IMDb RATING
6.7/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
A documentary that explores the world of U.S. television showrunners and the creative forces aligned around them.A documentary that explores the world of U.S. television showrunners and the creative forces aligned around them.A documentary that explores the world of U.S. television showrunners and the creative forces aligned around them.
- Awards
- 1 nomination
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFilmmakers Des Doyle and Ryan Patrick McGuffey have said that they had almost given up on getting Joss Whedon in the film after trying for a year to reach him. Then one morning after leaving a meeting with Bad Robot they literally ran into him in the parking lot and pitched him then and there. Incredibly he agreed to take part. However when they filmed his interview approx 2 months later (on the Monday morning after The Avengers opening weekend) they had literally just 1 hour to shoot before Joss was leaving for his first vacation in 2 years. Just as filming commenced workers started cutting down a large tree outside which lead to a traffic jam. Doyle was terrified that the sound from the interview would be unusable but had to proceed anyway. Remarkably the Sound Post-Production team in Dublin were able to remove all of the distracting background noise allowing the filmmakers to use Joss' interview.
- Quotes
Matthew Carnahan: It's just a fuckin' grind, is the truth.
Featured review
Greetings again from the darkness. It's simultaneously "the best job and the worst job". While not a definition of a TV Showrunner, that is certainly the best description. With the recent renaissance of TV, and the competition between networks, cable and the internet, an incredible level of creativity and freedom has produced a more cinematic effect on the small screen. Whose broad shoulders are responsible for what we watch? The Showrunners, that's who.
This is a behind-the-scenes look at the process of getting a show to air, and then struggling to keep it there it takes an enormous amount of talent and a ton of good luck. We learn that 84% of new TV shows fail, and it's important to note that good shows often fail – not just bad ones. Director Des Doyle presents an extremely impressive succession of interviews. These are the writers, producers and showrunners of some of TV's most innovative shows: JJ Abrams ("Lost"), Joss Whedon ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer"), Terence Winter ("The Sopranos", "Boardwalk Empire"), and Janet Tamaro ("Rizzoli & Ives") just to name a few. This who's who of showrunners generously share their insight and observations on the business that more than a few call "a grind".
Especially interesting is the concentration on the writing process. We go inside the writer's room and hear discussions on the importance of looking at the entire season, rather than a specific episode. We learn the importance of "quality scripts on time", meaning the writing must be good and must come fast – episodes frequently air within a month of filming. Joss Whedon advises writers to focus on moments, not on moves. Collaboration is crucial, and while nothing beats an actor who embodies a particular role (Michael Chiklis in "The Shield"), never lose sight that writing is the heart of TV shows.
Discussion of the various outlets (networks, cable, internet) leads to an explanation of how TV writing has evolved. Some shows are now designed for the increasingly-popular "binge watching", while network shows are still in the business of "selling ads". Another significant shift is due to Social Media. TV is described as now being like the theatre – immediate feedback is available (Twitter, Facebook). While ratings are still important, interaction between the industry and viewing public is now standard operating procedure.
It's not often we are allowed behind the curtain in the entertainment business, but this one should be mandatory viewing for anyone with an itch to become a TV writer. You should know the stress and insecurities that accompany the talent and ego. You should understand the time pressures and the lack of recognition that often follows even those who prove successful. You should also know that for those who have it in their blood, nothing else compares. This is truly "the art of running a TV show".
This is a behind-the-scenes look at the process of getting a show to air, and then struggling to keep it there it takes an enormous amount of talent and a ton of good luck. We learn that 84% of new TV shows fail, and it's important to note that good shows often fail – not just bad ones. Director Des Doyle presents an extremely impressive succession of interviews. These are the writers, producers and showrunners of some of TV's most innovative shows: JJ Abrams ("Lost"), Joss Whedon ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer"), Terence Winter ("The Sopranos", "Boardwalk Empire"), and Janet Tamaro ("Rizzoli & Ives") just to name a few. This who's who of showrunners generously share their insight and observations on the business that more than a few call "a grind".
Especially interesting is the concentration on the writing process. We go inside the writer's room and hear discussions on the importance of looking at the entire season, rather than a specific episode. We learn the importance of "quality scripts on time", meaning the writing must be good and must come fast – episodes frequently air within a month of filming. Joss Whedon advises writers to focus on moments, not on moves. Collaboration is crucial, and while nothing beats an actor who embodies a particular role (Michael Chiklis in "The Shield"), never lose sight that writing is the heart of TV shows.
Discussion of the various outlets (networks, cable, internet) leads to an explanation of how TV writing has evolved. Some shows are now designed for the increasingly-popular "binge watching", while network shows are still in the business of "selling ads". Another significant shift is due to Social Media. TV is described as now being like the theatre – immediate feedback is available (Twitter, Facebook). While ratings are still important, interaction between the industry and viewing public is now standard operating procedure.
It's not often we are allowed behind the curtain in the entertainment business, but this one should be mandatory viewing for anyone with an itch to become a TV writer. You should know the stress and insecurities that accompany the talent and ego. You should understand the time pressures and the lack of recognition that often follows even those who prove successful. You should also know that for those who have it in their blood, nothing else compares. This is truly "the art of running a TV show".
- ferguson-6
- Oct 29, 2014
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- Showrunners
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $3,100
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $3,100
- Nov 2, 2014
- Gross worldwide
- $3,100
- Runtime1 hour 30 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9 HD
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content
Top Gap
By what name was Showrunners: The Art of Running a TV Show (2014) officially released in Canada in English?
Answer