Showrunner Rules from Jeffrey Lieber: Numbers 91–100
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 91–100:
Showrunner Rule #91: Biggest impediment to honest story telling is act outs. With 6 acts it forces direction change roughly every 7 minutes.
Showrunner Rule #92 (1 of 2): If you want to keep actors you’ve cast in pilot WARN THEM that table read is a PERFORMANCE…
Showrunner Rule #92 (2 of 2): …because table read is Latin for “Maybe We Fucked Up And Should Recast That Part.”
Showrunner Rule #93 (1 of 3): Job while waiting to make it as writer should 1) Pay enough to keep you fed, housed & car running…
Showrunner Rule #93 (2 of 3): …2) not be a soul sucking, mind-fucking disaster and 3) leave you with enough energy to write…
Showrunner Rule #93 (3 of 3): ..cause if you’re not writing, you’ll always be waiting.
Showrunner Rule #94: Series pace tricky. Example of plot constipation… Carnivàle Season 1. Example of plot diarrhea… Carnivàle Season 2.
Showrunner Rule #95: Fight like hell 2 get editing in same building as room. Time wasted getting to & fro is robbed from story… & ur kids.
Showrunner Rule #96 (1 of 2): To keep concept meeting < 3hrs, don’t get bogged down with the exact color & size of “merkin for sex scene”…
Showrunner Rule #96 (2 of 2): …or, shorter, anything & everything that doesn’t need WHOLE CREW’S attention gets side-barred post meeting.
Showrunner Rule #97: Can’t quite nail a storyline that you know you need. Start with the TAG (last scene) & break it backward to the TEASE.
Showrunner Rule #98: Impossible to develop pilot while running 1st year show. Same year 2. Year 3… how utterly fantastic are your co-eps?
Showrunner Rule #99 (1 of 3): In perfect room every writer/producer has a super power. The 1 w/ a thousand pitches. The 1 who tracks arcs…
Showrunner Rule #99 (2 of 3): …the 1 who can write the crap out of a scene, the 1 who knows you’re WAY off course…
Showrunner Rule #99 (3 of 3): …12 great writers is like a car with an engine, but no steering wheel, wind shield wipers or seat belts.
Showrunner Rule #100 (1of 2): When you reach a 100 of anything, find a place to keep “them” safe. In this case it’s →
Showrunner Rule #100 (2 of 2): Big thanks to Scott @GoIntoTheStory & @theblcklst for being willing to make a little room at the inn.
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.
Numbers 81–90, go here.
Next: Showrunner Rules: Numbers 101–110.
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!
UPDATE: Speaking of “best of luck,” Jeff lands a new gig.
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