tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post3104062511273889532..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: At some point you've got to be a WRITERBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-16486877649924995932014-06-26T17:18:41.804-07:002014-06-26T17:18:41.804-07:00Those 10 minutes of animation cost $1 million? How...Those 10 minutes of animation cost $1 million? How is that possible? <br /><br />I can see why this wasn't picked up. It was funny, but it didn't have any story whatsoever. It was almost like a (funny) episode of Beavis and Butthead (which is somewhat ironic given that it also resembles King of the Hill in terms of visuals and setup).<br /><br />Wow. $1 million.Johnny Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13302545167970532080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-59530593489341953962014-06-26T03:03:14.475-07:002014-06-26T03:03:14.475-07:00Friday Question - I recently watched "Mr. Bir...Friday Question - I recently watched "Mr. Birchum", Adam Carollas rejected animated pilot about a cranky wood-shop teacher, at only 10 minutes it really packs a punch, it's "watched two times in a row without checking my phone" sort of good, well, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWszPQV-OKo" rel="nofollow">see for yourself on YouTube</a>. <br /><br />The question is what happenes to those 90% of pilots that are filmed but are never picked up, are they really just shelved? The mentioned "Mr. Birchum" cost FOX a million to do! They can't be just flushing millions and millions down the drain?<br /><br />Are pilots ever revisited, or sold back to the creators or whatever...<br /><br /><br /><br />And now back to watching my German bootleg copies of "Almost Perfect", which was translated to "Two singles in a double bed".<br />Title pic: <a href="http://justpic.info/images/af35/417_head.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://justpic.info/images/af35/417_head.jpg</a><br /><br />Speaking of, will the remaining four episodes of Big Wave Dave's ever see the light of day? Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-83535624519796767952014-06-25T19:19:34.543-07:002014-06-25T19:19:34.543-07:00I am what they call an "emerging TV writer&qu... I am what they call an "emerging TV writer". I have given EXTENSIVE notes and plot points to other paid TV writers on their pilots. For free. I help as much as I can in hopes that their pilots can go to series and then I'll be hired on their staff. I thought everyone did this. Where do you draw the line? Isn't it normal to have your friends/writers group/significant other read your work and give feedback before you turn it in? what about all these paid consultants out there? great post. I really enjoy your blog and I'm so glad you brought this up. thank you!Beth Riversnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-14910049084392791222014-06-25T16:08:12.630-07:002014-06-25T16:08:12.630-07:00"...pilot writers are well compensated.
And ...<i>"...pilot writers are well compensated. <br />And if their pilot gets on the air and becomes a hit they see weekly “created by” royalties and often own a piece of the show in syndication."</i><br /><br />Unless it is animated.* <br /><br />Animated series' pilot writers get paid the same one-time low script fee as they do for any other animated series' script, and never see another penny.**<br /><br />*for anywhere but Fox primetime<br />**same as for any other animated series' scriptBut I'm Not Bitternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-52999901027030334132014-06-25T13:44:43.944-07:002014-06-25T13:44:43.944-07:00That's a brutal story, Ken. I believe you'...That's a brutal story, Ken. I believe you've written before about how the network intrudes even to selecting wardrobe and props. <br /><br />Do you at some point feel like just a pair of hands? Is the situation likely to improve when old habits give way to new practices that then propagate through the industry?<br /><br />I don't know how it could get worse, but could it?Gerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12361836428885324631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-13870421639150552882014-06-25T13:08:29.542-07:002014-06-25T13:08:29.542-07:00Well said, Ken (of course). I love your attitude a...Well said, Ken (of course). I love your attitude and courage to speak up about doing "the write thing."Dana Michaelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-10908945650127505582014-06-25T12:28:50.906-07:002014-06-25T12:28:50.906-07:00Yeesh, this is lame. It's one thing to help a ...Yeesh, this is lame. It's one thing to help a buddy out in a squeeze, it's entirely another to become a member of their unpaid, unsung staff.