Paper Team

Alex and Nick discuss the basics of meetings for TV writers. From generals to staffing, here are some tips and tricks to get and ace your own one-on-ones. What are the different types of meetings? How do you get in the room? How should you prepare for a general or staffing meeting? How do you make a good first impression? What are dos-and-donts during and after your meeting? Plus, we answer additional questions from our "Writing your first TV pilot" Scriptchat session. The Paper Team takes the general... SHOWNOTES Content Paper Scraps: TV pilot Scritpchat questions (00:25) 1 - Types of meetings: generals, staffing, and pitch (07:28) 2 - How to get a meeting (11:29) 3 - Tips for the meet: before and during (16:46) 4 - After the meeting (31:43) Takeaways and Resources (35:59) Links "Writing Your First TV Pilot – A #Scriptchat Experience" - TV Calling TV Pilot 101 (PT30) TV Pitching 101 (PT13) Networking 101 (PT05) Resources "Good in a Room" - Stephanie Palmer "Good in a Room" - Talks at Google (Video) x.ai 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 the importance of teasers in television writing and key elements that make cold opens effective. What is the point of opening scenes? What makes a good teaser? How do you reveal character, story and theme in those first few pages? Are there teaser differences between comedy and drama? Plus, we talk 2017 Emmy winners and the revamped Fox Writers Lab. The Paper Team opens up... SHOWNOTES Content Paper Scraps: Emmys 2017 & Fox Writers Lab (00:28) 1 - Why are teasers and opening scenes important? (11:00) 2 - What makes a good opener: tone, character, expectations, story, and world (14:55) 3 - Specificities of teasers: comedy vs. drama, length, pilot vs. normal episode (32:01) Takeaways and Next Week On (38:19) Links 69th Primetime Emmy Awards (2017) The Handmaid's Tale (TV Show) Lena Waithe Donald Glover Sterling K. Brown Frank Pembleton Fox Writers Lab "Six Feet Under" Pilot Opening Sequence (Video) "Riverdale" Pilot Opening Sequence (Video) Glee Election "Scandal" Pilot Opening Sequence (Video) Firefly Psycho "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" Pilot Opening Sequence (Video) In medias res "Rick and Morty" Lighthouse Scene (Video) "Breaking Bad" Pilot Opening Sequence (Video) "Lost" Pilot Opening Sequence (Video) "Breaking Bad" Crawling Scene (Video) Stargate SG-1 Goa'uld Futurama Cheers "Lost" Season 2 Opening Sequence (Video) "Lost" Season 3 Opening Sequence (Video) 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]

NEW: Get the episode cheat sheet on our Patreon! Alex and Nick discuss the importance of tone in TV shows and how to establish it in your own writing. What is tone in television? Where do TV shows fit on the scale between farce and gritty realism? How can you establish tone through story, character, themes, and world? How do you keep a consistent tone in your TV script? Plus, we announce brand new episode transcripts. The Paper Team goes dark and gritty... SHOWNOTES Content Paper Scraps: New Paper Team transcripts (00:23) 1 - Defining tone and its importance (01:56) 2 - How to set-up or establish tone: world, character, story, dialogue, themes, and marketing (08:12) 3 - Tonal dissonance and "tonal recall" (32:53) Takeaways and Resources (38:35) Links "TV World-Building 101" (PT44) – Transcript "Joke-Writing, Stand-Up and Late-Night TV ft. Simon Taylor (The Tonight Show with Jay Leno)" (PT22) - Transcript "Writing Adult Comedy Animation ft. Alison Tafel (BoJack Horseman)" (PT39) – Transcript "Assisting TV Comedy Writers ft. Gary Sundt (Superstore/The Goldbergs)" (PT43) "Breaking in & Writing From “Outside the System” ft. Hilliard Guess (The Screenwriter’s Rant Room)" (PT47) - Transcript Psych The Shield The Mentalist Burn Notice Homeland Arrested Development Ozark Jason Bateman Coen Brothers Burn After Reading Desperate Housewives Doctor Who Christopher Eccleston David Tennant Matt Smith Veronica Mars "Fly" (3x10 - Breaking Bad) Rian Johnson "Wormhole X-Treme!" (5x12 - Stargate SG-1) "200" (10x06 - Stargate SG-1) Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 The Hitman's Bodyguard Kingsman Church Scene (Video) Star Trek: Discovery The Orville The Mummy (2017 Film) The Mummy (1999 Film) Saw The Room The Disaster Artist (Film) "It insists upon itself" - Family Guy (Video) Terriers Sweeney Todd (Film) Cougar Town The TV Set Flanderization The Practice David E. Kelley Boston Legal Baywatch Baywatch Nights Resources Tone Shift (TV Tropes) 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 Daniela Garcia-Brcek, manager at Circle of Confusion, to discuss the ins-and-outs of managing TV writers. What is the relationship between managers and screenwriters? What should TV writers do before getting a manager? How do managers find their clients? What are differences in representing TV writers, feature writers and playwrights? What kind of material attracts managers? When should you let go of your representatives? The Paper Team gets signed... SHOWNOTES Content Becoming a manager, representing TV writers, finding clients, writer's voice, queries, working with clients, staffing, developing projects, letting go of your rep or client (00:00:32) Resources and Next Week On (01:01:36) Links Daniela Garcia-Brcek on Twitter Circle of Confusion Breathe In Darren Aronofsky Spare Parts Ryan Coogler Entourage Eric "E." Murphy Mayhem Resources "Musts, Maybes, and Nevers" - David V. Picker "The Operator" - Thomas R. King "Inventing David Geffen" (26x07 - American Masters) 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 the differences between inspiration and stealing in screenwriting and television. What constitutes an original idea? Where is the line between inspiration and stealing? Where can you get inspiration from? What is considered an homage? How many different stories are there to tell? Plus, an answer to how many episodes of a TV show you should watch before speccing it. The Paper Team pays homage... SHOWNOTES Content Paper Scraps: Episodes to watch before writing a TV spec (00:52) 1 - What is an original idea? (03:34) 2 - Why everybody "steals" (06:36) 3 - Paying homage and the different stories being told (09:23) 4 - Inspiration in TV and spec scripts (22:58) Takeaways and Next Week On (34:13) Links Armageddon Deep Impact "Protecting and Over-Protecting Your TV Script: Copyright, Ownership and Idea Theft" (PT23) Parallel thinking Rough Night Girls Trip Akira Kurosawa Stranger Things Aesop's Fables Jean de La Fontaine Hero's Journey Christopher Vogler "The Art of Fiction" - John Gardner "Save the Cat" - Blake Snyder "The Seven Basic Plots" - Christopher Booker "The Six Main Arcs in Storytelling, as Identified by an A.I." - The Atlantic The Shield The Simpsons movie references This episode brought to you by Tracking Board's Launch Pad Writing Competitions Use code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF when you enter a Launch Pad Competition Special thanks to Evan Schmitt 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 Becca Burgess, casting associate on ABC's Last Man Standing, NBC's Undateable, and TBS' Cougar Town, to discuss how casting works in television. What is the casting process for TV shows, pilots and regular episodes? What can TV writers learn from casting? How much interaction does casting have with writers and producers? What are differences between casting comedy and drama? How does casting approach writers' character descriptions? The Paper Team gives a read... SHOWNOTES Content Becoming a casting associate, casting TV pilots and episodes, finding series regulars, interactions with writers and producers, approaching diversity, using character descriptions, casting discovery, reading process, advice for writers (00:55) Resources and Next Week On (34:52) Links Becca Burgess on Twitter Annie (Musical) Me and Earl and the Dying Girl Breakdown Services Superbad SAG-AFTRA Taft-Hartley report 13 Reasons Why This episode brought to you by Tracking Board's Launch Pad Writing Competitions Use code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF when you enter a Launch Pad Competition 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 share stories about being immigrants in the US and working in the TV industry as foreigners. Should you move directly to Los Angeles or first get experience somewhere else like New York or Vancouver? When would a show hire you if you're not a US citizen? What are cultural differences and initial difficulties to watch out for when moving countries? What is the visa and green card process for TV writers? What are some unique setbacks of being an immigrant in the TV industry? Plus, we talk about Shonda Rhimes' move to Netflix. The Paper Team migrates... SHOWNOTES Content Paper Scraps: Shonda Rhimes moving to Netflix (00:45) 1 - Before arriving in the US (05:36) 2 - First months in Los Angeles (14:05) 3 - Cultural differences and expectations as an immigrant (19:14) 4 - Getting settled: driver's license, credit score, social security (29:18) 5 - Staying and working in America: visas, green card and citizenship (35:47) 6 - Representing our home countries (50:39) Resources and Next Week On (53:54) Links "Netflix signs Shonda Rhimes in counterpunch to ABC and Disney" - New York Times "Moving to Los Angeles (and Things We Wish We Knew)" (PT01) "How to Meet People in LA (When You Don’t Know Anyone)" (PT03) "Managing Finances as an Assistant & Staff Writer" (PT16) J-1 Visa E-3 Visa O Visa US Diversity Visa Lottery Resources ImmigrationPortal Forum Australians in LA (Facebook Group) This episode brought to you by Tracking Board's Launch Pad Writing Competitions Use code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF when you enter a Launch Pad Competition 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 three TV writers to discuss what comes after winning a major screenwriting or TV writing competition. Guests include: Talia Gonzalez (Teen Wolf/iZombie) from the 2013 Tacking Board Launch Pad Feature Competition, David Hoffman (Timeless) from the 2015 Launch Pad Pilot Competition, and T.A. Snyder from the 2017 Launch Pad Pilot Competition. Why is entering screenwriting competitions important? What should you look out for before submitting a script? What should you expect and do after winning a writing contest? How should you brand yourself as a TV writer with your samples? What is the process of selecting the right agent or manager for you? How do you balance working on a TV writing staff and developing your own projects? The Paper Team competes... SHOWNOTES Content Winning a screenwriting competition and what comes after (01:08) Resources and Outro (59:50) [NOTE: Our usual "Next Week On" segment at the very end was unexpectedly cut. We'll be talking about working in TV as immigrants in next week's episode!] Links David Hoffman on Twitter Talia Gonzalez on Twitter T.A. Snyder on Twitter Matthew Weiner Charlie Kaufman Shawn Ryan Eric Kripke Launch Pad mentors TV Writing Fellowships WTF with Marc Maron Podcast Radiolab Podcast Traffic The Limey This episode brought to you by Tracking Board's Launch Pad Writing Competitions Use code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF when you enter a Launch Pad Competition 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]

Update: PT54 transcript now available Alex and Nick break down six iconic TV pilots to look at what makes them great TV scripts (Alias, Community, Homicide, The O.C., Scrubs and 3rd Rock from the Sun). What makes a memorable TV pilot work? How do they introduce characters in unique ways? How do they set up the world and engine of the show? What rules do they bend or follow, and why? What TV writing lessons can you learn from them? Plus, we discuss how seriously you should take glowing feedback from screenwriting competitions. The Paper Team starts things off... SHOWNOTES Content Paper Scraps: Glowing feedback from competitions (00:00:50) 1 - Introduction to the six TV pilots (00:05:49) 2 - Why we selected these TV pilots (00:10:43) 3 - Teasers and openers (00:19:55) 4 - Character introductions, ensemble dynamics and dialogue (00:26:37) 5 - World and exposition (00:42:00) 6 - Pilot structure vs. series representation (00:47:35) Next Week On (01:02:53) Links BlueCat Screenplay Competition "Feedback and Notes: Building Your Reading Onion" (PT08) "Brains and Eggs" (1x01 - 3rd Rock from the Sun) "Truth Be Told" (1x01 - Alias) "Pilot" (1x01 - Community) "Gone for Goode" (1x01 - Homicide: Life on the Street) "Premiere" (1x01 - The O.C.) "My First Day" (1x01 - Scrubs) Josh Schwartz David Simon Dan Harmon in medias res "Morning Routine" - American Psycho (Video) Paul Attanasio "TV Characters 101" (PT46) Tom Fontana Diner (Movie) This episode brought to you by Tracking Board's Launch Pad Writing Competitions Use code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF when you enter a Launch Pad Competition 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]

NEW: Get the episode cheat sheet on our Patreon! Update: PT53 transcript now available Alex and Nick discuss the importance of weaving A, B and C stories in TV writing, and interesting ways of doing it in TV scripts. Why is it important to cut between storylines in TV? When should you start and end each storyline? Which storylines should you spend more time on in your TV script? When should you only do a single A story? What are some noteworthy and unique formats for A/B/C plotlines? Plus, we talk about where to read TV scripts. The Paper Team become master-weavers... SHOWNOTES Content Paper Scraps (FKA Odds-and-ends): Finding TV scripts (00:55) 1 - Why does TV have A/B/C stories? (03:51) 2 - Nuts and bolts of using A/B/C stories (10:27) 3 - Interesting and non-traditional uses of weaving A/B/C stories in TV (18:22) Takeaways and Resources (32:22) Links Writers Guild Foundation Library TV Calling Script Library Zen134237 Lee Thomson Script Library Simply Scripts Daily Script IMSDb "What are A, B, and C stories in screenwriting?" - TV Calling Team America Montage (Video) "Marge vs. the Monorail" (4x12 - The Simpsons) "Ozymandias" (5x14 - Breaking Bad) "That's My Dog" (4x05 - Six Feet Under) "Eleven Angry Men and One Dick" (3x07 - 3rd Rock from the Sun) Boomtown Graham Yost 24 (TV Series) "Kim vs. the Cougar: The Oral History of 24’s Most Infamous Scene" - Vulture "My Bad" (1x06 - Scrubs) Awake (TV Series) Kyle Killen "How Lost revolutionized storytelling" - TV Calling "Walkabout" (1x04 - Lost) "The Constant" (4x05 - Lost) Watchmen Slaughterhouse-Five This Is Us Oz (TV Series) Carnivàle "Bowling" (2x20 - Malcom in the Middle) Sliding Doors "Remedial Chaos Theory" (3x04 - Community) "Split" (3x01 - Coupling) "A Rickle in Time" (2x01 - Rick & Morty) Resources "Elephant Bucks" - Sheldon Bull "Cracking the Sitcom Code" - The Atlantic "Television Writing from the Inside Out" - Larry Brody Plot Threads (TV Tropes) Plot Parallel (TV Tropes) Two Lines, No Waiting (TV Tropes) Four Lines, All Waiting (TV Tropes) This episode brought to you by Tracking Board's Launch Pad Writing Competitions Use code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF when you enter a Launch Pad Competition 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]

NEW: Get the episode cheat sheet on our Patreon! Update: PT51 transcript now available Alex and Nick look at the importance of dialogue in TV writing, and give an overview of what makes it stand out. What can you use dialogue for? What makes good or bad dialogue? How do you introduce character quirks in the dialogue? What are some common pitfalls in dialogue writing? How do you fix bad dialogue? Plus, we respond to a review and talk over-used pitches. The Paper Team trades words... SHOWNOTES Content Odds-and-ends: Review & Pitches (00:48) 1 - Purpose of dialogue (09:06) 2 - Specificities of dialogue: style and character (13:08) 3 - Finding your dialogue (16:38) 4 - What makes bad dialogue and how to fix it (22:41) Takeaways and Resources (34:42) Links Mumblecore Mark Duplass Big Brother Live Feeds The Newsroom Littlefinger's "Chaos is a Ladder" speech from Game of Thrones (Video) "Oh, hi Mark" scene from The Room (Video) Code-switching Draft Zero Podcast Resources "Dialogue Secrets" - William C. Martell This episode brought to you by Tracking Board's Launch Pad Writing Competitions Use code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF when you enter a Launch Pad Competition Special thanks to Evan Schmitt 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 celebrate the fiftieth episode of Paper Team with a special look back at the first year of the podcast, including updates on past episodes, guests, and other news. What are some of our own favorite moments and episodes? What are the most popular Paper Team episodes? What new lessons have we learned since recording them? From assistants and coordinators, to writers and producers, we also catch up with several of our amazing guests: Tennessee Martin, Steven Darancette, Sam Miller, Chris Corbett, Maggie Herman, Jimmy Nguyen and Gary Sundt. The Paper Team pops the champagne... