Showrunner Rules from Jeffrey Lieber: Numbers 251–260
Jeff Lieber is a screenwriter and TV writer. His movie credits include Tuck Everlasting and he is currently an executive producer of the CBS series “NCIS: New Orleans”. On Twitter (@JeffLieber), he has run a series of tweets called Showrunner Rules. For background on Jeff and this Twitter series, go here.
Today: 251–260:
Showrunner Rule #251: By end of season, when everyone’s exhausted… split scripts. 26 pages ‘steada 52 is sweet manna from Heaven. #Amen
Showrunner Rule #252: From temp ADR recorded in editing to one sentence email about new character, never forget: YOU’RE ALWAYS SELLING.
Showrunner Rule #253: Act outs & story lines: you control. Normal human frailty that WILL disturb set: out of your hands & sometimes fatal.
Showrunner Rule #254: Space between WHAT & WHY is the “maddening divide”. Ratings go down, because TOO MUCH experimentation or NOT ENOUGH?
Showrunner Rule #255: Trait of great writer… ability to set written script aside & re-imagine story. Pages ARE THERE, so… no panic.
Showrunner Rule #256: Insist on a NO HEROES policy. Hiding frailties so as not to upset me is 10,000% worse then not getting the job done.
Showrunner Rule #257: If you kill 3 people & have hubris to do interviews about them, know exactly how a lapel microphone works.
Showrunner Rule #258: (Failed) When on set, learn difference in shade between hotel MOUTHWASH & SHAMPOO… else you will have the yuck.
Showrunner Rule #258A: For the record, at my hotel, the mouthwash is greener (in a pickle relish way) and translucent.
Showrunner Rule #259: (also failed) When on set after LONG absence, remind yourself: if U C camera lens & they’ve called action, thats BAD.
Showrunner Rule #260: Filming is glamorous, as proven by sitting in an under-house video village, occupied suspicious rodents & random toilets.
Showrunner Rule #260 (Addendum): Filming is STILL glamorous, as proven by TODAY’s swanky location. #WeFoundItThisWay
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.
You can follow Jeff on Twitter (@JeffLieber).
For all of the Showrunner Rules, go here.