What Writers Really Need To Know About Writing For Television by Lee Jessup

[@troihudson5889]

Sounds like the best job ever. Sitting in a room all day pitching ideas, creative writing, or even proof reading others writing. I’d love it!!

[@ethantarpley]

This is what I've wanted to do as a career for years. This video makes me nervous about my future--fearful that I might not be able to break into the profession, or that I won't work well with the other writers--but it also makes me really excited. That kind of job seems perfect for me. I just hope I can make it work!

[@quentilpompey6827]

I noticed in the comments some are getting discourage. What she says has validity but remember we are all different writers with our own voices. The interviews are to inform and prepare us for what we possibly could be facing in the future but you also have to learn that everyone’s experiences are different. Keep writing

[@jackiegutmann]

Screen writing just means produce something new and fresh every day to not bore the audience! Love this channel

[@sprite8344]

Bore the audience is far from what they have to worry about

[@Qermaq]

If people say about your script "Well, it didn't bore me" they are not buying your script. You need a great setting with a lot of interest, characters who have things right and wrong with them, and the ability to voice their frustrations with the other characters in a way that fits the tone of the show. You need a tone for the show, you need to preach something with the script. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

[@sf5823]

This is really informative for writers. A good reality check. Personally I'm glad that I went down the art route rather than the writing or dance route now, however all the creative arts are highly competitive and talent alone isn't always enough, you have to have nerves of steel and pure determination to get anywhere in the creative industries, it's cut throat in certain industries especially in fashion, plagiarism can be rife! On a positive note, something inside you needs and wants to be expressed and that's a beautiful thing! xxx

[@johnbines183]

I love Film Courage for all of their insightful videos. This on in particular was spot on. I've been a Television professional for over twenty five years and had worked my way up with a noted production company on an emmy award winning TV show. I experienced being "Thrown under the bus" and if I had the information presented in this video I probably would have survived that. Needless to say I didn't and it took years for me to try and rebuild what I had done and I'm still rebuilding. This type of commentary is ABSOLUTELY, DESPERATELY NEEDED.

[@filmcourage]

Thank you for watching, John. Glad you're finding these videos helpful. :)

[@laurenj432]

I’m really grateful for her honesty and bluntness about the job. It’s better to know what you’re getting into before you end up landing your dream job only to find it disappointingly different.

[@nancylawrence1]

She made TV writing sound exhilarating and exciting. I love the collaborative-competition of the room.

[@VintageAfro91]

Honestly, Lee is telling the truth about how the Writer's Room environment is. It's very corporate. She's not trying to deter people from going for screenwriting if it's their goal, but she wants people to truly know what they're really getting into.

[@lgkmusic2445]

She made TV Writing sound HORRENDOUS

[@chike1866]

Linden Grant I don't know any writer that makes it sound nice.

[@bradebronson8835]

Better than being in a cubicle doing work you hate.

[@ScoobyandShaggy5554]

She made it sound amazing

[@Dan-or3ls]

@@bradebronson8835 well she didnt make it sound like she loved it

[@Qermaq]

@@Dan-or3ls It's not a recruitment video. It's the truth from her perspective.

[@victoriaallen3753]

This doesn't sound like a positive atmosphere, but I do appreciate her candor.

[@jackizoza6121]

Very informative section of the interview. Was in a similar position of being thrown under the bus even after writing for the majority of the show and not getting paid for it. That being said like Lee Jessup said you fail your way up. Must say though the television industry is really cutthroat so you must mind what you say because you never know who is watching.

[@sf5823]

Jack Bvuma well good luck with it all and I hope you rise through the ranks. Hugs xxx

[@paballomolingoane2009]

This is the best advise I've heard. Thankyou.

[@jackiegutmann]

I want to do writing. I keep thinking of stories every day. I cannot wait to sell something one day....

[@lucasabreu9979]

stop thinking of stories every day and develop one. pick one you like, scratch that, love, and work it. create a world. characters. reasons for conflict between those characters. that is something you can sell. not an idea that has no depth.

[@fascinatinglist9654]

Keep writing your scripts or pilots and send em out

[@joedellaccio4657]

fascinatinglist who do I send them out to?

[@joedellaccio4657]

fascinatinglist who do I send them out to

[@jacmurray]

Great advice! Thanks for sharing

[@richardjefferson2445]

I can handle it. 😊

[@janellerollins5893]

Me too, with the HELP of JESUS.

[@justinthao848]

Man, being a writer sounds stressful as hell.

[@bobeslami9770]

But does it pay well? And do you like it? These two are what needs to be asked first.

[@elgonzo5]

Wow! Am I the only one excited about everything she said!? I love all of what she said! 15hour days 365 hell yeah! Politics (I lived through 2020 baby) Put me in a shoe box and I’ll come out Air Jordan!

