Showrunner Rules from Jeffrey Lieber: Numbers 81–90

Jeff Lieber is a screenwriter and TV writer. His movie credits include Tuck Everlasting and he is currently an executive producer of the USA Network series “Necessary Roughness.” On Twitter (@JeffLieber), he has run a series of tweets called Showrunner Rules. For background on Jeff and this Twitter series, go here.

Today: Numbers 81–90:

Showrunner Rule #81: Audience will shut off TV 2 seconds after major conflict is solved. Got your “killer” early in act 4? Go back & re-break.

Showrunner Rule #82: Writing INT. FULL AUDITORIUM is writing INT. $12,500 in 250 extras at +$50 a head. Locations have budget consequences.

Showrunner Rule #82A (addendum): When writing a spec pilot… fuck budget consequences and write something great. You’ll figure out $$ later.

Showrunner rule #83: If interviewing script supervisor, drink water w/ 1 hand. As they leave, ask WHICH hand. If they know… join the show!

Showrunner Rule #84 (1 of 2): When you find an all-in, sure-fire, decent-person, character-actor like, say, Michael O’Neill…

Showrunner Rule #84 (2 of 2): …DON’T tell anyone, ’cause then that actor will be on someone else’s show, not yours. (Wait. Wait! Untweet!)

Showrunner Rule #85: When on set for 1st 3AM Fraturday, get crew coffee cart/ice cream/SOMETHING. It’s 1 week for you… 20 weeks for them.

Showrunner Rule #86 (1 of 2): Must have clear rule on line changes, i.e. script concerns must be raised 48 hours before a scene shoots…

Showrunner Rule #86 (2 of 2): …leaving time to republish for production. Biggest avoidable time suck: negotiating lines while crew sits.

Showrunner Rule #87 (1 of 2): Ratings speculation infects set like flu. Must ACTIVELY manage day after premier response, so that whispers…

Showrunner Rule #87 (2 of 2): …of potential shut down don’t turn into entire crew on phones looking for next job.

Showrunner Rule #88: Resist temptation 2 get cute w/ slug line. No “dusk” or “gloaming”. 4 productions sake its NIGHT (dark) or DAY (light).

Showrunner Rule #88: Gotta have AT LEAST 3 scripts to Production Draft by 1st day of shooting. Anything less 8 you’ll be on fumes by EP 8.

Showrunner Rule #89: Figure out when natural room lull is & schedule calls then. You won’t recover from derailing story momentum at 10AM.

Showrunner Rule #90 (1 of 3): Breakdown of 36 days from Story Break to Production Draft (AKA Rule #36 here.

Showrunner Rule #90 (2 of 3): 7 days story break, 8 days outline (including notes), 10 days internal draft, 5 days to Studio Draft…

Showrunner Rule #90 (3 of 3): …4 days to Network Draft. 2 days to Production Draft (on first day of Prep). Get’m to the church on time.

For Showrunner Rules: Numbers 1–10, go here.

Numbers 11–20, go here.

Numbers 21–30, go here.

Numbers 31–40, go here.

Numbers 41–50, go here.

Numbers 51–60, go here.

Numbers 61–70, go here.

Numbers 71–80, go here.

Next: Showrunner Rules: Numbers 91–100.

I asked Jeff for a bio. Here it is:

One day in 1986, after blowing up a glass beaker in a lab in high school, Jeffrey Lieber’s science teacher, Dr. Nagoi, turned to him and said, “Jeffrey… you be an actor… you be a writer… maybe have a family… but please, dear God, don’t be a chemist.” And it was those words that launched a journey that has ended up with Mr. Lieber becoming a screenwriter, showrunner, blogger, father and husband (Credits? Go here). Every day, while pursuing his passions, Mr. Lieber takes a moment to stop and thank Dr. Nagoi for his sage advice.

Thanks, Jeff. Best of luck on the front lines of running a TV series and all your creative endeavors!