Showrunner Rules from Jeffrey Lieber: Numbers 171–180
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 171–180:
Showrunner Rule #171: Efficiency demands you delegate to room 1st. Clear room goals means they push ahead while you simultaneously catch up.
Showrunner Rule #172 (1 of 2): Should you need a touchstone for flawless television plotting, watch Breaking Bad, S1 E3, minutes 23 to 44…
Showrunner Rule #172 (2 of 2): …it’s Walter perseverating on taking a life & I don’t think it’s an overstatement to call it damn perfect.
Showrunner Rule #173: Have great handwriting? KEEP IT SECRET. Otherwise, 100% chance you’ll spend your days in room at board writing cards.
Showrunner Rule #174 (sneaky, 1 of 2): Every so often, when giving script to staff for input, add insane action (Bill vomits gnats*)…
Showrunner Rule #174 (sneaky, 2 of 2): …just to see who’s REALLY reading. (*Current example won’t seem insane on American Horror Story.)
Showrunner Rule #175: Quickly find crack staff member to oversee concept meetings, which are all logistics/decisions for LATER, and no art.
Showrunner Rule #176: Writing pilots is like drowning is possibility. All roads lead somewhere, but very few roads lead to “pick up”.
Showrunner Rule #177: You’ve slipped into lazy mode when header reads DINER. WHAT diner; where & why? These R the details that turns heads.
Showrunner Rule #178: Check rewrite drain 4 babies when emptying rewrite bath water. Over addressing notes as bad as not addressing at all.
Showrunner Rule #179: Every so often… go to the mall & listen to people talk. Ability to create real dialogue separates pros from pikers.
Showrunner Rule #180: Don’t allow outline to script until writer knows POINT of scenes. Not WHAT HAPPENS, but the FUNCTION within the whole.
Here is Jeff’s bio:
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.
We can look for more Showrunner Rules from Jeff in the months to come. You can follow them live on Twitter (@JeffLieber) as Jeff rolls them out.
For all of the Showrunner Rules, go here.
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