In this issue:
Emilia Serrano is a 2008 grad of the NLMC Writers Program. She has since worked on three shows; ABC’s "My Generation", TNT’s "Rizzoli and Isles" and more recently FOX’s "The Finder". Emilia had these thoughts to say about the program: "The program challenged us to create a spec in 5 weeks. From idea to logline to outline. All of these elements are crucial to writing a script on a show. And the 5-week timeline is perfect because it’s very true to life."
You can catch "The Finder" coming soon in 2012.
Rob Sudduth, class of 2008, received a job writing for ABC’s "Good Christian Belles". Here are his thoughts, "Several weeks ago, I landed a Staff Writer gig on the upcoming ABC show, "Good Christian Belles." So far it’s been an amazing experience and I credit the NHMC program for playing a part in my preparation for this job. A writer’s room is all about pitching. Though the dynamics are much more intense here, the mock
room Geoff set up at NHMC was a great way to get our feet wet. I made connections with executives and landed some pretty cool friends, too."
You can catch "Good Christian Belles" this Fall 2011.
Gina Monreal, class of 2008, received a job writing for CBS’ "NCIS".
"The spec I wrote in the NHMC Writers Program not only got me into the NBC and ABC programs — it also helped me get staffed on NCIS. I am so very grateful to Alex Nogales, Geoff Harris, and everyone at the NHMC for believing in me and pushing my career in the right direction."
Watch "NCIS" on Tuesdays at 8:00 PM.
Spiro Skentzos, class of 2009, is writing for NBC’s "Grimm".
"I was staffed on NBC’s new show GRIMM this fall, and getting this job can be traced back to the hard work I did in the NHMC program. The program helped me hone my writing skills and gave me the confidence to know that even if I wasn’t staffed the year I was in the program, that I did have the talent to be staffed, and this year I was. You can’t put a price on that kind of experience."Watch "GRIMM" this fall on Fridays at 9:00PM
Marcos Luevanos, Alumnus of 2008, received a job writing for BET’s "The Game".
Catch "The Game", weekdays at 4:00PM and weekends at 8:00AM.
Sierra Ornelas, class of 2009, received a job writing for ABC’s "Happy Endings".
Watch "Happy Endings"Season Premiere Wednesday, September 28th at 9:30 PM.
Silvia Olivas, class of 2009, received a job writing for Disney’s new show "Jessie".
Coming soon in 2011.
Mark Valadez, class of 2008, received a job writing for TNT’s new show "Perception". Coming soon this Fall 2011.
The NLMC Writers Program, coordinated and run by NHMC, is a highly competitive and prestigous 5-week intensive training program. The writers are trained by former NBC V.P of Script Development, Geoff Harris, and are given the opportunity to meet with and be exposed to network executives and personalities. NHMC is now accepting applications until July 29. Please see the article below for more information on the program.
October 2008 will be etched forever in my mind as the point at which my whole world changed. I had been working in corporate communications for ten years, nursing dreams of someday making a living as a writer. I remember walking the streets of downtown Chicago on my lunch hour the day I go
t the call, notifying me that I had made it to the finals in competition for the NHMC TV Writers’ Workshop. A month later, I was in L.A.
This is not to say doors just started magically opening, but for me, the Workshop was an important first step in carving a new career path. Learning how to hone my craft was only part of it. The workshop served me well with lessons in networking and industry exposure that I wouldn’t have had access to otherwise. For me, it was a springboard into the ABC-Disney Writing Program and a first staffing assignment on ABC’s "Scrubs."
At this writing, I’m a week into my new job as a staff writer on TNT’s "Perception." The journey is ongoing, and it’s hard work, but there’s nothing I’d rather be doing.
By Geoff Harris,
Teacher/Mentor of the Writing Workshop geoffOver a cup of coffee, a screenwriter friend of mine told me that he hates TV.
I took his bait and asked him why.
"I hate TV," he said, "because it’s so well written."
I couldn’t agree with him more. TV is well written. Week in and week out, it offers compelling and memorable scripted shows.
Look at the cleverly written comedies, such as Modern Family, 30 Rock, and The Big Bang Theory. And on the drama side, there are Breaking Bad, Castle, and Mad Men.
A TV series, staffed with terrific writers, comes up with compelling ideas that go from script to screen in a couple of months.
And the NHMC intends to prepare Latino writers for the rigors of writing on the staff of a scripted TV series, comedy or drama.
Our five-week Writing Workshop is an intense (but fun) program that’s set up like the Writers’ Room. During the Workshop, each of the ten writers who are selected will, under my guidance, write at least one spec script that could be used as a "calling card" to showcase your writing talent. And, perhaps, that polished spec script can ultimately lead to work on a TV show, as it has for some of our graduates.
If you or anyone you know loves to write TV scripts and would be interested in our program, sign up for the Workshop. And spread the word. It’s a once in a lifetime experience!
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Washington, D.C. 20036
The DC office will be staffed by NHMC’s Vice President of Policy and Legal Affairs, Jessica Gonzalez, and Policy Counsel Michael Scurato.
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