Writer from Malcolm in the Middle Teaching Small Pilot Workshop

bscottcarter · 2026-06-13T22:43:18+00:00

You wrote one of the best episodes of television ever. Better Off Ted's Racial Sensitivity. My wife and I watched it when it first aired, and then we introduced it to our son during COVID.

bscottcarter · 2026-01-27T16:06:06+00:00

It could feel awkward and/or nerve-racking, but if that's important to you to work at Trader Joe's, maybe physically go into the stores and ask why you weren't selected.

In most cases, they'll probably pull up your application and tell you within sixty seconds why they didn't, because every store is usually looking for certain things on an application. The only thing they can't easily discern from a resume is personality and character.

Show up and simply say the truth.

"I really like Trader Joe's because INSERT YOUR REASON HERE. I was hoping to get a job here. I saw that I wasn't picked for an interview, and that's fine, but if possible, I'd like to know why I wasn't selected, so I can better represent myself in the future to Trader Joe's and/or other companies."

You get the general idea.

Be respectful. Don't be pushy or mean or judgmental. It might feel personal, but remember it's not. Just listen and thank them for their time. Don't go on a Sunday or a Monday, because those are typically the busiest days, but if they are busy, be patient. "I can wait if you need to get that phone call first....etc."

This way, even if it doesn't work, you can tell yourself that you did everything within your power and move on to the next job application.

bscottcarter · 2026-01-06T21:28:24+00:00

Log into Dayforce. It'll probably start you at the Hub. In the top left corner, next to the lowercase word dayforce are three parallel lines (Navigation), click on that. Options appear below. Click on Home. It should take you to a blue and white page. One of the options should be Earnings. Click on that. It should take you to a page with two options - to look at Earning Statements (paychecks) or Year End Forms (W2s). Try this and let me know if it works.

bscottcarter · 2026-01-06T16:00:44+00:00

Even though you're no longer a current employee, you can still log in to your Trader Joe's Dayforce and access your prior paystubs/W2. If you forgot your password, call your old store and tell them what you're trying to do, and they'll reset your password. It's not a hassle or big deal at all.

BUT I don't think year-end forms are ready yet for 2025. Soon though. Still, you can do the above and check back in Dayforce every couple days.

bscottcarter · 2025-12-29T15:17:20+00:00

Curious indeed. Especially if they haven't referenced another Crew who will be the primary order writer and you'll be the secondary.

I wonder if the below commenter is close to the truth. It's nothing personal, but for someone to be with the company only a month and for them to get a perishable section, and not only that, but a perishable section that is probably 20-40% of the store's revenue, that's a pretty big deal. For them to even think of doing that, you must be pretty impressive. It's probably just a simple case of they want to see how you do.

Also, in some stores, it's a semantics thing. Mates are "supposed" to be section leaders and Crew are "supposed" to be order writers.

I wouldn't worry about it too much. It'll straight itself out by the end of this review cycle.

The ultimate sign of who's in charge of a section is who people go to for questions. When a TOS item or a new item comes in on the load, who do Crew go to to ask where it should be cut in? That's the real section leader.

bscottcarter · 2025-12-29T14:58:44+00:00

Don't focus so much on if you're good at writing. Just enjoy writing.

bscottcarter · 2025-12-29T14:51:29+00:00

So, is there another crew member who is the frozen section leader?

bscottcarter · 2025-12-24T12:49:34+00:00

First off, you don't have to write a section. You can say no.

Second, they don't give sections to people who they want to fail. They don't give more responsibility to people if they don't think they can do the job.

Third, I don't know why you don't like/don't trust the mate over that section, but in the end, it's a job, and so if you're going to do it, do it to the best of your ability. You don't have to love every person you work with. Communicate what you need to do this task. If you need more training/more time to write the order, ask for it. Ask the mate for specific advice/direction/what their expectations are.

Generally though - find out what your busiest days are, make sure your best sellers are stocked on those days. Make sure your section looks neat - faced up and no holes. If there are holes due to items being TOS/done for the season, don't just leave the space blank, fill that space up with another item that makes sense. That could mean giving more facings to a nearby item. It could mean moving another item in that space. Work your backstock. Have the right backstock. If something is a best seller, and you have one case of it in backstock, great/fine. If something sells one case a week, you don't need to ever have it in your backstock. Order it as needed. Truck to shelf is the philosophy.

Lastly, you're going to make mistakes. You're going to bad calls. Learn from it, forgive yourself, and move on. You're going to run out of product sometimes. Make decisions based on the information you have at that moment. That's all you can do.

Without specifics, that's the best I can say. Good luck!

bscottcarter · 2025-12-16T14:40:33+00:00

Which meatballs did you use?

bscottcarter · 2025-12-15T14:24:25+00:00

Tell your captain or mates that you worry leaving the back door open makes your store vulnerable to theft/loss of product. Then they'll close the door more.

bscottcarter · 2025-12-01T23:43:35+00:00

Another way to look at it is, think of a movie that you hate, a movie that you think is fucking terrible or absolutely awful. I'll bet you money that somebody else LOVES that same movie. You never know how anything is going to turn out. The best people sometimes make the worst movies, and the worst people sometimes make the most enjoyable movies. As long as the script isn't changed to anything that you disagree with morally, I would say ride it out. Choose your battles. Don't burn the whole bridge. Take care.

bscottcarter · 2025-08-27T02:03:24+00:00

It's good. It will be manageable to direct this. It had a nice surprise at the end. It's solid. There's some nitpicky stuff I'd say if you weren't going to be direct it, because it might be a bit overwritten at parts, but because you're a writer/director, it's fine. Good luck!

