tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22245682240691891532012-01-28T08:10:57.256-05:00Screenwriting ResourceEl TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.comBlogger401100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-39566111461306473542012-01-01T17:10:00.002-05:002012-01-10T00:01:23.014-05:002012 Mid-Season Premiere and Return ScheduleJANUARY
Sunday, January 1
8:00 Mob Wives (VH1)
9:00 Mama Drama (VH1)
9:00 Rachael vs. Guy Celebrity Cook-Off (Food)
10:00 Angry Boys (HBO)
Monday, January 2
8:00 The Bachelor (ABC)
8:00 Antiques Roadshow (PBS)
8:00 Pretty Little Liars (ABC Family)
8:00 How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
8:30 2 Broke Girls (CBS)
9:00 The Lying Game (ABC Family)
9:00 Hoarders (A&E)
9:00 Two and a Half Men (CBS)
9:30 El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-21189750675888153872011-06-09T07:58:00.001-04:002011-06-09T18:59:21.279-04:00His Ticket InJordan Harper is an alumni (alum, alumna? I can never get this) of the Warner Bros. Television Writers’ Workshop (2009). He was staffed on "The Mentalist" through the WB program and is also a short fiction writer.
What's all this have to do with you, why should you care? Well, if you're interested in getting into the WB Workshop, Jordan was kind enough to post the spec script that got him in on El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-6206603505237408692011-06-07T21:36:00.001-04:002011-06-07T21:47:44.788-04:00They Do Run RunThe Hollywood Reporter has a series of Emmy Roundtable videos with actors and showrunners. The drama showrunners roundtable features Frank Darabont ("The Walking Dead"), Jason Katims ("Parenthood"), John Wells ("Southland" and "Shameless"), Mike Royce ("Men of a Certain Age"), Graham Yost ("Justified"), Kurt Sutter ("Sons of Anarchy"), and Terence Winter ("Boardwalk Empire"). Most of the El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-38410904554896026772011-06-07T03:16:00.006-04:002011-07-18T17:55:11.296-04:00Summer Season 2011When the idea of a Summer television season was first introduced a few years ago I was less than thrilled. Maybe I was locked into the notion that TV happened from September-May and the Summer was a time to catch up on missed episodes or go see a Blockbuster.
The initial offerings were weak; mostly reality dreck, show's that didn't make the Fall line-ups and some experiments. Then some shows El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-53295342835700747012011-06-05T09:52:00.001-04:002011-06-05T10:01:59.257-04:00Access GrantedThe 2011 Writer Access Project honorees have been selected and posted on the WGA site along with their scripts. (This year with class photos of the writers as well. Is it just me, or does the blonde in the first pic look like she played a psychic a few years on NBC?)El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-67530042829767885412010-07-10T19:13:00.000-04:002010-07-10T19:13:33.292-04:00A-Team LeaderThose of you who don't know the name Stephen J. Cannell (shame on you) may nevertheless be familiar with his classic end credit vanity card which featured Cannell himself typing on an old typewriter before pulling the page out and tossing it into the air, where it becomes animated, floating down to form his production company logo.
And certainly you're familiar with the shows that end card was El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-72377149995361616712010-06-20T19:40:00.000-04:002010-06-20T19:40:46.238-04:00Just the TipCheck out Screenwriting Tips... You Hack. I'd hate to liken the page to Twitter but it's short, quick advice on screenwriting with some bite to it. You can blast through a lot of these. A recent tip that I like:
Screenwriting Tip #305
Never settle for good enough. Not in your word choice, dialogue, emotional beats, anything. Don’t stop rewriting until you get it right.El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-23407037036259135202010-06-11T23:40:00.007-04:002010-06-13T18:27:41.449-04:00Byte Sized StoriesIn my travels across the web recently I came across Weird Tales Magazine. They have open submissions for their "One-Minute Weird Tales." You can get a taste below and then check the submission guidelines.
