Liz Heldens’ “Passage” to Hollywood

The scary creatures are imprisoned in a lab while doctors race to find the cure for nothing less than a pandemic that could wipe out humanity amp160Research scientists need a child one whom no one would miss to test their vaccine amp160The covert government organization finds a young AfricanAmerican orphan Amy the supremely talented Saniyya Sidney who becomes the charge of a rogue federal agent Brad Wolgast MarkPaul GosselaarHeldens tempers what could have been a gory show based on author Justin Croninamp8217s popular trilogy amp160The showrunner who learned the business from Jason Katims helmed Camp Deception and Mercy and was a writer on Friday Night Lightsamp160 She recently talked about her latest series and reflected on her career with MediaVillageJackie Cutleramp160 For those unfamiliar with the books how do you characterize the seriesLiz Heldensamp160 Justin Cronin wrote this trilogy this big sciencefiction crazy storyamp160 At the center it is really about love and connections amp160His characters listen to each other and hear each other and see each other amp160The message I take away from his books beyond all the fun genre stuff is that we find redemption in human connection and that is a nice thing to hold onto in the writersamp8217 roomJackieamp160 As one of eight writers on the series youamp8217re overseeing the writersamp8217 room but what else does being a showrunner entailLizamp160 It is a bigger job than you have any way of knowing before you do it amp160You are responsible for everything on the show amp160Everything amp160If something is not right itamp8217s your responsibilityamp160 You are responsible for scripts for everything on set and for post production amp160It is just crazy amp160The best thing you can do for yourself is hire well amp160Jenji Kohan said of being a showrunner amp8220You win a pie eating contest and the prize is more pieamp8221 amp160You do all this work to get a show on the air and the reward is more work amp160I love what I do so it is greatJackieamp160 Your first credit 19 years ago is for a TV movie Damaged Goods amp160What were you writing before that and where did you get your startLizamp160 I was working with a little theater company Powerhouse Theatre in Venice and I wrote a script amp160It wasn39t great amp160An assistant from Fox 2000 was there and they were looking for broad comedy amp160I sold it to Fox Searchlight and I got an agent and she hooked me up with some TV work amp160When I say it like that it sounds fast amp160I was writing it and adapting it and there were a lot of panic attacksJackie amp160Yet you wound up writing for one of the giants of television David E Kelley amp160What was that like and is he a mentorLizamp160 David E Kelley gave me first staff job on Girls Club amp160When that show went away Jason Katims was running Boston Public and they slid me over to that show amp160He was my friend and mentor and my TV writing father even though he is not old enough to be my father amp160He brought me over to Friday Night Lights amp160He is a fantastic showrunner and he makes it look fun and easy and effortlessI did not know David very well amp160Girls Club was shortlived and David is such a powerhouse he just wrote everything himself amp160The mentor would really be Jason amp160He just led by example and is so collaborative and respectful of other people amp160He appreciates other people39s writing and I think he was just a great boss amp160One thing he told me was amp8220Don39t say very much on notes calls because then they will be done quickeramp8221Jackieamp160 What shows did you watch growing up Lizamp160 I watched a ton of television growing up with a single mom who was working amp160I watched everything reruns of MASH big dramas like St Elsewhere and later ER amp160I just always wanted to be a TV writerJackieamp160 Did you study it in collegeLizamp160 I did not actually go to collegeJackieamp160 Do you see more opportunities for women nowLizamp160 Sureamp160 I think there is an effort for people to hire women and I think there is a lot of pressure which is a great thing amp160I remember having staffing meetings canceled and being told that was because they already hired amp8220the womanamp8221 amp160I am really glad it is more of a mandate nowJackieamp160 Why is it vital to have more women showrunnersLizamp160 If you want the female point of view represented you need female showrunners and if you want the industry to change and want peopleamp8217s behavior to change you need more women bossesJackie amp160What advice do you give to people who want to break into writing for TVLiz amp160You just have to write a lot and keep yourself encouraged amp160If that means being part of a writersamp8217 group and anything that keeps you accountable do it amp160Talk to as many people as you can When you get your first job be positive be the first one there and the last one outClick the social buttons above or below to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated writersamp160

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Liz Heldens’ “Passage” to Hollywood

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Jacqueline Cutler

Don’t’ Back Down; Double Down on DEI Investments - By Jack Myers

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