Paper Team

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: ask@paperteam.co

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: ask@paperteam.co

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: ask@paperteam.co

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: ask@paperteam.co

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,

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: ask@paperteam.co

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...

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: ask@paperteam.co

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: ask@paperteam.co

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: ask@paperteam.co

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: ask@paperteam.co

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 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: ask@paperteam.co

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: ask@paperteam.co

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: ask@paperteam.co