Script Notes by Chad Gervich

Sex & the Island

Chad — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:52:46 GMT

Thought you guys might be interested in these new DVD's, hot off the press from the Writers Guild Foundation...

WRITERS GUILD FOUNDATION RELEASES LOST AND MICHAEL PATRICK KING DVDs

The Writers Guild Foundation has released two new titles in its popular Writers on Writing DVD series - Inside the Writers Room with Lost and Michael Patrick King.

Inside the Writers Room with Lost is a special panel discussion with the creators of the phenomenally popular ABC television series. Producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse and writers Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz and Elizabeth Sarnoff talk about the story development and writing process on one of the hottest TV series in years.

Michael Patrick King is a writer/producer most renowned for executive producing Sex and the City in its latter seasons, and for writing and directing the film adaptation of the series. This disc is essential for fans of the series and for aspiring writers of romantic comedies.

Writers on Writing is a series of one-on-one (or in some cases, one-on-several) DVD interviews with Writers Guild Foundation moderators about the exceptional careers of some of the top screenwriters working today.

Both Inside the Writers Room with Lost and Michael Patrick King are available online.

Click HERE to purchase Inside the Writers Room with Lost ($24.95)...

Click HERE to purchase Writers on Writing: Michael Patrick King ($19.95)...

Click HERE for a complete list of DVDs of Writers Guild Foundation events.

Teach Your Kid To Be A Movie Critic!

Chad — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 04:07:04 GMT

Hey, folks--

This was such a fun and interesting event, I had to post it up here.

On Tuesday, July 21, KidsPickFlicks.com-- the movie review site for kids-- presents “Popcorn, Pop and a Paycheck: How to Get the Life of a Movie Critic” at the Variety offices here in L.A.

For those of you who don't know KidsPickFlicks, its a movie review site which was started five years ago by a Cole McNamara, a 9-year-old who was sick of seeing movies he enjoyed panned by adult critics. So he started a site where he reviewed kids movies from a kids' perspective... and where other kids could post reviews as well. It's taken off and is now run by Cole (who's 14) and his 9-year-old sister, Riley. I interviewed Cole a few years ago, just as KidsPickFlicks was taking off... he's a great kid, incredibly savvy and articulate... and if you have children interested in movies or movie reviews, I have no doubt this will be a great program.

Basically, Variety critics Todd McCarthy, Brian Lowry and Justin Chang will meet with young, aspiring Leonard Maltins and Rober Eberts to share their stories of how they got into the business, what their life is “really” like, and the ups and downs of being film critics. Lowry will also teach kids his three fun and simple rules of writing a movie review.

If you're interested, here's the scoop...

WHEN: Tuesday, July 21, 2009; 1 - 2:30 pm
WHERE: Variety, 5900 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif.

Register kids 8 and older at KidsPickFlicks.com. Space is limited.

For more information, please contact Trish Vogel at Starshine Media, 615-400-3660 or Tara@KidsPickFlicks.com.

Riley's Picks & Icks (from KidsPickFlicks)

Got Legal Advice?

Chad — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:04:15 GMT

Hey, screenwriters and filmmakers--

Just wanted introduce you to today's Website of the Day... Legal Ease, an outstanding legal Q&A blog from FilmIndependent.

It's been up and running since the beginning of the year, answering questions on everything from options and Writers Guild minimums to licensing songs and obtaining book rights.

All the questions are answered by Jesse Saivar and Matt Galsor, two lawyers from the LA-based entertainment law firm Greenberg & Glusker, and it's an excellent resource for writers, directors, actors, and producers who can't afford a high-end attorney but still need to get their questions answered quickly and completely.

So check it out... and if you want to submit a question, email Carolyn at CCohagan@filmindependent.org.

Sell Your Reality Show... Next Tuesday!

Chad — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:08:57 GMT

Hey, guys--

If you're hoping to sell the next The Bachelorette, American Idol, or Dancing with the Stars... or even if you just want to work on them... I'm teaching my reality TV seminar, "Writing the Reality TV Show," for mediabistro next Tuesday, July 7. If you're interested (and in Los Angeles), I'd love to see you there! Here's the scoop...

