Paper Team

Alex and Nick celebrate the end of 2020 by taking a look back at the year for Paper Team and TV writing, plus celebrating our fans and announcing our 2021 plans for the podcast.

What were the most popular and discussed episodes of Paper Team in 2020? Did we hit our 2020 goals for the podcast? What were our favorite shows, movies, music, books of the year? What are our 2021 Paper Team goals? What virtual gifts did Alex and Nick get each other?

Content

1 - Paper Team Shout-outs (00:00:47)

2 - Paper Team 2020: A year in review (00:02:30)

4 - Best of 2020: TV, episodes, movies, music, books (00:13:39)

5 - Paper Team Goals for 2021 and Gift Exchange (00:50:02)

Links

2020 TV Writing Program Updates – CBS/NBC/WB (PT176)

Nickelodeon Animation Writing Program ft. Katherine Wells – Inside the TV Writing Programs (PT179)

TV Pilot 301: Scope, Beginnings, and Ends (PT184)

Tips and Tricks for the TV Industry (PT171)

Showrunning Duncanville & The Simpsons ft. Mike Scully (PT172)

COVID-19 and Hollywood: How We Adapt (PT177)

Tell Us About Yourself: Crafting the Personal Pitch (PT165)

The Mandalorian

Baron Noir

Devs

The Good Place

How to With John Wilson

Harley Quinn (TV Series)

Love on the Spectrum

Legendary

The Voice Australia

"What I Know" (The Boys - 2x08)

"One" (I Know This Much Is True - 1x01)

"Whenever You're Ready" (The Good Place - 4x13)

"And The Pandemmy Goes To..." (Happy Endings Special)

"The View from Halfway Down" (BoJack Horseman - 6x15)

"On the Run" (What We Do in the Shadows - 2x06)

Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun

The Chase

"Something For Kate" by The Modern Medieval

"Punisher" by Phoebe Bridgers

Boygenius

Onward

The Invisible Man (2020 Film)

Happiest Season

Hamilton (2020 Film)

"Death of a Salesman" by Arthur Miller

"The Dynasty" by Jeff Benedict

The Paper Team 200th Episode Special (PT200)

Being a Black Writer in Hollywood ft. WGAW Committee of Black Writers Chairs (PT181)

How to Give Script Notes (PT196)

TV Staffing vs. TV Selling (PT182)

10 Myths About TV Writing (PT195)

10 Myths About the TV Business (PT197)

Less TV, Less Opportunity (PT186)

TV Writing Incubators and the Evolution of Access (PT125)

Knowing Your Worth as an Assistant: Expectations, Opportunities, and Negotiations (PT168)

Baba Is You

King Pins

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: [email protected]

Alex and Nick pursue the 2020 Paper Team Mentorship with mentee Ben Warner and the first draft of his drama pilot THE PIRATE KING.

Step four of the process: writing a first complete draft of the original pilot.

We address a polarizing email and discuss Ben's first draft.

Content

Mentorship recap and new audience feedback (00:00:43)

Discussion of "The Pirate King" first draft (00:16:41)

Links

"The Pirate King" first draft

2020 Paper Team Mentorship I - "The Pirate King" Overview (PT190)

2020 Paper Team Mentorship I - Ben's Update

2020 Paper Team Mentorship II - "The Pirate King" Beat Sheet (PT193)

2020 Paper Team Mentorship II - Ben's Update

2020 Paper Team Mentorship III – “The Pirate King” Outline (PT198)

2020 Paper Team Mentorship III - Ben's Update

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: [email protected]

Alex and Nick celebrate the two-hundredth episode of Paper Team with a livestream event featuring several of our past guests, including TV writers, producers, and showrunners from a wide array of shows.

In this first-of-its-kind live and interactive special, we cover all major TV writing topics, from building a competitive TV portfolio and managing industry relationships, to being a useful writer on staff, balancing character with story in scripts, strategies for virtual writers' rooms, spec scripts, pilot scripts, formats, and so much more.