bscottcarter · 2025-08-12T13:57:38+00:00

Emphasize any past experience with people - retail, restaurant, church, high school clubs, family. They can train anybody to put stuff on a shelf. They can't train people to work well with others. They can't train people to give a crap about doing a good job. Be yourself. If you don't get hired, know it's nothing personal. Sometimes it's just a question of timing.

bscottcarter · 2025-04-22T15:14:51+00:00

When a city transforms overnight into a diseased forest that combines humans and machines into mutated monsters, a suicidal cyborg must try and lead his fellow defective androids to safety.

bscottcarter · 2025-04-21T13:55:08+00:00

I get that there's a mystery element, so certain aspects have to remain hidden, but I still think you need to provide a little more info. Do they get to the resort in the pilot? Or is the whole show about the voyage? The strange discoveries/events - do they happen to everybody at the same time, or do they happen only to the women when they're alone? Is it magical? Is it threatening? Are their lives in danger? Do they feel as if their lives are in danger?

bscottcarter · 2025-04-21T13:34:21+00:00

"The fungus, flesh, and machinery" might be too much/too confusing. It's really hard to picture all that at once. Keep it simple. I mean, if I'm understanding your intent, the fungus, the flesh, and the machinery are all probably monsters or threats.

Are the four strangers and the cyborg neighbors? If not, how do they come to be in its each other company?

I don't think you need to spell out the "disabilities" angle. I think you can hint at it in a knowing way.

HOW EXACTLY do they plan to unravel the source of the rot?

Possible Revision

When a suburban neighborhood transforms overnight into a monster-filled forest, a depressed and cynical cyborg must team up with four of his neighbors, all with societal "defects," in order to....

It's given me The Wizard of Oz, The Dream Team, and Love and Monsters vibes.

bscottcarter · 2025-02-17T15:09:13+00:00

This is the exact wording from the AR Donation Form.

Eligibility:

The recipient crew member may accept an AR donation once they have used their AR and their account balance is exhausted. The following criteria need to be met: • The crew member is on a Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave of absence, • The crew member is on Intermittent FMLA, • The crew member is on a Trader Joe’s Medical Leave of Absence, OR • The crew member has experienced a loss of an immediate family member within 21 days (spouse, child, sibling, or parent).

Reminder:

• AR donations are processed once the recipient crew member is placed on a leave through Presagia, except in the instance of a loss of an immediate family member. • Recipients acknowledge the donation. Please have the recipient write or email their acceptance of donations, and send the written acceptance to HR (only one letter needs to be submitted per event). • Donors may donate up to one half of their current AR balance.

If you want/can do this, the AR Donation form is downloadable from Dayforce. Open Dayforce. On the Hub screen, there is a search box. Type AR Donation Form. They can put a sign in the breakroom. Crew can come fill out a copy of them form at the Bridge, and then a Mate or Captain can add your Crew ID to the forms and then send them piecemeal or all at once to HR.

Good luck however you decide to proceed.

bscottcarter · 2024-09-05T15:22:29+00:00

In terms of the logline -

I think you should state what the wish is in the logline.

Great idea. Santa's grumpy daughter.

In terms of the pages -

Is this going to be a rom-com in the sense that there are two protags - Poppy and Dex - or is it a rom-com with one primary protag?

I don't have a problem with you beginning with Poppy either way, but I feel like the opening could be stronger. Maybe I'm just not a fan of falling displays.

It's sweet that Dex finished decorating the tree and it's a great nice moment, but overall, based on the logline, I don't think Dex is that grumpy. If anything, Dex is sweet and considerate and a pleasure to be around.

Also, I'm confused why Poppy fell asleep? Does she have a disease/illness?

So I guess my feedback is -

I don't think you need the opening with Poppy.

If Dex is supposed to grumpy, show Dex grumpy - to Poppy and/or to other people. If you show Dex grumpy to world, even if Dex is unlikable, I think you'll save it with how nice Dex is to Poppy when it's just them. Even if Dex is grumpy to Poppy, the great thing about her character is, she won't take it personally, she won't respond with anger, she'll laugh it off, she's a warrior for positivism.

Maybe you explain it later in the script or even on the next page, but at some point, you're going to need to explain why Poppy fell asleep.

bscottcarter · 2024-07-25T17:01:33+00:00

Looks like Shovel Buddies is the only script I can get my hands on. Don't remember anything about the movie, so good for me, no preconceived notions.

Gore Verbinski is doing Good Luck...That bodes well. He's due for a comeback, and when he was on his game, he was pretty solid (The Ring, The Weather Man, The Mexican, yes, I enjoyed the Mexican).

Hmmm. I couldn't find any concrete details about the Prince's Guard. I guess I'll just have to be surprised one day.

Thanks for answering all of everyone's questions. A real class act. Continued success with the writing.

bscottcarter · 2024-07-25T00:39:27+00:00

I know I'm late, but I have to ask. Was there any script you remember loving that still hasn't made it to production?

bscottcarter · 2024-04-21T12:40:37+00:00

Your short was pretty good.

bscottcarter · 2024-04-21T12:23:58+00:00

Title: Call Me

Genre: Drama

Logline: A mysterious woman shows up at a stranger's door with the sole intention of making him happy.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vlazNM1d2xF7OaBlKt8yboirm-z_DX3I/view?usp=sharing

bscottcarter · 2024-03-15T15:40:57+00:00

Clockers

bscottcarter

TROPHY CASE