Starting Your Television Writing Career: The Warner Bros. Television Writers Workshop Guide

by Abby Finer, Deborah Pearlman

Overview

In this essential guide, Abby Finer and Deborah Pearlman of the Warner Bros. Television Writers Workshop reveal insider tips and tricks aimed at paving the way to better scripts by new writers. The book focuses on all aspects of writing for television, from the definition and importance of sample material to what it takes to be a successful TV writer. In particular, the authors provide instruction on troubleshooting scripts-with a do and don't list. For the novice scriptwriter, they include advice on how to research, brainstorm ideas, choose the right show, as well as write a beat sheet and outline in order to achieve a polished draft. Filled with practical advice and up-to-elate industry information, each chapter provides strategies and insights that will jump-start a fledgling writing career toward success.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780815608318
Publisher:	Syracuse University Press
Publication date:	10/01/2004
Series:	Television and Popular Culture
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	254
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Abby Finer has worked in television for more than twelve years in scripted and nonscripted programming. She is an executive producer of the comedy cable series, Kenny vs. Spenny, which airs in the U.S. and Canada, and she currently resides in New York City. Deborah Pearlman has been working with television writers since I 989. She has worked for USA network and Bright Kauffman Crane (Friends) and has been director of the Warner Bros. Television Writers Workshop since 2001.

Table of Contents

	Acknowledgments	ix
	Introduction	xi
	Television Writing Today
1	So You Want to Be a TV Writer	3
2	Choosing the Right Show and Doing Research	10
3	It All Starts with Story	14
	The Situation Comedy
4	Starting the Writing Process	21
	The One-Hour Drama
5	Choosing the Right Show	35
6	Components of a Drama Script	40
	Polishing Your Script
7	My Script Is Finished - Now What?	51
	Sample Outlines and Scripts
8	Comedy Outline and Script: The George Lopez Show	57
9	Drama Outline and Script: Without a Trace	107
	Voices of Experience
10	Advice from Industry Insiders	201
	List of Television Terms	231
	Bibliography	237
	Resources	239