Writing for Television: Creating a TV Show From the Ground Up

Join Jay Kogen (THE SIMPSONS) as he interviews Chris Brancato (FIRST WAVE), Doug Ellin (ENTOURAGE), Andrew Marlowe (CASTLE), Margaret Nagle (SIDE ORDER OF LIFE) and Larry Wilmore (THE BERNIE MAC SHOW) at a Writers Guild Foundation event in 2009.

[@sfarkhoy]

Can't help but feel this panel discussion is one long battle of the egos.

[@r0cket1]

not really no. They’re are teaching you the importance of everything in this business. Talking about their stars and how they have to be the boss of people who’s entire image is based off work made by creative writers.

[@andrewpawlowski8809]

This has defiantly helped me with a pilot for a TV show I'm writing, thanks for posting this.

[@wadebarnett2542]

Did you mean "defiantly," or "definitely"?

[@prezadent1]

@@wadebarnett2542 "When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean-neither more nor less."

[@Ellenchattergirl]

Same

[@Ellenchattergirl]

@@prezadent1 savage

[@randyfx]

fascinating discussion. All are good speakers, especially Chris Brancato. Love his 4 types of shows explanation and wedding analogy. Props on Narcos.

[@andreallenberg645]

Big love to everyone. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.

[@miketodish6603]

Research. Research. Reasearch! Not discouraging anyone asking questions! But... do enough homework that you should be able to have an answer for every question before it's answered by the panelists. If you can't, then you're not ready for a pitch...

[@angeleye8953]

Real shit!!

[@luckyboypictures]

One of the videos that is really helpful.

[@MehdiHusain]

I just love this video. It's my first watch. Yet.

[@canaanlives]

writers gold!

[@edgarbleikur1929]

Could've listened to this go on for days. Very informative in a relaxed, dte panel.

[@ldjonsey]

This was excellent and extremely helpful. Thank you.

[@seen921]

Great panel Thx for this

[@leslydutch1056]

Chris Brancato spoke to me directly, I got some gems from him but I loved all of the speakers, thank you so much for doing this, you're all awesome!

[@RashodUnderwood]

big gems in this video.Thanks for the content!

[@ScipioIsBack]

so awesome!!! thank you!

[@noldaker]

Excellent panel...

[@sk8mcbang]

This was great

[@DonaldBarrett]

The best advice and to me the highlight of this awesome round table came at 1:35:18 from Margaret Nagle! So Awesome!!

[@iwapelebrown]

Awesome panel!

[@amberlihartwellacting]

This is GOLD thanks for posting. I love anything about what goes on behind the scenes. I am a late-comer trainee actress with a life story that ticks those boxes mentioned and links with these times as well as ideas for how to make it attention grabbing, but I'm not so much a writer. I could likely write the outline, characters, plot line, situations etc, but then what would I do? who would I go to? Also is there an equivalent panel of the mysterious studio and network people? Thanks

[@johnwcoletta]

I'm interested to know the panelists' opinions how the last 10 years of streaming has changed any of this. In 2018 when Netflix said they were going to put 700 new scripted shows for 2019 out people thought they were crazy. Then they did it. Nagle talks about the "13hr movie" that is Boardwalk Empire and it being seen as kind of a new thing. Isn't that the norm now? I'm thinking of series like Ozark, True Detective, or even Devs. Now I get these are all streaming/cable shows, and that's different than network scripted shows, but isn't that audience growing and the network audience shrinking? Or is my personal taste coloring my interpretation of the data?

[@Gbutler777]

Great mod.

[@anonymousdoosh8220]

Ya know, if Doug Ellin can do it then anyone can.

[@luckyboypictures]

They're all great, but Larry stole the show. Loved how he talked about Eddie.

[@misspatcleveland]

This is a very helpful talk

[@michaelmattice4986]

I watched the whole video(took notes:) and subscribed...Now, do you, mail my Writers Guild card to me?...Do I pick it up?...How does this work?

[@DebiBrady]

After doing some research and with the prevalence of streaming media, I'm thinking that this needs to be updated. But, gave me some ideas! Thx

[@drewandrewyoutube]

'I think you're wrong" joke went over that guys head. Durrrrrrr 26:39

[@MliDube]

A friendly joke gets returned with a below the belt jab. So uncalled for.

[@pochojoe]

Andrew Marlowe was a dick in that moment. Damn.

[@danielsilva9502]

Yeah, oof, I don't know, but Andrew was the most serious one throughout the whole thing, which I guess is just his personality.

[@DreamerRaisedOnRock]

Very helpful thanks. What about shows that are written for Netflix or amazon prime ?

[@MassiveSuccessVids]

Chris Brancato is de man.

[@pigeoncoo5125]

Drinking game: drink every time Doug says Mark

[@LorenzoCalgaryRealtor]

How much could I ask for a pitch? I wouldn't have written the script as it is limited, it is an informative/reality show.

