There is no one way to make TV and everyone does it a little differently. That said, we put together a guide chock-full of information that we thought could help a showrunner succeed. You can find guides below on Writer’s Assistants, Budgets, Showrunner Prep and Production, and a brief overview of the business as a whole. You can also find how we at JWP approach the different aspects of making a show including development and business affairs.
“After producing over a thousand hours of television I am often asked what managerial skills I believe are required to succeed as an Executive Producer/Showrunner. These are some thoughts about what has worked for us at John Wells Productions (JWP) over the last few decades (and if you are already a Writers Guild member the WGAw runs a wonderful program called the Showrunners’ Training Program that was developed by Jeff Melvoin and a group of dedicated WGAw members and you should definitely think about applying.)”
- John Wells
QUESTIONS SHOWRUNNERS NEED TO ASK OF BUSINESS AFFAIRS
In this guide, you’ll find a series of questions that we think you may find helpful to ask your Business Affairs executives throughout the process of making a television show.
Alex Galbate is the Executive Director of Business Affairs & Production at JWP.
THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
Development is arguably the fundamental foundation of the television industry, yet the process is fairly elusive to those who are not in it every day. Every production outfit, studio, network, etc. has its own process of development, but in this section, we will do our best to explain the basics of how we approach development at JWP.
Jasmine Burger is the Manager of Television at JWP.
Writers’ Assistant’s Guide
Every room, show, and Showrunner is different, so it’s not one size fits all, but here are some suggestions geared toward helping writers’ assistants succeed. As a Showrunner, you can use this as a point of reference for the symbiotic relationship between you and your writers’ assistant.
Elyssa Gershman is a Staff Writer for Just Cause, The Pitt, and was formerly the Writers’ Assistant on Shameless S11.
THE BUSINESS OF TELEVISION
The business of TV is in essence, manufacturing. There are buyers and sellers within the industry, who all work together to deliver an entertaining product to a consumer. This section will break down how they operate to help you navigate a quickly changing landscape.
Julia Dillard is the Manager of Production at JWP.
Showrunner Prep and Production
Here’s what to expect during prep and production of the show, along with suggestions for keeping morale high and the shooting company running smoothly.
Kelly Mackey is an Associate Producer of Television at JWP.
How to Read a Call Sheet
Click here for a guide on the nuts and bolts of call sheets.
Kelly Mackey is an Associate Producer of Television at JWP.
PATTERNS, AMORTS, AND TAX INCENTIVES, OH MY
The series Pattern Budget is the standardized cost of each episode. Just like the pattern of a dress, a Pattern budget is a template that the show can then tailor for the needs of each episode. Costs that are not attributable to a single episode are in a separate budget, referred to as the Amort. A Tax Incentive cancels a portion of the tax owed to the government (country, state, province, county, or city) by the production company. The Top Sheet provides a snapshot of your overall estimated production budget, broken down into distinct levels which contain financial information on all the accounts.
Julia Dillard is the Manager of Production at JWP.