It’s been a busy week for the School of Communications. After hosting Zach Braff last Monday night, the school finished out the week by bringing a panel of Northwestern alums currently working in the TV industry on Friday. The group included The Office writer Justin Spitzer (class of 1999), Desperate Housewives writer Jenna Bans (class of 1998), writer/producer Margaret Nagle (class of 1983), writer/producer/performer Rick Cleveland, and Comedy Central director of original programming and development Aaron Rothman (class of 1999).
After the introductions were finished, each panelist shared a clip of his or her work and spoke to the audience briefly. Dave Tolchinsky, Director of the MFA in Writing for the Screen and Stage guided their talks by posing questions.
Spitzer, the first of the panelists to speak, shared clips that were meant to show the importance of creativity in the writers’ room. He said that even though the clips (both from The Office) were hilarious, both were more difficult to write than they seemed. Spitzer said that one of the toughest things about writing for a series is making the required plot twists believable. For example: How could any woman be interested in The Office’s Michael? The solution: Make her crazy.
“They were problems that seemed insurmountable but in the end weren’t,” Spitzer said.
A common theme during the panel’s discussion was their lack of formal training in screenwriting. Spitzer, Bans and Nagle were all involved in theater and acting, for example, and none of them even intended to write.
“Acting is great preparation for writing,” Nagle said, “because you are dealing on the most intimate level with what a writer has done.”
Both Spitzer and Cleveland stressed the importance of reading in their careers. Cleveland advised aspiring writers to “read constantly.” Spitzer summed up screenwriting as “95% about being smart and being well-read.”
The panelists all agreed that we are in the “golden age of television.” Rothman pointed to the importance of the Internet and alternative media sources as well. According to him, the Internet is like the “wild west”: Anyone looking to get into film or television has a chance to make something and, more importantly, to have it seen.
“We [Comedy Central] are searching the Internet and looking for new things,” Rothman said of sites like YouTube. “So is everyone.”
The panel offered encouragement for aspiring television and film writers.
“I think if you’re a good enough or at least decent writer, eventually things will work out for you,” Spitzer said. “Just keep writing stuff that you’re proud of, eventually a door will open for you.”