Paper Team

Alex is back with fellow writer Evelyn Yves to answer your TV writing questions about using life experiences, communicating with your reps, finding assistant gigs, getting started on staffing, and being critical of your own ideas. Plus, we look at some of the latest TV writing news about FYC scripts and big data in Hollywood. Reminder We're having our second mixer this week! Join us Friday, January 31 at Village Idiot on Melrose. The event starts at 7:30PM. More information available at http://paperteam.co/mixermelrose Content Audience Questions: life experiences, rep communication, assistant gigs, starting staffing, and handling idea criticism (01:24) TV Writing News: Golden Globes, favorite shows, FYC scripts, and big data in Hollywood (29:41) Links Evelyn Yves on Twitter Katy Keene premieres February 6 on The CW Breaking in as a TV Writer Later in Life ft. J. Holtham (PT92) Script Readiness, Contests, and Career Detours – Paper Scraps Monthly (PT160) Perspective and POVs in TV Writing (PT88) "Big Data Comes to Hollywood: The Brewing Antitrust Battle of the Streaming Era" - The Hollywood Reporter If you enjoy Paper Team, please consider supporting us on Patreon at paperteam.co/patreon! :) Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson For any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: ask@paperteam.co

Alex is joined by Evelyn Yves, writer on Katy Keene, to discuss ways of finding your place in the writers' room, from pitching yourself in a showrunner's meeting and prep work beforehand, to handling the first few weeks pitching in the writers' room and figuring out your own skillset to contribute. Reminder We're having our second mixer this month! Join us Friday, January 31 at Village Idiot on Melrose. The event starts at 7:30PM. More information available at http://paperteam.co/mixermelrose Content 1 - Showrunner meetings and preparing before the room (01:02) 2 - The first few weeks in the room, learning the lingo, and pitching as a new writer (09:43) 3 - Finding your skills in the writers' room (31:30) Links Evelyn Yves on Twitter Katy Keene premieres February 6 on The CW Tell Us About Yourself: Crafting the Personal Pitch (PT165) If you enjoy Paper Team, please consider supporting us on Patreon at paperteam.co/patreon! :) Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson For any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: ask@paperteam.co

Alex and Nick answer the dreaded "tell us about yourself" question, including going over how to craft a compelling personal pitch for general meetings, showrunner meetings, or the #WGAStaffingBoost, using actual examples and actionable steps. Plus, we announce the date and location of our upcoming January mixer. Announcement We're having our second mixer this month! Join us Friday, January 31 at Village Idiot on Melrose. The event starts at 7:30PM. More information available at http://paperteam.co/mixermelrose Content Announcement: January Mixer (00:37) 1 - The importance of knowing your personal story (01:20) 2 - Content of your personal story and examples (03:16) 3 - Tailoring your personal story (34:08) Links Comedy v. Drama II: Blurred Lines (PT143) If you enjoy Paper Team, please consider supporting us on Patreon at paperteam.co/patreon! :) Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson For any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: ask@paperteam.co

Alex and Nick celebrate the end of 2019 by taking a look back at the last year of the decade, both for Paper Team and TV writing news, plus answering more of your questions, celebrating our fans, and announcing our 2020 plans for the podcast. When and how can you include holidays in your scripts? What were the most popular and discussed episodes of Paper Team in 2019? What were our favorite shows, movies, music, books of the year? What are our favorite series of the past decade? What are our 2020 Paper Team goals? What gifts did Alex and Nick get each other? Content 1 - Paper Team Announcements: Mixer, Mentorship, Showrunner Series (00:00:44) 2 - Holiday Question and Shout-outs (00:03:34) 3 - Paper Team 2019: A year in review (00:12:09) 4 - Best of 2019 (TV, episodes, movies, music, books) and shows of the decade (00:26:02) 5 - Paper Team Goals for 2020 (00:52:53) Gift Exchange and Next Time On (00:56:48) Links The 2016 Paper Team Holiday Special (PT25) Halloween on TV (PT64) Disney ABC Writing Program ft. Kristi Shuton (PT130) CBS Writers Mentoring Program ft. Jeanne Mau (PT131) NBC Writers on the Verge ft. Karen Horne (PT132) Warner Bros. Television Writers' Workshop ft. Rebecca Windsor (PT133) Comics and TV Writing: How to Bring the Page to Screen – Paper Team Live at WonderCon 2019 (PT129) TV Formula 101: Building an Engine For Your Show (PT117) Writing Samples and Preparing for TV Staffing ft. Liz Alper & Kai Wu (PT119) Impostor Syndrome, Staffing Submissions and Commercials (PT149) Comedy v. Drama II: Blurred Lines (PT143) The Paper Team 150th Episode Special (PT150) TV Writing Resources We Use (PT139) Earning Your Way Into the Writers' Room ft. Ning Zhou (PT135) Common Mistakes to Avoid in Your TV Scripts (PT148) The Boys (TV Show) Watchmen (TV Show) Fleabag What We Do in the Shadows (TV Show)

