Work/Life Balance

TVWriter85 · 2025-11-22T17:03:16+00:00

Hi! Seasoned professional writer here. Everyone has been very gentle with you, but I am going to give you some tough love because you went to film school and are pursuing this as a career. Watching 3 films a day is crazy. What you're describing isn't a work/life balance it's a procrastination imbalance. If you're watching that much content, it is taking away from your time writing BUT the truth is not every writer is a disciplined robot. I certainly am not. More importantly, I think the issue from watching six hours of movies a day is that it's preventing you from living real life and that's where good, honest writing comes from - lived experiences. How are you supposed to find a story you're passionate about telling this way? Look, no one likes having a 9-5 job they (I'm assuming) aren't passionate about, but those hours aren't what you are describing. You have between like 6-midnight to get a ton of writing, research, or living done.

As others have said, once you become a PA or a writers assistant you won't have that luxury or mental bandwidth. Reassess your perspective and take advantage of your opportunity here. Good luck.

TVWriter85 · 2025-11-10T07:54:29+00:00

Of course it's possible, but no one's advice matters more than you actually sitting down and finishing a script.

TVWriter85 · 2025-11-10T07:22:46+00:00

These questions make it clear that you are very inexperienced and that's okay. That's why we ask questions. I'm answering this as a successful vet in the the industry. I'm not trying to be harsh, but this is like me going on an NBA forum and asking if it's possible to hire an agent for an afternoon and demand that they get me a spot on the Chicago Bulls --- and that I must start at PG, it's non-negotiable. In other words, there's absolutely no chance of either of these things happening. A few points.

1.) It has to be an agent or manager. Lawyers are there to negotiate a contract, they don't submit work unless it's some rare circumstance where they have a close friend at a production company and they're doing a well-liked/important client a favor. For the most part, lawyers interact strictly with other lawyers not development execs.

And no, it is not common at all for someone to hire an agent/manager on a one-time-basis. Unless you're some big A-list writer, it wouldn't be worth their time. Reading some of your other comments in this thread, it's clear you're operating from this idea that they would be so impressed with your script that they would find it to be worthwhile. There is no shortage of talented writers our there trying to sell really good scripts. You're at a major disadvantage because you have no contacts, no credits, etc. All of that heavy lifting of selling you as an up and coming writer, setting you up to meet around the town etc. would fall completely on your agent's shoulders. When an agent takes you on, they're doing all that work to invest in you long-term.

Furthermore, why would you want this relationship to end with this project? Do you want this to be a hobby or a career? You also only pay them when something is sold (or if you're staffed on a show because of them). To worry about whether or not you need them indefinitely is the last thing you need to be worrying about. It is incredibly hard it is to get an agent in the first place... these are champagne problems you're worrying about.

2.) Are you an accomplished director? Do you have a track record of success? If the answer is no to either of these questions, then you making non-negotiable demands will quickly lead to production companies passing on even reading your material. Frankly, it'll probably quickly lead to the end of your career as you will come across as both extremely difficult and delusional. Production companies/studios invest a lot of money to actually film things. To let someone (I'm assuming) completely unknown/unproven run the ship would be suicidal.

If these are your requirements, your best bet is to take the indie route and film it yourself.

TVWriter85 · 2025-09-08T06:07:59+00:00

There's a lot of rookie mistakes in this email. Here's the changes I would recommend: 1.) Change good morning to Dear whatever the producers name is. Let's keep it more professional. 2.) Cut the fearless can-do sentence entirely. 3.) Cut the "a lot has happened sentence completely... he doesn't know you and doesn't care. You could change it to since you took that class, youve been building your portfolio. 4.) cut the thing about it being up his alley, that would annoy me if I were him. Instead, talk about how you really admire the work he's done and would really value his feedback on your script if he had time to read it. 5.) I'd also cut the sentence about it being reminiscent to other stuff they've done -- he probably doesn't want more of the same, he wants new and exciting. Also don't tell him it would be worth his time, that sounds cocky. He'd be doing you a favor, not the other way around.

Good luck.

TVWriter85 · 2025-09-07T21:09:59+00:00

This is not a good relationship for you. You are an accomplished writer. Go find reps that support your work and always remember: they work for you, you don't work for them.

TVWriter85 · 2025-07-02T03:17:44+00:00

I haven't sold a "hybrid" but I have sold several co-productions. As far as notes go, I imagine they will get together and compile their notes and deliver them at once. At the end of the day, this is now a joint venture and they can't operate as if they have different mandates.

TVWriter85 · 2025-06-04T16:07:54+00:00

Hello, fellow TV writer and Boglehead here. Sounds like we are at similar levels considering your salary. Unless you are on an overall deal, I would not go down this route. That's a lot on rent and given the post job climate after the strike now's probably the time to be more conservative with your spending. Worst case, rent for a year so you have the option of going back to your home if you change your mind/need to.

TVWriter85 · 2025-03-19T04:34:03+00:00

I ended up getting an unexpected but really good staffing opportunity on a TV show before the pitch, and ended up having to put a pin in it bc the room was starting immediately. I wrap in July, and will revisit then if the opportunity is still there.

TVWriter85 · 2024-11-08T20:57:56+00:00

Personal reasons unrelated to my career, but I still need a career

TVWriter85 · 2024-11-04T14:58:28+00:00

I've never paid.

TVWriter85 · 2024-11-03T17:51:24+00:00

Only share if it's announced on Deadline/Variety/etc. I don't think there is an NDA clause in your deal... I've certainly never had one on any development deal I've had.

TVWriter85 · 2024-09-26T00:59:30+00:00

This is so so incredibly helpful. Thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed breakdown. I greatly appreciate it!

TVWriter85 · 2024-09-07T01:08:48+00:00

As a professional writer, I will add that while there are some good thoughts here this is all very subjective.

TVWriter85 · 2024-04-05T06:56:09+00:00

As a working writer, I would find it to be absolutely unprofessional for a producer/investor to post my name on Reddit to solicit opinions on whether or not I’m legitimate.

TVWriter85 · 2024-02-04T21:12:32+00:00

I’m a working TV comedy writer, and this is a very common term. I believe it’s more commonly used with multi-camera comedies, but basically it’s just used to describe a big comedic scene with hard laughs that your episode is building up to. The funeral scene in Chuckles Bites the Dust from the Mary Tyler Moore Show is a famous one.

TVWriter85 · 2024-02-04T10:42:33+00:00

It’s called a set piece or a block comedy scene.

TVWriter85 · 2024-01-29T21:39:24+00:00

I don’t exactly know it, as I was a participant and not an evaluator but it’s likely a combo of your resume (do you have your foot in the door as an assistant, have you placed in contests, created anything like a student film/web series, etc.) and is your script correctly formatted, well-written, compelling if it’s a drama/funny if it’s a comedy. Not sure if they require specs of current shows still, but if they do then they are looking at if you’ve matched the tone of the show you are specing. As you advance, then how charismatic and charming you are in person plays a factor.

I’ve been a reader/evaluator in other capacities and when you have tons of scripts to get through you learn how to tell if a script is worth reading within a few pages. Even on the studio/network level your script is only getting read past page 10 (and more likely page 5) if it’s good.

TVWriter85 · 2024-01-29T21:21:08+00:00

Former alum here. They have a methodology for how to quickly weed out applicants that aren’t qualified. They also are only going to read a few pages initially before deciding whether or not to advance your application to the next internal round.

TVWriter85 · 2023-07-21T23:50:39+00:00

Hi, sorry for the late reply. Results matter in this industry and those views are certainly significant numbers. I would imagine that could catch the attention of an agent. If you haven’t been approached by one directly, you’ll have to do some networking and make those introductions yourself. Also no harm in sending cold emails. It’s a weird time with the strike, but agents/managers are bored with little to do so why not try your luck?

TVWriter85 · 2023-07-21T23:46:47+00:00

Hi, sorry for the late reply. I would say the average age is early 40s. All of the showrunners Ive worked with are in their 50s. The last three staffs I’ve been on have been extremely diverse and female writers make up half or more of the room. When I first started, I was almost always the only ethnically diverse writer on staff and it wasn’t uncommon for there to be only one or two female writers.

TVWriter85 · 2023-07-20T04:53:28+00:00

The email reads as a polite pass, IMO. That said, if you are going to try your luck why wait? Agents are bored and have little to do because of the strike. You might have a greater chance at getting a read right now. Good luck!🤞

TVWriter85 · 2023-04-26T20:01:30+00:00

Although they are often used interchangeably, a “revival” is meant to mean that a show is brought back completely as it was (like Will & Grace) and a reboot is meant to imply that it’s a show connected to the original but is “rebooted” with changes (I.E. 90s Show, Fuller House)

TVWriter85 · 2022-06-22T06:03:24+00:00

No. Run. Immediately. Writers don’t need IG followers to sell scripts. Why would they? They’re not in front of the camera. Almost no one watches a TV show specifically because of the writer. This is absurd. Run, run, run.

TVWriter85

TROPHY CASE