[@BillieJolene1]

I have a GREAT comedy!!!! And YES, it's sustainable. Like YEARS worth. It's relevant, it's original, the characters are people you want to hang out with every week. I SOOOOOO wish I could find a way to get a grant to shoot a pilot. I'm 100% confident in my ability. So much so I packed a suitcase and got a one way ticket from Michigan to New York with no idea where I was going to live. Volunteers of America brought me to a shelter. And I'm fine with it BECAUSE I know, I KNOW, this is where I need to be to get my show off the ground.

[@michellehao2000]

so how did it go

[@melnelo3875]

What’s the progress?

[@ArabKatib]

@ 3:21 .. Is the previous panel he mentioned available? :^) Wonderful video.

[@Z5Z5Z5]

So if I have a resolution in mind how do I stretch it out?

[@A.JayWeber]

When they say "Go In" who are they talking to. I have found that your either in the loop with these executives or they don't know you at all.

[@Clynnspired]

Who controlled this camera?! I'd like to LOOK at the person speaking, instead of the three guys on the right the whole time. /roll eyes

[@dillonleeetheridgejr2877]

one thing I want to know is how many of these people.are off the streets so to speak and how many are relatives of somebody that's allready a producer in Hollywood

[@blackham7]

Exactly 90% of it is the connections you have. Else these networks won't even return your calls.

[@angeleye8953]

HaHa......"If somebody REALLY REALLY wants to do something...guess what?They gone find a way to do it"Connections will only take you so far.Try being THE REAL DEAL and see how far THAT takes you."How many people you think do the ACTUAL WORK?As opposed to those who don't?And really if you feel that strongly about something you should be producing it yourself.Connections will get you in, but doesn't mean your going to stay.MONEY IS THE BOTTOM LINE.Show that you can make money....not just write.

[@kingkylie9655]

agreed

[@tropicalwargaming688]

At 2:50 he mentions that tv shows should be proyected to 5 season. So why Lost in Space creators said the show was ment to be 3 seasons and was accepted by Netflix?

[@karenpatillo9]

Great information. How do I Pitch to networks? Do I need Attorney or Agent to help me

[@Sam-hn8bv]

I’m a little late to the party but I’ve been coming up with ideas for a tv show constantly for almost 4 years and I have a great script but I’m worried that I’ll never have the budget to actually produce it cause there’s a lot of props and effects and set pieces that I imagine are really expensive

[@Swelly_K]

king sparkelz then pitch it to a network or film studio so they can finance the production if its actually as great as you think it is

[@danielramsey6141]

king sparkelz He'll be confident and firm about how goddamn awesome it is.

[@kristinabliss]

Cable vs. network 👋🏼

[@Paytonwh]

Where can I find a pdf script from the Bernie Mac Show anyone?

[@Koboei]

Payton if you’re here in La , the WGA library has hard copies

[@quentilpompey6827]

@@Koboei hello are you in L.A.?

[@quemckenzie7524]

Randomly at 50:39 there is a voice over and it sounds really weird.

[@John-River]

Where tf is their mics

[@fullhulkplayground2906]

I have a show idea and it would almost be one of a kind and has large potential. Who do I reach out to , I feel very strongly this would be huge, just don't know who to talk to and how

[@latishamiller7003]

I feel the same way who Do I reach out to

[@parmzs1958]

You can use wikihow for writing tv shows and how to get attention. It has a lot of advice on what to do and who to reach out to. So head to wikihow

[@blackham7]

I forgot the website name, but there's this website where you post your pilot script and people vote on it and the most popular ones are looked at by network representatives.

[@dextermoore9657]

the air was thick with heavy compression that day

[@eaglegp2541]

I have contacts with producers with offices at WBTV for decades. They are looking for one hour episode TV series that are female driven drama or female driven action. If you have somethin or know of someone with a show like that, then need to have synopsis , 1st show script, and a sizzle reel or pilot. If you have something , let me know.

[@lexies9521]

Hey Fred whats your email, I have something x

[@eaglegp2541]

@@lexies9521 last time I put my email on youtube , I got way too , any spams. Can u put yours in and after I get itl u can come back and delete it from here or ??

[@hitchhiker_1969]

A writer allowing an actor to change a character so as to be more "them" than the character as was originally written spells disaster all around. This is what separates an actor from a celebrity. These entitled people need to be shut down. A friend of mine came in on a sitcom as director with a female actor having caused ongoing havoc, and he immediately put her in her place rather than kowtowing to her. After a few episodes he was swamped by every variety of worker on the set, from set decorator to lighting and sound to costars to thank him for bringing order and harmony to what had become a miserable working environment ruled by egos. I applaud when actors destroy their careers like Suzanne Summers, that creepy CSI Miami guy - (see? I forgot his name already), and many others who imploded due to their ego.