<br /><br />It's actually pretty annoying that studios managed to sidestep footing the bill in the first place, when there WAS a genuine need for consultants.<br /><br />Side note: If anyone hasn't heard of DIFFICULT MEN, the recent book about the golden era of TV drama that we're living in, I HIGHLY suggest giving it a go. I'm only 50% through at the moment, but already I'm convinced it's one of the best books I've read this year. In fact, it might be one of the best books I've ever read about anything.<br /><br />That's lofty praise, I know, but the author does a fantastic job of revealing the complex dynamics behind the explosion of high quality drama we've witnessed over the past decade or so. As well as TV production itself, the personalities behind this revolution, as well as offering thoughtful insight into shows themselves (The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, The Wire, Breaking Bad, Mad Men, etc. etc.).<br /><br />Going in I thought it was going to be a Peter Biskind style muck-fest, but instead it's a serious piece of engaging journalism with no small amount of integrity. The author (Brett Martin) manages to reveal, explore, and most importantly, offer understanding, into the darkest recesses of the big showrunner's personalities. Some of these characters are unquestionably VERY difficult people, but, much like the shows this book centers on, there are no simple heroes and villains, just a forthright and revealing expose of a very interesting era in television, spearheaded by some very complicated people.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Difficult-Men-Creative-Revolution-Sopranos/dp/1594204195" rel="nofollow">Difficult Men: Behind the Scenes of a Creative Revolution</a><br /><br />And no, I'm not connected with this book in any way :)<br /><br />Johnny Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13302545167970532080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-76408229888974125182014-06-25T11:58:24.672-07:002014-06-25T11:58:24.672-07:00It is near impossible to fit as much content as yo...It is near impossible to fit as much content as you can into 21 minutes worth of show, and have it all flow smoothly and make sense... I can't imagine how difficult it would be now that half-hour programs are reportedly going to be reduced now to 17-19 minutes.EJoseph Scarbroughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06851086150240380366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-7340122226823909312014-06-25T10:47:39.931-07:002014-06-25T10:47:39.931-07:00Narcissists are happy to take credit for someone e...Narcissists are happy to take credit for someone else's work. I think they're cheating not only the person who did the actual work but themselves as well. But they don't care.Ryan Leonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17522134092362039529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-24861931006440753512014-06-25T09:40:14.492-07:002014-06-25T09:40:14.492-07:00Friday Question--Have you ever directed a hald hou...Friday Question--Have you ever directed a hald hour comedy that did not involve a studio audience and multi cameras? It seems to be popular right now, with Modern Family, The Middle, and The Goldbergs, to name 3. ThanksRodnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-1353437807271044162014-06-25T08:16:29.530-07:002014-06-25T08:16:29.530-07:00I'm always impressed by the "art of the p...I'm always impressed by the "art of the pilot." Shows I've later enjoyed have had pilots I didn't (SEINFELD is one example), but my favorite shows have had amazing pilots (TAXI, CHEERS, FRASIER, FRIENDS to name but a few).<br /><br />CHEERS even had two great pilots in a way. The first Kirstie Alley episode feels like the start of a new series -- in fact, Sam's failed relationship that prompted him to sell the bar offscreen could all just be backstory. The same wirh FRASIER. You can really come into it without ever gaving seen an episode of CHEERS. Stephen Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03670422634319094941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-25242331233650310792014-06-25T07:43:59.736-07:002014-06-25T07:43:59.736-07:00I see a similar phenomenon with novelists, where t...I see a similar phenomenon with novelists, where the current trend is to pay for an editor before even sending the book off to an agent. At some point a writer has to send out his or her best effort. It's good enough, or it isn't. Get over it.Dana Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01350344882342624735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-34040190245189834552014-06-25T06:58:35.445-07:002014-06-25T06:58:35.445-07:00Where's the big screen TV you promised me for ...Where's the big screen TV you promised me for polishing up your first draft of this blog?RockGolfnoreply@blogger.com