El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-24874336283979066662010-06-07T06:27:00.000-04:002010-06-07T06:27:13.831-04:00Spec ific
Those of you interested in writing a "Burn Notice" spec, check out this interview with creator Matt Nix for some insights on the series and its characters.El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-79720187137687668872010-06-01T22:46:00.008-04:002010-06-09T18:02:40.161-04:00Summer SeasonTV, I love you. But won't you give me a little break? Guess not; here are the chock-full Summer offerings from network and cable:
MAY
05/19/10 – Wednesday
The Good Guys (FOX) – Series Premiere
05/24/10 – Monday
The Bachelorette (ABC) – Season Premiere
05/27/10 – Thursday
So You Think You Can Dance (FOX) – Season Premiere
100 Questions (NBC) – Series Premiere
05/28/10 – Friday
Past Life (FOX)El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-22346034638482275022010-05-16T04:57:00.005-04:002010-05-16T05:06:36.608-04:00It’s hard at the to-- in the middle.I wrote before about the WGAW Writer Access Project. It's a diversity program for writers with television staffing experience. The 2010 honorees have been posted. Again writer's spec scripts and original pilots have been uploaded.El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-21282781182399283862010-05-13T01:43:00.001-04:002010-05-13T02:05:22.772-04:00Recommended Reading 2
Here is the list of books that the CBS Writers Mentoring Program suggest to improve your writing.
Writing for Episodic Television From Freelance to Showrunner edited by John Wirth and Jeff Melvoin.
Writing the Television Drama Series by Pamela Douglas
Making a Good Script Great 2nd edition by Linda Seger
How to Make it In Hollywood 2nd edition by Linda Buzzell
El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-21197013747227636592010-04-26T04:19:00.004-04:002010-04-26T04:45:22.518-04:00And now for something completely differentHere's a video I found a while back on that ever distracting YouTube that cracked me up.
3979WDSKTSX5El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-16040778924675671712010-01-08T18:59:00.000-05:002010-01-08T18:59:28.008-05:00A Writer LostWith the return of "Lost" for its final season in less than a month, now is the time to look back at its beginnings. Not the pilot script but the script that never made it to air.
Before "Lost" was "Lost" it was "Nowhere;" a realistic island survival pilot written by Jeffrey Lieber. Lieber was given the boot and the project was handed over to JJ Abrams and company and the rest is history. I El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-810265647760813172009-12-29T02:11:00.003-05:002010-04-26T04:33:17.828-04:00The Best Movie You Never Read Part 2Continuing the list of screenplays that have been published.
(500) Days of Summer by Scott Neustadter Michael H. Weber
A Beautiful Mind by Akiva Goldsman
A Knight's Tale by Brian Helgeland
A Midwinter's Tale by Kenneth Branagh
About a Boy by Peter Hedges, Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz
Adaptation by Charlie Kaufman
Ararat by Atom Egoyan
Atonement by Christopher Hampton
Big Fish by John August
Black El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-79058999631570185242009-12-24T23:42:00.012-05:002009-12-25T11:17:00.333-05:00Pick A Side'Sides' are sections of scripts used for casting. They usually run one or two scenes long. When you spec a show you want to know it inside and out, especially that shows particular script format. It can be hard to find scripts for some shows. While the sides are only excerpts they can provide insight. A selection from SpoilerTV:Bones - Episode 5.11 - The X In The File - Casting SidesVampire El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-90892972775873694912009-12-23T06:24:00.022-05:002009-12-30T09:47:36.510-05:00Get A JobSha-na-na-na, sha-na-na-na-na
Ahh, yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip-yip
Mum-mum-mum-mum-mum-mum, get a job!
Get a foot in the door and a little closer to your screenwriting dreams with a job in the industry. Here are a few sites to get started:
Mandy
EntertainmentCareers
Media Bistro
Craig's List
CBS
NBC
FOX
ABC
HBO
Sony
Warner Bros.
Entertainment Jobs
Production Hub
Showbiz Jobs
4 Entertainment El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-44720972759045859292009-12-20T21:11:00.038-05:002010-04-26T04:43:41.383-04:00The Best Movie You Never Read Part 1You'd be surprised at the number of screenplays that are published in book form. Is the script to your favorite film on the list? If not, maybe in part 2.
A Serious Man by Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
American Beauty by Alan Ball
Brokeback Mountain by Larry McMurtry, Diana Ossana
Burn After Reading by Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Casablanca by Howard Koch
Chinatown by Robert Towne
Clerks by Kevin Smith
Dead El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-50292678004567376922009-12-19T21:11:00.019-05:002010-05-16T04:24:14.722-04:00Spec Scripts and PilotsEven after you've gotten your first job or your fourth, television writers always have to have current scripts. This page on the WGA site features spec scripts by diverse mid-level television writers.
