Representation 201" (PT108) "Rewriting Your TV Script" (PT90) Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode and everyone else who supported us this year. If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]

Alex and Nick invite Michelle Badillo & Caroline Levich, writers on Neflix's One Day at a Time and Freeform's The Bold Type, to discuss their experiences working in both half-hour and one-hour TV writers' rooms. How do you approach your first days in a writers' room? What are some of the differences and challenges between breaking a half-hour and a one-hour show? What lessons can TV writers take from working in both multi-cam and drama rooms? How do you adapt to differences in tone between the formats? How are stories broken on One Day at a Time and The Bold Type? What was it like working on a Humanitas-nominated episode of TV? How can you use branding to your advantage as a writer? What are some tips for successfully transitioning between formats and genre? The Paper Team changes tone... SHOWNOTES Content Writing for both TV comedy and TV drama with Michelle Badillo & Caroline Levich (00:37) Final Advice, Resources and Next Week On (47:28) Links Michelle Badillo on Twitter Caroline Levich on Twitter "One Day at a Time" on Netflix "The Bold Type" on Freeform Gloria Calderon Kellett Hollywood Fringe Festival Dan Hernandez "Hello, Penelope" (2x09 - One Day at a Time) Amanda Lasher Resources "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Crying" by Carol Leifer "Just the Funny Parts" by Nell Scovell The Comeback Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]

Alex and Nick invite Cinqué Lee, indie filmmaker and writer on Netflix's She's Gotta Have It, to have a fascinating discussion about transitioning from movies to television, as well as adapting features to TV series. How does the writers' room of She's Gotta Have It work? How do life experiences help shame themes and characters? How does writing TV compare to writing ongoing issues of a comic? What is it like working for Jim Jarmusch? What are lessons to take into writing from being on set and from acting? The Paper Team gets it... SHOWNOTES Content Working in features and TV with Cinqué Lee (00:30) Final Advice, Resources, and Next Week On (45:24) Links Cinqué Lee "She's Gotta Have It" available on Netflix The Answer Mystery Train Coffee and Cigarettes Crooklyn "Floaters" - Cinqué Lee, Sean Fagan, Lance Tooks Resources "On Writing" - Stephen King Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]

Alex and Nick offer feedback on four more teasers and cover a couple TV headlines from the past month, including expensive overall deal and top executives leaving their networks. Plus, we give official information about our Paper Team Mentorship! The Paper Team eyes the prize... SHOWNOTES Paper Tease Entries "Valkyrie" by Jamel Northern "Together Alone" by Tyler Jordan & Mark Anthony "Totally Human" by Josh Naquin "Gasland" by Augusto Federico Amador & Diggi Singh Links "J.J. Abrams Seeking Record-Shattering Overall Megadeal" - Variety "The death of Hollywood’s middle class" - Fast Company "ABC shakeup: Channing Dungey resigns; Karey Burke becomes entertainment president" - Los Angeles Times Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please consider leaving us an iTunes review at paperteam.co/itunes! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]