The Writers Panel with Ben Blacker

Writer Liz Hara just completed her first week as a professional TV writer on a network show, Life In Pieces. In this first of what we hope will be many chats with Liz, she describes how she got the job, her previous work as a costumer and puppet-wrangler on Sesame Street, her concerns and expectations of being in a writers' room and the reality she faced there. 

Direct download: nwp336_liz.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Powerful TV panel from ATX, Jack Amiel (co-creator, The Knick), Jason Katims (creator, Friday Night Lights and Parenthood), Jennie Snyder Urman (creator, Jane the Virgin), Mike Royce (co-creator, Men of a Certain Age; Enlisted), and Carter Covington (Faking It) discuss how their series have surpassed diversity trends and token characters by organically weaving in storylines of race, religion, the foster care system, immigration, abortion, health care, and many many more. Moderated by Maury McIntyre (President of the Television Academy).

PLUS: The Shield Writers' Room Reunion with creator Shawn Ryan (co-creator, Timeless), Glen Mazzara (Damien; The Walking Dead), Scott Rosenbaum (Queen of the South), Kurt Sutter (creator, Sons of Anarchy), and Charles ‘Chic’ Eglee (Hemlock Grove; The Walking Dead). Moderated by Lynette Rice (EW). Recorded June 2016 at ATX Television Festival.

Get your badge now for ATX's sixth season, June 8-11 2017, at http://atxfestival.com/

Direct download: nwp335_powerful_shield.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

The showrunners of ABC's terrific Downward Dog, John Hoberg & Kat Likkel, talk about being a married couple and writing partners, protecting and translating the show creators' vision, what they learned working on My Name Is Earl, The Neighbors, and more, running Galavant in its second season, their approach to comedy, and lots more. Downward Dog premieres May 17th on ABC. Watch it! It's like a terrific indie movie that happens to have a dog as its narrator.

Direct download: nwp334_dog.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Creator Tara Armstrong, showrunner Tassie Cameron (co-creator, Rookie Blue), and lead actor Caroline Dhavernas (Hannibal; Wonder Falls) discuss their new Lifetime show, writing complicated characters, their hectic shooting schedule, adding comedy and crime to a euthanasia drama, and more.

Direct download: nwp333_mary_kills.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

With creator Josh Schwartz (creator, Gossip Girl, Chuck, and more), Stephanie Savage (creator, Gossip Girl, The Astronaut Wives Club), Leila Gerstein (creator, Hart of Dixie), and music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas. Moderated by Alan Sepinwall (HitFix). Recorded June 12, 2016 at ATX Television Festival on June 12, 2016. Plus: Blind Casting panel featuring casting director Jennifer Euston (Orange Is the New Black; GLOW), casting director Tracy Lilienfield (Superior Donuts; Grace & Frankie), Justin Spitzer (creator, Life in Pieces), Brian Michael Bendis (creator, Powers, Jessica Jones), Brad DeLima (VP casting, NBCUniversal).


Recorded June 10, 2016 at ATX Television Festival on June 12, 2016. Get your badge now for ATX's sixth season, June 8-11 2017, at http://atxfestival.com/

Direct download: nwp332_oc.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:02am PDT

A double header today. First, TV and comics writer Gerry Duggan (Attack of the Show) talks about his new Guardians of the Galaxy book for Marvel, bringing humanity to Deadpool, comedy in comics, and lots more. Gerry's All New Guardians of the Galaxy #1 is out tomorrow, May 3, and the Free Comic Book Day special is out on Saturday! Then, Philipp Meyer, creator of AMC's new series The Son, discusses bringing his sprawling novel to TV, working in a writers' room for the first time, artistic integrity, and more.

Direct download: nwp331_duggan_meyer.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:43am PDT

1