Created By--: Inside the Minds of TV's Top Show Creators

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Silman-James Press, 2005 - Biography & Autobiography - 215 pages
As entertaining as it is enlightening, Created by presents a stellar cast of 21 show creators who candidly talk about writing and selling hit television series: J.J. Abrams (Alias, Lost); Alan Ball (Six Feet Under); Yvette Lee Bowser (Living Single, Half & Half); Mark Brazill (That '70s Show); Ilene Chaiken (The L Word); Larry David (Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm); Tom Fontana (Oz); Tracy Gamble (8 Simple Rules); Dave Hackel (Becker); Barbara Hall (Joan of Arcadia); Brenda Hampton (7th Heaven, Fat Actress); Bill Lawrence (Scrubs); Dennis Leoni (Resurrection Blvd.); Max Mutchnick and David Kohan (Will & Grace); Tracy Newman and Jonathan Stark (According to Jim); Josh Schwartz (The O.C.); Shawn Ryan (The Shield); Amy Sherman-Palladino (Gilmore Girls); Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel). They discuss influences: writing spec scripts; first jobs in TV; getting an agent; mentors; being staffed as a writer; the pitch; writing a pilot; putting yourself in the characters you create; rewriting; producing a pilot; marketing; hiring a writing staff; making a show last; TV writing vs. film writing; drama vs. sitcom; cable vs. network TV; what show creators look for in a writer; writers block; luck and much more. This is a lively, well-written must-have book for all screenwriters and television writers -- wannabes, novices, and professionals -- as well as all avid TV fans.

From inside the book

Contents

Early TV Influences
46
Education
61
Getting an Agent
76
Copyright

10 other sections not shown

Common terms and phrases

About the author (2005)

Steven Priggé was initially introduced to series television when he worked as an assistant on the hit ABC-TV sitcom Spin City, starring Michael J. Fox. Priggé is the author of the book Movie Moguls Speak, a collection of interviews with some of the most influential movie producers of our time. He also writes freelance articles for such popular magazines as MovieMaker and Written By (the official magazine of the Writers Guild of America, West). Priggé lives in New York City.

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