The Writers Panel with Ben Blacker (general)

Blindspot creator Martin Gero chats about putting together the team, breaking story, how he uses the writers' room, his unusual hiring process, his late, beloved series LA Complex, procedurals, those tattoos, and more. Recorded at EW Popfest in Los Angeles, CA on October 29, 2016.

Direct download: nwp299_gero.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:19am PDT

The author of The Fault in Our Stars, Looking for Alaska, Paper Towns, and more discusses discovering young adult fiction, the invention of characters, how his stories take shape, his earnest love of The Babysitters Club books, and more; he even drops some hints about his next novel! Recorded at NerdCon: Stories in Minneapolis, MN on October 14, 2016.

Direct download: nwp298_john_green.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Barbara Hall (creator of Madame Secretary, Judging Amy, and Joan of Arcadia); Joan Rater (co-creator of Doubt); Aline Brosh McKenna (co-creator of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend); Jenny Snyder Urman (creator of Jane the Virgin); Corinne Brinkerhoff (creator of No Tomorrow). Recorded at CBS Studios on October 5, 2016.

Direct download: nwp297_cbs.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

The creators of the new MTV show Mary + Jane discuss writing what they care about, their partnership and process, their breakthrough feature that led to Can't Hardly Wait, what happened after Josie & the Pussycats, and lots more.

Ben Blacker and The Writers Panel have lots of upcoming live shows and appearances, including the 300th Episode Celebration on 11/6 in LA with Damon Lindelof, Carlton Cuse, Marta Kauffman, Mike Schur, and lots more!

Direct download: nwp296_kaplan_elfont.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:36am PDT

Writer/creators/stars Adam Cayton-Holland, Andrew Orvedahl and Ben Roy discuss their TruTV comedy about teachers who are less mature than their students, getting their break in TV after the success of their Denver-based sketch group The Grawlix, the remarkable Maria Thayer, and more. Season 2 of Those Who Can't is on TruTV now.

Ben Blacker and The Writers Panel have lots of upcoming live shows and appearances, including the 300th Episode Celebration on 11/6 in LA with Damon Lindelof, Carlton Cuse, Marta Kauffman, Mike Schur, and lots more!

Direct download: nwp295_those_who_cant.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:12am PDT

A double-header recorded at ATX, a Television Festival earlier this year. First, “Keeping the Romance Alive” with Hart Hanson (creator, Bones), Liz Tigelaar (showrunner, Casual; creator, Life Unexpected), Carter Covington (creator, Faking It), and Jennie Snyder Urman (creator, Jane the Virgin). How do writers keep a show going that's centered around a romance? What pitfalls can that bring, how do they keep an audience caring through the third, fourth, and fifth break ups…or even more, after the central couple commits for the long haul, or worse decides to leave the show? Moderated by Jarret Wieselman (Buzzfeed).

Then, Jarret is joined by Carina MacKenzie (The Originals) to talk about “Young Adult TV” with Tigelaar, Covington, Anna Fricke (developer, Being Human), and Rebecca Serle (Famous in Love). The creators of these “teen centered” TV shows discuss what they believe classifies a show as YA, what storylines they will and will not broach when it comes to this age range, and how they have mastered writing from the teenage perspective while garnering audiences of all ages. Recorded at ATX Television Festival on June 10-11, 2016. Get your badge now for ATX's sixth season, June 8-11 2017, at http://atxfestival.com/

Direct download: nwp294_romance.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Steven Moffat (Doctor Who; Sherlock), Bryan Fuller (American Gods; Star Trek; Hannibal), and Michael Green (American Gods) join Alicia Lutes (co-host/creator, Fangirling) at the “Nerdist TV: The Boundary Pushers” panel. Recorded at San Diego Comic Con on July 21, 2016

Direct download: nwp293_nerdist_tv.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:10pm PDT

Westworld creators Jonah Nolan and Lisa Joy, Graham Yost (creator, Justified), Jonathan Tucker (actor, Justified), John Wirth (showrunner, Hell on Wheels), and Anson Mount (actor, Hell on Wheels) discuss the rich tradition of westerns on TV from iconic characters, to revenge, duels, outlaws, lawmen, and the communities they protect.

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

Direct download: nwp292_western.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

A double-header recorded at ATX, a Television Festival this year. First, Ryan Condal (co-creator, Colony), Zander Lehmann (creator, Casual), Sarah Gertrude Shapiro (co-creator, unREAL), and Joe Pokaski (co-creator, Underground) discuss the process of creating and/or running their own show for the first time, and learning to juggle all that having a new series entails, from pitching, to writing and producing a pilot, having their series picked up, organizing a writers room, and being paired with seasoned showrunners (or learning to become one themselves). Moderated by Tim Goodman (The Hollywood Reporter).

Then, Debra Birnbaum (Variety) talks with Hart Hanson (creator, Backstrom), Ted Griffin (creator, Terriers), Javier Grillo-Marxuach (creator, The Middleman), and Kevin Falls (creator, Journeyman) about the lessons they have learned from their one-season wonders, the constantly-changing definitions of success, not compromising creative vision, and how these short-lived series have shaped their ongoing careers. Recorded at ATX Television Festival on June 11, 2016.

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

Direct download: nwp291_first.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Ben Sinclair and Katja Blichfeld, the creators, writers, and directors of web-series High Maintenance discuss their emotional writing process, keeping their trusted collaborators, the stories that interest them, and more. High Maintenance makes its premiere on HBO on September 16. All past episodes will then be available on HBOGo.

Direct download: nwp290_high_maintenance.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT