tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post4701141485566617200..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Staffing seasonBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-10239832381321327752007-06-07T23:40:00.000-07:002007-06-07T23:40:00.000-07:00Whoa! I so didn't think about the poisoned cookie...Whoa! I so didn't think about the poisoned cookies to staff idea. But some people in my writers group are staffed, so they could bring some of that back to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-68475266545735555462007-06-07T22:23:00.000-07:002007-06-07T22:23:00.000-07:00Okay, here's my situation. This is my first staff...Okay, here's my situation. This is my first staffing season ... well, first with an agent, anyway. I had a round of meetings with studio execs, which all went well. I think they recommended me to show runners and I know my agent sent out scripts. No meetings yet. I had more or less given up hope of getting a staff job until I read this. I also had an offer for a teaching job for the fall, which my agent recommended I should take. He also said how there's just not much out there for comedy writers at the moment. This sure sounds like I'm out of luck.<BR/><BR/>The question then, if nothing does happen, what's the next step? Write a feature? A pilot? Send out anonymous poisoned cookies to writers who already have staff jobs?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-44199302032675427432007-06-07T17:40:00.000-07:002007-06-07T17:40:00.000-07:00jimmy_rabbit, that's funny. My Office script is "D...jimmy_rabbit, that's funny. My Office script is "Dwight and Jim do Pam". Script, fantasy, whatever.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-40511606508225435012007-06-07T16:50:00.000-07:002007-06-07T16:50:00.000-07:00Unfortunately, I've been squandering my writing ti...Unfortunately, I've been squandering my writing time on the pile of well-polished feature specs. But then again, I got into the WB fellowship many moons ago on a Night Court script that I frantically wrote a few hours before the midnight postmark deadline... so lightning could strike twice...Dwaconhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07544514023626682777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-59818332602376528562007-06-07T15:16:00.000-07:002007-06-07T15:16:00.000-07:00"The one restriction I have re my blog is that I w...<I>"The one restriction I have re my blog is that I won't read any spec scripts. If I said yes to one I'd get 500. I'm happy to offer online advice (such that it is) and encouragement but I'm afraid I can't read specs.<BR/><BR/>Sorry. Hope you understand."</I><BR/><BR/>You would have been disappointed if I hadn't at least asked. <BR/><BR/>NOW I can say I exhausted all my contacts.writercaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04639445307902987802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-20977304707644456352007-06-07T14:56:00.000-07:002007-06-07T14:56:00.000-07:00Ken,After reading the above posts, I see a whole l...Ken,<BR/><BR/>After reading the above posts, I see a whole lot of prospective students for next year's "THE SITCOM ROOM".... You must be licking your chops (not pork, obviously)...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-85124653868586934502007-06-07T14:17:00.000-07:002007-06-07T14:17:00.000-07:00Ken,This may be a little out of your area of exper...Ken,<BR/><BR/>This may be a little out of your area of expertise since you've been doing this professionally for longer than I've been alive, but how do you query an agent with a spec TV script?<BR/><BR/>I've done this many, MANY times with spec screenplays -- is it the same process?<BR/><BR/>"Dear So-and-So,<BR/><BR/>I am currently seeking representation for my OFFICE spec script, titled 'Jim and Pam Do Dwight.'<BR/><BR/>[Logline here... *shudder*]<BR/><BR/>[Credentials, if any.] Look forward to hearing from you, blah blah blah.<BR/><BR/>Respectfully,<BR/>Desperate Writer"<BR/><BR/>Or is there some other protocol?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-29639817605394221702007-06-07T12:37:00.000-07:002007-06-07T12:37:00.000-07:00Ken, won't your agent get mad at you for undermini...Ken, won't your agent get mad at you for undermining their job?<BR/><BR/>ZAKAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-85620017364814025952007-06-07T12:26:00.000-07:002007-06-07T12:26:00.000-07:00If in fact shows are already staffed, which they m...If in fact shows are already staffed, which they may well be, then they've accelerated the process a little. And perhaps because of the possible writers strike they have. Hey, what do I know? I'm blogging, not staffing.<BR/><BR/>Obviously, the intent of this post was not to provide false hope, but be more of a wake-up call. <BR/><BR/>Hopefully, if you have a spec it'll already be in.By Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-28052801012833032182007-06-07T11:59:00.000-07:002007-06-07T11:59:00.000-07:00While I'm eternally grateful for the advice and hu...While I'm eternally grateful for the advice and humor offered on this here blog, as a baby writer who's been hustling for a little over a month now, I can confidently say that if you're sending your stuff out now you've missed the boat. I can't speak to 1/2 hours but every hour long where I have a connection is staffed and a week or more into writing.Beckylooohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06429178010101718105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-21294197973920588152007-06-07T11:28:00.000-07:002007-06-07T11:28:00.000-07:00Ken:I've been subscribed to your blog for less tha...Ken:<BR/><BR/>I've been subscribed to your blog for less than a month, at the suggestion of Mo Ryan, so this may be a bit on the basic side: How do I get (or assemble) a list of possible prospects for scriptural inundation?<BR/><BR/>Also, my spec script is an original pilot. Is that acceptable? If so, is it _really_ acceptable? Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-29778606298704723492007-06-07T11:04:00.000-07:002007-06-07T11:04:00.000-07:00"You’re a writer. Get used to humiliation."Somehow...