Small Screen, Big Picture: A Writer's Guide to the TV Business »

CHAD GERVICH has worked as a TV writer, producer, and executive. He’s written, developed, and produced shows for the Littlefield Company, Fox Television Studios, Paramount Television, NBC, Warner Bros., ABC, Fox Reality Channel, E! Entertainment Television, and 20th Century Fox.

Take On Hollywood and Make It as a Television Writer.

From mediabistro.com, the media industry’s most well-respected source for jobs, professional development, and community, this inside-the-business guide gives you the knowledge and tools you need to infiltrate Hollywood and land a job as a TV writer. That’s right—Small Screen, Big Picture gives you a competitive edge over millions of other aspiring writers who share your talent, creativity, and determination . . . because after reading these pages, you’ll have the one thing they lack: an understanding of the business of television.

This journey into Hollywood’s inner workings not only details how networks, studios, and production companies work together, it teaches you how the process affects the creation and writing of TV series, how shows make money, and—ultimately—how you can use this information to break into the industry.

You’ll learn:
• What really goes on in the inner sanctum of the writers’ room—and how to be a part of it
• How today’s TV business model works—and how rapidly it’s changing
• Who has the power to buy a show idea—and how to pitch your own
• How new media formats are changing television—and how to use them to your advantage
• Which jobs will kick-start your TV writing career—and how to get hired
• And much more . . .

Armed with this solid foundation of knowledge, you’ll be ready to plan your entry into the industry and begin your successful TV writing career.

Introduction 9 Pt. I From the Inside Out How the Industry Is Structured 17
1 The Top of the Food Chain 19
2 Networks, Studios, and Production Companies 27
3 Syndication and Backend: How TV Shows Make Money 46
4 Inside a Television Network: A Lesson in Programming 60
5 The New Show Development Process: An Overview 80 Pt. II Development Season From Pitch to Pilot Pickup 93
6 Recipe for a TV Show 95
7 The Pitch 111
8 The Art of the Deal 124
9 Development Hell 131 Pt. III Pilot Season From Pilot Pickup to Series 139
10 Preproduction 141
11 Principal Photography 156
12 Postproduction 167
13 Upfronts 176 Pt. IV Staffing Season ... and Beyond Getting the Series Up and Running 187
14 Staffing Season: How Showrunners Staff New Shows 189
15 The Writers' Room 202
16 Production 219
17 Staying on the Air 227 Pt. V New Frontiers Where TV Is Headed 239
18 Cable 241
19 Reality TV 250
20 Digital Media and the Internet 267 Pt. VI Breaking In Your Guide to Infiltrating Hollywood 287
21 Write Your Ass Off 289
22 Representation 307
23 Networking 321
24 Assistants 331
25 Getting a Job 343
26 Other Ways of Breaking into Hollywood 360 Glossary 373 Appendix 391 Index 407