NOTE: This is the direct audio recording from our Twitch livestream with minimal editing. Occasional bumps are to be expected since we were live, plus hosting while handling the technical side of the event.

Content

Reflections on our first episode, the first Paper Team mentorship, being in L.A. for the industry, and building a TV writing portfolio (00:00:30)

Balancing character with story/structure, and managing industry relationships (00:54:00)

Being a useful writer on staff, and how to approach blue-skying (01:57:00)

Reflections on our second episode, declaring a TV major, evolution of episode formats, and future of the medium (02:36:00)

Links

Alex's Twitch channel

Video version of our 200th episode special livestream

Moving to Los Angeles (and Things We Wish We Knew) (PT01)

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

Paper Team Mentorship I – “Mid-Death Crisis” Overview (PT128)

Paul Chang on Twitter

Alex Switzky on Twitter

Alison Tafel on Twitter

Julia Yorks on Twitter

Jordan VanDina on Twitter

Tamara Becher-Wilkinson on Twitter

Mike Scully on Twitter

J. Holtham on Twitter

Jimmy Nguyen on Twitter

Hilliard Guess on Twitter

Franki Butler on Twitter

Caroline Levich on Twitter

Evelyn Yves on Twitter

Logan Kriete on Twitter

If you enjoy Paper Team, 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: [email protected]

Alex and Nick discuss television writing threads about showrunner credit, rewrite/punchup process, and industry inspirations.

Plus, we discuss the latest television news, including production returning to California and the ongoing WGA/CAA battle.

Reminder

We're having our 200th Paper Team episode event STREAMED LIVE this Saturday, December 5 at 2PM PST! We'll be talking TV writing and celebrating this podcast with some incredible guests. Follow follow TV Calling's Twitch channel to be notified when we begin.

We also want to hear from you! Do you have a favorite moment or guest from the podcast you want us to highlight? Let us know at http://paperteam.co/200

Content

200th Episode Reminder and Shout-Outs (00:33)

TV Writing Questions: Showrunner credit, rewrite/punchups in television, and industry inspirations (03:02)

TV Writing News: WGA/CAA news, and California production (33:28)

Links

Jane Espenson's blog archives

"Despite surging pandemic, TV productions return to California for tax breaks" - Los Angeles Times

"CAA Concedes WGA Boycott Worked, Agencies Oppose Delay of Court Hearing" - Variety

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: [email protected]

Alex and Nick continue the 2020 Paper Team Mentorship with mentee Ben Warner and the beat sheet of his drama pilot THE PIRATE KING.

Step three of the process: a detailed outline of the pilot episode, with every act broken down scene-by-scene.

We answer some feedback and discuss our thoughts on Ben's outline.

Reminder

We're having our 200th Paper Team episode event STREAMED LIVE! We'll be talking TV writing and celebrating this podcast with some incredible guests. So mark your calendars for Saturday, December 5 and follow TV Calling's brand-new Twitch channel.

We also want to hear from you! Do you have a favorite moment or guest from the podcast you want us to highlight? Let us know at http://paperteam.co/200

Content

Quick recap about the first two 2020 mentorship episodes (00:42)

Discussion of "The Pirate King" outline (03:32)

Links

"The Pirate King" outline

2020 Paper Team Mentorship I - "The Pirate King" Overview (PT190)

2020 Paper Team Mentorship I - Ben's Update

2020 Paper Team Mentorship II - "The Pirate King" Beat Sheet (PT193)

2020 Paper Team Mentorship II - Ben's Update

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: [email protected]

Alex and Nick bust ten common myths about the television business, from those about breaking into the industry and getting staffed, to writing samples and the value of representation.

Reminder

We're having our 200th Paper Team episode event STREAMED LIVE! We'll be talking TV writing and celebrating this podcast with some incredible guests. So mark your calendars for Saturday, December 5 and follow TV Calling's brand-new Twitch channel.

