tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post5122415237750055894..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Advice for young writersBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-25850361535966352072015-06-18T13:35:55.211-07:002015-06-18T13:35:55.211-07:00I am in the process of writing a episode of a sitc...I am in the process of writing a episode of a sitcom I am creating. (The pilot has not been written yet.) The show I am creating has a three act structure. For the episode I am writing I have finished act 1. I know how I want act 3 to go but I am viciously stuck on act 2. So I suppose I have two questions for you.<br /><br />1.) What do you do when you hit a roadblock mid episode?<br /><br />2.) How do you pitch a new sitcom to a show?<br /><br /><br />Thank you for your time,<br /><br />Sean Ryan McBrideSean Ryan McBridehttp://www.facebook.com/seanryanmcbridenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-85345393536201766112013-10-14T06:36:18.587-07:002013-10-14T06:36:18.587-07:00Any thoughts on the (presumably commerce-instigate...Any thoughts on the (presumably commerce-instigated) four-act structure being employed by Fox? More specifically: If a two-act follows the problem-break-resolution format, and a three-act follows the problem-break-complication-break-resolution format, what's expected of each act when broken into fourths? Thanks!Matt Paynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18437951534983446986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-57648105377797759212012-06-14T10:00:57.446-07:002012-06-14T10:00:57.446-07:00Great stuff! Thanks, Ken!Great stuff! Thanks, Ken!Johnny Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07157630082355224244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-70378747245561438822012-06-14T09:53:42.152-07:002012-06-14T09:53:42.152-07:00Good diagram of the three act cycle at http://www....Good diagram of the three act cycle at http://www.clickok.co.uk/issues.html#Q41bAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-19761334642646012972012-06-14T00:45:08.798-07:002012-06-14T00:45:08.798-07:00Breadbaker,
I didn't see the play but if firs...Breadbaker,<br /><br />I didn't see the play but if first base is occupied with less than two outs Ackley is automatically out. No throw is necessary to first base. The runners move up on either a passed ball or wild pitch. <br /><br />If that's not what happened, what did?By Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-52438236071230303822012-06-13T19:28:58.834-07:002012-06-13T19:28:58.834-07:00Ken, instead of having people out of the area send...Ken, instead of having people out of the area send you their books, have them request book plates.<br /><br />Saves on postage and saves your back carrying all those books!Dave Creeknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-76842166855144562672012-06-13T17:44:29.834-07:002012-06-13T17:44:29.834-07:00Hey Ken -- what about webseries? We're doing ...Hey Ken -- what about webseries? We're doing one and the episodes are 5 minutes long. We don't think in acts so much as in "beginning, middle, and end." We start with the inciting incident/problem on the first page, lay on the complications, then resolve it on the last page. But the last page also adds a hint of further new problems, so it leads into the next episode. (If you'd like to see the pitch for our show -- here is the kickstarter page for our show "Girl Powerless": http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1990443869/girl-powerless-the-web-series <br />(I hope it's ok to link to that. If not -- sorry about that!)<br /><br />-- David Willis (screenwriter, and former audience warmup guy for "Frasier")David Willishttp://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1990443869/girl-powerless-the-web-seriesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-29933873994607646462012-06-13T15:49:58.769-07:002012-06-13T15:49:58.769-07:00I think you should also have plotted, not for a sp...I think you should also have plotted, not for a spec, but for a pilot, something that goes from A to THE END OF THE SEASON to THE END OF SEASON SIX and then THE MOVIE. Because it is a series and not a collection of short films.<br /> I know you complained about how execs would ask about where you'd want to be in season six, but I think this question makes sense, because as a viewer, I want a long story arc that keeps me going from episode to episode even though that main arc is not adressed directly in every episode. There has good to be a long road to go down, and then you go slowly and turn and twist all the way it works and, hopefully, don't just land at the end of season one again like Lost did. It was still always awesome though.thesamechrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-30725872986108894672012-06-13T13:34:41.545-07:002012-06-13T13:34:41.545-07:00Friday question, baseball-related:
Ninth innning,...Friday question, baseball-related:<br /><br />Ninth innning, one out, 5-3 Padres, Kawasaki on third, Ichiro on first, Ackley swings and misses at strike three in the dirt. Kawasaki scores, Ichiro moves up to second. Ackley runs to first and there's no throw. What result? Your buddy Dave Sims blew this big time last night, I'm afraid.Breadbakernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-38354494254240820412012-06-13T11:51:21.399-07:002012-06-13T11:51:21.399-07:00Next time you're in Seattle maybe you could do...Next time you're in Seattle maybe you could do an autograph 'party'...and bring along some of the stars of your book? Maybe Ann Jillian and Bailey Quarters, I mean, Jan Smithers? But careful where you park, I don't want your junkyard car blocking my fucking driveway!Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16300021275090146448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-53206500565196444662012-06-13T11:47:26.396-07:002012-06-13T11:47:26.396-07:00Will you autograph my Kindle?Will you autograph my Kindle?Martin Engraffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-10403997832575971342012-06-13T10:26:41.355-07:002012-06-13T10:26:41.355-07:00Coincidentally, I was listening last night to the ...Coincidentally, I was listening last night to the Nerdist Writer's Panel (in which you participated to great funny effect) and this sort of goes along with examples that you and the other writers gave about learning how to craft a script: follow the template of the show. Write out the scripts to the episodes until you see the patterns.<br /><br />Raymond Chandler supposedly used the same method when learning to write detective stories.Charles H. Bryannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-71639704721601629102012-06-13T09:03:24.966-07:002012-06-13T09:03:24.966-07:00Call me, Jeff. I'll arrange it. I'm also...Call me, Jeff. I'll arrange it. I'm also going to hopefully have a book sigining in LA so anyone in the area can bring their books and I will sign them. <br /><br />And I'm trying to figure a way so people out of the area can mail them to me and I can autograph and send them back.<br /><br />Thanks again to everyone who bought my book.By Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-51034116777862576622012-06-13T08:37:38.168-07:002012-06-13T08:37:38.168-07:00ken - how can i get you to autograph your new book...ken - how can i get you to autograph your new book?jeff felznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-10393328432441242552012-06-13T08:33:25.162-07:002012-06-13T08:33:25.162-07:00Multi cam - two acts
Single cam - three acts
no?...Multi cam - two acts<br /><br />Single cam - three acts<br /><br />no?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-65048377642378416242012-06-13T08:04:54.238-07:002012-06-13T08:04:54.238-07:00Actually, I like it when you can't find an &qu...Actually, I like it when you can't find an "appropriate photo". Natalie Wood died when I was about 13 and her career was mostly off my radar. Truly lovely lady... today's pic is especially striking.Marknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-72821144957373484532012-06-13T06:15:37.691-07:002012-06-13T06:15:37.691-07:00Your call to "young writers" inspired th...Your call to "young writers" inspired this Friday question: is there any hope for a not-so-young writer trying to break into this business?Susannoreply@blogger.com