Paper Team

Alex and Nick invite Hillary Levi, creative executive at Ellation and developing shows for their streaming platform VRV, to discuss finding content for streaming and aggregation services.

How does an OTT decide which content is best suited for its service? What are important aspects of a VRV project? How can a platform maintain a consistent product with rotation in its programming? How does a creative executive find writers to work with? How can creators best approach a network like VRV with projects for development?

The Paper Team curates...

SHOWNOTES

Content

Finding OTT Content with Hillary Levi (00:36)

Final Advice, Resources and Next Week On (36:33)

Links

Hillary Levi on Twitter

VRV

LeviathanStudiosLA (Hillary's Etsy store)

Sailor Moon

Ellation

Crunchyroll

Machinima

Red vs. Blue

Rooster Teeth

Matthew Mercer

Matt Fraction

Warren Ellis

Kelly Sue DeConnick

"TV Production Companies ft. Logan Kriete (Producer & Development Executive)" (PT74)

"Digital Content & Emerging Platforms ft. Eva Miller (Canvas Media Studios)" (PT80)

"Tan ft. Hasan Minhaj" (Video)

Resources

"The Hollywood Assistants Handbook" - Peter Nowalk & Hillary Stamm

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 LaToya Morgan, co-executive producer on Into the Badlands and writer on Turn, Shameless and Parenthood, to discuss how she approached building a productive career as a TV writer and being valuable in the room.

What is the journey of moving up the ladder from staff writer to co-executive producer? What are some of the best assets someone can bring into a writers' room? How do you adapt your own writing to fit different styles and genres? How were the writers' rooms of Shameless, Parenthood, and Turn? What is the process of getting an overall deal? What are the unique challenges that diverse writers face in the TV industry?

The Paper Team rises...

SHOWNOTES

Content

TV writing career with LaToya Morgan (00:50)

Final Advice, Resources, and Next Week On (37:29)

Links

LaToya Morgan on Twitter

LaToya Morgan on Instagram

"LaToya Morgan Re-Ups Overall Deal With AMC, Will Oversee Inclusion Initiative" - Deadline

"Hugh Howey’s ‘Wool’ in Development as AMC Series From LaToya Morgan" - Variety

WGAw's Committees

Resources

"On Writing" - Stephen King

"Bird by Bird" - Anne Lamott

This episode brought to you by Roadmap Writers

Use code ROADMAP to get $15 OFF your first Roadmap Writers Program

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 ways to decide what your next TV sample script should be. From business considerations to artistic and career reasons, we go over several elements that we've weighed ourselves when choosing a new project.

How do you take a look at your own samples to decide what is missing? Why is it important to select the right sample? How can a new sample help pivot your career? What should you look for in choosing the right script?

Plus, we look at two more Paper Tease entries and reveal the October winners.

The Paper Team makes a selection...

SHOWNOTES

Content

Paper Tease Session (00:49)

1 - Writer and career reasons (16:14)

2 - Business reasons (24:10)

3 - Artistic reasons (31:52)

Takeaways and Next Week On (36:09)

Paper Tease Entries

"Children of Salem" by Dylan Brann

"Socio Club" by Koby Mann

Links

Comedy v. Drama: Declare Your TV Major (PT02)

TV Writer Representation 201: Making the Most of Your Agent/Manager (PT108)

This episode brought to you by Roadmap Writers

Use code ROADMAP to get $15 OFF your first Roadmap Writers Program

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 give their thoughts on the latest TV writing news, including the 2018 Emmys and new diversity initiatives, plus offer feedback on two more Paper Tease entries.

The Paper Team reviews...

SHOWNOTES

Paper Tease Entries

"Alma" by Monica Hannush

"Shadowlands" by Christopher Hall

Links

"Why Are So Many Wannabe Screenwriters Getting Scammed?" - The Hollywood Reporter

Federman's Twitter thread on pitching

Federman's Twitter thread on writers' rooms

"As TV Seeks Diverse Writing Ranks, Rising Demand Meets Short Supply" - New York Times

A Latino TV Writer Calls B.S. on Hollywood’s Diversity Excuses (Guest Column) - The Hollywood Reporter

"LaToya Morgan Re-Ups Overall Deal With AMC, Will Oversee Inclusion Initiative" - Deadline

Monkeypaw Productions' Script Submission

"TV's writers' rooms have a mother of a problem" - CNN

This episode brought to you by Roadmap Writers

Use code ROADMAP to get $15 OFF your first Roadmap Writers Program

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 dig into how you can effectively navigate the relationship with your agent or manager to best help your career as a TV writer.

What are the differences between a manager and an agent relationship with their writers? Why is communication the most important part of that relationship? What are ways of proactively helping your reps? How should you choose the right agent or manager for you? What are some common issues between clients and their reps?

The Paper Team keeps you in the loop...

SHOWNOTES

Content

The manager and agent relationship (00:38)

How to communicate with your agent or manager (06:04)

Notes and disagreements (19:04)

Choosing the right rep for you (28:46)

Frequent issues between reps and clients (38:10)

Takeaways and Resources (48:05)

Links

TV Writer Representation 101 (PT31)

Meetings 101: Generals and TV Staffing (PT62)

Poochinski

Tone in TV Writing (PT60)

Resources

"How to Manage Your Agent" - Chad Gervich

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 lawyer Panayiotis Spanos, founder of Spanos Law, to discuss the essential things TV writers should know about entertainment law, from contracts to credits.

In what capacity does a lawyer enter the picture when it comes to TV writing? What do they offer that a traditional manager or agent can't? How can a TV writer best use their entertainment lawyer? How does negotation of a TV staffing contract work? What is unique to the sale of a TV show? How should a writer go about optioning rights to a book or IP? What is the reality of people having their scripts "stolen" and how can writers protect themselves? At what point should a writer get a lawyer and how does one go about finding the right entertainment lawyer?

The Paper Team signs on the dotted line...

SHOWNOTES

Content

Entertainment Law with Panayiotis Spanos (00:47)

Final Advice, Resources, and Next Week On (39:07)

Links

Panayiotis Spanos on Instagram

Panayiotis Spanos on Twitter

Writers Guild of America's Theatrical and Television Minimum Basic Agreement

U.S. Copyright Office

Worm (Web Serial)

Resources

"Hollywood Dealmaking" by Dina Appleton & Daniel Yankelevits

"Contracts for the Film & Television Industry" by Mark Litwak

This episode brought to you by Roadmap Writers

Use code ROADMAP to get $15 OFF your first Roadmap Writers Program

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 offer feedback on four more Paper Tease entries and reveal the two winners for the month of September.

The Paper Team dissects...

SHOWNOTES

Paper Tease Entries

"Student Visa" by Paul Chang

"The English Department" by Jeffrey Warndof

"Botany Bay" by Alexander M J Smith

"Migra" by Christine Torres

This episode brought to you by Roadmap Writers' JumpStart Writing 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 give an overview of what goes on inside a TV writers' room during a Roadmap Writers webinar.

What is the purpose of a TV writers' room? What are the most important skills to have on a writing staff? Who's who in the room? How do shows break stories on a macro and micro scale? Why is room etiquette so important?

The Paper Team calls in...

This episode brought to you by Roadmap Writers

Use code ROADMAP to get $15 OFF your first Roadmap Writers Program

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 Joey Tuccio, CEO of Roadmap Writers, to discuss ways of establishing yourself as a writer when you're starting from outside the entertainment industry.

How can someone outside LA get noticed as a writer? What can writers do to position themselves for success before trying to break in? What traits do succesful Roadmap writers share? How can writers make the most of their meetings with executives and reps? What are the biggest challenges for aspiring writers breaking in now?

The Paper Team looks at their roadmap...

SHOWNOTES

Content

Starting in LA, selecting what to write, creating a writer's brand, learning from your peers, finding a mentor, using social media, meeting with executives, being a "human first", finding a rep, using intellectual property (00:54)

Final Advice, Resources, and Next Week On (40:35)

Links

Joey Tuccio on Instagram

Roadmap Writers

Roadmap's Career Writer Programs

"How the horror short 'Lights Out' went from 3-minute film to Hollywood feature" - Los Angeles Times

Roadmap's Page Analysis

Resources

SimplyScripts

Short of the Week

This episode brought to you by Roadmap Writers

Use code ROADMAP to get $15 OFF your first Roadmap Writers Program

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 give feedback on six new Paper Tease scripts and announce the two August winners.

The Paper Team digs in...

SHOWNOTES

Paper Tease Entries

"Alliance" by John Schuler

"AD" by Rund Shami

"Call Girl" by Delphine Chance

"My Parents Live With Me" by David Cueman

"Signs & Wonders" by Liz Maestri

"Transplants" by Erik Nowak

This episode brought to you by Roadmap Writers' JumpStart Writing 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]