Ben Blacker
@benblacker.bsky.social
The Writers Panel // Cut+Run: http://bit.ly/CutRunAudible // Hex Wives: http://bit.ly/HWtrade // Thrilling Adventure Hour // Dead Pilots Society
Re:Writing: benblacker.substack.com
Re:Writing: benblacker.substack.com
A LOT of this going around.
Took out a show in early 2023 to ProdCo’s. Multiple producers fought to grab it. Then, the strike happened. Afterwards, all those producers were like “We can’t now. Too much of a risk if it’s not coming from a showrunner.”
🤷🏽♀️
🤷🏽♀️
November 26, 2025 at 4:52 AM
A LOT of this going around.
This thread. Also: at my (upper/mid) level, all I'm hearing is "make your own thing." I've been doing that for 20 years. It's been a nice way to supplement my scattered income from selling scripts. But to make something, you need to pay the people helping you (at a certain point). So, who funds it?
Said with love but there is a tone deafness in the "just write your spec!" advice that seems to be totally ignored in the current climate.
It works if you're repped. If reps are taking new clients. If places are buying A LOT. If rooms are staffing unknowns/lower levels. If not? It's a platitude.
It works if you're repped. If reps are taking new clients. If places are buying A LOT. If rooms are staffing unknowns/lower levels. If not? It's a platitude.
November 25, 2025 at 5:56 PM
This thread. Also: at my (upper/mid) level, all I'm hearing is "make your own thing." I've been doing that for 20 years. It's been a nice way to supplement my scattered income from selling scripts. But to make something, you need to pay the people helping you (at a certain point). So, who funds it?
Yes. The writing is not the problem these days. It’s the fear of buying/development the studios/nets seem to have, it’s the lack of opportunities; the town feels like it’s been shut down since LAST October. And we only had about 2 good weeks before then.
It's good practice, absolutely. And it's good to have an arsenal of samples when the time eventually comes (if it ever comes!) But to continue to insist that if we just write something GOOD ENOUGH someone will SEE US is at a certain point, absolutely ignoring the industry's current failures.
November 25, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Yes. The writing is not the problem these days. It’s the fear of buying/development the studios/nets seem to have, it’s the lack of opportunities; the town feels like it’s been shut down since LAST October. And we only had about 2 good weeks before then.
Reposted by Ben Blacker
Again, I get it. WRITING is in fact the key to success as a writer. PLEASE continue to writer your specs! Write everything you can when you can. But remember if you're a budding writing right now, a lost lower level, current or pre WGA these are unprecedented times. YOU aren't the problem.
November 24, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Again, I get it. WRITING is in fact the key to success as a writer. PLEASE continue to writer your specs! Write everything you can when you can. But remember if you're a budding writing right now, a lost lower level, current or pre WGA these are unprecedented times. YOU aren't the problem.
On today's Writers Panel @edgarwright.bsky.social + co-writer Michael Bacall talk THE RUNNING MAN: adapting @stephenking.bsky.social 's novel, writing readable scripts, learning from past experiences, world-building, Glen Powell as secret weapon + more.
Links: benblacker.substack.com/p/the-runnin...
Links: benblacker.substack.com/p/the-runnin...
November 18, 2025 at 7:50 PM
On today's Writers Panel @edgarwright.bsky.social + co-writer Michael Bacall talk THE RUNNING MAN: adapting @stephenking.bsky.social 's novel, writing readable scripts, learning from past experiences, world-building, Glen Powell as secret weapon + more.
Links: benblacker.substack.com/p/the-runnin...
Links: benblacker.substack.com/p/the-runnin...
Reposted by Ben Blacker
I have the most wonderful story for you all today: baby alligator spotted in Charles River, then immediately rescued by local reptile enthusiast
November 14, 2025 at 4:10 AM
I have the most wonderful story for you all today: baby alligator spotted in Charles River, then immediately rescued by local reptile enthusiast
Reposted by Ben Blacker
I for one will welcome, etc. www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/2560607...
Oxford researchers say octopuses 'likely to take over the world'
Oxford University boffins say the octopuses are likely to take over the world after humans.
www.oxfordmail.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 6:25 PM
I for one will welcome, etc. www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/2560607...
A great new Writers Panel ep today with writer/director LESLYE HEADLAND (creator, The Acolyte, Russian Doll) about individuality and authenticity, loving Star Wars, crediting her team, how Russian Doll began + lots more.
