Screenwriter Support: First Time Showrunner's Assistant + WGA Strike
Advice for the first day on a new job + a request
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This week we have two questions to answer (you’ll see why). But first…
CALL FOR ENTRIES: If you have a question you’d like answered here, fill out your own ticket and maybe you’ll see your question next! It can be career advice, story or writing advice, or clarification on something I’ve written about previously. (Paid members will be prioritized, because their support helps me put this newsletter together each week)
Question 1:
What is your best guess for when the WGA strike will end?
My thoughts:
I stopped guessing the 99th time I was wrong, BUT —
— last night the WGA negotiation committee requested that we all hit the picket lines today (Friday, Sept 22). If we want it to end soon (and we all do) then this is a way to help. If you can, go join a picket today. They wouldn’t have asked for a show of force if they didn’t believe it could help end this strike on our terms.
Question 2
This Screenwriter Support Ticket comes from a friend back in the pre-strike era where people had new jobs to start! (I’ve added some additional thoughts since sending the original email a while ago - BONUS CONTENT!)
The Question:
I got an assistant job to [CREATOR OF NETFLIX SERIES]. I am super super excited, and nervous. I start today. Do you have any advice? Things to avoid, mistakes you've seen, or anything really?
My Thoughts:
(As a note, the job here is as the assistant to a showrunner, NOT as a writer’s assistant on the series itself. These are two very different jobs, but both come with a massive amount of exposure and access to shows and showrunners. If you’re struggling to find a Writer’s Assistant job, consider the Showrunner’s Assistant job as a great alternative to get your foot in the door and start making relationships. Okay, onto the advice…)
My biggest piece of advice as an assistant in any capacity is to not be afraid to ask questions.
Sometimes you may feel like you'll look stupid if you ask for clarity on something that someone else assumes you should know, and instead try to figure it out yourself.
That's a trap!
Communication is the cornerstone of the job. You'll become a point person for communication to and from [THE SHOWRUNNER], so you need to be the person who double checks and asks when you don't understand something so you can clearly communicate what's needed to the right people.
Always double check that you're crystal clear, and if you make a mistake or drop the ball on something, let your boss know right away and tell them how you are working to fix it. You don't want small mistakes (which are a part of life and happen to everyone) to snowball.
Some general pointers:
Ask your Showrunner how they like to work with an assistant. Maybe they have experience with this, or maybe it’s their first time as well, but having the open communication lets them know that you are going to take your lead from them. Or maybe they will say “I don’t like to have to think about any of that stuff, that’s what you’re here for” and there’s your answer.
The admin work you do is just as important as the creative work they do. A Showrunner is SWAMPED with meetings and management and problem solving, and sometimes the opportunity to get to the writers room or even write a script can seem like a luxury. The better you are at helping them manage their time, the more time they have to be creative and do the work they actually enjoy. THEY WILL NOTICE THIS. Stay on top of things and advocate for their time.
Write things down and re-read them every day to make sure you've taken care of what needs to be done.
Working on a tv show is a collaboration, not a competition. You're part of the group effort to build a very delicate house of cards, so get to know people and help them however you can.
Don’t ask them to read your script until you know you’ve been doing an absolutely killer job for at least six months. If you’re on a show with a shorter schedule than that, then ask during your final week. Maybe you’ll do such a great job of buying them time that they ask you before then, but if not, focus on your work and their work before asking for even more of their time. They usually will be willing to help so long as they aren’t under water.
Learn what other people's jobs are. If you can be the person who jumps in and lends a helping hand, everyone will remember you.
Going further: get to know the Writers Assistant and Script Coordinator. Ask them if they need help every once in a while. Let them know you are interested in the job they are doing as well, so when they get bumped up to Staff Writer, they may recommend you take over their job in the writers room. (emphasis on the word “may”. None of this should be expected)
Get to know your Showrunner’s life beyond work (as much as they are willing and comfortable with sharing). Their life will be demanding at home as well, so knowing that their kid has soccer games on Thursdays, or that an anniversary is coming up can help you schedule and defend their time. (If an assistant scheduled my week so that I had Friday night free for my anniversary, I would offer them a script on the show. I’m only half joking.)
Know someone who could benefit from this info?
Any other helpful tips for first time Showrunner’s Assistants? Leave a comment below!
Have a Question of Your Own?
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