Paper Team

Alex and Nick welcome Simon Taylor to hear his experience being a comedian, writing jokes for late-night television, and the hard work it takes to be consistently funny.

How does the stand-up circuit work? What was it like writing for the Tonight Show with Jay Leno? Why is performing comedy different than writing comedy? How is the process of writing comedy in a room compared to doing it alone? What can a writer do to be noticed and find a following?

The Paper Team performs their in-depth set...

SHOWNOTES

Content

1 - How Simon Taylor got his start (00:33)

2 - Being funny, creating your product, and performing stand-up (08:25)

3 - Putting yourself out there, selling yourself, and pitching (24:15)

4 - Writing for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (34:22)

5 - Generating good content regularly and working your creative skills (38:53)

6 - What a successful joke is and tailoring it to your online (Twitter/Snapchat/YouTube) or real-life audience (43:35)

7 - Working on a TV pilot with Justin Willman, and writing alone for someone else versus a writers' room for a common project (49:05)

8 - Working in the US, what Simon Taylor is doing now, and what is next for him (53:17)

Resources and Outro (57:50)

Links

Simon Taylor on Twitter

Rove Live

Rove McManus

The Glass House (2001 TV series)

Spicks and Specks

The Project

Steve Vizard

Shaun Micallef

Live on Bowen

The Loft Live

Simon Taylor hosting Live on Bowen (Video)

The Carmichael Show

The King of Kong

Vine

Sleight of Mouth with Justin Willman

Resources

Poking a Dead Frog - Mike Sacks

Books by Stewart Lee

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 welcome Franklin jin Rho (FOX's The Exorcist) to discuss the ins and outs of being a TV script coordinator.

He shares with us his advice, anecdotes, tips, and tricks to understanding and getting into this vital TV position, set halfway between the writers' room and production.

How do you become a script coordinator (especially when you have no experience)? What do showrunners look for in candidates? What are the interactions like between writers and production? What can you do to get that first script and transition up? Are there any must-know shortcuts to Final Draft?

The Paper Team offers some script revisions...

SHOWNOTES

Content

Thoughts on TV script coordinating, getting a position, and making the best out of it (00:33)

Outro (46:17)

Links

Franklin jin Rho on Twitter

The Exorcist (FOX)

AFI's Directing Program

Friday Night Lights (NBC)

Film Independent's Project Involve

The Assets (ABC)

Cole Fowler on IMDb

Konami Code

IBM's Watson

Scriptation

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 explore the differences in what an episode looks like between episodic or procedural TV and serialized shows.

How has the TV episode evolved over the years? What does an episode mean in the age of binge-watching? What are some memorable stand-alone and serialized episodes?

The Paper Team offers a self-contained narrative...

SHOWNOTES

Content

1 - The Stand-Alone Episode (00:34)

2 - The Serialized Episode (13:23)

3 - What is a TV episode today? (35:34)

4 - Critical reception of Episodic vs. Serialized TV (42:45)

Next Week On (50:03)

Links

Masters of Horror

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

"Window of Opportunity" (4x06 - Stargate SG-1)

"The Farnsworth Parabox" (4x15 - Futurama)

"Hush" (4x10 - Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Donald Trump "Law & Order: SVU" Episode Gets Post-Election Airdate

6 Days to Air: The Making of South Park

"Restless" (4x22 - Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

"Grave Danger" (5x24-25 - CSI)

Monte-Carlo Television Festival

MIPTV Media Market

Coupling (US)

Law & Order: UK

Paris enquêtes criminelles

Babylon 5

The Cuckoo Hour

Dream On

"A Mother's Work" (6x13 - Sons of Anarchy)

"Phase One" (2x13 - Alias)

"Other Things You Could Be Doing" (2×12 – You’re the Worst)

"Development Arrested" (3x13 - Arrested Development)

Why mythological shows are often idolized

NY Times Reviews Amazon's Goliath Out of Order

"Two Boats and a Helicopter" (1x03 - The Leftovers)

"Guest" (1x06 - The Leftovers)

In Praise of Midbrow TV

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: [email protected]

Alex and Nick discuss the value of paying for screenwriting education.

From graduate school to extension classes and books, we take a look at whether or not they're worth your time or money to learn about TV writing.

What is the point of film school for television? Which extra classes are worth paying for? What are some of the best books on the subject?

The Paper Team opens their textbook...

SHOWNOTES

Content

1 - A special e-mail and our own TV writing education (0:32)

2 - Is film school worth it for TV? (10:08)

3 - TV writing extension classes and books (14:53)

Takeaways & Resources (25:03)

Links

UCLA's TFT mysterious "showrunner program"

UCLA's Writing Extension Classes

Richard Hatem

The TV Writer's Workbook by Ellen Sandler

Elephant Bucks by Sheldon Bull

The Cheeky Monkey by Tim Ferguson

The Coffee Break Screenwriter by Pilar Alessandra

Writing the TV Drama Series by Pamela Douglas

Small Screen, Big Picture by Chad Gervich

Desperate Networks by Bill Carter

Resources

BAFTA Guru

BBC Writers Room

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: [email protected]

Alex and Nick invite Chris Corbett (writer on Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries) to discuss the current state of Australian television and the differences in their writers' room.

How can new writers make it in the Australian TV industry? How do Australian writers break their episodes? How does Australian experience translate to America? What are some underrated Australian shows to watch?

The Paper Team goes down under...

SHOWNOTES

Content

1 - Introduction (00:20)

2 - Everything you wanted to know about Australian TV writing, production and writers rooms (00:43)

3 - Advice for new writers and shows to watch (50:40)

Links

Chris Corbett on IMDb

Film Victoria

Blue Heelers

Crawford Productions

Shane Brennan

ScriptedInk

Australian Writers' Guild

Prime Time AWG Competition

Stan

Marseille

Foxtel

No Activity

Australian Survivor

Alexa Junge

Tall poppy syndrome

McLeod's Daughters

Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries

Wanted

Rake

Wilfred

Animal Kingdom

The Moodys

Barracuda

Jack Irish

Love My Way

Tangle

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 tackle how to get into a TV writing mindset and actually finish that script.

We talk about the psychological side of writing and practical ways of dealing with procrastination, deadlines, and the muse.

How do you beat the blank page? How do you deal with procrastination? How do you stay accountable with your work?

The Paper Team starts the clock...

SHOWNOTES

Content

1 - Approaching writing or the myth of "the muse" (00:38)

2 - Time-management and procrastination (06:45)

3 - External and introspective factors (21:36)

Takeaways and Resources (28:46)

Links

Parkinson’s Law

Pomodoro technique

Crave Cafe (Studio City)

Republic of Pies

Sublime Text

Highland

Fade In

Habitica

Ig Nobel Prize

The Art of Procrastination - John Perry

Pavlok

The Most Dangerous Writing App

Nathan For You - "Dating Website/Party Planner" (2x07)

Pumping Iron

Resources

Time Timer MOD

Rainy Mood

The War of Art - Steven Pressfield

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: [email protected]

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: [email protected]

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: [email protected]

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 - @TVCalling

Nick - @_njwatson

If you have any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]

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: [email protected]