Paper Team

Alex and Nick answer your TV writing questions about the usefulness of being an assistant, limited access for lower-level writers, and supporting yourself financially. Plus, we discuss the latest TV writing news, including the Paramount+ presentation and a series finale's oral history. Content Review shout-out (00:32) TV Writing Questions: Usefulness of being an assistant, supporting yourself financially, and limited access for lower-levels (01:18) TV Writing News: Paramount+ presentation, revivals, and the oral history of Lost's series finale (22:25) Links Dunbar's number James Hamilton's Twitter thread on supporting yourself financially Michelle Denise Jackson's Twitter thread on diminishing lower-level access TV Writing Incubators and the Evolution of Access (PT125) Less TV, Less Opportunity (PT186) WGAw's 2020 Inclusion Report (PDF) "ViacomCBS Bets on Big-Tent Strategy for Streaming Growth With Paramount Plus" - Variety "Avatar: The Last Airbender To Expand With Launch Of Avatar Studios" - Deadline "The Oral History of Lost's Series finale" - Vulture If you enjoy Paper Team, please consider supporting us on Patreon at paperteam.co/patreon! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson For any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]

Alex and Nick follow up on past Paper Tease entrants to see what has happened with their scripts and their careers since their work appeared on Paper Team. Links Paper Tease: Hooked On A Story – July Session (PT180) Paper Tease Reveals – November Session (PT158) Paper Tease Returns – September Session (PT151) Paper Scraps Monthly VI – Mentorship Announcement, November Paper Tease, Overall Deals & Executives (PT113) Paper Tease: Microcosms – August Session (PT185) Paper Tease: Context For Your Text – September Session (PT189) Paper Scraps Monthly – March Paper Tease and Mentorship Winner (PT127) Paper Tease Returns – September Session (PT151) Survivor: Hollywood – Emotional and Practical Realities of TV Writing (PT209) WyldCats Table Read – Paper Team Live (PT162) Paper Scraps Monthly – February Paper Tease and Syndication News (PT123) Paper Tease Returns – September Session (PT151) Paper Tease: Clash of the Tightens – March Session (PT173) If you enjoy Paper Team, please consider supporting us on Patreon at paperteam.co/patreon! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson For any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]

Alex and Nick discuss the realities of sustaining a career as a TV writer, from financial and mental hardships, to professional and personal burnout. What does "breaking in" really mean? What are the practical and emotional realities of being a TV writer? What are strategies we've found helpful for our own well-being? Why is taking care of your mental health so important for your work? How does social and professional burnout manifest? When should you quit the industry? How do you outwit, outplay, and outlast in the entertainment industry? It's time for Survivor: Hollywood. Content 1 - Realities of sustaining a TV writing career (00:01:31) 2 - Taking care of your mental health (00:30:23) Resources and Next Week On (00:59:45) Links Julia Yorks' Twitter thread on career momentum Finding Stability as a Nascent TV Writer ft. Julia Yorks (PT120) Managing Finances as an Assistant & Staff Writer ft. Kiyong Kim (PT16) Brittani Nichols' Twitter thread on TV writer pay disparity Positive Mindset and Resilience in the Writers' Room ft. Rochée Jeffrey & April Shih (PT161) Resources WGA Career Longevity Committee Mental Health Resources for Angelenos "Happier in Hollywood" podcast If you enjoy Paper Team, please consider supporting us on Patreon at paperteam.co/patreon! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson For any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]

Alex and Nick answer your TV writing questions about ideal writing conditions, writing essentials, and predatory representation contracts. Plus, we discuss the latest news, including the WGA/WME agreement, and problematic behaviors in our industry. Content TV Writing Questions: Ideal writing conditions and predatory contracts (00:32) TV Writing News: WGA/WME Agreement, problematic behaviors, and a new OTT (21:14) Links WGA Agreement with WME "Gina Carano fired from ‘Mandalorian’ after social media posts" - PBS News Hour "More Voices Speak Out Against Joss Whedon's Conduct" - Deadline "ViacomCBS' Paramount+ Campaign During Super Bowl" - AdWeek "Frasier Revival Eyed at Paramount+" - TV Line If you enjoy Paper Team, please consider supporting us on Patreon at paperteam.co/patreon! :) You can find Paper Team on Twitter: Alex - @TVCalling Nick - @_njwatson For any questions, comments or feedback, you can e-mail us: [email protected]