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Steph Olivieri Bourbon ~ Writing Coach

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Steph Olivieri Bourbon ~ Writing Coach

Monthly Archives: January 2012

My Dog Died-My Heart is Broken

30 Monday Jan 2012

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So I was doing great with both my blogs, Twitter, the screenplay, the Happy Endings spec, my query for my novel AND my own series then BAM! My dog got sick and I was still doing okay, but on the 18th he passed away from Westie Lung Disease and I didn’t know it was coming, so I spent the first few days in shock and denial and sadness. I am still wrecked-but I know I have to get on with my job. I have lost tons of people-including immediate family-and I have never not been able to function as a writer, but this was/is worse. I am definitely going to start blogging again-I have so many opinions about the awards getting handed out and also lots of movies and TV shows I want to talk about-just need some time to get back on my game.

Thanks for understanding and for keeping on reading and coming back.

R. I. P. Finnegan March 30, 1998- January 18, 2012

For Starters, Get The Name Right

16 Monday Jan 2012

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Last week I had posted on here and Twitter about my consulting services because spec and pilot season is here. Now is the time TV writers and aspiring TV writers are polishing their spec and original scripts. A few people contacted me to read their work and one of them sent me a script that I had to turn away immediately. Well I told her that I would be happy to help her once she fixed one major problem.

She had the name of the show wrong! Yes. I thought it was a typo in her email when she said, “Will you please read my Downtown Abbey spec”, but it wasn’t. Side note, even getting the name wrong in an email is bad-you are showing who you are as a writer-get it correct. We ALL make typos-any writers who say they don’t are liars, that said, get the name correct. So I opened the PDF and it said DowntoWn, not Downton.  She also included the synopsis and the query. It get’s worse, when I pointed it out, she got angry and corrected me. Okay so I won’t be helping her.

I am not trying to make her feel bad if she is reading this blog, but rather share a story to everyone because this is beyond important. You must get the name correct. I am not a showrunner-someday maybe/hopefully-but today am just someone trying to make it as a writer, so to her I don’t matter, but you know what? I do matter, we all matter. This is a small industry, even if it doesn’t seem that way. Mistakes are fine, but really don’t spec a show that you don’t even know the name of. All that tells me, and anyone reading your script, is that you don’t watch that show and don’t pay attention to details. Why would I read any further?

My Golden Globe Choices!

15 Sunday Jan 2012

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Golden Globes

I love the Golden Globe awards, definitely my favorite of the award shows followed closely by Emmy and Oscar.

Here is who I would love to see win and then the list of nominations below: Not who I think will take it, but in my opinion I would love to see them accepting awards tonight, but ALL the nominees are great and this has been a great year for film and TV.

Can’t wait for Ricky Gervais either!!

Best Film Drama: THE IDES OF MARCH

Best Actor Drama: RYAN GOSLING 

Best Actress Drama:VIOLA DAVIS

Best Motion Picture Musical/Comedy:MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

Best Actor Musical/Comedy: OWEN WILSON

Best Supporting Actress: OCTAVIA SPENCER

Best Supporting Actor: JONAH HILL

Best Director: GEORGE CLOONEY

Best Screenplay: GEORGE CLOONEY, HESLOV, BEAU WILLIMON

Best Television Series Drama: HOMELAND (SHOWTIME)

Best Actress in a Television Series Drama: CLAIRE DANES

Best Actor in a Television Series Drama: DAMIAN LEWIS

Best Television Series Comedy/Musical: MODERN FAMILY

Best Actress Television Series Comedy/Musical: LAURA LINNEY

Best Actor Television Series Comedy/Musical: JOHNNY GALECKI

Best Supporting Role Television Series: SOFIA VERGARA

Best Supporting Role Television Series: ERIC STONESTREET

THE 69TH ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS NOMINATIONS


HOLLYWOOD FOREIGN PRESS ASSOCIATION
2012 GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011