(Also, for those of you who have already emailed or asked... YES-- this is the class that was originally scheduled for Monday, July 13. It's been moved up.)

Writing the Reality TV Show

So You Think You Can Dance. The Real World. Rock of Love. The Amazing Race. From the multi-million-dollar series of broadcast television to the low-budget niche shows of cable, reality programming dominates television. But are reality shows really "reality?" How much planning and production goes into unscripted storytelling? And, most importantly, how can you get in on the action?

This seminar lays the groundwork for anyone wanting to break into the lucrative world of reality TV. We'll look at various types of reality shows and what makes them tick, from docu-dramas and docu-soaps (The City, Keeping Up With the Kardashians ) to game shows and elimination-style competitions (The Biggest Loser, Big Brother, Top Chef, Survivor) to personality-driven and "aspirational" series (Dietribe, Ruby, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition).

We'll then discuss how to conceive, develop, and sell your idea. What are the critical elements of a pitch? Should you attach talent? Does your series work as a strip? We'll explore how to structure your reality pitch and get it to the right people. Who are the major players? When should you attach a senior producer? What networks are best for your concept? Whether you're a writer, producer, or host, reality television's waiting for you.

In this seminar, you will learn:

The differences between reality shows, and how to pitch them accordingly
The critical elements every reality show and pitch must have
How to structure a pitch both verbally and as a written document
How to pitch to networks, studios, and production companies
When to attach hosts or producers to your idea, and when not to
What to expect when you're making your pitch, and what happens when you leave

Click here for more information...

WHEN: Tuesday, July 7, 7-10 pm
WHERE: Beverly Hills Bar Assoc., 300 S. Beverly Dr., 2nd Fl., Beverly Hills, CA 90212
COST: $65 ($50 for avantguild members)
TO SIGN UP: Call 212-547-7890 or click HERE

Hope you can make it!

A Few of My Favorite Podcasts...

Chad — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:27:31 GMT

Thanks to the anonymous reader who posted in response to last week's post about Jen Grisanti's Storywise podcast, and their question...

"Which writing podcasts do you regularly download?"

To be honest, I don't listen to a ton of writing-specific podcasts... although I always wish I did... but I like to listen to some other fun/newsy Hollywood podcasts.

Here's a quick list of links to some of my favorite podcasts, as well as a couple which friends really recommend, and all of which can also be found on iTunes...

The New York Times' Front Page - The NY Times has a terrific lineup of outstanding podcasts. My favorite is its Front Page, which condenses the top stories of the day into a short 2-4 minute podcast.

Martini Shot - TV writer Rob Long's (Cheers, George & Leo, Big Wave Dave's) podcast/radio show is produced by local LA NPR station KCRW, and it's usually some funny/insightful bit about either A) what's going on in Hollywood, B) pop culture, C) Rob's life. But it's always entertaining.

The Business - Also from KCRW, The Business is a weekly podcast that explores topical business, creative, and political issues concerning the entertainment industry.

Programming Insider - In TV guru Marc Berman's daily podcast for Mediaweek, he goes over each day's TV ratings, talks about what they mean, and explores issues concerning TV. This podcast can be a little long and talky sometimes, but it's always informative.

Creative Screenwriting Podcast - Jeff Goldsmith does great interviews with some of today's top screenwriters like Brian Helgeland, Jody Hill, Christopher Hampton...

Filmspotting - To be fair, I don't actually listen to this movie review podcast by Adam Kempenaar and Matty Robinson all that often. But my friend Rick swears by it, and the few times I've listened, I've really enjoyed it.

On the Page - Screenwriting teacher Pilar Alessandra's podcast covers everything from writing tips and advice to interviews with actual writers. (My friend Jen loves this podcast...)

And, of course, my ABSOLUE FAVORITE PODCAST OF ALL TIME... it's not Hollywood-related, but it is-- as far as I'm concerned-- the BEST NEW MUSIC PODCAST OUT THERE...

