Paper Team

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: ask@paperteam.co

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: ask@paperteam.co

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 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: ask@paperteam.co

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: ask@paperteam.co

Alex and Nick go off the beaten path to discuss the influence of the television medium on both cultures and people. We take a look at a few interesting case studies that have affected us personally, and the world we live in. Which television stories have had a major impact on our lives? What about representation, international exports, and other cultures? Why is television much more than just an "idiot box"? From The Simpsons to Star Trek, diversity to social relevance, Paper Team takes a look at a few interesting case studies illustrating television's impact. This episode is by no means an exhaustive discussion on the subject (people have done entire PhDs on it), merely a conversation starter through specific examples and themes. SHOWNOTES Content 1 - What is the most influential TV show of all time? (00:55) 2 - A few words on diversity and representation on TV (15:03) 3 - Exports, adaptations, and the influence of international shows (25:24) 4 - TV's social and personal impact (35:02) Takeaway and next week's topic (46:50) Links Bush v. Simpsons (Video) Kodos and Kang's Two-Party System (Video) Homer owns the Denver Broncos (Video) The Simpsons' Movie References (Video) Irish Unification of 2024 NASA's Science of Star Trek Nichelle Nichols reflects on MLK Encounter Lucille Ball & Star Trek Homosexuality portrayal in Star Trek Dawson's Creek at ATX (The Writers Panel) Les Miroirs Obscurs - Martin Winckler "Indians on TV" (1x04 - Master of None) NBC's SeeSo Le bureau Psychology for Screenwriters - William Indick "Other Things You Could Be Doing" (2x12 - You're the Worst) "The Body" (5x16 - Buffy the Vampire Slayer) "Mother Simpson" (7x08 - The Simpsons) "Ecotone" (5x09 - Six Feet Under) Special thanks to Jason J. Cohn for helping us edit this episode. If you enjoyed the 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 goes on the road at SDCC 2016 with Maggie Herman, assistant to the Executive Producer/Line Producer on the Amazon series Bosch, to discuss every TV writer's favorite topic: budgeting. How much does an hour of television cost? And how do scripts get broken down into money? It's a double Paper Team first, as we welcome our very first guest-star, and have our very first "On the Road" episode while Alex drives up from San Diego Comic-Con 2016 with Maggie (and another surprise guest). What is the real cost of an hour of TV? What is the process of breaking scripts into producible selection of scenes? Why would anyone want to become a line producer? What was Maggie's favorite cosplay of the con? All these questions and many more are answered in this special edition of Paper Team. NOTE: I (Alex) recorded this podcast while literally on the road (riding shotgun in Maggie's car). There should be minimal background noise after the post-production work done since I fixed it in post--but just in case, prepare your ears. SHOWNOTES Content 1 - How was Comic-Con 2016? (02:23) 2 - Everything you wanted to know about line producing, budgeting for television, and breaking down scripts into money (04:53) 3 - What Titus Welliver smells like and how amazing his crew gift was (58:19) Links Bosch - Available exclusively on Amazon Maggie Herman's Twitter Chelsea Crane's Twitter Transmetropolitan - Warren Ellis & Darick Robertson Sorkinisms - A Supercut (Video) Maggie Herman posing for the podcast Maggie's fancy post-it-notes scheduling board for production 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 talk about everything you need to know on how to get a television production assistant job, and what to do (and what not to do) so you excel at it. What are the different kinds of TV PAs (on-set PA, office PA, post PA, writers' PA)? What does each job entail? How do you actually get a sweet PA gig? And, more importantly, what should you be doing to make a great impression and make the best of that professional opportunity? The Paper Team brews a fresh pot of coffee while answering these questions and more... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - The different TV Production Assistant jobs (00:30) 2 - Getting a PA job (15:56) 3 - What to do and what no to do on the job (21:18) 4 - How to go above and beyond (28:15) 5 - Opportunities to seize while being a PA (32:21) 6 - Keeping the ball rolling after the show wraps (37:27) Takeaways and Resources (40:00) Links Below the Line listings Production Weekly eFax "Attitude!" - The Birth of Poochie in The Simpsons (Video) Resources Needle Girl Haystack World The Anonymous Production Assistant's Blog 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 you can build a "reading onion" to get constant feedback over the course of your TV writing, and how to deal with the notes you'll be getting. Who should you get comments from? What do the layers of the "onion" stand for? Which notes should you be ignoring and which ones should you address? The Paper Team has a few macro thoughts on the issue... SHOWNOTES Content 1 - Who: Different people for different notes (00:37) 2 - When: The "reading onion" and its first layer (11:47) 3 - Outline: The second layer of the "onion" (15:15) 4 - Rough Draft: The third layer of the "onion" (18:29) 5 - Real Draft: the fourth layer of the "onion" (21:25) 6 - Macro v. Micro notes (23:09) 7 - What: Specific notes you should be getting and asking for (30:08) 8 - How: Reacting to notes and addressing them (39:51) Takeaways and Resources (45:06) Links Writing Jane the Virgin Resources A Martian Wouldn't Say That! - Compiled by Leonard Stern & Diane Robison TV Network Notes (Twitter) 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 reasons why you would want to follow up with someone, how long you should wait before you do, and what you should be saying in that follow-up message. SHOWNOTES Content 1 - The Objective: Why you are following up (00:34) 2 - The Timing: When you should follow up (05:56) 3 - The Approach: How you should follow up (18:08) 4 - The Ask: What you will be saying (20:35) Takeaways and Resources (27:26) Original timing reference sheet (by Hubspot)