NOMINATIONS PRESS RELEASE

  1. BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
    1. THE DESCENDANTS
      Ad Hominem Enterprises; Fox Searchlight Pictures
    2. THE HELP
      DreamWorks Pictures, Participant Media; Touchstone Pictures
    3. HUGO
      Paramount Pictures presents a GK Films Production; Paramount Pictures
    4. THE IDES OF MARCH
      Columbia Pictures, Cross Creek Pictures, Exclusive Media Group, Crystal City Entertainment; Sony Pictures Releasing
    5. MONEYBALL
      Columbia Pictures; Sony Pictures Releasing International
    6. WAR HORSE
      DreamWorks Pictures; Touchstone Pictures
  2. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
    1. GLENN CLOSE ALBERT NOBBS
    2. VIOLA DAVIS THE HELP
    3. ROONEY MARA THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
    4. MERYL STREEP THE IRON LADY
    5. TILDA SWINTON WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN
  3. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
    1. GEORGE CLOONEY THE DESCENDANTS
    2. LEONARDO DICAPRIO J. EDGAR
    3. MICHAEL FASSBENDER SHAME
    4. RYAN GOSLING THE IDES OF MARCH
    5. BRAD PITT MONEYBALL
  4. BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
    1. 50/50
      Summit Entertainment and Mandate Pictures; Summit Entertainment
    2. THE ARTIST
      a La Petite Reine – Studio 37 – La Classe Americaine – JD Prod- France3 Cinema – Jouror Production-uFilms coproduction; The Weinstein Company
    3. BRIDESMAIDS
      Universal Pictures, Relativity Media, Apatow Productions; Universal Pictures
    4. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
      A Mediapro, Versatil Cinema & Gravier Production; Sony Pictures Classics
    5. MY WEEK WITH MARILYN
      The Weinstein Company; The Weinstein Company
  5. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
    1. JODIE FOSTER CARNAGE
    2. CHARLIZE THERON YOUNG ADULT
    3. KRISTEN WIIG BRIDESMAIDS
    4. MICHELLE WILLIAMS MY WEEK WITH MARILYN
    5. KATE WINSLET CARNAGE
  6. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
    1. JEAN DUJARDIN THE ARTIST
    2. BRENDAN GLEESON THE GUARD
    3. JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT 50/50
    4. RYAN GOSLING CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE.
    5. OWEN WILSON MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
  7. BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
    1. THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN
      Paramount Pictures/Columbia Pictures/ Hemisphere Capital/Amblin Entertainment/Wingnut Films Production/ Kennedy/Marshall Production A Steven Spielberg Film; Paramount Pictures and Columbia Pictures
    2. ARTHUR CHRISTMAS
      Columbia Pictures & Sony Pictures Animation, Aardman; Sony Pictures Releasing International
    3. CARS 2
      Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios; Walt Disney Pictures
    4. PUSS IN BOOTS
      DreamWorks Animation; Paramount Pictures
    5. RANGO
      Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies present A Blind Wink / GK Films Production; Paramount Pictures
  8. BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
    1. a.
      THE FLOWERS OF WAR (CHINA)

      (Jing Ling Shi San Chai)
      New Pictures Film Company; Wrekin Hill Entertainment

    2. b.
      IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY (USA)

      GK Films; FilmDistrict

    3. c.
      THE KID WITH A BIKE (BELGIUM)

      (Le Gamin au Velo)
      Les Films du Fleuve; Sundance Selects

    4. d.
      A SEPARATION (IRAN)

      (Jodaeiye Nader az Simin)
      Asghar Farhadi; Sony Pictures Classics

    5. e.
      THE SKIN I LIVE IN (SPAIN)