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - Follow-ups to Paper Team episodes and some of our favorites (00:01:21) 2 - Follow-ups from our guests, ft. Tennessee Martin, Steven Darancette, Sam Miller, Chris Corbett, Maggie Herman, Jimmy Nguyen and Gary Sundt (00:15:01) 3 - One year of Paper Team (00:54:21) Special Thanks, Outro and Next Week On (01:13:14) Links "How to Follow Up (Without Seeming Desperate)" (PT07) "Getting Your TV Script Read" (PT29) "TV Writer Representation 101" (PT31) "Australian TV ft. Chris Corbett" (PT18) Australian Survivor "Managing Finances as an Assistant & Staff Writer ft. Kiyong Kim" (PT16) "Web Series and TV Writing ft. Sam Miller (Single by 30/Mom)" (PT27) SeeSo Over-the-top content (OTT) "Diversity in TV and the Writers’ Room ft. Francesca Butler & Kelly Lynne D’Angelo" (PT14) "Assisting TV Comedy Writers ft. Gary Sundt (Superstore/The Goldbergs)" (PT43) "Breaking in & Writing From “Outside the System” ft. Hilliard Guess" (PT47) "Writing Adult Comedy Animation ft. Alison Tafel (BoJack Horseman)" (PT39) "Act Breaks" (PT15) "TV Viewing Habits: Writing for the Binge" (PT42) "Bringing the TV Writers’ Room Process Home" (PT06) "Writing Themes and Values in TV" (PT36) "TV Writer vs. Fandom: Writers’ Rooms and Fan Interaction – Paper Team at WonderCon 2017" (PT38) Tennessee Martin on Twitter Lucifer The Lady Parts Collective The Lady Parts Collective on Facebook Joe Henderson Ildy Modrovich Jennifer Graham Imada Dawn Wells "Writing Children’s Animation ft. Steven Darancette (Lalaloopsy/Tumble Leaf)" (PT41) Steven Darancette on Twitter Sam Miller on Twitter American Airness (Video) Vaudeville Chris Corbett on IMDb "TV Budgeting and Line Producing ft. Maggie Herman (Bosch) – On the Road at SDCC 2016" (PT10) Maggie Herman on Twitter People of Earth Wrecked Search Party The Detour The Last O.G. Miracle Workers Simon Rich Man Seeking Woman The Cops Michael Showalter "Independent Producing ft. Jimmy Nguyen (Showrunners)" (PT32) Jimmy Nguyen on Twitter Gary Sundt on IMDb Death Note (2017 Movie) Adam Wingard Gary Sundt's Kong tattoo Will/Sean Podcast - Episode 255 "Retcon the Episode" with Alex Freedman & Nick Watson "The 2016 Paper Team Holiday Special" (PT25) "Joke-Writing, Stand-Up and Late-Night TV ft. Simon Taylor (The Tonight Show with Jay Leno)" (PT22) "TV Pitching 101: Who, What, and Why" (PT13) "Spec v. Pilot: What You Should Be Writing Next" (PT04) "TV Writing Competitions" (PT33) "TV Spec Script 101" (PT34) "Supplemental Income for Writers" (PT35) "Moving to Los Angeles (and Things We Wish We Knew)" (PT01) "TV Pilot 101" (PT30) Pocket Casts "Goal-Setting as a TV Writer" (PT26) Francesca Butler on Twitter Jason J. Cohn on Twitter Alex Switzky on Twitter Evan Schmitt on Instagram Elena Rodriguez Miranda on Dropr This episode brought to you by Tracking Board's Launch Pad Writing Competitions Use code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF when you enter a Launch Pad Competition Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode and Joseph Yuan for the music. 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 Dana Bramble, coordinator in current programming at The CW, to discuss the ins-and-outs of working in the scripted side of a TV network. What happens after a pilot gets picked up? How is current programming different from development? What notes do network executives give? How does staffing season operate for current shows? What arcs are pitched ahead of the season? How are standards and practices involved with scripts? The Paper Team looks at the slate... SHOWNOTES Content Working in current programming, network branding, giving notes, pitching, standards & practices, staffing, diversity initiatives and watching television (01:04) Resources and Next Week On (34:01) Links Dana Bramble on Twitter The CW CW Seed UPN The WB CBS Television Studios Warner Bros. Television Arrowverse Broadcast Standards and Practices Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Machinima, Inc. In the Loop Sweet/Vicious JHRTS Resources "On Writing" - Stephen King This episode brought to you by Tracking Board's Launch Pad Writing Competitions Use code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF when you enter a Launch Pad Competition 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]

Update: PT48 transcript now available Alex and Nick discuss why scene descriptions in TV scripts are so important, what to focus on in your TV prose, and treading the line between writing a script as a technical document versus a reading experience. What makes good or bad prose? What are some examples of compelling scene descriptions? Should prose be efficient or florid? How do you convey textual information? When should you "direct" in a TV script? Plus, a quick review of Shonda Rhimes' TV writing masterclass. The Paper Team illustrates their thoughts... SHOWNOTES Content Announcements (00:49) Odds-and-ends: Shonda Rhimes' TV writing masterclass (02:23) 1 - What is screenwriting prose and why is it important (07:50) 2 - Why scene descriptions need to be efficient (09:33) 3 - Script: technical document or reading experience? (17:53) 4 - Describing versus telling (22:51) 5 - The screenwriter's voice (27:39) Takeaways and Resources (30:15) Links Shonda Rhimes' TV writing masterclass Six Feet Under Alien script by Walter Hill and David Giler David Foster Wallace Shane Black American Gods (TV Series) Courier Prime "Two for the Road" (2x20 - Lost) "Exposition in TV Writing" (PT24) Sherlock (TV Series) "Sherlock: How To Film Thought" (Video) "A Brief Look at Texting and the Internet in Film" (Video) Fringe chyrons Resources Hemingway Editor Thesaurus.com "The Synonym Finder" - J. I. Rodale This episode brought to you by Tracking Board's Launch Pad Writing Competitions Use code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF when you enter a Launch Pad Competition 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 writer/producer Hilliard Guess for an in-depth discussion about his experience in the industry, working as a writer, and his involvement in the WGA and his Screenwriter’s Rant Room podcast. How do you build a writing career without the traditional assistant or fellowship route? What are key differences in being a producer or writer, and juggling both roles? What are aspects of the WGA people should know more about? How do you overcome adversity and get things done? What are ways of putting yourself out there and opening doors? The Paper Team goes rogue... NOTE: We had a bit of noise on the line, and my upstairs neighbors decided to join in on the fun towards the end of the recording. We tried to fix most of the issue, but be aware there may be some residual audio. SHOWNOTES Content Starting out, becoming a writer, getting writing jobs, being a producer, curating your work environment, being involved in the WGA, dealing with adversity, and the competition (00:01:22) Resources and Next Week On (01:10:22) Links Hilliard Guess on Twitter The Screenwriter's Rant Room on iTunes The Screenwriter's Rant Room on Twitter Hilldog Productions Palo Alto (California) Dangerous Minds John Truby Robert McKee Jack Epps Jr. Karl Iglesias Z Nation 28 Days Later World War Z (Film) Two and a Half Men Jaws Million Dollar Listings Million Dollar Listing New York Fredrik Eklund The Lot Studios go90 WGA's LGBT Writers Committee WGA's Committee of Black Writers Lena Waithe Michelle Amor Dr. Phil (TV Series) Dope Straight Outta Compton (Film) Wonder Woman (Film) A Few Good Men Precious (Film) Mo'Nique 3rd & Fairfax WGAW Podcast Lisa Bolekaja Organization of Black Screenwriters Kramer vs. Kramer Jay Mohr Mark Valley Lynelle White Army Wives "Writing Action and Dialogue (126)" - The Screenwriter's Rant Room Resources Pilar Alessandra's On the Page "Coffee Break Screenwriter" - Pilar Alessandra Jen Grisanti "The Sequence Approach" - Paul Gulino This episode brought to you by Tracking Board's Launch Pad Writing Competitions Use code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF when you enter a Launch Pad Competition 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]

Update: PT46 transcript now available Alex and Nick discuss one of the most important parts of television writing: creating compelling characters. Why are characters so vital to television shows? What are some key elements to watch out for when writing characters in a TV script? Why are character introductions so important in screenwriting? How can you create interesting people that fit your TV show? The Paper Team explores their existence... SHOWNOTES Content A special announcement (00:46) 1 - Television is a character's medium (01:41) 2 - Describing characters: introductions, archetypes, and traits (02:42) 3 - Character voices, filler characters, and empathy (17:38) 4 - Characters in the story: goals and arcs (23:43) Takeaways and Resources (28:25) Links House, M.D. Hugh Laurie "The Hero's Journey" - Joseph Campbell "The Writer's Journey" - Christopher Vogler Michael Clayton (Film) Sam Seaborn "Pilot" (1x01 - The West Wing) "Pilot" (1x01-02 - Lost) "Pilot" (1x01 - Community) Legion (TV Series) Anton Chigurh "Assisting TV Comedy Writers ft. Gary Sundt" (PT43) Maslow's hierarchy of needs Resources "The Art Of Dramatic Writing" - Lajos Egri "The Emotion Thesaurus" - Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi This episode brought to you by Tracking Board's Launch Pad Writing Competitions Use code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF when you enter a Launch Pad Competition 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 Billy Domineau, writer of the popular Seinfeld 9/11 spec script and staff writer on Family Guy, to talk about the pros and cons of writing a TV stunt spec. When should you write a stunt script? What is the process of making and distributing one? How can a TV spec get shared around town? How do you use that popularity to get represented and staffed on a TV show? The Paper Team goes viral... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - Brainstorming, writing, distributing and having the stunt spec script go viral (00:54) 2 - Getting representation, being staffed on Family Guy, lessons from the writers' room, and using social media as a TV writer (31:01) Resources and Next Week On (53:23) Links Billy Domineau on Twitter Seinfeld Billy Domineau's Seinfeld 9/11 stunt spec ("The Twin Towers") (PDF) Family Guy Upright Citizens Brigade Nicole Conlan's The People v. O.J. Simpson stunt spec ("The Briefcase Switcheroo") (PDF) The Bechdel test Jerry Seinfeld (character) Elaine Benes Cosmo Kramer George Costonza Julia Louis-Dreyfus "The Conversion" (5x11 - Seinfeld) "The Secret Code" (7x07 - Seinfeld) Rachel Bloom "The 9/11 Seinfeld spec script you absolutely have to read today" - The Comic's Comic "What Happens When Your 9/11 'Seinfeld' Spec Script Blows Up the Internet" - Splitsider "This Seinfeld Episode about 9/11 Is a Model of Comedy Writing and Monumentally Bad Taste" - Slate Jon Lovett James Adomian Chris Kelly Brandon McCarthy "Billy Domineau talks September 11 spec script" - Entertainment Weekly Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee Rachel Bloom's "Fuck Me, Ray Bradbury" (Video) 3 Arts Entertainment United Talent Agency Alec Sulkin BET (Black Entertainment Television) "The Wedding Squanchers" (2x10 - Rick & Morty) Bowen Yang on Twitter Resources Writers' Guild Foundation Library This episode brought to you by Tracking Board's Launch Pad Writing Competitions Use code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF when you enter a Launch Pad Competition Special thanks to Evan Schmitt 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]

Update: PT44 transcript now available Alex and Nick discuss the importance of world-building in television writing and TV pilots. What is the point of world-building in TV shows? What are some good and bad examples of mythology? How can you implement world-building effectively in your own writing? What are some common pitfalls to avoid falling into? The Paper Team sets the scene... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - Defining world-building (00:58) 2 - Tools of world-building (10:03) 3 - Common pitfalls of world-building (20:19) Takeaways and Resources (29:22) Links The Shield Vic Mackey Claudette Wyms C. C. H. Pounder The Practice Battlestar Galactica The Man in the High Castle (TV Series) Firefly American Gods (TV Series) Cosmos: A Personal Voyage Logan Defiance (TV Series) 17th Precinct Battle of Serenity Valley (Firefly) The Handmaid's Tale (TV Series) "Unfinished Business" (3x09 - Battlestar Galactica) Caprica Lostpedia "TV Writer vs. Fandom: Writers’ Rooms and Fan Interaction" (PT38) "The One with the Prom Video" (2x14 - Friends) Resources r/worldbuilding (reddit) Writing in the Margins' Sensitivity Readers This episode brought to you by Tracking Board's Launch Pad Writing Competitions Use code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF when you enter a Launch Pad Competition Special thanks to Jason J. Cohn 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 Gary Sundt, writers' assistant on NBC's Superstore and ABC's The Goldbergs, to discuss the ins-and-outs of assisting TV writers in comedy. How do comedy writers' rooms operate? How do those experiences in the room help your own writing? When and how should you navigate asking your boss to read your content? What are the priorities when helping a writer develop a pilot? What is the meaning of storytelling? The Paper Team pulls up a chair... SHOWNOTES Content Being a writer's assistant, assisting a showrunner in developing pilots, working in a writer's room, and the role of comedy in politics (00:01:20) Resources and Next Time On (1:14:32) Links Gary Sundt on IMDb Superstore (TV Series) The Goldbergs (2013 TV series) Playboy's the Antiviral Show Archie Comics Kill Bill Angel (TV Series) Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Marley & Me Clerks II Summertime Killers Rick Wiener Kenny Schwartz American Housewife Charlie Grandy Guys With Kids Super Fun Night Justin Spitzer Dan Harmon Mulaney America Ferrara Ruben Fleischer Colossal Adam F. Goldberg Joseph Campbell Michael Arndt Blake Snyder "Save the Cat" - Blake Snyder Neil Gaiman Twister (Film) Independence Day (Film) Adam Wingard Death Note (2017 Film) "The Hidden Life of Trees" - Peter Wohlleben "Rapt: Attention and the Focused Life" - Winifred Gallagher "Essays in Love" - Alain de Botton "Modern Romance" - Aziz Ansari Resources Michael Arndt's "Setting a Story in Motion" (Video) "What Are You Laughing At?" - Dan O'Shannon This episode brought to you by Tracking Board's Launch Pad Writing Competitions Use code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF when you enter a Launch Pad Competition 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 how television viewing habits impact the writing and enjoyment of TV shows. How does the way you consume a show influence the audience? How have changes in viewing habits transformed television writing itself? What are some ways to use that paradigm shift in your own writing? The Paper Team binges in one sitting... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - How people consume TV today (00:52) 2 - How viewing habits impact the perception of TV shows (11:37) 3 - How viewing habits affect and influence TV writing (25:44) 4 - A little about the future of TV viewing (42:20) Takeaways and Resources (45:45) Links Over-the-top content (OTT) YouTube TV YouTube Red "Why mythological shows are often idolized" - TV Calling The Hatch Final Five "Damon Lindelof Doesn't Want Critics To Binge Season 3 of The Leftovers" - IndieWire "The Art of the TV Episode" (PT20) "Two Boats and a Helicopter" (1x03 - The Leftovers) "Guest" (1x06 - The Leftovers) "The Bythewoods and The Writers Retreat" - 3rd & Fairfax Flesh and Bone Resources "Netflix Studied Your Binge-Watching Habit" - The New York Times "Series, Movie, Series, Repeat: A New Netflix Binge Routine" - Netflix This episode brought to you by Tracking Board's Launch Pad Writing Competitions Use code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF when you enter a Launch Pad Competition 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 Steven Darancette, writer on Amazon's Tumble Leaf and Nick Jr.'s Lalaloopsy, to discuss writing for TV children's animation. How does a non-primetime animation writers' room work? What are some of the distinctions in TV age-groups? How strict are censorship and regulations for children's content? What are unique challenges in writing for young kids versus young adults? Are there any mandates on an educational or promotional standpoint? The Paper Team channels their inner child... SHOWNOTES Content Getting started writing for TV children's animation, how the writers rooms work, and discussing content (00:55) Resources and Next Time On (40:51) Links Steven Darancette on Twitter Tumble Leaf on Amazon Lalaloopsy (TV series) Warner Bros. Animation Batman: The Animated Series Animaniacs Pinky and the Brain Alan Burnett Ozzy & Drix "A Growing Cell" (2x08 - Ozzy & Drix) Bleak Future KODAK Super 8 The Tick (2001 TV series) Jackie Chan Adventures Krypto the Superdog Guardians of the Galaxy (TV series) Ben 10 Lalaloopsy (Dolls) Bob the Builder IATSE 839 (Animation Guild) Resources "Producing Animation" - Catherine Winder & Zahra Dowlatabadi This episode brought to you by Tracking Board's Launch Pad Writing Competitions Use code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF when you enter a Launch Pad Competition 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 television procedural shows and how they work, from writing them to reinventing the genre itself. What kind of procedurals are there on TV? How do you juggle between the characters, the overall story, and the case-of-the-week? What are some common tips for writing a procedural? How does the structure evolve between episodic and serialized procedurals? The Paper Team solves the case... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - Defining TV procedurals (00:46) 2 - Writing TV procedurals: structure, case of the week, and reinventing the genre (03:22) Takeaways and Resources (28:29) Links Carol Mendelsohn "How Joss Whedon and the Buffy writers’ room broke episodes" - TV Calling "My Overkill" (2x01 - Scrubs) Colin Hay "The Art of the TV Episode" (PT20) "Subway" (6x07 - Homicide: Life on the Street) Andre Braugher Dancing Baby "Tracking the long career of half-forgotten TV auteur David E. Kelley" - Stephen Bowie/The A.V. Club Ann Donahue Steven Bochco Century City (TV Series) "When every Fox show becomes a procedural, it gets very boring" - Daniel Fienberg/THR Michelle King Robert King "Common Descent" (2x17 - Stargate Universe) "Should You Pay for TV Writing Education?" (PT19) Resources "How The Good Wife broke the rules for legal dramas, and then broke itself" - Noel Murray/The A.V. Club This episode brought to you by Tracking Board's Launch Pad Writing Competitions Use code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF when you enter a Launch Pad Competition Special thanks to Jason J. Cohn 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]

