Television Writing from the Inside Out: Your Channel to Success (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Paul Junger Witt-who has produced everything from the television series Here Come The Brides, The Rookies, Soap, The Golden Girls, Beauty and the Beast, and..." (more)
Key Phrases: scene header, teleplay format, military transport jet, Writers Guild, Act One, Act Three (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Television Writing from the Inside Out is a how-to book with a difference: Larry Brody is a television writer-producer who has helped shape the medium. The book is rooted in experience, and told in the breezy style that is the trademark of Brody and his award-winning website TVWriter.Com, which has helped launch the careers of many new writers. The information given by Brody and the manner in which he gives it has made him a writing guru to thousands of hopefuls.Television Writing from the Inside Out covers: what writing jobs are available; the format, structure and stages of teleplay development; tips on the writing of different genres - drama, comedy, action, the television film, soap opera, animation; and sample teleplays by Brody and others, with analyses of why they were written the way they were in terms of creativity, business, production and "insider politics."Television Writing from the Inside Out presents all that Larry Brody has learned about writing, selling and surviving in the television industry. The best-kept secret in show business has been that it is a business, but Brody's readers will know the truth - and armed with their new knowledge, they will have a significant edge as they set out to conquer this fascinating field.

Product Details

• Paperback: 350 pages
• Publisher: Applause Books (November 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557835012
• ISBN-13: 978-1557835017
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #596,875 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Larry Brody is a genius, find out why..., January 11, 2004

By	Brian McDonough (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews

Within the covers of "Television Writing from the Inside Out: Your Channel to Success" Mr. Brody walks us step-by-step through the television industry. In the process, he introduces us to some of the key players (who he knows personally) through a number of well-placed quotes.

He also "talks" to the reader with a warm and comforting voice and in simple easy to understand language about all aspects of writing for TV. That alone is a feat of considerable value in an industry that can appear formidable from the outside. Mr. Brody makes television accessible. For that, he is a genius.

My advice to any writer for television or film is to buy this book.

I am a former Vice President of a software company who committed to a full time career in writing for television and films a year and a half ago. By now, I have heard and read enough good and bad advice about writing to know that this book, and Larry Brody's wealth of television experience, is worth a lot more than $12.57.

I read the book in two days and keep it close to my desk for quick reference. Thank you Mr. Brody.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Packed from cover to cover with Brody's insider experience, May 5, 2004

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

TV writer-producer Larry Brody uses Television Writing From The Inside Out : Your Channel To Success to explore a medium he helped shape, discussing writing jobs available in TV work, considering teleplay development and writing for different genres, and including sample teleplays by Brody and others complete with analysis. This "nuts and bolts" reference is a recommended pick because it's packed from cover to cover with Brody's insider experience and knowledge of how the industry works.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars not really a book on writing, November 20, 2005

By	bookloversfriend (United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

The brief armchair advice on writing in this book is too vague and general to be of use.

But the account of how a network television organization works is useful if you plan to try to market your material to such organizations.

The book is also useful for laying out the three stages that an idea must go through to end up on TV. These he calls "the logline", the "outline" and the teleplay. His examples of each of these (for sitcoms, series and TV movies) are also useful.

The book also (unintentionally) helps you to understand why television shows and network-produced TV movies are so bad.