      (La piel que habito)
      El Deseo D.A., S.L.U.; Sony Pictures Classics

  9. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
    1. BERENICE BEJO THE ARTIST
    2. JESSICA CHASTAIN THE HELP
    3. JANET MCTEER ALBERT NOBBS
    4. OCTAVIA SPENCER THE HELP
    5. SHAILENE WOODLEY THE DESCENDANTS
  10. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
    1. KENNETH BRANAGH MY WEEK WITH MARILYN
    2. ALBERT BROOKS DRIVE
    3. JONAH HILL MONEYBALL
    4. VIGGO MORTENSEN A DANGEROUS METHOD
    5. CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER BEGINNERS
  11. BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE
    1. WOODY ALLEN MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
    2. GEORGE CLOONEY THE IDES OF MARCH
    3. MICHEL HAZANAVICIUS THE ARTIST
    4. ALEXANDER PAYNE THE DESCENDANTS
    5. MARTIN SCORSESE HUGO
  12. BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE
    1. WOODY ALLEN MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
    2. GEORGE CLOONEY, HESLOV, BEAU WILLIMON THE IDES OF MARCH
    3. MICHEL HAZANAVICIUS THE ARTIST
    4. ALEXANDER PAYNE, NAT FAXON, JIM RASH THE DESCENDANTS
    5. STAN CHERVIN
      STEVEN ZAILLIAN, AARON SORKIN
      MONEYBALL
  13. BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE
    1. LUDOVIC BOURCE THE ARTIST
    2. ABEL KORZENIOWSKI W.E.
    3. TRENT REZNOR, ATTICUS ROSS THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
    4. HOWARD SHORE HUGO
    5. JOHN WILLIAMS WAR HORSE
  14. BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE
    1. “HELLO HELLO” — GNOMEO & JULIET
      Music by: Elton John; Lyrics by: Bernie Taupin
    2. “THE KEEPER” — MACHINE GUN PREACHER
      Music & Lyrics by: Chris Cornell
    3. “LAY YOUR HEAD DOWN” — ALBERT NOBBS
      Music by: Brian Byrne; Lyrics by: Glenn Close
    4. “THE LIVING PROOF” — THE HELP
      Music by: Mary J. Blige, Thomas Newman, Harvey Mason, Jr., Damon Thomas; Lyrics by: Mary J. Blige, Harvey Mason, Jr., Damon Thomas
    5. “MASTERPIECE” — W.E.
      Music & Lyrics by: Madonna, Julie Frost, Jimmy Harry
  15. BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
    1. AMERICAN HORROR STORY (FX)
      Twentieth Century Fox Television
    2. BOARDWALK EMPIRE (HBO)
      Leverage, Closest to the Hole Productions, Sikelia Productions and Cold Front Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
    3. BOSS (STARZ)
      Lionsgate Television in association with Grammnet NH Productions, Roya Productions and Old Friends Productions
    4. GAME OF THRONES (HBO)
      Bighead, Littlehead, 360 Television, Grok and Generator Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
    5. HOMELAND (SHOWTIME)
      SHOWTIME Presents, Teakwood Lane Productions, Cherry Pie Productions, Keshet, Fox 21
  16. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
    1. CLAIRE DANES HOMELAND
    2. MIREILLE ENOS THE KILLING
    3. JULIANNA MARGULIES THE GOOD WIFE
    4. MADELEINE STOWE REVENGE
    5. CALLIE THORNE NECESSARY ROUGHNESS
  17. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
    1. STEVE BUSCEMI BOARDWALK EMPIRE
    2. BRYAN CRANSTON BREAKING BAD
    3. KELSEY GRAMMER BOSS
    4. JEREMY IRONS THE BORGIAS
    5. DAMIAN LEWIS HOMELAND
  18. BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
    1. ENLIGHTENED (HBO)
      Ripcord Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
    2. EPISODES (SHOWTIME)
      SHOWTIME Presents, Hat Trick Productions, Crane Klarik Productions
    3. GLEE (FOX)
      Ryan Murphy Television in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
    4. MODERN FAMILY (ABC)
      Levitan-Lloyd Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
    5. NEW GIRL FOX
      Chernin Entertainment in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
  19. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES –COMEDY OR MUSICAL
    1. LAURA DERN ENLIGHTENED
    2. ZOOEY DESCHANEL NEW GIRL
    3. TINA FEY 30 ROCK
    4. LAURA LINNEY THE BIG C
    5. AMY POEHLER PARKS AND RECREATION
  20. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
    1. ALEC BALDWIN 30 ROCK
    2. DAVID DUCHOVNY CALIFORNICATION
    3. JOHNNY GALECKI THE BIG BANG THEORY
    4. THOMAS JANE HUNG
    5. MATT LEBLANC EPISODES
  21. BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
    1. CINEMA VERITE (HBO)
      A Pariah Production in association with HBO Films
    2. DOWNTON ABBEY (MASTERPIECE) (PBS)
      A Carnival/Masterpiece Co-production
    3. THE HOUR (BBC AMERICA)
      Kudos Film and Television/BBC America co-production.
    4. MILDRED PIERCE (HBO)
      A Killer Films/John Wells Production in association with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and HBO Miniseries
    5. TOO BIG TO FAIL (HBO)
      A Spring Creek and A Deuce Three Production in association with HBO Films
  22. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
    1. ROMOLA GARAI THE HOUR
    2. DIANE LANE CINEMA VERITE
    3. ELIZABETH MCGOVERN DOWNTON ABBEY (MASTERPIECE)
    4. EMILY WATSON APPROPRIATE ADULT
    5. KATE WINSLET MILDRED PIERCE
  23. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
    1. HUGH BONNEVILLE DOWNTON ABBEY (MASTERPIECE)
    2. IDRIS ELBA LUTHER
    3. WILLIAM HURT TOO BIG TO FAIL
    4. BILL NIGHY PAGE EIGHT (MASTERPIECE)
    5. DOMINIC WEST THE HOUR
  24. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
    1. JESSICA LANGE AMERICAN HORROR STORY
    2. KELLY MACDONALD BOARDWALK EMPIRE
    3. MAGGIE SMITH DOWNTON ABBEY (MASTERPIECE)
    4. SOFIA VERGARA MODERN FAMILY
    5. EVAN RACHEL WOOD MILDRED PIERCE
  25. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
    1. PETER DINKLAGE GAME OF THRONES
    2. PAUL GIAMATTI TOO BIG TO FAIL
    3. GUY PEARCE MILDRED PIERCE
    4. TIM ROBBINS CINEMA VERITE
    5. ERIC STONESTREET MODERN FAMILY

