Unknown starts us off. Again, PLEASE, leave your name.
For young aspiring writers how does it look to submit materials that may not be rated "PG". Are they judged differently in a story's "marketability", in festivals or, when looking for representation? I am assuming all networks have different needs, Broadcast, Cable, Premium & Streaming.
Should we write our pilots clean and mature them later or is it easier to remove language/nudity/violence from the script if a cleaner network/studio wanted to pick it up?
I'm playing around with a sitcom idea and want to know if this is something to consider before I start working.
Thank you in advance!
I wouldn’t worry about language or content these days with pilots. Agents and studios and producers are much more lenient. They're more concerned with finding "fresh voices."
If your pilot is expressly for a broadcast network, yes, keep it clean. Or if you write a spec for a current broadcast network show like MOM, or YOUNG SHELDON – adhere to network standards & practices.
But since young writers are encouraged to be more edgy and out-there with their spec pilots, feel free to drop a few F-bombs, show a breast, or blow someone’s head off.
Best of luck to you.
Matt wonders:
Why do script slug-lines today indicate “day 1”, “day 2” and so forth? I don’t see them in older scripts (MTM, Bob Newhart, MASH) When (and why) did this become a thing?
I don’t know when it started but the production team finds it very helpful. Wardrobe departments in particular. They can see at a glance when wardrobe changes will be necessary.
Before those slug lines were added, I can’t tell you how many times when I was directing, a wardrobe person would ask, “Is this the same day? Is this the next night?” etc.
Brian Phillips asks:
If you and David Isaacs got a writing assignment and it HAD to be a drama, which show would you submit a script to?
I can’t speak for David, but I can tell you mine. BETTER CALL SAUL and THE GOOD FIGHT would be my top two choices of shows currently on the air.
Are they still making GUNSMOKE? I wouldn’t mind writing one of those.
And finally, from Dave:
Apart from Natalie (Wood), was there any other celebrity who you wanted to meet?
I always wanted to meet Cary Grant. I used to see him at Dodger Stadium but never actually met him. Otherwise, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Phil Silvers, Elizabeth Montgomery, Nat Hiken (writer of the PHIL SILVERS SHOW), Grace Kelly, Karen Carpenter, Walt Disney, Bill Cullen, Noel Coward, Preston Sturges, Monet, Elvis, and Frank Sinatra. Yes, those are all now dearly departed (and you probably haven't heard of most of them) but you asked in the past tense.
There’s still a chance I could meet Angie Dickinson.
What’s your Friday Question?
from By Ken Levine
Comments
Post a Comment