Better than the specs, there are also sample pilots. Maybe a future hit series is among these scripts.El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-81163436237499872282009-12-18T23:51:00.008-05:002009-12-19T22:45:29.407-05:00Micah WrightMicah Wright is a film, television, comic and video game writer.He has a great site with information on his work. For those interested in comic writing there is a collection of scripts from Micah's run on StormWatch. Some of Micah's coolest work has never been produced, including an animated show described as "Deadwood with vampires, Frankenstein monsters, werewolves and zombies." Yeah, that El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-89439109838459898382009-12-16T21:51:00.024-05:002010-05-12T18:06:52.356-04:00Recommended ReadingThe WB Writers’ Workshop recommended reading list to help you with writing those spec scripts.
Craft of Comedy Writing by Sol Saks
Teleplay: An introduction to television writing by Coles Trapnell
Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting by Syd Field
Robert McKee Story Structure by Robert McKee
Comedy Writing: Step by Step by Gene Perret
Successful Sitcom Writing by Jurgen Wolff
El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-59852715015581688192009-12-15T22:56:00.004-05:002009-12-16T01:23:29.049-05:00The CraftThe craft section of The Writers Guild of America site features interviews with screenwriters. New interviews are added on a semi-regular basis and feature writers with new projects hitting the theaters or airwaves.El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-42567800218439122632009-12-11T21:43:00.009-05:002009-12-18T04:07:43.081-05:00Tim MinearI could never figure out whether or not this is Tim Minear's official site. Either way the site provides the latest news on the professional television writer. Minear has written for "Angel," "Firefly," "Wonderfalls" and "Dollhouse."Most importantly the site features scripts from "Firefly," "Drive" and all the episodes of "The Inside." The best way to learn script format is by reading scripts.El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-25286573580199288502009-12-08T06:43:00.005-05:002010-06-04T03:58:30.238-04:00ABC Daytime Writer Development ProgramFor those of you interested in writing for the soaps.
From the site:
"ABC Daytime Writer Development Program was created over 10 years ago as a means of identifying and cultivating writers specifically interested in the daytime television genre."
Lean more about the program here.El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-19040966735261303952009-12-07T21:31:00.003-05:002009-12-07T22:45:41.932-05:00Creative Screenwriting MagazineCreative Screenwriting Magazine covers all the latest film and television screenwriting news. On their site you can read excerpts from articles in the current issue. They also have their own screenplay contest and host seminars and sell DVDs devoted to screenwriting. You can also sign up for their weekly email magazine.El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-78818791984850008722009-12-07T04:52:00.004-05:002009-12-07T05:19:41.536-05:00Glossary of Screenwriting TermsHere is a long list of screenwriting terms. You shouldn't be intimidated as most of these are used sparingly in scripts. Though they're helpful to know and keep in your toolbox. These terms will also aid you to read and better understand scripts if you never have before. After a lifetime of television and movie viewing you might find you already know many of these through osmosis.El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-26685129006398042942009-12-04T01:05:00.007-05:002009-12-05T19:20:49.251-05:00Amanda the Aspiring TV WriterOn her blog, amateur screenwriter Amanda dispenses advice on a plethora of screenwriting topics, answers reader questions and chronicles her rise to the top. Her infectious can-do, never-say-die attitude will inspire you.El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-54721142102609097542009-12-02T23:56:00.012-05:002009-12-25T13:22:06.258-05:00Type Tees
Don't ask me how, but one night while researching comic book writing I clicked my way to Type Tees.
They sell those funny text T-shirts that were everywhere a couple years ago (you know you have one in the closet) and have another section that sells graphic tees.