One Life to Live Says GoodBye

13 Friday Jan 2012

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One Life to Live

It’s the end of an era.

When I was 11 I starting watching soaps when I broke my leg and was stuck inside all summer. My friends were all watching General Hospital and Days of Our Lives and I was soon tuning in every day to find out who the Salen Strangler was and or what evil the Cassadines were up to. A couple years later my sister said to me, “I watch One Life to Live it’s way better.” I joined in and have been a fan ever since.

I love the show. I love Vickie and Dorian’s long standing feud and friendship. I love Bo and all the Buchanans. I love Todd Manning (both actors) and John McBain. The show is and has been a lot of fun.

When I was an actress I did some extra work on that show, and they were really a great group of people. I am very sad that the show won’t be on anymore as it’s been such a huge part of my life.

ABC television-check local listings.

One Life to Live has been on the air since 1968

Staring:  Michael Easton,Kristen Alderson,Kassie Wesley DePaiva,John-Paul Lavoisier,Melissa Archer,Bree Williamson,Robert S. Woods, Jerry Ver Dorn,Tuc Watkins,Roger Howarth,Trevor St. John,Hillary B. Smith

and Robin Strasser & Erika Slezak as Dorian and Vickie

and many more!

GOODBYE LLANVIEW-WE WILL MISS YOU!

Housekeeping

13 Friday Jan 2012

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Today I deleted another writer off Facebook for the second time. The reason is that she is nothing but negative and that is not productive and I don’t like logging on and getting her bitching out-to everyone-on her page every day.

About a month ago she was ranting about how writers would never make it unless they gave back and bought her book-well, seriously? That is a bit over the top. She was going on and on and on and on about how she has given so much and now her book wasn’t selling and those of us who hadn’t purchased it would never make it. Honestly! This kind of bullying tactics is just awful. So instead of getting into it with her, I just deleted her because I have enough of my own doubts without being told I will never succeed unless I give back and buy her book. She refriended me and I accepted instead of again, getting into it.

Well at first I just tried unsubscribing to her rants-daily rants-this person is so negative it’s incredible, and then finally today she went on a new rant about some friend of her who posted about her book on her wall, and while I don’t like it when people promote on my wall-because it isn’t really the place, I think that publicly humiliating people to make a point is just wrong! I have many friends who are doing projects and I will always promote them on my wall if I like what they have or have done. Even friends of friends. I will also usually tweet about it and sometimes blog about it. I think we should all support each other.

So I deleted this very negative person today because I needed to do some housekeeping. This person has obviously never heard the quote:

“Every thought is a seed. If you plant crab apples, don’t count on harvesting Golden Delicious.”