NEW: Get the episode cheat sheet on our Patreon! Alex and Nick dig into why it's important to maintain a consistent TV writing routine, and how you can mimic the same process from TV writers' rooms into your own home. It's all about working through each individual (but vital) step of television writing, including inception, pitching, outlining, drafting and rewriting. SHOWNOTES Content 1 - Why you need to have a TV writing routine (00:27) 2 - Breaking down the TV writers' room process (04:12) 3 - Inception (05:12) 4 - Background Processing (20:29) 5 - Pitching (21:44) 6 - Outlining (26:07) 7 - Drafting (36:48) 8 - Feedback and Rewriting (44:48) Takeaways and Resources (53:37) Links Revenge and The Count of Monte Cristo Master Class with Evan Daugherty (Snow White and the Huntsman) Patent Trolling Wikipedia's Random Feature Anuario Luis Herrera Solís Apple Notes Google Keep Moleskine Notebook The Man Who Makes Sense of Lost (Gregg Nations) Interview with Bryan Cogman Scrivener Index cards in Final Draft The TV Writer's Workbook - Ellen Sandler Alien shooting script John Swartzwelder Resources Creative Spark with Dustin Lance Black (Video) Inside the Breaking Bad writers' room (Article) Vince Gilligan on breaking a story in a writer's room (Video) If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please leave us an iTunes review and/or rating 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 point of networking, why (aspiring) television writers should network, and how to do it when you don't know anyone or are socially anxious. SHOWNOTES Content 1 - Networking is about why you're meeting people, not who you should meet (00:25) 2 - Mixers and One-on-ones: the two ways you'll be networking (08:12) 3 - What to talk about and how to behave in a networking situation (12:22) 4 - Learn what you can offer them instead of what they can give you (19:50) Takeaways and Resources (28:54) Links Ben Franklin Effect Announcing your plans makes you less motivated to accomplish them “When Intentions Go Public: Does Social Reality Widen the Intention-Behavior Gap?” (PDF) Resources Facebook Make Your Contacts Count - Anne Baber & Lynne Waymon FullContact If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please leave us an iTunes review and/or rating 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 differences and implications between writing a television spec episode and a television spec pilot. Which script should you choose to write as your next sample? Whether it's your first teleplay, you want to apply to the fellowships, or you're trying to build a portfolio to get representation, the Paper Team has got you covered. SHOWNOTES Content 1 - Defining what "spec script" and "spec pilot" mean (00:28) 2 - The goals of writing a TV spec script or a spec pilot (02:33) 3 - Why and how spec scripts and pilots are read (10:13) 4 - Deciding what your next writing sample should be (17:13) Takeaways and Resources (29:40) Links What is the difference between a "spec script" and a "spec pilot"? Star Trek: Terran Stargate SG-1 - "The Other Guys" Resources Writing the TV Drama Series - Pamela Douglas The TV Writer's Workbook - Ellen Sandler TV Calling's TV Spec Course mentioned in the episode is almost ready. Be prepared by taking our free PDF Spec Test! If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please leave us an iTunes review and/or rating 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 tips and advice on making new TV and other industry contacts in Los Angeles. How do you create connections for yourself before setting foot in Hollywood? How do you use ones you may already have? And where do you start when you don't know anyone in this strange city? The Paper Team tackles the subject and much more. SHOWNOTES Content 1 - Making connections before getting to LA (00:40) 2 - Don't lose sight of the connections you already have (07:29) 3 - What to do when you don't know anyone (14:24) 4 - Creating your own adventures (41:04) Takeaways and Resources (44:31) Links JHRTS International Screenwriters Association Tracking-Board.com TrackingB Jen Grisanti's Friday Night Drinks The Black List Events Nerdist Writers Panel Austin Film Festival San Diego Comic-Con WonderCon (Anaheim/Los Angeles) Jeffrey Lieber's Twitter Javier Grillo-Marxuach's Twitter Jose Molina's Twitter reddit's Screenwriting subreddit Resources Meetup.com LA TV Writers Group - Yahoo LA TV Writers Group - Facebook Hollywood Game Plan - Carole Kirschner If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please leave us an iTunes review and/or rating 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

On today's episode of Paper Team, Alex and Nick discuss one of the most important decisions before you can become a fully-fledged TV writer: choosing whether to write for comedy (half-hour) or drama (one-hour). SHOWNOTES Content 1 - Defining comedy and drama in television (01:02) 2 - What you are going to be doing as a comedy or drama writer (18:44) 3 - How to figure out if you are more suited for comedy or drama (23:21) Takeaways and Resources(37:56) Links Alan Yang on breaking stories Jane Espenson on writing comedy and drama for TV Resources The Simpsons - "Treehouse of Horror V" - Available on DVD Six Feet Under - "Everyone's Waiting" (Series Finale) - Available on DVD If you enjoyed this episode (and others), please leave us an iTunes review and/or rating 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