[@Z5Z5Z5]

damn 2015 was 6 years ago :(

[@kristakaufman8299]

Larry Wilmore is just on the ball with the jokes, while they all seem conscientious, Larry seems more aware that everything has to be "entertaining". The other 2, I would say, show runner, Larry needs to be Head Writer and "in the room writing" the others more detail oriented put them managing the production as show runners, although the other one, she seems to act too resentful of the notes and feedback of people, in that when you are resenting them telling you cut away here , leave the camera focused here, it *is* all about what McKee would call the dynamic of *value charge change* from (+) to (-) and from (-) to (+) if YOU are missing the climax of the *dynamic shift* and really not allowing *the pace* to allow the people to feel *that moment* then they are not vicariously and emotionally connected, and without the vested interest then they are not going to watch. When you sat there and say things like, did they finish high school etc. well all I could say to you, (she did say she wants people to just *say it*) some of the people that did not finish high school have more survival instinct and people skills than those with ivy league education when those people, ivy league ,that are obtuse and refuse to comprehend out of pride the basic *humanity* of needing to *feel* connected. If they don't then what is the point of wasting their, the audience's time or yours for an hour or a half hour? When they give notes that say, leave the focus longer, it is not manipulation, it is about communication, to help allow the audience to register the emotional dynamic shift of the value charge shift and transfer of the power dynamic. If you got that your writing would be better and you would all get less notes! ;) Never ignore the people and their opinion, it matters! :) Happy people attract *HAPPY SPONSORS AND ADVERTISING THAT PAYS THE BILLS AND KEEPS YOUR SHOW ON AIR!

[@kristakaufman8299]

I like how the guys said when you *sell* the pitch, it is in telling them *what* they are going to *feel* and why that matters. That is the key, to all of the feedback and notes, from the beginning, when you sell it, through to the middle and on to the end of the series, it is staying true, to the premise, not the logline, but the *premise* . In Larry's concept, children are terrorists, *and I do not negotiate with terrorists* the second, part, *the premise*, is the key focus that has to anchor every value charge and the dynamic that is the motivation of all scenes. Knowing and selling the premise, not the concept of the show and staying true to that is the key to all of your success.

[@utpaldebnath9762]

is ok

[@Life-Row-Toll]

I'm pondering a 'reboot' of my favorite show from the 1990, in th

[@danielramsey6141]

Life-Row-Toll Which show would that be?

[@blackham7]

It's possible to reboot TV shows from the past. But you have to already have screenwriting credit under your belt compared to doing one from scratch. For example Doctor Who was cancelled in the 80s but a fan of the show called Russell T Davies brought it back in 2005, however he knew the BBC Controller from past writing credits so that was his in.

[@vinnylt2408]

Doctor who hates patients... Read a Doctor Strange Comic. Even better.. he gets super powers.

[@venkateswararao9414]

million dollars worth....

[@jmbanksSPI]

Did I understand this right? They are advocating "Pitches" over pilot scripts? The answer of the one woman's question seems to be that the networks studios ect want to see pitches that they then like, and THEN pay for the pilot to be written which they will give notes on. The panel went so far as to give examples of several famous "Spec Scripts" that took for every to become the shows they became. There is another BTS video of the guy who created Mad Men talking about pitching that show for two years. Does that mean he pitched the concept for two years with no pilot script? If this is the case I am gonna stop writing right now lol

[@ai-man212]

Here's the thing: I would never shelve a screenplay I believe in. If it didn't sell, I'd turn it into a novel and self-publish or publish traditionally. If I had the money and not the time, I'd hire someone from Fiverr to ghost-write the first draft of a book (hey, I already wrote it, so they're just "Michelangelo's-Assistant") then I'd polish that into a novel worthy of my talent. I would never "shelve" a screenplay if it's any good, when it could be on Amazon making me steady passive income. Better yet, I'd write it as a novel or novella in the first place. If it's got legs, I've got my foot in the door with both Film and TV. Don't think of it as "Pimping Your Talent". Think of it as "Mining Your Own Damn Business". (I'll use this in a blog post).

[@anthatcher8050]

by the way I'm Bumpy Johnson Grandson, and was there when you sabotaged our families attempt to make the true film on my Grandfather... It's Not Gonna Happen this time around Chris...

[@auntierae6273]

So everyone on this panel is the reason why, watching tv sucks -now???

[@michaelmattice4986]

WHOA! WHOA! WHOA!...(that's all I got so far what'dya think?...I smell COLLABORATION:)

[@reginaldgpetithomme7412]

raezof Werldd You should check outkzbin.info/www/bejne/npmlYoeCmN2Hh8k

[@danielramsey6141]

TheyCallMe Auntee I doubt they are the problem.

[@juanloprada]

A guy talking with a cap in interior...

[@electronicdrumsolodubmix]

chris brancato cheated on my mom

[@user-ir8mf7km6w]

Entourage is terrible though and really outdated.

[@TheRemovalists]

Was obamas favourite show

[@jag5798]

Unfortunately, liberal politics plays a big role in most all movies and shows. They run the roost.