Do You Have A TV Pilot Idea? Then This Is The Contest For You!

Here's an interesting contest for anyone with a television pilot idea. It's both a class and a contest wrapped into one. To enter, you download a free "TV Pilot Kit"  -- which I love and use when I write all my pilots. So even if you don't plan to enter this contest, you can go download this kit and use it. Very helpful tool for your writing toolbox. The kit includes Show Proposal, Character Relationship Map, and examples from the show How I Met Your Mother.  To enter you complete the kit, submit it and the top 50 semi-finalists win attendance to a live TV Pilot 101 webinar given by funny woman Ellen Sandler, who was an executive producer on Everybody Loves Raymond. Those 50 folks have a month to write their pilots and judges will narrow it down to 10 finalists. Those lucky 10 writers take part in the Story Specialist Mentoring Program where they'll polish their pilot and create a Show Bible. I'm telling you, this is a full-service contest. The final projects are judged by industry pros and a winner selected who will meet with industry folk and undoubtedly go on to great success. But, this contest is one of those that you can honestly say that there are no losers, because everybody learns so much along the way.  That's the point of it. I like that. If you want to find out more, here's a link.  Oh, and the deadline is June 15th... so get crackin'!

TED TUESDAY - The Politics of Fiction

I have love TED talks for years, and many of them expand my thinking about story, creativity, and the world. I'd like to share some with you.

Top 10 Reasons A 9 to 5 is Better Than Waiting Tables

The life of a starving artist is a romantic idea, but for many of us, the romance dies on the first of every month, when rent comes due. Some struggling filmmakers are able to get enough freelance jobs working on crews to support themselves, others wait tables, and others work the dreaded nine to five. But, why is it dreaded? Personally, I find a nine to five much more appealing than waiting tables (and I get far fewer homicidal urges sitting behind a desk). Here are the Top 10 Reasons A 9 to 5 is Better Than Waiting Tables:

10) Either way, you'll probably get yelled at every so often by some jerk. At least at an office, it'll be the same jerk(s) and you can learn to deal with him/her/them.

9) Very few offices make you roll silverware for $2.13 an hour before you can finally go home. I dare say none.

8) You won't have to clean up after strangers, knowing they left you a crappy tip. You probably won't have to clean up after strangers at all.

7) The hours are consistent. Will I be free for brunch three Sundays from now? Yes, I will. My schedule never changes.

Ms. In The Biz – Online Magazine for Women in Entertainment

Happy Friday, everyone! After one week off I’m back with another great resource.

Last month I had the pleasure of collaborating with Ms. In The Biz, writing a piece about my short film “Unsolved.” You can read that post here.

Ms. In The Biz is a great site not only for its information, great writing and the powerful female presence, but it’s also a place for ladies in entertainment to meet each other and support each other’s endeavors. Check it out for yourselves!

 

QUEUE THIS!

This week I decided to focus on films made by women who are known for their acting work-- instead of "Before They Were Famous" it's more like "Before, They Were Famous."  Luckily, most of them still do their fine work in front of the camera, so that statement isn't totally true, but I like punctuation jokes, so there you go. Betty Thomas is the only one from this list who seems to have hung up her acting hat for good once she started directing. In fact, most people of a certain generation or later rarely know her from her most famous stint as a sergeant on Hill Street Blues.  Thanks to the magic of the internet, however, you can remedy that deficiency- Netflix has HSB available on DVD, and Hulu has three seasons available for streaming. Sounds like we're all going to be busy, so let's get to work and QUEUE THIS!

Only You (dir Betty Thomas, 1992)  Netflix says: "Luckless dollhouse designer Cliff Godfrey (Andrew McCarthy) gets dropped by his fiancée just before their trip to Mexico, but when the dejected ex hits it off with gorgeous party girl Amanda Hughes (Kelly Preston) at a bar, he finds himself a new travel mate. In this romantic escapade, the vacation turns disastrous as Amanda plays peekaboo with her intentions, but travel agent Clare Enfield (Helen Hunt) proves a friendly face in a foreign land." There are a lot of Thomas' films on Netflix, but only two are available for streaming. How could I resist this one with Andrew McCarthy being so classic Andrew McCarthy-like-- and he plays a freaking dollhouse designer!! Also, it looks like this is Thomas' first feature. Netflix-- you are amazing! (btw, she did a bunch of tv directing before 1992.)

TED TUESDAY - Tales of Passion

I have love TED talks for years, and many of them expand my thinking about story, creativity, and the world. I'd like to share some with you.

Top 10 Best Written Series Created by Women

Yesterday, the WGA revealed its list of the 101 best written TV series ever. I searched the list for shows created by women. So, here are the Top 10 Best Written Series Created by Women:

10) Fawlty Towers, ranked #58 (tie), written by* John Cleese & Connie Booth

9) Sesame Street, ranked #56, Created by Joan Ganz Cooney

8) L.A. Law, ranked #55, Created by Steven Bochco & Terry LouiseFisher

7) The Wonder Years, ranked #54, Created by Neal Marlens & CarolBlack