<I>"You’re a writer. Get used to humiliation."</I><BR/><BR/>Somehow this just makes me reach for the Tums...Ianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16688301329863871296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-61810185955638345662007-06-07T10:17:00.000-07:002007-06-07T10:17:00.000-07:00Is that a picture of Marlyn Manson?Is that a picture of Marlyn Manson?lonerhinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07565454336267041334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-37861649051374719872007-06-07T10:04:00.000-07:002007-06-07T10:04:00.000-07:00The one restriction I have re my blog is that I wo...The one restriction I have re my blog is that I won't read any spec scripts. If I said yes to one I'd get 500. I'm happy to offer online advice (such that it is) and encouragement but I'm afraid I can't read specs.<BR/><BR/>Sorry. Hope you understand.By Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-19316997132256147722007-06-07T08:58:00.000-07:002007-06-07T08:58:00.000-07:00All together now:I should put you away where you c...All together now:<BR/><BR/>I should put you away where you can't hurt and maim us<BR/><BR/>But this is LA and you're rich and famous...Jaded and Cynicalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02634516059161327338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-20806580661700669222007-06-07T08:57:00.000-07:002007-06-07T08:57:00.000-07:00So Ken,Do you count as "any connection?" If so, I ...So Ken,<BR/><BR/>Do you count as "any connection?" If so, I have an <I>It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia</I> Spec with your name on it.<BR/><BR/>Cheers.writercaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04639445307902987802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-6960513575021415652007-06-07T08:48:00.000-07:002007-06-07T08:48:00.000-07:00Sounds hectic. Glad I'm not in TV. I can't wrap ...Sounds hectic. Glad I'm not in TV. I can't wrap my head around putting all your effort into something (in this case, a TV spec) that you know for a fact will never be published or produced.<BR/><BR/>I mean, I SUSPECT nothing I write will ever be published or produced, but there's at least a modicum of hope.Dante Kleinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15352526035841213773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-61286869190918495642007-06-07T07:58:00.000-07:002007-06-07T07:58:00.000-07:00Wow, sounds super easy, Ken. No wonder everyone sa...Wow, sounds super easy, Ken. No wonder everyone says you have to live in L.A. to break in. From out here in the boonies, it seems as likely as Paris Hilton serving more than 72 hours in the county slammer. (Yeah, she's out this morning.)<BR/><BR/>The reason baby writers are so young is not so much age discrimination as it is the ability to tolerate poverty until hunger and a day job intervene. Or until your friends boot you off their couch and cut off your Ramen Noodles addiction and order you to stop siphoning gas for your Jeep and hide the cable to their laser jet printer. Fucking Hollywood friends: I washed your dishes and your spoiled dog Stella for six months, doesn't that count for something?? If you're reading this, you're dead to me! (Could you look under your couch - I think I'm missing my Ralph's discount card.)Richard Cooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04094016831874148306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-26383032428961162662007-06-07T07:28:00.000-07:002007-06-07T07:28:00.000-07:00Ken,Do you have to query first or is it okay to ju...Ken,<BR/><BR/>Do you have to query first or is it okay to just send the spec out directly?<BR/><BR/><BR/>LizAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-27467958048051013182007-06-07T06:23:00.000-07:002007-06-07T06:23:00.000-07:00Hey Ken, My manager told me that he couldn't reall...Hey Ken, <BR/><BR/>My manager told me that he couldn't really get any of my samples in to be considered because I'm in nyc and would need to be in LA for a bunch of meetings before anyone would consider hiring me . . . <BR/><BR/>Is it telling me the truth? You know I got mad-good samples . . .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-34218924982189705562007-06-07T02:54:00.000-07:002007-06-07T02:54:00.000-07:00Wow, Ken. I've never seen you so passionate! I'm i...Wow, Ken. I've never seen you so passionate! I'm imagining you on a podium rallying the geeks and freaks to unite and storm the walls!?https://www.blogger.com/profile/14647785358402031920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-75965766241141399112007-06-07T01:29:00.000-07:002007-06-07T01:29:00.000-07:00That's the beauty of a script. No one knows your ...That's the beauty of a script. No one knows your age just by looking at the cover page. If a producer is impressed by the work then usually age doesn't matter.By Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-64485430028062063072007-06-07T01:24:00.000-07:002007-06-07T01:24:00.000-07:00Is there an age that you think beginning writers s...Is there an age that you think beginning writers shouldn't cop to? I got the impression that agents don't like newbie comedy writers over 30 and that drama writers get a little more time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-63635013844295442642007-06-06T23:25:00.000-07:002007-06-06T23:25:00.000-07:00Baby writer positions, yes. The last couple of we...Baby writer positions, yes. The last couple of weeks have been staffing producer level. And usually they don't focus on entry level positions until those things are in place. How many openings there are? That I don't know. But if you've got a spec, get it around NOW.<BR/><BR/>And best of luck.By Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-38384019129925899632007-06-06T23:15:00.000-07:002007-06-06T23:15:00.000-07:00they still staffing?they still staffing?Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17991831542409883481noreply@blogger.com