I hadn't heard from all of you who work in the industry for a minute. What are you up to? Projects you're working on? ZooTown and nick...you guys have both been pretty quiet on what you've been doing. Any updates?
Me: I've been working at a TV production company for the last 3.5 months. It's been good. I'm learning a ton and I really think the place is a good fit for me. The company I work for does a lot of clip shows, like Planet's Funniest Animals (Animal Planet), Funniest Pets and People (WGN...check those credits), those old Michael Jackson: The Private Home Movies type specials, and so on. They also did When Animals Attack back in the day. I'm a PA/Runner with the hope that it turns into something else in the near future. It's so nice to be employed again, but it's even better to know I'm taking steps toward my career.
I didn't think I'd end up in TV, but I really like it. Anyhow...you guys, gimme some updates - cause I'm nosy like that.
1. "I'm writing the new Mel Gibson film" In response to Reply # 0
It's called "An audience of adoring women loudly cheer me while my Holocaust denying father cuts my testicles and penis off with a knife" , "payback II."
2. "Last week as a New Line intern" In response to Reply # 0 Mon Dec-11-06 02:14 AM by DrNO
Good experience. I don't think I'm interested in a career in publicity though. I'm the only straight guy working in the department, that tells me something. The parties are good though. The business stuff is kind of interesting though.
I wouldn't want to live in LA either.
Anyways, I'll see what Toronto has to offer. I might maybe have a way into Alliance Atlantis.
3. "Living in THAT area of LA...hell no." In response to Reply # 2
The westside sucks. Burbank, Hollywood...those are more the places you'd be if you were in the industry. But I can't stand the Brentwood/Santa Monica/Westwood/Culver City area either.
5. "Food Network is the only upcoming job on the books...." In response to Reply # 0
After a non-stop spring and summer, things have definatly died down. The fall and winter months out here are dead. Work is few and far between. When it comes though, it's non-stop for a few days then nothing. It works out well, with my school schedule. I'm still living off of June/July's money. Gangster????!!!! Hell no.
The book was optioned by a production company and we're working on developing that right now. Working on some feature ideas as well. Just taped some hosting type stuff for The Travel Channel, and I'm supposed to be on some stand up show for CMT in January.
As in Country Music Television?? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
Awesome. Congratulations.
- Bullseye with Jesse Thorn A public radio show about things that are awesome. http://www.maximumfun.org "This is the kind of show people listen to in a more perfect world." - McSweeney's
8. "I'm laying low, working on a couple of projects..." In response to Reply # 0
I'm working on developing a sitcom pilot with a friend of mine so we can pitch it to some folks at some point. I'm also working on a romantic comedy feature on my own, not to mention the two pilots (both dramatic) that I'm trying to bring to fruition at some point... nothing cropping up on the job front as of now... ______________________________________________________________________ "Would you get your face out of that computer? Life is happening all around you, and you're watching the commentary." - Danny (Bradley Whitford), Studio 60 (yep!)
10. "Law is holding me down" In response to Reply # 0
I recently joined an NYC firm's media group. I am doing the right type of legal work. I am trying to revive a film project that I let the book option lapse. I am about to hit 30 and now have more of a sense of urgency about what I am doing.
**********
There will never be a level playing field. You need to learn to run uphill.
11. "watching my career pass me by" In response to Reply # 0
Got a new job at a smaller company, First Look Studios (The Proposition, Guide to Recognizing Your Saints). Home Entertainment division. More money to do the same stuff I was doing before. Which, naturally, isn't what I want to do. Figured I might as well make more money at it though.
Haven't written anything in quite some time. Coming to terms with that.
Breaking into Hollywood is a young man's game. Gotta figure out the next step. I know a have a couple novels in me.
