Paper Team

Alex and Nick discuss the content and formats of successful TV pitch documents, from one-pagers to pitch bibles.

How do you effectively communicate the vision of a TV show? What are the different formats of TV pitch documents? What should you include in your pitch? How do you structure a pitch document? What are the burning questions you need to answer? How do you write your pitch in a compelling and unique way?

Plus, we talk dramedy script categories.

The Paper Team gives their sales pitch...

SHOWNOTES

Content

Paper Scraps: Spec Lists and Script Categories (00:31)

1 - Formats of TV pitch documents (03:41)

2 - Content of a TV pitch document (06:35)

3 - How to best express your pitch: format, structure, and prose (19:40)

Takeaways and Resources (33:19)

Links

Leave a voicemail for Paper Team & TV Calling

Sundance Episodic Program

"Pitch Doc One" - TV Calling

"Meetings 101: Generals and TV Staffing" (PT62)

Terra Nova

Resources

"The Ultimate Sales Letter" - Dan S. Kennedy

Special thanks to Evan Schmitt 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 Heather Mason (from SyFy Fangrrls & Amy Poehler's Smart Girls) and LaToya Ferguson (from The A.V. Club & IndieWire) for a lighthearted conversation about the current state of TV criticism in the era of peak content and serialized storytelling.

What does TV criticism look like today? What is the process of reviewing a TV show? What can writers learn from critics? When are shows reviewed as a whole as opposed to episodically? How can critics review so much content in the era of peak TV? What are common misconceptions about TV criticism?

Plus, a special WonderCon 2018 reminder.

The Paper Team rates this episode "A+"...

SHOWNOTES

Content

WonderCon 2018 panel reminder (00:00:33)

A casual conversation about TV criticism (00:01:45)

Resources and Next Week On (01:14:18)

Reminder

Paper Team is going to WonderCon 2018! Join our panel "Reimagined for TV: Writing shows based on popular IP" on Sunday, March 25 at 1:00PM in Room 209.

Links

Heather Mason on Twitter

LaToya Ferguson on Twitter

The TV Sisters

LaToya Ferguson on Tumblr

SyFy Fangrrls

IGN

HelloGiggles

Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls

The A.V. Club

IndieWire

Uproxx

Television Without Pity

"San Junipero" (3x04 - Black Mirror)

Scream (TV Show)

Teen Wolf (TV Show)

Pretty Little Liars

Scream Queens

The Strain

Metacritic

Rotten Tomatoes

Drop Dead Gorgeous

Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23

Great News

The Vampire Diaries

Hannibal (TV Show)

Sasha Alexander

Greg Beeman

Dark

Television Critics Association (TCA)

Grace and Frankie

Electric Dreams

Charlie's Angels (2011 TV Show)

666 Park Avenue

Dave Annable

Rachael Taylor

Robert Buckley

The Slap

The Slap (US Version)

Jonathan LaPaglia

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 Eva Miller, Manager of Development at Canvas Media Studios, to discuss digital content and cross-platform storytelling.

What does the digital landscape look like for scripted content? How do stories evolve with the format? What genres are more suited to online formats over traditional linear forms? How can interactivity drive narratives in unique ways? How are digital content or creatives discovered? What is the development process for digital shows?

Plus, a special panel announcement.

The Paper Team crosses over...

SHOWNOTES

Content

WonderCon 2018 Panel Announcement (00:53)

Working at Canvas Media, cross-platform content, evolution of YouTube, nascent platforms, new forms of storytelling, VR/360, interactivity, promoting online content, influencers, finding new projects, budgets, storytelling (01:42)

Resources and Next Week On (42:27)

Announcement

Paper Team is going to WonderCon 2018! Join our panel "Reimagined for TV: Writing shows based on popular IP" on Sunday, March 25 at 1:00PM in Room 209.

Links

Canvas Media Studios

Bernie Su

The Lizzie Bennet Diaries

Vanity

This episode brought to you by Tracking Board's Launch Pad Writing Competitions

Use code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF when you enter a Launch Pad 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 discuss how to start researching your TV spec script and the show you selected.

Which episodes and scripts should you watch and read to prepare? Where should your spec script fit within a show? How do you research the structure, characters and stories? What should you look for in scripts of the show you want to spec?

Plus, we answer more voicemails.

The Paper Team does some reverse-engineering...

SHOWNOTES

Content

Paper Scraps: Spec script headers (01:11)

1 - Preparing the research (03:51)

2 - Researching the show on a macro level: structure, character, story and theme (13:40)

3 - Researching the show on a micro and macro level: prose, formatting and added sources (34:31)

Takeaways and Resources (43:10)

Links

Send a voicemail to TV Calling & Paper Team

Roadmap Writers

"TV Spec Script 101" (PT34)

"When should your TV spec script be placed?" - TV Calling

"Weaving Storylines: A/B/C Stories" (PT53)

"Act Breaks" (PT15)

Resources

WGF Library

KCRW's "The Business"

WGAW's "3rd & Fairfax"

Barry Katz's "Industry Standard"

This episode brought to you by:

&

Tracking Board's Launch Pad Writing Competitions

Use code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF when you enter a Launch Pad 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 invite Jona Xiao (Halt and Catch Fire, Being Mary Jane, Gifted) to discuss acting for television, and what writers can learn from actors.

What is the casting process like in TV? How are character descriptions influenced by the script? What preparation can actors do before going into production? What makes an interesting character and compelling scenes for an actor? What can TV writers learn from performers?

The Paper Team gets set to recur...

SHOWNOTES

Content

Early influences, building a career, getting representation, casting process, diversity, getting cast, actor preparation, drama versus comedy, character descriptions, table reads, production, scripts, character arcs, script revisions, post-production, getting cut in the editing, fan interaction, goals and aspirations (01:06)

Resources and Next Week On (43:47)

Links

Jona Xiao on Twitter

Jona Xiao on IMDb

Bananatag

Sidekick

Resources

Career ACTivate

"The Eight Characters of Comedy" - Scott Sedita

This episode brought to you by Tracking Board's Launch Pad Writing Competitions

Use code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF when you enter a Launch Pad 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 break down six iconic TV scenes to look at what makes them engaging and unique.

The moments explored in this episode include scenes from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Good Place, The Good Wife, Lost, and The Simpsons.

What makes for a great TV scene? How can a simple exchange play off character and story? How can dialogue be used to define a moment? What are ways acting, directing and editing influence the impact of a scene? What TV writing lessons can you learn from these scenes?

Plus, we talk how many people should be in a writing group.

The Paper Team gets in and out...

SHOWNOTES

Content

Paper Scraps: How many people in a writing group? (00:00:58)

1 - Introduction to the six TV scenes (00:03:09)

2 - "The Simpsons" Steamed Ham scene (00:08:02)

3 - "Deep Space Nine" Benny Rant scene (00:16:15)

4 - "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" Papa scene (00:29:35)

5 - "Lost" Henry Gale Breakfast scene (00:37:24)

6 - "The Good Place" Many Attempts Montage scene (00:44:55)

7 - "The Good Wife" Will vs. Alicia scene (00:53:02)

Next Week On (01:03:38)

Links

"Feedback and Notes: Building Your Reading Onion" (PT08)

"Analyzing Great TV Pilots" (PT54)

"Analyzing Great TV Characters" (PT72)

"22 Short Films about Springfield (7x21 - The Simpsons)

The Simpsons' Steamed Ham scene

"Far Beyond the Stars" (6x13 - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)

Deep Space Nine's Benny Rant scene

"Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse" (4x24 - The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)

Prince of Bel-Air's Papa scene

"The Whole Truth" (2x16 - Lost)

Lost's Henry Gale Breakfast scene

"Dance Dance Resolution" (2x03 - The Good Place)

"Hitting the Fan" (5x05 - The Good Wife)

"I'm mad as hell" scene from Network

DS9 comment by Kingofmadcows

"Nonlinear Storytelling" (PT70)

This episode brought to you by Tracking Board's Launch Pad Writing Competitions

Use code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF when you enter a Launch Pad 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 invite Sydney Mitchel from NCIS: New Orleans & Outcast, and Zimran Jacob from Marvel's The Punisher, to discuss the responsibilities, duties, and opportunities of being a TV showrunner's assistant.

