It's wholly dependent on the complexity of your project. I am the Showrunner on an occasional talk show for a dinky cable network program.. I dress the set, set up the lighting and audio. It's a 3 cam format with hard wire lav mics. I remain on set during shooting to cue the talent and I have headset contact with the switcher operator in the control room. Someone comes in later to edit it & prep it for loading.
The Showrunner is brought in by the Producer/Studio/Director - not by the writer. Tell your friend that it's not important to her.
Hey Darlene, this is Karen from the Stage 32 team. I just wanted to let you know I moved your post from Anything Goes to Producing, as it fits much better there. Let me know if you have any questions, and all the best to you!
Hey, Darlene Burns! My understanding is that the creator of the series (the first writer) has the option to become the showrunner, but unless they are established in the TV industry, probably won't be. The creator can choose a showrunner once the network picks up the show, and typically from an approved network list. But again - it doesn't necessarily help your project to have one attached before its sold.
Thank you Doug and Karen for this information. This is what I was told by the producer I'm working with. I just wanted to research and find out for myself. I appreciate you taking the time to give me feedback. And thank you for moving my post to a more appropriate place.
Thank you, Dan MaxXx! The way it has been told to me (not from the lovely people already in the convo) is that a Showrunner is pretty much a liaison for the network execs and the writers.
Darlene Burns depends on the showrnner, network/studio, track record of creator. Basically, it is very rare for a rookie tv writer (0 experience) to be a creator/co-creator of a tv series. Steven J Canals (Pose) did it and he was one season as a staff tv writer before he partnered with Ryan Murphy. Issa Rae did it, from youtube to HBO and she partnered with an established showrunner.
If you can attach a showrunner or other key positions, it could certainly go far in getting your pitch in front of people. If a network picks up a project from a first-time screenwriter (if that’s not you, I apologize!) though, it will attach an experienced showrunner for you.
Good evening Dane! Thank you very much for the information. Yes, you are correct in that I am a first-time screenwriter. I've had a few conversations and meetings that led me to believe as everyone has stated here, the showrunner will be sought out once the series is picked up. I'm still hoping to have (at the very least) have someone in mind who I think would be a perfect fit to be a showrunner for the series. Fingers crossed!
I think the showrunner is important for representing the story, the talent, and preserving the feel of the story before decisions get made based on numbers alone. Good luck to you!
I'm coming in late to this conversation, but found some of it useful. Thank you all for that. I just had a pilot greenlit at HBOMax based on a pitch and show bible based on some columns I wrote ages ago. In my case, a producer who optioned my material pitched it to HBOMax. We did not go in with a showrunner or actor because we knew they had certain people they like and do not like to work with. Once it was greenlit we gave them our list of preferred showrunners which they merged with their list. In my case because I am new to TV show creating, we were also willing to collaborate on the pilot script with the showrunner to the point of sharing created by credit, which makes it more enticing for an A-list showrunner. Hope that helps some. -Ayn
Never too late to join the conversation! Thank you so much for responding Ayn! Every bit of information helps. I'm still striving to get a pitch meeting but I'm in the meantime, reading and writing scripts. Again, thank you for your feedback!
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It's wholly dependent on the complexity of your project. I am the Showrunner on an occasional talk show for a dinky cable network program.. I dress the set, set up the lighting and audio. It's a 3 cam format with hard wire lav mics. I remain on set during shooting to cue the talent and I have headset contact with the switcher operator in the control room. Someone comes in later to edit it & prep it for loading.
The Showrunner is brought in by the Producer/Studio/Director - not by the writer. Tell your friend that it's not important to her.
1 person likes this
Hey Darlene, this is Karen from the Stage 32 team. I just wanted to let you know I moved your post from Anything Goes to Producing, as it fits much better there. Let me know if you have any questions, and all the best to you!
1 person likes this
Hey, Darlene Burns! My understanding is that the creator of the series (the first writer) has the option to become the showrunner, but unless they are established in the TV industry, probably won't be. The creator can choose a showrunner once the network picks up the show, and typically from an approved network list. But again - it doesn't necessarily help your project to have one attached before its sold.
1 person likes this
Thank you Doug and Karen for this information. This is what I was told by the producer I'm working with. I just wanted to research and find out for myself. I appreciate you taking the time to give me feedback. And thank you for moving my post to a more appropriate place.
My lawyer-neighbor has a client who created a tv series for Netflix. The Execs picked a showrunner to micromanage, from script to production.
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Thank you, Dan MaxXx! The way it has been told to me (not from the lovely people already in the convo) is that a Showrunner is pretty much a liaison for the network execs and the writers.
1 person likes this
Darlene Burns depends on the showrnner, network/studio, track record of creator. Basically, it is very rare for a rookie tv writer (0 experience) to be a creator/co-creator of a tv series. Steven J Canals (Pose) did it and he was one season as a staff tv writer before he partnered with Ryan Murphy. Issa Rae did it, from youtube to HBO and she partnered with an established showrunner.
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This is great info. I am currently pitching a TV series and wondered if it would help to try get an established showrunner interested..
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If you can attach a showrunner or other key positions, it could certainly go far in getting your pitch in front of people. If a network picks up a project from a first-time screenwriter (if that’s not you, I apologize!) though, it will attach an experienced showrunner for you.
Good evening Dane! Thank you very much for the information. Yes, you are correct in that I am a first-time screenwriter. I've had a few conversations and meetings that led me to believe as everyone has stated here, the showrunner will be sought out once the series is picked up. I'm still hoping to have (at the very least) have someone in mind who I think would be a perfect fit to be a showrunner for the series. Fingers crossed!
1 person likes this
I think the showrunner is important for representing the story, the talent, and preserving the feel of the story before decisions get made based on numbers alone. Good luck to you!
Thank you Cherelynn Baker for the feedback and the good luck wishes! Have a great day!
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I'm coming in late to this conversation, but found some of it useful. Thank you all for that. I just had a pilot greenlit at HBOMax based on a pitch and show bible based on some columns I wrote ages ago. In my case, a producer who optioned my material pitched it to HBOMax. We did not go in with a showrunner or actor because we knew they had certain people they like and do not like to work with. Once it was greenlit we gave them our list of preferred showrunners which they merged with their list. In my case because I am new to TV show creating, we were also willing to collaborate on the pilot script with the showrunner to the point of sharing created by credit, which makes it more enticing for an A-list showrunner. Hope that helps some. -Ayn
Never too late to join the conversation! Thank you so much for responding Ayn! Every bit of information helps. I'm still striving to get a pitch meeting but I'm in the meantime, reading and writing scripts. Again, thank you for your feedback!
And congratulations on getting greenlight Ayn!
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If you've never sold a TV series before or been staffed, wildly important. Watch the blog later this week and you'll see what I mean.
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Thank you Richard for the feedback. I'll take a look at the blog when it posts.