Here’s a holdover question that is apropos for the holiday season. From Susan:I have a good friend who writes for a tv show. What's a good gift to get for a tv writer, especially one who's out of work right now (between seasons, hoping to get picked up for next season) and is working on her own projects for a while? I got her a book on writing once that I love ("Bird by Bird" by Anne Lamott) but it didn't go over well - she said she doesn't really like to read writing books, since she already has her own process that works well for her. Any hints or help?
Yeah, writers generally don’t take well to writing/motivation books. PAY THEM! That’s all the damn motivation they need.
You can’t get them clothes because most of their wardrobe comes from show jacke
ts and shirts. I still get compliments on my IT’S ALL RELATIVE fleece.I polled a number of writers and this seemed to be the general consensus.
Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve, 20 years old bourbon.
BUT...
If you want to really do something for writers, the WGA Library, which is an amazing resource of scripts and Hollywood literary history could use your help in expanding. Your tax deductible donation will go a long way to preserving our television and film history. You can even find scripts David Isaacs and I wrote. Here's where you can go to help. Thanks much.
So in other words gift a writer a write off. I've been to the WGA Library, it was indeed amazing. You can read leather bound copies of Green Acres, Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction scripts in the rural comedy section. You can sit around with friends and read Room 222 scripts and discuss whether it was a comedy or a drama. They let you read West Wing scripts but only if you do it while walking through 4 doors, down a hallway and into an oval office.
ReplyDeleteThe best item on display is a Rosanne script from season 3 with actual notes from Barr. Flip through and you'll see "this is shit!", "you idiots can't write shit!", "what the fuck is this shit?", and "if I don't see an improvement by noon you assholes are out the fucking door and I'll write it myself!", all in Barr's original handwriting. Priceless!
Ken if I don't see you Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Getting your hands on Pappy van Winkle is incredibly hard.
ReplyDeleteMy son-in-law gets me a bottle of the 15yo every year for Christmas, and I shudder to think what he has to go through to get it.
I really liked "It's All Relative".
ReplyDeleteHope writers of 2 broke girls gift their script one day to WGA. Despite what "some" think of it. I like their work.
ReplyDeleteHere's an amsuing video about the art of the perfectly impersonal Christmas gift:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUkWq58Sx9o
Here's an amusing video about the art of the perfectly impersonal Christmas gift:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUkWq58Sx9o
Speaking as a professional writer...
ReplyDelete....writers are just like other people. They like music, movies, household items, other stuff. Fancy fountain pens go over well with some of my writer friends.
No booze or nuts for me, though, please. :)
wg
What a recource! Is is available online as well? I could get past page one on the scripts.
ReplyDeleteI want background work on Cheers, if you can arrange it, especially since I hear it may be cancelled soon.
ReplyDelete