15. "we just wrapped tonight" In response to Reply # 0
3rd feature in a year in the locations department
a job i love but don't like
i worked 17 hours today on the goddam soundstage.
so glad this beast is over. and by beast i mean 20 million dollar rom com. it shouldn't have been this difficult
but we're done
i'm supposed to start back on Rescue Me tomorrow but i'm taking the day off.
i loved working on Rescue Me (there isn't a cushier/easier/more fun to work on show on tv) but i'm a little worried that 30 rock is robbing us of some key players chief among them our lightning fast 1st AD (i've seen him call out 'rolling' before and then realize that the sound department was still at crafty)
i need to get a union job becuase this on-call w/ no ot/no benefits shit is killing me. but at least i'm producer track. i could make a half million a year as a truck driver. but all i'd ever be in this business is a truck driver.
but my first year (and then some) has been good. excited to be back on tv after two back-to-back features (one a very small 1.5 million dollar movie i assistant managed and then this last one that i did as an assistant)
i'd love to work on something i actually am interested in seeing (and i'm never going to be a rescue me fan because....well, "i'm an asshole" isn't just a song and a gimmick
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A lot of you players ain't okay.
We would have been better off with an okaycivics board instead of an okayactivist board
16. "Still sucking the reality teet" In response to Reply # 0
Working on more shows that I don't care about (although I do recommend the next episode of Bad Girls Club because it has one of the crazier fights in reaity history).
I story supervised a reality/game show pilot that will hpoefully get picked up by Spike. A CSI game show sort of deal.
Still hammering away on the same two scripts I came here with. I really need to move on but I'm too busy/lazy.
20. "Anyone want to update this post?" In response to Reply # 0
********** "Hey, man, salute to all the beautiful doctors, everybody that�s researching and helping find cures. Salute to everyone who�s finding cures to diseaaaases. Everybody that�s aiding the people. -Lil B
Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86672 posts
Tue May-01-12 12:26 PM
21. "Holy God, this post is a blast from the past." In response to Reply # 20
I never did work at the theater in Columbus. Got hired by Duke to go back and direct shows for the department, then moved to DC to teach for a bit. I'm now moving west with a portfolio of spec scripts to try to become a professional screenwriter.
22. "I work for a multi-platform media company." In response to Reply # 0
I'm not saying which one here. If you know me off of OKP, you know where I work.
I've been working in broadcast graphics for our cable network for two years, and now (after they learned I can do web banners and know Flash) I am being transferred to marketing. Which is good, except I dunno how much of a monkeywrench this will throw into out already small and stretched broadcast graphics team.
24. "I'm a "shitty (basic cable network) sitcom" writer" In response to Reply # 0 Tue May-01-12 01:42 PM by ZooTown74
And no, the pay isn't that good
But there are other perks, such as the hard work we've put in on 2 shows, the fun we have doing this shit with people who all get along with each other quite well, as well as shooting in a city (don't ask) where the eye candy is so plentiful I sometimes go into diabetic shock
Oh yeah, that was the other big life change since this post was created: I'm Type-2
Sometimes it shows on the boards
Anyway, I also helped produce a web series (The PuNanny Diaries) but as the song goes, "We off that"
The plan is for upward trajectory along the same current lines, or any new lines that may crop up... still "working" on spec pilots that are nowhere near completion...
>Oh yeah, that was the other big life change since this post >was created: I'm Type-2
Sorry to hear this, man. Keep healthy.
I have two students, both of whom found out literally the WEEK before school started that they were Type 2. I can't imagine starting at a new school as a freshman and suddenly having to deal with that too. Oof.
I've been relatively open with my professional journey, but now I'm a network dude. I've been here for a year in an assistant role (obviously hoping that grows more), and I've probably said where before but...I'll just say we have a lot of funny shows on air.
36. "Shit, I forgot all about this post" In response to Reply # 0
Enjoying hiatus after New Girl season 1. It was a lot of fun. I learned a lot. I'm definitely a much better writer than before and it felt great to work on something that's successful, but a full season of network television is a serious, serious grind. Especially when you've got a newborn baby at home.
I still feel like I have another book in me. I just have no idea when I would actually find the time to write the fucker. And when you compare the financial incentive to write for TV vs writing non-fiction books, that shit is a no-brainer.
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