We also want to hear from you! Do you have a favorite moment or guest from the podcast you want us to highlight? Let us know at http://paperteam.co/200

Links

Breaking in as a TV Writer Later in Life ft. J. Holtham (PT92)

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: [email protected]

Alex and Nick discuss the process of giving notes and feedback on scripts, including story, structure, characters, world, prose, dialogue, and format.

From what we look for in the writing on a granular level to the psychology behind articulating great notes, learn actionable advice on how to properly dissect a television pilot, a spec episode, or any other script.

Reminder

We're having our 200th Paper Team episode event STREAMED LIVE! We'll be talking TV writing and celebrating this podcast with some incredible guests. So mark your calendars for Saturday, December 5 and follow TV Calling's brand-new Twitch channel.

We also want to hear from you! Do you have a favorite moment or guest from the podcast you want us to highlight? Let us know at http://paperteam.co/200

Content

1 - How we approach giving notes on scripts (01:37)

2 - What we look for in scripts and give notes on (21:35)

3 - Dos and don'ts of giving script notes (47:53)

Links

Feedback and Notes: Building Your Reading Onion (PT08)

How to Take Feedback (PT142)

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: [email protected]

Alex and Nick bust ten common myths about the craft of television writing, from pilot ideas and script feedback, to first drafts and episode content.

Reminder

We're having our 200th Paper Team episode event STREAMED LIVE! We'll be talking TV writing and celebrating this podcast with some incredible guests. So mark your calendars for Saturday, December 5 and follow TV Calling's brand-new Twitch channel.

We also want to hear from you! Do you have a favorite moment or guest from the podcast you want us to highlight? Let us know at http://paperteam.co/200

Links

Feedback and Notes: Building Your Reading Onion (PT08)

TV Pilot 301: Scope, Beginnings, and Ends (PT184)

TV Prose 201: Breaking Rules (PT156)

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: [email protected]

Alex and Nick answer your television writing questions about meeting people willing to read you, navigating similar ideas, and codifying writing partnerships.

Plus, we make a big announcement about our upcoming live 200th Paper Team episode, and discuss the latest television news, including the continuing WGA/agency fight.

Announcement

We're having our 200th Paper Team episode event STREAMED LIVE! We'll be talking TV writing and celebrating this podcast with some incredible guests. So mark your calendars for Saturday, December 5 and follow TV Calling's brand-new Twitch channel.

We also want to hear from you! Do you have a favorite moment or guest from the podcast you want us to highlight? Let us know at http://paperteam.co/200

Content

200th Episode Announcement, PT Updates, and Shout-Outs (00:36)

TV Writing Questions: Making connections, similar ideas, and codifying writing partnerships (08:04)

TV Writing News: WGA/agency pressure, WB chairman, and open letters (17:32)

Links

Visual TV Storytelling in Buffy’s "Hush" & "Restless" (PT37)

Networking 101: How to Talk With People in Hollywood (PT05)Feedback and Notes: Building Your Reading Onion (PT08)

Networking 201: Cold Contact, Queries and Etiquette (PT121)

Tips and Tricks for the TV Industry (PT171)

Putting Yourself Out There (PT75)

"Writers Guild presses CAA and WME to end 18-month standoff over agency practices" - Los Angeles Times

"Warner Bros. TV Group Chairman Peter Roth to Step Down" - Variety

"Native and Indigenous Writers Ask Hollywood to Advance Film and TV Representation" - The Hollywood Reporter

Untitled LatinX Project's letter

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: [email protected]

Alex and Nick continue the 2020 Paper Team Mentorship with mentee Ben Warner and the beat sheet of his drama pilot THE PIRATE KING.

Step two of the process: a beat sheet of the pilot episode, including general acts and story arcs.

We hear Ben's pilot episode and share our thoughts live.

Content

Quick recap and listeners' thoughts on the first 2020 mentorship episode (00:38)

"The Pirate King" - Beat sheet (03:16)

Discussion of the beat sheet (13:46)

Links

"The Pirate King" beat sheet

2020 Paper Team Mentorship I - "The Pirate King" Overview (PT190)

2020 Paper Team Mentorship I - Ben's Update

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: [email protected]