Screenwriter Mystery

"I've always wanted a daughter."

Los Angeles, "Modern Family" filming location.

"Wear her a pretty little dress, do her hair, manicure, make up..."

The content of the plot has been filmed in the third episode of the script.

"Let me reveal a little secret. When Manny was one year old, I dressed her like a girl and told everyone that he was my daughter, hehehe."

In front of the camera, Gloria Pritchett made an excited expression, and then quickly explained.

"However, only a few times."

"I didn't want him to be bothered by his gender. When he saw the picture as a child, I told him it was his dead twin sister."

Jay Pritchett: "..."

……

After the filming of the first few episodes, it's running in.

Several actors of "Modern Family" in the play have obviously entered the state.

It is well integrated into the narrative style of the 'pseudo-documentary' form of the TV series. They show their natural appearance as much as possible in front of the camera, ignoring or deliberately ignoring the cameras around them, in order to meet the shooting style requirements of 'pseudo-documentary' .

At the scene of the crew, everyone was busy with their work.

"Modern Family" has been scheduled to premiere on ABC in the fall of September, as the eight o'clock premiere.

This kind of time arrangement is not very good, but it basically meets the specifications of a new drama, at least it has not been put into the death file of ABC ten o'clock.

Regarding the term "death file", each TV station is slightly different, but basically there are some time slots that are conventionally established, of which ten o'clock is the generally unpopular time slot of major TV stations. Be prepared to be cut.

Of course, this statement is not absolute. For example, "Grey's Anatomy" was originally broadcast at 8 o'clock on Thursday night, which was once one of ABC's death schedules, but the show still relied on its excellent plot. The result changed, and it has become a popular TV drama today.

"Screenwriter Allen, about the content of the fourth episode script..."

Holding the content of the new episode of the script in his hand, the person responsible for the creation of the play approached Zhao Yuan.

After a long period of development and exploration, the creative process of American dramas already has a set of fixed templates.

Unlike movie scripts, which often only rely on the process of creating a single or a small number of screenwriters, because of the large size of American dramas, with the development of the plot, the script creation no longer relies on a single person, but a group of people collectively. Create the content of the episode.

The same goes for the scriptwriting process for Modern Family.

Zhao Yuan, the creator of the script, outlines the general framework, and then assigns the single-level tasks to the screenwriters under him. They summarize and polish the characters, analyze the characters, and finally discuss and hold a meeting to revise and decide the content of the latest episode.

Such a script creation mode not only considers maintaining the level of the plot, but behind it is also the promotion and efforts of the Hollywood screenwriters union.

After all, TV stations decide to order a limited number of TV series to renew each year.

If not through this method, how does the Screenwriters Guild ensure that most of its members have the right to work?

In Hollywood, not every screenwriter is talented.

For example, the original Zhao Yuan relied on designing some vulgar jokes in third-rate sitcoms to earn low royalties and maintain a basic life.

And this is a fact, and it is also the real life of the vast majority of low-level screenwriters in Hollywood.

Of course, this is all in the past.

Today's Zhao Yuan is no longer the impoverished and anonymous screenwriter he used to be.

He made a name for himself in Hollywood and became the core creator of "Modern Family", holding the power of life and death in the show.

And this is just a change in his apparent identity.

"Not dramatic enough."

Glancing at the script in the hands of the screenwriter of the diversity episode, Zhao Yuan thought for a while and then put forward his own opinion.

"The conflict between Di and Gloria should be more turbulent. They both hate each other in their hearts, but they still have to pretend to be harmonious on the surface. I hope this situation will continue until At the end of the script of this episode, through arguing, or even breaking it out, creating a reversal effect of the plot..."

Dee is the mother of Mitchell and Claire in the "Modern Family" script, and Jay's original wife. Her appearance will create enough explosions and conflicts for the show.

"I see, screenwriter Allen."

Nodding his head, he recorded all the changes to the plot of the new episode proposed by Zhao Yuan.

Although the screenwriter responsible for the creation of this episode is far more than Zhao Yuan in terms of grade and screenwriting experience, Hollywood has always been the stage for winners.

If he is unwilling to take over this job, there are a lot of screenwriters behind him, waiting to join the screenwriting team.

Write down several parts of the new drama that need to be modified and adjusted. The screenwriter of the diversity episode looked at Zhao Yuan in front of him. After hesitating for a while, he still chose to speak to him.

"Speaking of which, screenwriter Allen, have you heard about the recent union?"

"The Screenwriters Guild?"

Hearing what the screenwriter said, Zhao Yuan couldn't help showing a puzzled look on his face.

In Hollywood, both actors and screenwriters have their own unions~www.readwn.com~ Zhao Yuan's predecessor was a member of the screenwriters union.

However, back then, he didn't have any reputation in the entire union, and he belonged to an unknown low-level role.

"What happened to the union?"

"I heard that because of the negotiation of the "Basic Agreement", the trade union has been quarreling with the producers. The whole negotiation process is not smooth, and there is even a vague plan to break up within the trade union."

Speaking of this, the screenwriter in charge of the diversity had a worried expression on his face.

Once the negotiation between the screenwriters union and the producer breaks down, it will not have much impact on a well-known screenwriter like Zhao Yuan, but it will be a major blow to a screenwriter like them.

Since they have chosen to join the screenwriters union and enjoy the convenience, benefits and work support that the union strives for, they must stand on the same stance with the union to fight if something goes wrong.

"Perhaps, this is just the news released by the trade union in order to gain more bargaining chips. The real situation may not be so bad."

On the surface, Zhao Yuan comforted the screenwriter in charge of the "Modern Family" episode in front of him.

But in fact, he is very clear in his heart that the decision of the screenwriters union this time will exceed the expectations of many concerned about this negotiation and even the producers.

Sure enough, a few days later.

The Writers Guild of America announced that negotiations with the producers broke down.

The union will hold its first strike in nearly 20 years, and all union members must take part in the strike action.

Any member who ignores this decision to strike and continues to participate in the work of film and TV dramas will be severely punished by the union.

​​