What caught my attention was their submit a slogan section. You submit a T-shirt slogan and if it scores high enough you net a sweetEl TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-127477731521181392009-12-02T04:56:00.002-05:002009-12-02T07:05:00.938-05:00Cosby Writing Fellowship"The fifteen-week intensive workshop was designed with a two-fold purpose: To assist writers in the completion of a film or television script. To deepen the participants appreciation for and comprehension of African American history and culture."Learn more about the program here.El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-18464423777352028122009-12-02T04:38:00.001-05:002009-12-02T04:44:39.438-05:00NBC Diversity Initiative for WritersAll of the major television networks offer programs to help new and diverse writers gain access to the industry.From the NBC site:"In order to further encourage diversity among our writing staffs, NBC provides funding for a diverse Staff Writer position, open to all scripted NBC Primetime Series."Learn more about the program here.El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-63982785766821647902009-12-01T18:28:00.001-05:002009-12-01T18:32:42.228-05:00Nickelodeon Writing FellowshipAll of the major television networks offer programs to help new and diverse writers gain access to the industry.From the Nick site:"Developed to broaden Nickelodeon's outreach efforts, the Nickelodeon Writing Fellowship is designed to attract, develop and staff writers with diverse backgrounds and experiences on Nickelodeon Network productions."Learn more about the program here.El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-43556691840573832992009-11-29T06:45:00.003-05:002009-11-29T18:34:10.201-05:00WB Television Writers’ WorkshopFrom the site:"For over 30 years, the Warner Bros. Television Writers’ Workshop has been the premier writing program for new writers looking to start and further their career in the world of television."Learn more about the program here.El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-58815101819570790932009-11-29T06:28:00.002-05:002009-11-29T06:35:21.070-05:00Disney/ABC Television Writing FellowshipAll of the major television networks offer programs to help new and diverse writers gain access to the industry.From the ABC site:"The program is designed to expose aspiring writers to key executives, producers and literary representatives – all essential in the pursuit of a writing career. Additionally, while in the program, fellows have the opportunity to work one-on-one with a current El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-30860204706557516692009-11-29T01:41:00.003-05:002009-11-29T02:02:42.851-05:00FOX Writer's InitiativeAll of the major television networks offer programs to help new and diverse writers gain access to the industry.From the FOX site:"Writers selected will be invited to attend a six-week session at Writers Boot Camp and subsequent consultation with WBC mentors during which their scripts will be rewritten and improved. The goal is to execute scripts at a level of professional quality equal to those El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-13564980106164737392009-11-29T00:20:00.002-05:002009-11-29T00:25:52.303-05:00NBC Writers on the VergeAll of the major television networks offer programs to help new and diverse writers gain access to the industry.From the NBC site:"Writers on the Verge is a 10-week program focused on polishing writers and readying them for a staff writer position on a television series. We are looking for writers who are "almost there," but need that final bit of preparation with their writing and personal El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-21121908138735710032009-11-28T22:42:00.006-05:002010-04-08T03:55:11.097-04:00CBS Writers Mentoring ProgramAll of the major television networks offer programs to help new and diverse writers gain access to the industry.
From the CBS site:
"The goal of the Program is to positively impact the presence of diverse writers throughout the industry.
The focus of this six month program is on opening doors: providing opportunities to build relationships with network executives and show runners; to support El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-47953574756191368632009-11-28T20:00:00.004-05:002009-12-04T00:34:49.703-05:00What It's LikeLisa Klink is a professional writer working mostly in television. She's probably written some of your favorite episodes having worked on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,""Star Trek Voyager" and "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys."Plus she's a multiple time "Jeopardy" champion.Lisa's blog is about her experience: "a look at what it's really like to work as a writer, find an agent, survive the room and El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-17532144040308732372009-11-28T18:27:00.000-05:002009-11-28T19:07:05.194-05:00Final DraftFinal Draft professional screenwriting software specifically designed for writing movie, television scripts, and stageplays. This is the official Final Draft site. Final Draft does all the work for you; at least when it comes to formatting your script to industry standards. When you're done with your masterpiece they also host a screenwriting contest and a script coverage service.Final Draft El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-20798417833998352852009-11-28T07:03:00.001-05:002009-11-29T07:13:07.532-05:00Jane in ProgressThis is writer Jane Espenson's blog on writing for television. She lets you in on the secrets of honing your spec scripts and her dietary habits. Jane has written for two of my favorite shows of all time: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"and "Angel"as well as "Battlestar Galactica,""Firefly,""Gilmore Girls,""The O.C.,""Star Trek: Deep Space Nine"among others and co-created the current SYFY show "El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224568224069189153.post-84536591980944141932009-11-28T06:54:00.003-05:002009-11-29T05:20:08.344-05:00WelcomeI'm an aspiring screenwriter and thus spend a lot of time on writing related sites. This blog aims to be a comprehensive compilation of screenwriting resources with a focus on television writing. Links to other blogs, sites, etc that feature information for those interested in learning the craft of screenwriting, furthering their knowledge, trying to break in or simply curious. Though there may El TV Diablohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17459955950348332798noreply@blogger.com0