Bands Under the Radar - Featuring unsigned bands and indie artists, Kami Knake used to book for the Viper Room before moving to Nashville, and I swear-- she has some of the best ears for new music out there! Thanks to her, I discovered the Pierces, the Pipettes, maybe even the Fratellis. I live for this podcast... check it out!

I'm always on the lookout for other great podcasts, so if you have some favorites, please post below and let me know! Especially if you know of great new music podcasts... I'm always in need of great new music!

The Future of TV: CBS vs. NBC

Chad — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:11:14 GMT

Hey, all--

Just wanted to point out a great article from Brian Steinberg in this morning's Ad Age... he does a nice job of pointing out how NBC (which is seemingly in a deadly tailspin) and CBS are both programming their air in vastly different ways-- and how their two strategies reflect the seismic shifts going on across television.

Click HERE for "NBC, CBS Have Conflicting Visions of Broadcast Future." (Also, I'm linking to TVWeek's pickup of the article, since Ad Age usually takes their pieces down after a day or two.) (Damn those businesses that actually want to get paid for their services!)

More on Ageism in Hollywood...

Chad — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:59:57 GMT

Some of you may remember, a few weeks back when loyal reader Jon sent in a question and we had an ongoing discussion about ageism.

Well, thanks to Jon for sending in "What Hollywood Is Not Letting You See," a recent piece from Robert Elisberg in The Huffington Post.

It's a great piece... click HERE to check it out!

Storywise: All Your Favorite Writers... In Their Own Words!

Chad — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:40:15 GMT

Hey, folks--

This is gonna sound like shameless promotion, and maybe it is-- especially considering Jen Grisanti is a friend of mine-- but this is a great new resource that you should all check out.

Jen, who used to run current programming at Spelling TV and is now coaching countless of top-notch writers and directors through Jen Grisanti Consultancy, has launched Storywise... a monthly periodic podcast of interviews with A-list screenwriters and TV writers.

Her first episode features an awesome interview with TV writer and executive producer Glen Mazzara (The Shield, Life, Crash, Hawthorne), and her latest interview is with feature writer Jason Filardi (Bringing Down the House, 17 Again).

If you love hearing writers talk about their own paths, definitely check this out!

Also-- as a lot of you know-- I'm a HUGE proponent of podcasts... I'm always shocked that they haven't become more mainstream, especially since they're downloadable, making them portable enough to listen to in your car, at the gym, as you're cooking dinner-- wherever you want!

Anyway, for writers looking to learn from other writers' experiences, Storywise a great way to get wonderful advice right from the source!

Click HERE to check it out...

35 Tips on Indie Filmmaking... According to Nikki Finke & Friends

Chad — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:48:10 GMT

At last weekend's Producers Guild/Produced By conference, a Deadline Hollywood Daily stringer compiled a list of 35 tips on producing indie films, from the mouths of folks like RJ Cutler, Roger Corman, Lawrence Bender, and a host of great execs, producers, and agents.

Click HERE to check it out!

Melissa Scrivner: From Writers Assistant to TV Writers Room (Courtesy of HWAS)

Chad — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:57:42 GMT

Hey, TV writers--

The good folks over at the Hollywood Writers Office Assistants Social (HWAS) have put up another great interview, this time with a good friend of mine... Melissa Scrivner, who was a writer last year on NBC's tragically under-appreciated cop show, Life. For those of you fighting to get into a writers room, it's an interesting read... Melissa talks openly about how she got into the room... what she learned... how to play your cards.

Click HERE to take a look!

Are Emmy's Writing Awards Inaccurate?

Chad — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:31:29 GMT

Hey, guys-- just wanted to let you all know about a piece I have in today's issue of Variety about the Emmy's "Outstanding Writing" category... and whether or not it's fair and accurate. Take a look... and lemme know if you think the Emmys' process is fair, accurate, or dead-on!

Click HERE to read...