I am done with these super negative types, I honestly don’t have time for it. I think that if you hate FB so much, then don’t be on it, don’t bitch out your friends every day and guilt them into buying your stuff. Ridiculous.

What About Bob?

12 Thursday Jan 2012

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Bill Murray, Comedy, Film, Funny, Richard Dreyfuss, What About Bob?

What About Bob? is comedy which came out in 1991 directed by Frank Oz, and starring Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss. Murray plays Bob Wiley, a multiphobic psychiatric patient who follows his successful and (beyond) egotistical psychiatrist Dr. Leo Marvin (played by Dreyfuss) on vacation. When the unstable Bob befriends the other members of Marvin’s family, it pushes the doctor over the edge.

I loved this film when it came out and I still love it. I am not sure what comedy critics or people who know the ins and outs of comedy writing better than I do would/will say, but I think this film is just about perfect and here is why.

The situation is funny! Dr. Marvin wants nothing but a weekend alone with his family and a promo opp with Good Morning America to go well and Bob wants nothing but to be  with Dr. Marvin because he thinks he “needs” him. Both characters have very clear and conflicting wants in this film and the actors are so committed to the part that we believe it and it’s funny.

This film doesn’t rely on joke, joke, joke, but instead takes two people and shoves them together in a situation that is tragic and yet very funny. It’s funny that Dr. Marvin’s kids relate better to crazy Bob, it’s funny that Dr. Marvin’s wife likes him so much, it’s funny that everyone likes Bob and wants him around except Dr. Marvin who is completely put out by the situation at hand.

This is another example of a film that could have just as easily been a drama about a crazy patient who just won’t take no for an answer, but instead it’s funny. We, the audience love and cheer on Bob and we also cheer on Dr. Marvin. Two opposing sides and we like both of them.

It’s really a great film and if you haven’t seen it in a while, or never seen it, put it on your Netflix cue and watch it, you’ll like it.

Jane By Design is A Fun Show

12 Thursday Jan 2012

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Jane By Design

Ever want to just turn on television and not have to think too much and just enjoy the experience? You know, relax instead of being frightened or thinking too much after watching a show, but just complete enjoyment? Well then here is a new show for you.

JANE BY DESIGN on ABC Family Tuesday nights.

A case of mistaken identity has a dateless high school outsider living a double life as a twenty-something career girl in the fashion world.
Starring Matthew Atkinson, Erica Dasher, India de Beaufort.

I really enjoy Jane, she is gorgeous, but not popular and she is social awkward and that makes her believable. Her mother left her and her brother when they were little and her father has died. With massive bills piling up and them being months behind in rent Jane takes a job as an executive assistant in the fashion industry for a very demanding boss played by Andie MacDowell. This is a fun show with all the high school bullshit we’ve all either had to deal with or dished out double time, because in this show it happens in high school and in the workplace, just like real life.

I highly recommend it to you, especially if you like Pretty in Pink, The Devil Wears Prada, Ugly Betty, Veronica Mars or 90210. 

Feedback On Your Script

11 Wednesday Jan 2012

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When you finish your script what do you do first? Submit it? Show your family? Probably, but what you should be doing is submitting it for feedback. You could have a great idea, but feedback will help you make it stronger.

Recently on the show I am working on (until the end of this month when we break), I got notes that not only made the script stronger-they will ultimately tell the story better  in many ways, as well as helped me become a better writer. Sure it’s hard to get those notes that change everything, but it’s such an important part of the process, so you must do it.

And kill your favorite scene. My partner and I were attached to a certain idea and this morning I killed it completely and it now works better. Sometimes we have to do this, because the idea was great and the execution was not.

On my screenplay I got notes this summer from a production company who was generous enough to give me such detailed notes and they said it was their opinion and I could take it or leave it. I took it of course and even though some scenes were hard to cut out, the script is now better for it.

Don’t be upset when you get strong feedback, it means you have something great there and you just need to tweak it. It’s a good sign, not a bad one.

“This is perfect” is the kiss of death in this town because it means 100% the opposite.

 

 

 

Want Me To Read Your Spec?

