Youngins pitch the studio, showrunners make executive decision on office upgrade. Below-the-line hires, concept meeting. Week 7 reader questions.
Go To John Rogers’ Place …

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“Billy Wilder … was once asked if he thought a director should be able to write. His answer was: ‘No, he should be able to read.’ The question always arises: why do writers want to direct? As a writer who also became a director ten years ago I can tell you the answer. And it’s […]

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Have Canon Powershot, will travel.
“June 20, 2008 — 14 months in the making, 42 countries, and a cast of thousands. Thanks to everyone who danced with me. Make sure to click ‘watch in high quality’ right underneath the video.”
Go To YouTube …
Go To Matt Harding’s Place …

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LA Weekly’s Nikki Finke begins an extensive series of reports and analysis as the SAG contract nears expiration. Bottom line: No strike. Yet.
“… Had the Hollywood CEOs been honest and open to renegotiate the contract terms each time a new format caught on, these guild negotiations wouldn’t be so arduous. Instead there are years and […]

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This won’t wait till next April. Thanks, McGrath.
“Behind the scenes tour of of an award-winning creative farm, juicing process and distribution in South West England.
“Part funded by the Southwest Creative Growers’ Association. Filmed on location on the Wedmore Creative and Artist Farm, Somerset, South West England.”
Go To YouTube Site …

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Citing a recent piece in the LA Times, the WGA noted the significance of additions to the Hulu online video service library of ad-supported offerings in terms of the current writers’ contract.
“… the next step for the Internet is migration from the computer screen to the TV screen. This process is one writers need to […]

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Hal reflects on the recent HOC 2008 Event and discusses a proactive four-step plan for ProSeries writers’ success.
Go To Producer’s Blog …

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“As a writer, as someone interested in language, his comedy probably warped my mind - made me see that words could do amazing things.”
Go To Bill Martell’s Place …

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“Say what you will about the importance of directors and stars, but there is no component more crucial to a good movie than a properly-constructed screenplay. Nothing. You simply can’t make a good movie from a bad script….
“Whenever a screenplay is purchased by a studio … it is almost always re-written. Writers will say execs […]

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“You need a high concept. A BIG hook. To where ‘the girl is a mermaid’ just barely makes the grade. Your characters can be real as long as there’s time travel.
“The studio needs to visualize the one-sheet. In other words, the poster. And if you can provide a tag line that would be good too. […]

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Sandy, Victoria, and Richard have begun filing further reports on meetings this week in Los Angeles.
Go To Members’ Blogs …

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Terry Rossio generously posted a copy of “Deja Vu” on the Wordplay site this week. It’s a zipped .pdf file containing the 2004 draft he penned with Bill Marsilii.
Go To Site …

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Sandy, Victoria, and Richard continue their “members only” reports on meetings this week in Los Angeles.
Go To Members’ Blogs …

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In “Part Fifteen C” of his continuing weblog series, “Story of a Writer,” veteran Earl Pomerantz recalls being on both ends of the note-giving stick, and taping before a live audience.
“We had our first ‘table reading.’ The president of the network gave me notes. The NBC liaison executive gave me notes. The star gave me […]

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“Hi everyone,
“We just finished our first day of this round of Hollywood meetings. I’m not going to go into details because three of your associates are reporting those details on the blogs.
“But I will say that I’m truly honored to be here with this group of writers.”
Go To Producer’s Blog …
Go To Members’ Blogs …

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