Update: PT39 transcript now available Alex and Nick welcome Alison Tafel, staff writer on Netflix's BoJack Horseman, to discuss writing on an adult comedy animation TV show. What is the BoJack Horseman writers' room like? How different is writing for animation from live-action? How do writers interact with animators? How much is planned in advance of the season? How are episodes broken in the room? The Paper Team horses around... SHOWNOTES Content Starting out in Hollywood, getting staffed on BoJack Horseman, and the writing process on the Netflix TV show (00:46) Resources and Next Time On (48:53) Links Alison Tafel on Twitter BoJack Horseman on Netflix Kenneth Parcell Raising Hope Bunk'd NBC's Late Night Writers Worshop Raphael Bob-Waksberg Project Greenlight "Fish Out of Water" (3x04 - BoJack Horseman) "Downer Ending" (1x11 - BoJack Horseman) "Stop the Presses" (3x07 - BoJack Horseman) Greg Kinnear Margo Martindale Jessica Biel Charming Cheetah Comedy on YouTube John Myers on Twitter Stoopid Buddy Stoodios David Hill on Twitter Superstore Rachel Bloom Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Sheet Music Resources "Truth in Comedy: The Manual for Improvisation" - Charna Halpern, Del Close, Kim Howard Johnson "Comedy Writing for Late-Night TV" - Joe Toplyn This episode brought to you by Tracking Board's Launch Pad Writing Competitions Use code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF when you enter a Launch Pad Competition 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]

For the first Paper Team Live event, Alex and Nick go to WonderCon 2017 to host a panel on the dialogue between TV writers and their fans. This relationship has become a vital tool for many television shows — and one that is often very fickle. That's why we've invited writers and assistants from several beloved shows to share their thoughts on the issue. Panelists include Ray Utarnachitt (DC's Legends of Tomorrow), Jill Weinberger (Chicago Fire), Tennessee Martin (Lucifer), Diya Mishra (The Tick), and Taylor Brogan (The Shannara Chronicles). What does a typical conversation look like between a writers' room and their fandom? How much attention do TV writers pay to fans? Have fans' voices changed the course of a story or character? What is it like going from being a fan of a show to being involved directly in the creative decisions? The Paper Team goes live in room 209... SHOWNOTES Content Live Paper Team WonderCon panel (00:00:38) Next Time On (01:01:15) Links Taylor Brogan on Twitter Diya Mishra on Twitter Tennessee Martin on Twitter Jill Weinberger on Twitter Ray Utarnachitt on Twitter The Shannara Chronicles Into the Badlands Gilmore Girls Emily Gilmore Powerless The Tick Pokémon (anime) Lucifer South of Nowhere Chicago Fire Wonder Woman (TV series) DC's Legends of Tomorrow Buffy the Vampire Slayer It's Your Move The Tick Writers' Room on Twitter Lucifer Writers' Room on Twitter Into the Badlands Writers' Room on Twitter The Shannara Chronicles Writers' Room on Twitter Derek Haas Marc Guggenheim Ben Edlund Person of Interest Terry Brooks ATX Television Festival Hep Alien Amy Sherman-Palladino Sutton Foster Rachael Harris "The One Where Rachel Has a Baby: Part 1" (8x23 - Friends) Psych Michael Emerson Sports Night Holly Robinson Peete Iron Fist (TV series) Atom (Ryan Choi) Atom (Ray Palmer) Brandon Routh Hogsmeade The Magicians (TV series) iZombie (TV series) Victoria Thompson's "Gaslight Mysteries" Grace and Frankie Legion (TV series) Good Girls Revolt Riverdale (TV series) Lee Toland Krieger 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 are joined by Buffy the Vampire Slayer expert Evan Schmitt to discuss visual storytelling in television writing through the prism of two episodes, "Hush" and "Restless". How do you convey information visually? How can you use imagery to illustrate story and character? What does exposition look like without dialogue? How creepy are the Gentlemen? What was the Cheese Man all about? The Paper Team invokes the First Slayer... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - About "Hush" and "Restless" (01:39) 2 - Narrative structures of "Hush" and "Restless" (11:08) 3 - Visual storytelling in "Hush" (18:33) 4 - Visual storytelling in "Restless" (40:53) Takeaways and Resources (56:37) Announcement Paper Team is going to WonderCon 2017! Join our panel "Writer Versus Fandom: TV Writer's Rooms and Fan Interaction" on Sunday, April 2 at 4:00PM in Room 209. Links Evan Schmitt on Instagram Paper Team panel at WonderCon 2017 Buffy the Vampire Slayer on DVD "Hush" (4x10 - Buffy the Vampire Slayer) "Restless" (4x22 - Buffy the Vampire Slayer) Shooting script for "Hush" (dated November 3, 1999) Shooting script for "Restless" (dated April 8, 2000) The Ascension "Primeval" (4x21 - Buffy the Vampire Slayer) "How Joss Whedon and the Buffy writers’ room broke episodes" - TV Calling The Gentlemen Cheese Man "Beer Bad" (4x05 - Buffy the Vampire Slayer) "Ozymandias" (5x14 - Breaking Bad) Christophe Beck Saint-Saëns' "Danse macabre" "The Zeppo" (3x13 - Buffy the Vampire Slayer) Ethan Rayne "Band Candy" (3x06 - Buffy the Vampire Slayer) Ripper Maggie Walsh "Graduation Day" (3x21-22 - Buffy the Vampire Slayer) "This Year's Girl" (4x15 - Buffy the Vampire Slayer) Dawn Summers Joyce Summers Mr. Pointy "The Gift" (5x22 - Buffy the Vampire Slayer) Resources Buffy World's episode index with shooting scripts "Tough Enough: Female Friendship and Heroism in Xena and Buffy" - Dr. Sharon Ross Dr. Sharon Ross (Columbia College Chicago) 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 the importance of themes and values in television writing, and how you can use them to your advantage in your own TV scripts. Why are themes and values important in television writing? What are some examples of both? How do you work them in scripts? How do you avoid preachiness in the writing? The Paper Team shares their motifs... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - What are themes and values? (01:20) 2 - How to write themes and values in TV (14:12) 3 - Avoiding preachiness in your writing (23:10) Takeaways and Resources (27:28) Links Survivor: Blood vs. Water Star Trek: Deep Space Nine "Far Beyond the Stars" (6x13 - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) Sons of Anarchy Everybody Loves Raymond Desperate Housewives "Earshot" (3x18 - Buffy the Vampire Slayer) Danny Strong Buffy Studies "Beer Bad" (4x05 - Buffy the Vampire Slayer) Scorpius (Farscape) The Outer Limits (1963 TV series) The Outer Limits (1995 TV series) "Chaos is a ladder" speech from Game of Thrones (Video) "BoJack Horseman Christmas Special: Sabrina's Christmas Wish" Resources "Philosophy of..." Books "The Philosophy of The Simpsons" - William Irwin, Mark T. Conard, Aeon J. Skoble Star Trek episodes with social themes Special thanks to Jason J. Cohn 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 how to make supplemental income and getting side-jobs while working in TV or breaking in. How do you stay financially secure before and after breaking in the entertainment industry? How should you balance work and writing? What are some freelance jobs worth pursuing as a writer? What are the benefits and drawbacks of being an independent contractor? The Paper Team files their 1099... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - Benefits and drawbacks of finding supplemental income or freelancing (00:22) 2 - Ways of making supplemental income as a writer (12:26) Takeaways and Resources (38:34) Links Managing Finances as an Assistant and Staff Writer (PT16) Stage 32 Roadmap Writers Virtual PitchFest Gig economy Friedman Agency AppleOne Care.com UpWork Chuck Tingle (NSFW) "Easy and Healthy French Recipes" - Claire Rose Swagbucks Amazon Mechanical Turk Patreon Resources r/BeerMoney (reddit) 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 the ins-and-outs of writing a TV spec script of an existing show. How do you pick the show? Why is researching the series beforehand important? How do you brainstorm ideas for specs? What are some dos and don'ts to break the mold? The Paper Team picks their spec... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - What makes a TV spec, a TV spec (00:29) 2 - Writing the TV spec script (08:15) Takeaways and Resources (25:39) Links TV Spec Script List TV Spec Test TV Writing Fellowships: The Bix Six Resources Ten Spec Writing Rules (and why you should care) WGA 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 discuss television writing competitions, their personal experiences with them, and whether or not they're worth participating in. Which TV writing competitions are out there? What should you consider before paying and submitting your script? What do you actually get out of them? What if you win and nothing happens? The Paper Team submits their entry fee... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - What are screenwriting competitions? (00:32) 2 - Why you should enter TV writing competitions (01:56) 3 - Competitions that are out there and our own experiences (09:44) 4 - What you should consider before entering a competition (22:50) 5 - What if I win and nothing happens? What if my win is old news? (27:41) Takeaways and Next Week On (31:42) Links Academy Nicholl Fellowships Tracking Board's Launch Pad TrackingB "Answers to the questions I've been asked" - Mickey Fisher Austin Film Festival Competition JHRTS Pilot Competition How to Meet People in LA (When You Don’t Know Anyone) (PT03) PAGE Competition Final Draft's Big Break Contest Script Pipeline Special thanks to Jason J. Cohn 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 are joined by Jimmy Nguyen, executive producer of the documentary Showrunners, to discuss independent producing, collaborating with other creatives, and lessons he's learned over his years working in Los Angeles. What is the role of a producer? How did the documentaries Showrunners and Barista came to be? How does he approach creative and professional collaborations? What are some tips to getting started and networking properly? The Paper Team gets good at the ask... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - Moving to Los Angeles, connecting with people, and getting involved in Showrunners (00:37) 2 - Working as an independent producer, their collaborative role, and helping make Showrunners/Barista (08:39) 3 - Inspirations and other projects (38:04) 4 - Tips and advice for aspiring producers (47:15) Resources and Next Week On (53:48) Links Jimmy Nguyen on Twitter Showrunners (Documentary) Showrunners (Book) Barista Comic Book Sunday Des Doyle Ryan Patrick McGuffey Jason Rose Wally Schrass Irish Film Board Jane Espenson Damon Lindelof The Pirate Tapes Indie Game: The Movie Charles Mruz Going Clear The Imposter The Family The King of Kong Shut Up and Play the Hits Helvetica (Documentary) Searching for Sugar Man Man on Wire The Jinx O.J.: Made in America Mayor of Sunset Strip The Kid Stays in the Picture Heroines (Short) The Big Short Rachel Moore The Champ Search Party Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency Trollhunters Top of the Lake Essen Game Fair Roy Lee "Adventures in the Screen Trade" - William Goldman The Ring Gravitas Ventures Resources "A Pound of Flesh" - Art Linson "Save the Cat!" - Blake Snyder 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 the basics of getting an agent or manager representation as a television writer (also known as "TV Lit" representation). What are the main differences between agents, managers and entertainment lawyers? What will they do for you, and what will you be able to do for them? When are you ready to be represented? Should you get an agent or manager first? The Paper Team makes some calls... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - What is representation for TV writers? (0:35) 2 - The artist/rep relationship (2:00) 3 - Should you get a rep? (11:06) 4 - FAQs and common myths (21:38) Takeaways and Resources (26:32) Links Mike Ovitz meeting in "The Late Shift" (Video) The Geometry of the Deal WGAW's Signatory Agency List Networking 101: How to Talk With People in Hollywood (PT05) How to Follow Up (Without Seeming Desperate) (PT07) Getting Your TV Script Read (PT29) Resources "How to Get an Agent" - TV Calling "How to Manage Your Agent" - Chad Gervich Special thanks to Jason J. Cohn 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]

NEW: Get the episode cheat sheet on our Patreon! Alex and Nick go over everything you need to know to get started on writing your new pilot script, as well as some dos and don'ts for each step of the process. How do you juggle writing a compelling hour of television versus only writing the first hour of a television show? Who is your target audience? What concepts and story archetypes exist in pilots? Why is this pilot story yours to write? What are some particularities of writing a TV pilot script? The Paper Team sets up their premise... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - What makes a TV pilot, a TV pilot or "what it's about and who it's for" (0:56) 2 - The particularities of writing a pilot script (25:36) Takeaways and Resources (54:31) Links "Disappointed - Hercules" (Video) 17th Precinct "Sunset" (3x06 - Breaking Bad) "Bringing the TV Writers’ Room Process Home" (PT06) "Act Breaks" (PT15) "Exposition in TV Writing" (PT24) Resources "TV Pilot Checklist" - Secret of Story "TV Script Standards" - The Black List "Write to TV" - Martie Cook Special thanks to Jason J. Cohn 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 strategies on getting your shiny new TV script read around town, and what to actually expect from your efforts. Who should you want to read you? How do you know when you're ready to be read? What should you send over? What if you don't hear back? The Paper Team has some recommendations... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - Who you should get read by (0:39) 2 - What to send and knowing when you're ready to be read (4:48) 3 - Expectations versus Reality (10:47) Takeaways and Resources (21:12) Links "How to Meet People in LA (When You Don’t Know Anyone)" (PT03) Networking 101: How to Talk With People in Hollywood (PT05) The Second City Starship Troopers - Would You Like to Know More? (Video) Seeso Kay Reindl "How to Follow Up (Without Seeming Desperate)" (PT07) Resources "I Will Not Read Your Fucking Script" - Josh Olson Louis C.K.'s Newsgroup Post Special thanks to Jason J. Cohn 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 how to turn an outline for a TV script (pilot or spec) into a fully-fledged draft. Where should you begin? What if you're stuck or don't know where to start in a scene? What should you tweak and improve when looking back at your first draft? Should you use every option in Final Draft? The Paper Team opens their screenwriting software... SHOWNOTES Content 1) Outline versus Draft (0:42) 2) Where to start? (2:23) 3) Scene Work (7:08) 4) Writing and refining the draft (14:51) 5) FAQs (22:23) Takeaways and Resources (28:50) Links "Scribble version, final version" (John August) The Wolf of Wall Street Heat's diner scene (Video) Waze Resources Hemingway Editor WordCounter Special thanks to Jason J. Cohn 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 welcome Sam Miller, writer on YouTube's Single by 30 and CBS' Mom, to discuss his own process for creating a web series (L.A. Beer), the state of the format, his TV writing work, and being involved in JHRTS and the WGA. How do you make and market your own independent web series? What are the differences between television writing and writing for a YouTube web series? What are the benefits of being involved in JHRTS and the Writers Guild of America? The Paper Team skips the ad and goes straight to the content... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - Beginnings and making/marketing an independent web series (00:37) 2 - The relationship between professional web series and tradition television (18:13) 3 - Writing for TV versus a YouTube Red series (23:39) 4 - Being involved in JHRTS, the WGA, and how Sam sees the evolution of television content (28:32) Recommendations and Outro (38:49) Links Sam Miller on Twitter L.A. Beer Machinima Half-Life "Small Screen, Big Picture" - Chad Gervich LA TV Writers Yahoo Group Desperate Housewives Supah Ninjas Mike Alber Kirby Buckets Chris Wu Ali Chen Jessica Kivnik Greg Machlin Andrew Orillion The Exes "L.A. Beer, First Web Series Filmed With Live Studio Audience to Launch" (Variety) High Maintenance Teachers (TV Land) CW Seed Broad City Single by 30 Machinima, Inc. Maker Studios FullScreen Todd Waldman JHRTS "#TheGreyBox: A TV Writing Chatroom" (TV Calling) "Creating Your Web Series: Empowering Writers to do their Own from Concept to Completion" (Video) WGF Library James L. Brooks Jeff Melvoin "Farewell, Hulu! Hello, Criterion Channel!" (Criterion) Seeso CBS All-Access YouTube Red Membership WGAw (YouTube) PGA (YouTube) MIPCOM (YouTube) 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 ring in the new year by discussing how they manage their TV writing goals and resolutions. How can you prepare for a typical year in the TV writing industry? What tools can you use to track and manage your goals? What are some practical resolutions to have? What does Paper Team have in store for 2017? The Paper Team looks at the year to come... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - Goals and Resolutions (00:28) 2 - Mapping out the TV writing year ahead (7:08) 3 - Tools to track and manage goals (15:40) 4 - Paper Team in 2017 (20:56) Resources and Next Week On (23:10) Links SMART criteria TV upfronts YearCompass Resources r/GetDisciplined (reddit) Jerry Seinfeld's Don't Break the Chain Special thanks to Jason J. Cohn 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 celebrate the holiday season and the end of 2016 by taking a look at their favorite TV holiday episodes, the best media of the past year, and some stats about the first six months of Paper Team. What makes a TV Christmas special? What are some of the best holiday specials? What was the best thing of 2016? What gifts did Nick and Alex give each other? The Paper Team settles down in front of the fire and grabs a cup of eggnog... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - What makes a TV Christmas special? (00:30) 2 - The best holiday TV episodes (11:12) 3 - Best of 2016 (27:10) 4 - A look back at Paper Team's first year (47:45) Gift Exchange and Outro (52:45) Links Jingle All the Way It's a Wonderful Life Christmas Episode (TV Tropes) List of U.S. Christmas television episodes EastEnders Downton Abbey Doctor Who Christmas specials A Charlie Brown Christmas Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (TV special) Home Alone Die Hard "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" (1x01 - The Simpsons) "Marge Be Not Proud" (7x11 - The Simpsons) "Xmas Story" (2x08 - Futurama) "Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo" (1x09 - South Park) "Amends" (3x10 - Buffy the Vampire Slayer) A Christmas Carol "Merry Mayhem" (6x10 - Dawson's Creek) "The Best Chrismukkah Ever" (1x13 - The O.C.) The OC Insider Shop Yamaclaus "The Strike" (9x10 - Seinfeld) The Get Down The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story BrainDead Atlanta The Good Place "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia" (1x06 - American Crime Story) "San Junipero" (3x04 - Black Mirror) “Fish Out Of Water” (3x04 - Bojack Horseman) "Category 55 Doomsday Crisis" (1x05 - The Good Place) Travelers We Bare Bears The Hamilton Mixtape Immigrants (We Get The Job Done) "Conscious" - BROODS "Sprained Ankle" - Julien Baker Moonlight Arrival Eric Heisserer Lights Out La La Land "Bitch Planet" - Kelly Sue DeConnick "Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days" - Jake Knapp, John Zeratsky & Braden Kowitz The Influence of TV: Scratching the Surface (PT11) Diversity in TV and the Writers’ Room ft. Francesca Butler & Kelly Lynne D’Angelo (PT14) The Writers Guild Foundation Podcast Time Timer Pomodoro Technique Aaron Sorkin's Trump Letter YearCompass Home Alone: The Authorized Coloring Book Die Hard: The Authorized Coloring and Activity Book Aqua Notes Water-Proof Notepad Special thanks to Jason J. Cohn 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 take a look at exposition in television writing, from dialogue to prose, action, and meta information. What should be revealed to the audience? How can you give exposition in an organic and entertaining way? What differentiates good exposition from bad exposition? The Paper Team shows and tells... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - What is exposition and what information should you reveal (00:29) 2 - How to do exposition in TV: bad versus good exposition, dialogue, prose, and meta (06:52) Takeaways and Resources (30:29) Links Mr. Exposition (TVTropes) "Why Fall TV is Choking on Its Own Voice-Over" - IndieWire "And Maggie Makes Three" (6x13 - The Simpsons) "Lizard" (1x01 - Man Seeking Woman) "Pilot" (1x01 - Breaking Bad) "Top Banana" (1x02 - Arrested Development) Fringe's location chyrons "Through the Looking Glass" (3x22-23 - Lost) Lost's flash-fowards "Premiere" (1x01 - Farscape) Resources "Dialogue Secrets" - William Martell "Escape From (Dull) Exposition" (Video) Special thanks to Jason J. Cohn 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 the contentious subject of copyrighting and idea theft in television. From the WGA to the Copyright Office, we take a look at the basics of protecting your work. What does a copyright do? Should you register your TV spec script or pilot? Have there been cases of TV copyright infringements? Why is it important for TV writers to share their work? The Paper Team consults their legal team... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - What is copyright or WGA West Registry vs. Copyright Office (1:01) 2 - Common questions about copyright (04:06) 3 - International copyright (9:55) 4 - When you should copyright and if copyright is enforced in TV (12:00) 5 - Why you should share your work instead of over-protecting it (19:02) Takeaways (28:14) Links WGA West Registry U.S. Copyright Office Copyright Act of 1976 Authors' Rights (AKA "droit d'auteur") "Judge Rejects New Girl Idea Theft Case" - Variety "Forest Park's Breach of Contract Suit Over USA Network's 'Royal Pains' Not Preempted by Copyright Act" - Seattle Copyright Watch John August's thoughts on idea theft "Speccing and Sharing Star Trek: Terran" - TV Calling Javier Grillo-Marxuach's "Experimental Design Bureau" John August's draft library "A darkly comedic Seinfeld spec script set days after 9/11" - AV Club Special thanks to Jason J. Cohn 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 welcome Simon Taylor to hear his experience being a comedian, writing jokes for late-night television, and the hard work it takes to be consistently funny. How does the stand-up circuit work? What was it like writing for the Tonight Show with Jay Leno? Why is performing comedy different than writing comedy? How is the process of writing comedy in a room compared to doing it alone? What can a writer do to be noticed and find a following? The Paper Team performs their in-depth set... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - How Simon Taylor got his start (00:33) 2 - Being funny, creating your product, and performing stand-up (08:25) 3 - Putting yourself out there, selling yourself, and pitching (24:15) 4 - Writing for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (34:22) 5 - Generating good content regularly and working your creative skills (38:53) 6 - What a successful joke is and tailoring it to your online (Twitter/Snapchat/YouTube) or real-life audience (43:35) 7 - Working on a TV pilot with Justin Willman, and writing alone for someone else versus a writers' room for a common project (49:05) 8 - Working in the US, what Simon Taylor is doing now, and what is next for him (53:17) Resources and Outro (57:50) Links Simon Taylor on Twitter Rove Live Rove McManus The Glass House (2001 TV series) Spicks and Specks The Project Steve Vizard Shaun Micallef Live on Bowen The Loft Live Simon Taylor hosting Live on Bowen (Video) The Carmichael Show The King of Kong Vine Sleight of Mouth with Justin Willman Resources Poking a Dead Frog - Mike Sacks Books by Stewart Lee 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 welcome Franklin jin Rho (FOX's The Exorcist) to discuss the ins and outs of being a TV script coordinator. He shares with us his advice, anecdotes, tips, and tricks to understanding and getting into this vital TV position, set halfway between the writers' room and production. How do you become a script coordinator (especially when you have no experience)? What do showrunners look for in candidates? What are the interactions like between writers and production? What can you do to get that first script and transition up? Are there any must-know shortcuts to Final Draft? The Paper Team offers some script revisions... SHOWNOTES Content Thoughts on TV script coordinating, getting a position, and making the best out of it (00:33) Outro (46:17) Links Franklin jin Rho on Twitter The Exorcist (FOX) AFI's Directing Program Friday Night Lights (NBC) Film Independent's Project Involve The Assets (ABC) Cole Fowler on IMDb Konami Code IBM's Watson Scriptation 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 explore the differences in what an episode looks like between episodic or procedural TV and serialized shows. How has the TV episode evolved over the years? What does an episode mean in the age of binge-watching? What are some memorable stand-alone and serialized episodes? The Paper Team offers a self-contained narrative... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - The Stand-Alone Episode (00:34) 2 - The Serialized Episode (13:23) 3 - What is a TV episode today? (35:34) 4 - Critical reception of Episodic vs. Serialized TV (42:45) Next Week On (50:03) Links Masters of Horror "22 Short Films About Springfield" (7x21 - The Simpsons) "Window of Opportunity" (4x06 - Stargate SG-1) "The Farnsworth Parabox" (4x15 - Futurama) "Hush" (4x10 - Buffy the Vampire Slayer) Donald Trump "Law & Order: SVU" Episode Gets Post-Election Airdate 6 Days to Air: The Making of South Park "Restless" (4x22 - Buffy the Vampire Slayer) "Grave Danger" (5x24-25 - CSI) Monte-Carlo Television Festival MIPTV Media Market Coupling (US) Law & Order: UK Paris enquêtes criminelles Babylon 5 The Cuckoo Hour Dream On "A Mother's Work" (6x13 - Sons of Anarchy) "Phase One" (2x13 - Alias) "Other Things You Could Be Doing" (2×12 – You’re the Worst) "Development Arrested" (3x13 - Arrested Development) Why mythological shows are often idolized NY Times Reviews Amazon's Goliath Out of Order "Two Boats and a Helicopter" (1x03 - The Leftovers) "Guest" (1x06 - The Leftovers) In Praise of Midbrow TV Special thanks to Jason J. Cohn 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 the value of paying for screenwriting education. From graduate school to extension classes and books, we take a look at whether or not they're worth your time or money to learn about TV writing. What is the point of film school for television? Which extra classes are worth paying for? What are some of the best books on the subject? The Paper Team opens their textbook... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - A special e-mail and our own TV writing education (0:32) 2 - Is film school worth it for TV? (10:08) 3 - TV writing extension classes and books (14:53) Takeaways & Resources (25:03) Links UCLA's TFT mysterious "showrunner program" UCLA's Writing Extension Classes Richard Hatem The TV Writer's Workbook by Ellen Sandler Elephant Bucks by Sheldon Bull The Cheeky Monkey by Tim Ferguson The Coffee Break Screenwriter by Pilar Alessandra Writing the TV Drama Series by Pamela Douglas Small Screen, Big Picture by Chad Gervich Desperate Networks by Bill Carter Resources BAFTA Guru BBC Writers Room Special thanks to Jason J. Cohn 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 Chris Corbett (writer on Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries) to discuss the current state of Australian television and the differences in their writers' room. How can new writers make it in the Australian TV industry? How do Australian writers break their episodes? How does Australian experience translate to America? What are some underrated Australian shows to watch? The Paper Team goes down under... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - Introduction (00:20) 2 - Everything you wanted to know about Australian TV writing, production and writers rooms (00:43) 3 - Advice for new writers and shows to watch (50:40) Links Chris Corbett on IMDb Film Victoria Blue Heelers Crawford Productions Shane Brennan ScriptedInk Australian Writers' Guild Prime Time AWG Competition Stan Marseille Foxtel No Activity Australian Survivor Alexa Junge Tall poppy syndrome McLeod's Daughters Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries Wanted Rake Wilfred Animal Kingdom The Moodys Barracuda Jack Irish Love My Way Tangle 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 tackle how to get into a TV writing mindset and actually finish that script. We talk about the psychological side of writing and practical ways of dealing with procrastination, deadlines, and the muse. How do you beat the blank page? How do you deal with procrastination? How do you stay accountable with your work? The Paper Team starts the clock... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - Approaching writing or the myth of "the muse" (00:38) 2 - Time-management and procrastination (06:45) 3 - External and introspective factors (21:36) Takeaways and Resources (28:46) Links Parkinson’s Law Pomodoro technique Crave Cafe (Studio City) Republic of Pies Sublime Text Highland Fade In Habitica Ig Nobel Prize The Art of Procrastination - John Perry Pavlok The Most Dangerous Writing App Nathan For You - "Dating Website/Party Planner" (2x07) Pumping Iron Resources Time Timer MOD Rainy Mood The War of Art - Steven Pressfield Special thanks to Jason J. Cohn 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 Kiyong Kim to talk about everyone's favorite subject: money. We discuss all the basics about how to start a budget, investing, and managing your income when you're working in the entertainment industry as an assistant, aspiring TV writer, and staff writer. Why should you learn how to manage your money? Where to begin when you don't know anything about budgeting? What are some ways to invest and use efficiently every amount of money you make? The Paper Team diversifies its portfolio to tackle these questions... DISCLAIMER: We're sharing our thoughts/personal experiences with money, budgeting, and investing. Use our advice at your own discretion, caution, and risk. SHOWNOTES Content 1 - Budgeting and managing your income (01:15) 2 - Investing basics (16:12) 3 - Financial priorities as an assistant and TV staff writer (29:14) Takeaway & Resources (43:27) Links Kiyong Kim on Twitter Amazon Rewards Visa Card "What is credit card churning?" Secured credit card Annual Credit Report Credit Karma Charles Schwab Bank Wells Fargo Controversies The Marshmallow Test (Video) 401k Roth IRA Value Investing Mutual Fund Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) "Is it Better to Rent or Buy?" - The New York Times T-Mobile Tuesdays Resources Mint.com You Need a Budget "The Intelligent Investor" by Benjamin Graham "The Millionaire Next Door" by Thomas J. Stanley & William D. Danko 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 the goal and narrative impact of TV act breaks, also known as the structural core of every television episode ever. Why do shows have act breaks? What is the difference between an act break in comedy versus drama? What impact has the inflation of act breaks in shows had on TV stories? The Paper Team smashes to black... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - Introduction to act breaks (00:30) 2 - Act breaks and TV narrative (12:29) 3 - Inflation of act breaks and impact on pacing (18:28) 4 - Writing without acts (31:00) Takeaways & Resources (40:04) Links Format of Gunsmoke Over-the-top Content (OTT) Smash to Black - TV Tropes Coup de théâtre One Mississippi NBC's Seeso Julie Plec on Act Breaks Tom Fontana Resources "Basic TV Act Structure" - Excerpt from "Showrunners" by Tara Bennett "Cracking the Sitcom Code" - The Atlantic Special thanks to Jason J. Cohn 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 welcome Francesca Butler and Kelly Lynne D'Angelo to discuss diversity and representation in television -- both on screen and in the writers' room. What has been their personal experience working in TV? What shows influenced them growing up? What are they thoughts on diversity staffing and writing programs? The Paper Team hands the mic over for some thought-provoking insight... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - Influences growing up (00:33) 2 - Cultural appropriation and experiences being in the writers' room (11:59) 3 - Diversity staffing and the writing programs (24:58) 4 - WGA's Diversity Committees & Caucuses (33:11) 5 - Moving forward, selling yourself and recommended shows (36:12) Links Francesca Butler on Twitter Kelly Lynne D'Angelo on Twitter Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella The Patriot Hamilton All That Roundhouse The West Wing American Dreams Living Single Angela Moore (from Boy Meets World) The Journey of Allen Strange The Meteor Man Hollywood Shuffle "Shapes" (1x19 - The X-Files) Thunderbird House (from Harry Potter) Jacqueline White (from Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) Sundance Institute/IAIA's Native Writer's Workshop LA Skins Fest's Native American TV Writers Lab "TV Diversity Programs: Launching Pad or Scarlet Letter?" WGAW Diversity Committees A Different World The Flash and Supergirl's Musical Crossover Insecure Being Mary Jane Greenleaf The Son 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 the basics of television pitching. From the cold pitch all the way to the general meeting and official "sales pitch", we give an overview of the three major arenas where you'll be presenting your TV show. This episode is all about understanding who, what, why, and some dos & don'ts for each step. Who will you be meeting with? Where will you be doing each pitch? What is the goal of TV pitching? What absolutely needs to be included in your pitch? Is paying for pitch competitions ever worth it? The Paper Team has a riveting audio presentation on the subject... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - What TV pitching means (00:45) 2 - The cold or "casual" pitch (02:24) 3 - The general meeting pitch (17:49) 4 - The sales or official "pitch meeting" (27:16) 5 - Some general advice for your TV pitch (29:22) Takeaways and Resources (35:13) Resources "Buy the Rights" Card Game Dan Harmon on Pitching (Video) What's Your Pitch? ATX Panel (Audio) 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 are joined by comedy writer Kelly Lynne D'Angelo to discuss what it's like to be in a TV writing team (with Nick himself). We talk about their creative and writing process, how they pitch in a writers' room, how they present themselves in general meetings, how they complete each other, and the benefits (or drawbacks) of being in a writing team over being a solo writer. Plus, we finally explain what a "paper team" is! (Not something the WGA likes.) SHOWNOTES Content 1 - The creative process of a writing team (00:36) 2 - Dealing with writing rooms and the business side (21:23) 3 - Resources, how to start a writing team, and who to choose as a partner (39:49) Links Kelly Lynne D'Angelo on Twitter South Park 20 Experience at the Paley Center for Media "My Life in Four Cameras" (4x17 - Scrubs) WriterDuet Settlers of Catan 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]