Tuning in for a spell…
You all have heard of writers’ room? It’s a common way U.S. shows are worked on, it’s a more or occasionally less collaborative way to write, team work, even though the scripts of an episode are written by specific writers, the story ideas, even eventually down to acts, scenes, moments are discussed and drafted with the team, planned ahead. Every show develops its own work style and structure in the writers room, some more some less team oriented, but much of the story and plots are developed there. Nevertheless each writer adds their own style and skills to the script, its a question of how the story and plots are put into in detail. Like it is always quite noticeable when Jane Espenson wrote a script simply because she’s not only comfortable but good with dialogue.
Battlestar Galactica writing team published while the show was airing a few podcasts of meetings, which was really interesting to listen to, not just as BSG fan (what I am) but as well as someone being interested in production of TV shows and films.
I don’t know exactly how they work in the writers’ room of Once, but it’s a safe guess that it might be influenced somewhat by the experience of A&E on Lost.
I am throwing this in, because when you look at the stories and plots of an episode you should consider that they’re often not the original idea of the writer of that episode but drafted in the writers room together. Of course though there are different ways and styles to put that into the words of a script. So a suggestion, and something not easily done, I know, but if you look at the episodes, try to put somewhat aside what part of the story, what plot you like or dislike, and look at how the story and plot are put into action and dialogue, when you want to talk about specific writers that is. So an episode can be weak in the story and plot and still be quite strong in the specific writer’s writing.
Not sure if everyone is aware of writers’ room, so thought, better bring it up.
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