10 Tuesday Jan 2012

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script consulting, Spec scripts, TV writing

Hey everyone! Since fellowship season is upon us, I wanted to reach out to you. I do consulting on this side.
I would LOVE to help you get your pilot and or spec ready for submission. The biggest mistakes I see when reading others scripts are structure and character-these are usually easy fixes-but if no one tells you than it doesn’t matter. I know it’s hard to tell your friend who wrote a funny script and the writing was good that they totally missed the character. It’s hard to get the truth from our friends, so it’s always better to get an outsider to read your work-it’s expensive usually-but not with me!!
So please check out my website and contact me if you would like me to read your spec and give you notes. We can discuss on a rate based on how much you want and or need. (Totally affordable and flexible)
http://www.stephanieolivieri.com/id8.html
I watch and obscene amount of television so I know the characters well-this is a huge problem (that I have made myself.) If you are writing a show I don’t watch-then I will give you suggestions of who I think would be better to look over your work.
The show I am currently on is going on a hiatus for a bit-so I will have time 🙂
Thanks so much and please contact me at stepholivieri@hotmail.com



Write What You Know and What You Are Good At

10 Tuesday Jan 2012

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Comedy, drama, Sitcoms, Spec scripts, TV writing, Writing

Fellowship season is upon us!

Having a spec and an original pilot are a must-

SPEC SCRIPTS FOR TV

This time of year when all the aspiring TV writers start on new spec scripts and or bring out last year’s-big mistake in my book-write a new one, you’re a writer, write a new one. And the added bonus of doing this-the more you write-the better you get.

The biggest mistakes that I see, and have done myself in the past are so simple and easy to fix. I don’t know why more people don’t see it.

You want to work in drama-what is your favorite drama? Write a spec of that one. Period. You love the show, you know the characters, that is what you should be writing. Don’t write what you think you should be writing, unless asked to as a possible job off.  Example, I was asked a couple years back to write an episode of 24. The studio/show I had submitted my Saving Grace and Grey’s Anatomy too liked me and my writing, but the job was for an event drama so they asked me to write a 24 to see if I could fit their style. I didn’t get the job. I love 24, but it just isn’t my style-so probably had I got that job it wouldn’t have been a good fit.

I have since switched back to my original love comedy. But this isn’t about me, it’s about you.

Write a show that YOU love.

COMEDY WRITERS-Why do you love that show? Is it all jokes like Chuck Lorre’s show? Or is it situational? Is it single cam? Is it multi-cam? Is it ironic like Californiacation-which is almost a drama, or is it slapstick and sketchy?

DRAMATIC WRITERS-Do you like Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice and Brothers & Sisters type shows? Or are you a procedural type of person. What shows are you excited to watch every week?

I read a lot of scripts, sometimes for friends and sometimes for money (see my website I have a consulting business) and the biggest number one thing I see people doing wrong-is NOT staying in character. If you have Monica from Friends being a free spirit and not caring about the table being messy-you do not know Monica and it tells the reader that you either don’t care or don’t know the show you are writing. Make sure you know those characters and how they will act. I recently read three comedy specs and they were all funny, and I could maybe see them on the air, but they would be the episodes that the audience wouldn’t love or just be confused at. The reason is the characters were all wrong. It’s the biggest mistake.

Sure I have made a lot of mistakes in my specs-as we all do. I wrote a Big Bang Theory and totally missed the mark because I wrote a situation comedy instead of a joke show and I placed it in a movie theater. Had I put it in the comic book store and told more jokes it would have worked. That was me not knowing the show, or not following it properly. I thought as long as I got the characters right and surrounded it about a comic book character-IRON MAN in this one-than it would work. I missed the mark.

I have learned the hard way about trying to write what you think people want to read and what I should have been writing.

So I offer this blog today before you start your spec for the fellowships-write what you love.

ORIGINAL PILOTS

Same thing, write the type of show you love. If you love cop shows, write a cop show. It’s pretty simple and want to tell that story and be excited about it. I see a lot of original scripts that are high concept and badly executed because the person has a great idea, but not the passion for that type of show and it stands out in the writing.

Draw from your own life. Draw from your friends. Draw from what makes you tick and don’t worry about what you think you will sell-because if you do that, you will fail.

Now get off the internet and start working on that script!

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