[@romaldomadrid8594]

There's so many "teen/high school" shows, Notice theres almost no college shows? I've got 5+ ideas for this, dramas, actions, comedies,sci-fi, first responders legal dramas and a rom-com. Who's in?😃

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

I thought it might be a great idea... Now, with a wary eye to the sky, watchful for a raining bus of some kind, I'll be stitching away at the kevlar umbrella. Hope against hope, if the bus should come, it will be bright yellow enough to notice before it gets to me, but some of those greyhounds sound like they're sneaky. I should probably upgrade from re-bar to a substantial springsteel frame for this thing. It might be well advised to go ahead on that buy-out of 90# synethetic sinew, too... long as I'm about it. This is definitely going to be a "lock-stitch" job. No sense in slouching on the technique, since the materials are invested. Next project is going to have to be the "magical hardhat"... Something just ridiculous enough that most people won't be able to get too angry, but just sensible enough that I'm able to get used to it before hysterical laughter does me in. If I can just achieve quite that level of balance, I'm probably good... ...wow... this whole writing thing is getting complicated and expensive. ;o)

[@sprite8344]

This is not all from what I know writers while making a show they have to make its episode or the season they have to make it either highly offensive or Sympathize with their audience so even while being able to produce whatever the hell they want to they have to make it look like they don't know how to write the show or catch it's rhythm. In short you can't make it or give your show the most intense storyline even if you have ideas or want to add the stuff to it your main objective is to make it more watchable for the audience and other learning writiers they are also the part of the same audience, so you have to Sympathize with them too. So over all ,all you can do is what they tell you too (I'm not kidding there hasn't been a single show that has a highly different level story like death note and Naruto (death note was really sketchy and they made the show while following all the rules by the corporations or the cenership idk,anyway and Naruto does nt have as much of plot as you think it's just gives you those vibes you're looking for lol) yeah and even the main writers who produce the show can't make their desired content even if you have ideas your main goal is offensive or Sympathizing so you have to obey what they say with your own show or comic ,manga anime that crap

[@sprite8344]

Lol south park did a next level job on that Kenny dies episode .man that episode still makes me shit bricks after seeing it's screenplay OMG😂

[@chalie75]

it's hellish atmosphere, you've constantly have this sword hung above your head... it's very energy draining

[@perlishely]

Looks hard. Thank you btw :)

[@DavidJReidOFFICIAL]

if there is conflict "in the room" isn't that better ??? :) makes for better writing.

[@sami6998]

as much as i would LOVE to be apart of a tv show (it can be so effective in getting a long-term story across if it doesn't get canceled), it isn't possible to get involved in the way that means the most to me. developing the characters and world-building in a way that is unique to the creator. i think novel writing is what would work best for me since you can tell the story for as long as needed and there aren't as many cooks in the kitchen. additionally, from what i've heard, a writer's room just isn't where i want to be. so much time put in with so little payoff. there is no guarantee that anything you add will see the light of day. at least in a novel, i know that my words are being heard. i love the visual medium that is offered through television and film, but the writers of a show don't get much of a say in that either. if only there was a way i could incorporate both aspects. ** it has come to my attention that these things called "comic books" exist

[@sarahmoreirautzig5525]

Unless of course you write the whole show by yourself, like Nic Pizzolatto did with True Detective. He hated the whole corporate thang while working in The Killing's writing team, so he just said fuck off to it xD

[@KayExposesTruth]

Wow

[@sabrinashort2999]

How do people manage their families or marriages for that matter. 15 hours a day sounds like making a family work isn’t feasible. That makes me sad.

[@georgiamcdow9352]

She makes it sound like it’s a competition between coworkers

[@free22]

Most jobs are.

[@susanmajek]

Scared, but like she said it’s exactly like corporate America...

[@justathought274]

Sounds as tricky as most newsrooms/ tv production floors. Having worked in both it is a toxic culture. This lady sounds as if she is a trenches veteran. If your face fits that’s it, if it doesn’t, that’s it. Like high school. I’ve read a lot by people like Mindy Kaling and Amy Poehler. They were younger when cutting their teeth so maybe that helped

[@arzabael]

FC 700K subs!!!!

[@filmcourage]

Thank you for your support Arzabael!

[@JLDReactions]

This sounds like it would be exhausting.

[@ashtongrist]

Shes job obsessed..... how do we write television!!

[@rodee1671]

Like SURVIVOR for writers.

[@dragunov815]

Ok.

[@SD-de4do]

this sounds worse than working in marketing. thanks for the tip. no wonder almost nothing on television is worth 1 episode.

[@bigbanknewyork3655]

Extremely unpredictable career.

[@maxlynlc2718]

Sounds like cooperate law..

[@Ladylovemm]

Unless it’s your own show and contracted to be a writer of your show you WILL NOT get a writer gig. PERIOD.

[@Kung.Pao.Kitty.]

WOW. So throwing people under the bus is part of the job description and not a sport. Good to know.

[@InventionSchool]

She blurted out the complete sequel of what's wrong with America and why it won't last.

[@ytfeverguy8367]

is this sort of political, stuffy, catty nonsense the reason tv mostly sucks these days?

[@runningthruhistory]

Interested In probably too many chefs in the kitchen.