What does the job of a showrunner's assistant entail? How do you get hired on a show? What does a typical work-day look like? How do assistants communicate with their showrunner? How creatively involved are showrunner's assistants? What amount of notes and feedback do showrunners get? How can you balance working long hours and writing your own scripts?

The Paper Team gets an in...

SHOWNOTES

Content

Working in television, what a showrunner does, hiring process, duties of a showrunner's assistant, day-to-day, communicating with the showrunner, creative involvement, shooting and production, post-production, calls and meetings, tips and advice for showrunner's assistants, balance work and life, future projects (01:01)

Resources and Next Week On (45:20)

Links

Zimran Jacob on Twitter

Sydney Mitchel on IMDb

NCIS: New Orleans airs Tuesdays 10/9c on CBS

Outcast available on Cinemax

Marvel's The Punisher available on Netflix

"Kevin Pollak To Direct Indie Comedy ‘Swag’" - Deadline

This episode brought to you by Tracking Board's Launch Pad Writing Competitions

Use code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF when you enter a Launch Pad 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 discuss how you can put yourself out there as a creative and TV writer. From proactive networking to content generation, learn ways of staying in the loop and in people's minds.

How do you build new connections and foster meaningful professional relationships? How do you stay in the conversation for new jobs and opportunities? What are ways of putting your content out there and creating a presence? What should you look for in a mentor?

Plus, we talk finding a first agent.

The Paper Team gets out...

SHOWNOTES

Content

Paper Scraps: Getting an agent and more reviews (00:52)

1 - Putting yourself out there: proactively building relationships (04:55)

2 - Putting your content out there: presence and branding (18:06)

3 - Putting others in there: mentoring and passing the torch (26:04)

Challenges and Resources (32:19)

Links

"TV Writer Representation 101" (PT31)

"189 - The Assistant's Track" - Hilliard Guess' Screenwriters Rant Room

Resources

"Breaking In: Tales from the Screenwriting Trenches" - Lee Jessup

Buffer

This episode brought to you by Tracking Board's Launch Pad Writing Competitions

Use code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF when you enter a Launch Pad 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 invite Logan Kriete, producer and development executive at Escape Artists (and formerly from Superb Entertainment/Baer Bones), to discuss how TV production companies work and find their projects.

What are overall deals or "PODs" and why are they important? How is material turned into a TV show? What makes a script stand out for an executive? How does the development and notes process work? How do production companies sell shows to studios and networks? How does the evolving TV format impact projects? Why does persistence matter in the TV industry?

The Paper Team does the POD challenge...

SHOWNOTES

Content

Becoming a development executive, working in scripted, overall deals, sister studios, development process, finding writers and projects, selling shows, advice for TV writers (00:57)

Resources and Next Week On (1:00:13)

Links

Logan Kriete on Twitter

Escape Artists

Meryl Poster

Neal Baer

Mosaic

One Day at a Time (2017)

Glitch

Trust Me

Resources

KCRW's "The Business"

NPR's "Pop Culture Happy Hour"

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 go over how formatting works in TV scripts and the various pre-draft documents you'll be writing on TV shows.

What are the formatting and structural differences in writing a TV screenplay as opposed to a feature? How do half-hours and one-hours differ in their acts and page count? Which documents will you be writing before going to draft on a TV episode? What are important formatting elements to know and common mistakes to avoid?

Plus, we answer questions about genre and screenwriting software you should be using.

The Paper Team adjusts their margins...

SHOWNOTES

Content

Paper Scraps: TV format versus TV genre, and screenwriting software you should be using (00:52)

1 - Differences in formats: TV and feature, one-hour and half-hour, network and cable, multi-cam and single-cam (10:56)

2 - Story areas, treatments, and outlines: documents to write before going to draft and annotating revisions (18:10)

3 - Formatting on the page and common mistakes (26:02)

Takeaways and Resources (56:35)

Links

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

Final Draft

Fade In

WriterDuet

Highland

Celtx

Movie Magic Screenwriter

Scrivener

"Being a TV Script Coordinator" (PT21)

Scenechronize

Movie Magic Budgeting

Resources

"The Hollywood Standard" - Christopher Riley

This episode brought to you by Tracking Board's Launch Pad Writing Competitions

Use code PAPERTEAM to get $15 OFF when you enter a Launch Pad 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]