Don't skip it.
Links here: benblacker.substack.com/p/leslye-hea...
Don't skip it.
Links here: benblacker.substack.com/p/leslye-hea...
November 11, 2025 at 6:42 PM
A great new Writers Panel ep today with writer/director LESLYE HEADLAND (creator, The Acolyte, Russian Doll) about individuality and authenticity, loving Star Wars, crediting her team, how Russian Doll began + lots more.
Don't skip it.
Links here: benblacker.substack.com/p/leslye-hea...
Don't skip it.
Links here: benblacker.substack.com/p/leslye-hea...
I want one. I'll take such good care of it.
November 6, 2025 at 11:29 PM
I want one. I'll take such good care of it.
Reposted by Ben Blacker
-there are so many barriers to the entertainment industry, but anyone can make a podcast!
-anyone can make a podcast but now mostly only celebrities will make money!
-podcasts need to be on video now with multiple camera setups to make any money now.
-podcasts are on Netlifx now.
-anyone can make a podcast but now mostly only celebrities will make money!
-podcasts need to be on video now with multiple camera setups to make any money now.
-podcasts are on Netlifx now.
November 1, 2025 at 4:54 PM
-there are so many barriers to the entertainment industry, but anyone can make a podcast!
-anyone can make a podcast but now mostly only celebrities will make money!
-podcasts need to be on video now with multiple camera setups to make any money now.
-podcasts are on Netlifx now.
-anyone can make a podcast but now mostly only celebrities will make money!
-podcasts need to be on video now with multiple camera setups to make any money now.
-podcasts are on Netlifx now.
Reposted by Ben Blacker
Americans want to watch charismatic people solve moderately difficult problems on a weekly basis. That’s it. And a group of fomo execs and techbros who don’t watch TV drove one of the most profitable industries in the US off a cliff rather than accept that.
Look what happenes when a TV show releases every year, with more than 8 episodes a season.
October 24, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Americans want to watch charismatic people solve moderately difficult problems on a weekly basis. That’s it. And a group of fomo execs and techbros who don’t watch TV drove one of the most profitable industries in the US off a cliff rather than accept that.
Reposted by Ben Blacker
If I may dril for a moment, you absolutely do not have to give Trump “credit” for anything, ever. The saying does not go “even a broken clock hires its own gestapo”
October 24, 2025 at 10:09 PM
If I may dril for a moment, you absolutely do not have to give Trump “credit” for anything, ever. The saying does not go “even a broken clock hires its own gestapo”
Reposted by Ben Blacker
i do not know if this justifies the URGENT
URGENT Heineken targets mid-single digit revenue growth in 2030 plan reut.rs/47CRrnN
URGENT Heineken targets mid-single digit revenue growth in 2030 plan
Dutch brewer Heineken said on Thursday it expects to deliver mid-single digit organic net revenue growth, with profit growth ahead of that, as it laid out an updated strategic vision covering the years until 2030 ahead of an investor event later in the day.
reut.rs
October 23, 2025 at 5:36 AM
i do not know if this justifies the URGENT
Accidentally started a Buffy rewatch.
a man and a woman sitting next to each other with the words and afterwards i get a cookie
Alt: Buffy and Giles sitting next to each other with the words and afterwards i get a cookie
media.tenor.com
October 23, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Accidentally started a Buffy rewatch.
I'm off doing @thrillingadv.bsky.social things the next couple of weeks, so no new Writers Panel pods. I do, of course, have time to watch as many horror movies as possible. In this week's Re:Writing newsletter, some recs for your spooky viewing season: benblacker.substack.com/p/terror-mes...
October 21, 2025 at 5:17 PM
I'm off doing @thrillingadv.bsky.social things the next couple of weeks, so no new Writers Panel pods. I do, of course, have time to watch as many horror movies as possible. In this week's Re:Writing newsletter, some recs for your spooky viewing season: benblacker.substack.com/p/terror-mes...
Reposted by Ben Blacker
the symbolism of “Trump destroying the White House for a overpriced luxury vanity project, during a government shut down, days after a historically-large mass demonstration against his regime called “No Kings”’ would be rightly viewed as laying it on a little thick if it was in a work of fiction
October 20, 2025 at 10:08 PM
the symbolism of “Trump destroying the White House for a overpriced luxury vanity project, during a government shut down, days after a historically-large mass demonstration against his regime called “No Kings”’ would be rightly viewed as laying it on a little thick if it was in a work of fiction
In today's Writers Panel, the showrunners of DMV discuss pitching + selling the show, what they look for in samples when staffing, how comedy has changed since Friends and How I Met Your Mother (where each began), keeping inspired + more.