Alex and Nick are joined by Jordan VanDina, writer on the new Animaniacs TV show, the upcoming movie The Binge with Vince Vaughn, and creator/writer of Weekend Scripts, to discuss generating scripts that will go viral, leveraging online success to get work, plus the importance of having a pasta pass in your arsenal. How do you go about promoting stunt scripts? What are ways of writing scripts quickly? How can you leverage online success to get representation and work? How was Weekend Scripts born? What was the experience of working on What Would Diplo Do? What is the new Animaniacs writers' room like? How do you transition into feature work? Content Writing scripts that go viral with Jordan VanDina (01:07) Final advice, resources and next week on (31:22) Links Jordan VanDina on Twitter What Would Diplo Do? SuperMansion The Binge Weekend Scripts TV Stunt Specs ft. Billy Domineau (PT45) Never Ending Pasta Pass This episode brought to you by Roadmap WritersUse the code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF your Roadmap Writers Program If you enjoy Paper Team, please consider supporting us on Patreon at paperteam.co/patreon! :) Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson For any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: ask@paperteam.co

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

Alex and Nick are joined by Rochée Jeffrey (writer on SMILF and 90210) and April Shih (writer on You're the Worst, Undone and Mrs. America), to discuss the importance of self-care, growth mindset, knowing when to say no, and handling conflict in the writers' room. Why is it important to set intentions and goals for yourself? How do you manage impostor syndrome? What are growth and positive mindsets? How do you find community and support? How do you handle conflicts in a writers' room? When is it appropriate to quit a writing job? How do you deal with a hostile environment? Content Positive mindset, self-care, and growth (00:01:16) Resilience in the writers' room and handling conflicts (00:41:36) Final advice, resources and next week on (00:58:07) Links Rochée Jeffrey on Instagram April Shih on Twitter The TV Writer's Mindset: Dealing With Procrastination, Blank Page, and the Muse (PT17) Resource Ananda app Freedom app This episode brought to you by Roadmap WritersUse the code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF your Roadmap Writers Program If you enjoy Paper Team, please consider supporting us on Patreon at paperteam.co/patreon! :) Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson For any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: ask@paperteam.co

Alex and Nick answer your TV writing questions about contests, script readiness, and career detours. Plus, we look at some of the latest TV writing news about the WGA negotiating committee, speed-binging, and moving up the ladder. Content Post-Austin and Shout-outs (01:04) Audience Questions: TV writing contests, script readiness, Los Angeles, and career detours (03:52) TV Writing News: WGA negotiating committee, speed-binging, moving up, and Game of Thrones news (27:35) Links "Breaking Into TV" AFF Twitter thread "Structuring a Series" AFF Twitter thread Feedback and Notes: Building Your Reading Onion (PT08) Moving to Los Angeles (and Things We Wish We Knew) (PT01) WGA announces 2020 MBA Negotiating Committee "Netflix tests speed-binge feature" - Entertainment Weekly "Game of Thrones Naomi Watts pilot not going forward" - Deadline "Game of Thrones House of the Dragon gets straight to series order" - Deadline Monica Beletsky's Twitter threads on questions regarding moving up "Jennifer Aniston says Friends cast is working on something" - Entertainment Weekly This episode brought to you by Roadmap WritersUse the code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF your Roadmap Writers Program If you enjoy Paper Team, please consider supporting us on Patreon at paperteam.co/patreon! :) Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson For any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: ask@paperteam.co

