Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Writer!
You want to be a Writer?
You must be MAD!!
Just started watching Mad Men. OMG!! (I know, I'm late to the party)
The world created by Matthew Weiner and company is so specific, so nuanced, the dialogue so rich and funny, a friend said to me "their subtext has subtext." Every scene rife with conflict, both internal and external.
It's part of what is being referred to as the new Golden Age of Television. Have you seen what's out there lately? Breaking Bad, Game Of Thrones, The Good Wife, True Blood, Modern Family, The Walking Dead, Boardwalk Empire, True Detective, I could go on and on, the writing on these shows is PHENOMENAL. You want to compete with those guys?? You must be MAD, CRAZY, CRAY-CRAY!
But WE CAN. Here's how. There was a time not that long ago where the average Joe The Writer had no access to information. We are in a spectacular time where anything we wish to learn or experience is at our finger tips. Blogs, podcasts, seminars, books, there is a TV show called "The Writers Room" where writers from our favorite shows talk about their writing process.
Before you begin this mad journey, or even while you're in the middle of it, you'll need resources. Information is POWER.
Here are some of my favorites:
1. Script Notes - A podcast from John August and Craig Mazin, 2 WORKING screenwriters, (look up their credits you'll be impressed) this is perspective on the life of a screenwriter that you won't find anywhere else. Unions, contracts, representation, money and craft, craft, craft! These two guys pull no punches, they tell the unvarnished truth about the industry, some of it is hard to hear, but you must if you're serious about being a writer.
2. Nerdist Writers Panel - A podcast from Ben Blacker, a working TV writer. A collection of round table and one on one discussions with writers who are working on the TV shows we are watching right now. Smart, funny and very informative.
3. On The Page - A podcast from Pilar Alessandra. Pilar is a script consultant and screenwriting teacher. She's read probably thousands of scripts, so she knows her stuff about the craft of screenwriting. She's smart, funny and very down to earth.
I'm always looking to learn more, do you have any recommendations for me? Send them to redwallproductions@gmail.com.
Writers write, but they should also read!
A link to TV scripts and screenplays: https://sites.google.com/site/tvwriting/home
Happy Writing!
Craig