Listen: benblacker.substack.com/p/dana-klein...
Listen: benblacker.substack.com/p/dana-klein...
October 14, 2025 at 8:01 PM
In today's Writers Panel, the showrunners of DMV discuss pitching + selling the show, what they look for in samples when staffing, how comedy has changed since Friends and How I Met Your Mother (where each began), keeping inspired + more.
Listen: benblacker.substack.com/p/dana-klein...
Listen: benblacker.substack.com/p/dana-klein...
Reposted by Ben Blacker
I'm not much of a fan of folk horror that takes place in a pre-modern age. These people didn't know what atoms were, I'm supposed to be shocked and horrified that they believe in the God of Weird Sticks? If I had their education, I'd probably believe in the God of Weird Sticks, too.
October 14, 2025 at 2:42 PM
I'm not much of a fan of folk horror that takes place in a pre-modern age. These people didn't know what atoms were, I'm supposed to be shocked and horrified that they believe in the God of Weird Sticks? If I had their education, I'd probably believe in the God of Weird Sticks, too.
Reposted by Ben Blacker
Truly, tell me, how is this different than Jewish and gay people and Romani people being dragged away by Nazis? And didn’t we have some fairly clear agreement to never let that happen again?
CHICAGO — Outside an elementary school during dismissal… horrifying. What have we become?
October 9, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Truly, tell me, how is this different than Jewish and gay people and Romani people being dragged away by Nazis? And didn’t we have some fairly clear agreement to never let that happen again?
Look, I’ve tried for my whole career to champion writers, but post-season baseball, Survivor, Taskmaster, and GBBO are all running at once, and I dunno y’all…
October 3, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Look, I’ve tried for my whole career to champion writers, but post-season baseball, Survivor, Taskmaster, and GBBO are all running at once, and I dunno y’all…
Reposted by Ben Blacker
before and after hegseth's directive
September 30, 2025 at 10:40 PM
before and after hegseth's directive
Reposted by Ben Blacker
treat every creative you meet like they are successful, fulfilled, and making a living at what they say they do. talk to everyone like they're a pro. don't assume they're struggling just because you don't know their work. this will change the tenor of your conversations.
September 28, 2025 at 6:04 PM
treat every creative you meet like they are successful, fulfilled, and making a living at what they say they do. talk to everyone like they're a pro. don't assume they're struggling just because you don't know their work. this will change the tenor of your conversations.
SHANE BLACK is back on the Writers Panel today to talk about his new movie, PLAY DIRTY, adapting Donald Westlake, how he pushes through imposter syndrome, respectful but playful actors, how production is just “shopping for ingredients” +lots more.
benblacker.substack.com/p/shane-blac...
benblacker.substack.com/p/shane-blac...
September 30, 2025 at 5:37 PM
SHANE BLACK is back on the Writers Panel today to talk about his new movie, PLAY DIRTY, adapting Donald Westlake, how he pushes through imposter syndrome, respectful but playful actors, how production is just “shopping for ingredients” +lots more.
benblacker.substack.com/p/shane-blac...
benblacker.substack.com/p/shane-blac...
Reposted by Ben Blacker
I need a procrastination project, so you’re getting a #TVwriting resources thread!
Podcast episodes, articles, blog posts (mostly podcast episodes), organized by subject, for as long as I can maintain it.
Off we go...
1/?
Podcast episodes, articles, blog posts (mostly podcast episodes), organized by subject, for as long as I can maintain it.
Off we go...
1/?
September 29, 2025 at 4:44 PM
I need a procrastination project, so you’re getting a #TVwriting resources thread!
Podcast episodes, articles, blog posts (mostly podcast episodes), organized by subject, for as long as I can maintain it.
Off we go...
1/?
Podcast episodes, articles, blog posts (mostly podcast episodes), organized by subject, for as long as I can maintain it.
Off we go...
1/?
Reposted by Ben Blacker
I always thought when it was time for a mid career change of profession there would be professions left.
September 26, 2025 at 9:57 PM
I always thought when it was time for a mid career change of profession there would be professions left.