Alex and Nick invite Aron Eli Coleite, executive producer, co-creator, and showrunner of Netflix's Daybreak, to learn all about his writing process and running (or curating) the post-apocalyptic dramedy. From staffing a writers' room and breaking character stories, to communicating a creative vision and producing the show, we take a deep dive into what goes into creating a series from the inside. Content 1 - Beginnings and becoming a showrunner (00:01:09) 2 - Staffing Daybreak: reading samples, assembling the right staff, showrunner meetings, and creating opportunities (00:20:16) 3 - The Daybreak writers' room and writing process: blue-skying, breaking episodes, structure, and character arcs (00:37:26) 4 - Production of Daybreak: department heads and casting (01:05:37) Final advice, resources, and next week on (01:17:09) Links Daybreak on Netflix "The Only Podcast Left" - Daybreak scripted podcast on Spotify Aron Eli Coleite on Twitter Aron Eli Coleite on Instagram Resource "Understanding Comics" - Scott McCloud This episode brought to you by Roadmap WritersUse the code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF your Roadmap Writers Program If you enjoy Paper Team, please consider supporting us on Patreon at paperteam.co/patreon! :) Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson For any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: ask@paperteam.co

Alex and Nick have their last Paper Tease session of 2019 by giving feedback on five more of your TV pilot teasers. Plus, we reveal the winner of our November 20 live table read, and share all the ticket information for this event. Announcement Tickets for our next live event are now available! The live table read will be on November 20 in DTLA. This event will be followed by a Q&A/feedback session, so we'd love to have you in the audience. All proceeds go to Art Share LA, the last community art space in the Arts District. You can get your tickets right here. Paper Tease Entries "Birdsong" by Jennifer Dunn "Principles" by Stephen Chrabaszcz "Wyldcats" by JB June "The Void" by Joshua Shine "Staff and Lute" by Tony Faria This episode brought to you by Roadmap WritersUse the code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF your Roadmap Writers Program If you enjoy Paper Team, please consider supporting us on Patreon at paperteam.co/patreon! :) Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson For any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: ask@paperteam.co

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

Alex and Nick delve into the nuances of editorializing on the page, and take a look at unconventional ways of breaking rules in your TV writing. What is the goal of breaking rules with prose? What are unique tools to convey information in scene descriptions? How do you direct on the page in an emotional way? When can you editorialize your writing? What is meta-prose and how should you use it? When is formatting worth playing with? The Paper Team comments... Content 1 - Preface (01:01) 2 - Editorializing the prose (04:19) 3 - Directing on the page (23:56) 4 - Meta-prose and breaking the fourth wall (30:25) 5 - Playing with formatting (37:48) Takeaways and Next Week On (44:16) Links TV Prose and Scene Description 101 (PT48) The Girlfriend Experience (TV Show) The Rules of Attraction (Movie) TV Characters 101 (PT46) The Hunt This episode brought to you by Roadmap WritersUse the code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF your Roadmap Writers Program If you enjoy Paper Team, please consider supporting us on Patreon at paperteam.co/patreon! :) Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson For any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: ask@paperteam.co

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

Alex and Nick invite Dan O’Keefe, writer on Silicon Valley, Veep, and Final Space, to talk about his experience writing on classic multicams, late-night comedy, and half-hour cable darlings. What are the differences working on single-cam and multi-cam? How do you keep a consistent career in comedy writing? What is it like working on a serialized half-hour? How do you tackle the politics of late-night and comedy rooms? What is some advice for pitching and selling shows? The Paper Team grins... Content Writing classic multicams, late-night, and cable comedy darlings, with Dan O’Keefe (00:39) Final Advice, Resources, and Next Week On (54:21) Links Dan O'Keefe on IMDb WGF Library If you enjoyed this episode and others, please consider supporting us on Patreon at paperteam.co/patreon! :) Special thanks to Alex Switzky for helping us edit this episode. You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson For any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: ask@paperteam.co

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