Head Writers - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

9999 · 04-28-2007, 07:35 PM

A Head Writer is a person who is in charge of a televison/radio series' writing team. Head writers are usually a part of a serial, though they are common on primetime serials.

They conceive the long-term story of a scripted television or radio series, and write the thrusts, outlining their tale approximately a week at a time, along with their Associate Head Writers and the show's producers. Sometimes, there may be a story document for one particular plot, summarizing all of the major beats, but this isn't required for all stories.

The head writer, co-head writer, associate head writers, and the breakdown writers then divide the week's thrust into five episodes by meeting three times a week. The breakdown writers outline an episode, breaking it down into acts and scenes, with a summary of the action. Sometimes a head writer or associate head writer may choose to write a breakdown. Then the script writers take the breakdown and write dialogue for each scene.

Script editors, like Elizabeth Korte, proof-read each completed script and check for continuity errors. From time to time, a script editor can also write breakdown and dialogue scripts on their respective shows like Korte does on General Hospital. A script is not considered complete until the head writer gives final approval.

A television series' writing team can consist of a head writer/co-head writer, associate head writer, breakdown writer, script writer, script/story editor, and a writer's assistant.

Current American Daytime Serial Head Writers
The Young And The Restless: Head-Lynn Marie Latham; co-Head-Scott Hamner
General Hospital: Robert Guza Jr.
One Life To Live: Head-Dena Higley; co-Head-Ron Carlivati
As The World Turns: Head-Jean Passanante; co-Heads-Christopher Whitesell & Leah Laiman
Guiding Light: Head-David Kreizman; co-Head-Donna M. Swajeski
All My Children: Megan McTavish
Passions: James E. Reilly
The Bold And The Beautiful: Bradley Bell
Days Of Our Lives: Head-Hogan Sheffer; co-Head-Meg Kelly

Primetime Serial Head Writers (aka Showrunners)
Grey's Anatomy: Shonda Rhimes
Desperate Housewives: Marc Cherry
Brothers & Sisters: Greg Berlanti

Notable TV Head Writers: Irna Phillips, Frank and Doris Hursley, Pat Falken Smith, Agnes Nixon, William J. Bell, Douglas Marland & Pamela Long

04-28-2007, 07:35 PM	#1
9999 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 28, 2007 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 7	Head Writers A Head Writer is a person who is in charge of a televison/radio series' writing team. Head writers are usually a part of a serial, though they are common on primetime serials. They conceive the long-term story of a scripted television or radio series, and write the thrusts, outlining their tale approximately a week at a time, along with their Associate Head Writers and the show's producers. Sometimes, there may be a story document for one particular plot, summarizing all of the major beats, but this isn't required for all stories. The head writer, co-head writer, associate head writers, and the breakdown writers then divide the week's thrust into five episodes by meeting three times a week. The breakdown writers outline an episode, breaking it down into acts and scenes, with a summary of the action. Sometimes a head writer or associate head writer may choose to write a breakdown. Then the script writers take the breakdown and write dialogue for each scene. Script editors, like Elizabeth Korte, proof-read each completed script and check for continuity errors. From time to time, a script editor can also write breakdown and dialogue scripts on their respective shows like Korte does on General Hospital. A script is not considered complete until the head writer gives final approval. A television series' writing team can consist of a head writer/co-head writer, associate head writer, breakdown writer, script writer, script/story editor, and a writer's assistant. Current American Daytime Serial Head Writers The Young And The Restless: Head-Lynn Marie Latham; co-Head-Scott Hamner General Hospital: Robert Guza Jr. One Life To Live: Head-Dena Higley; co-Head-Ron Carlivati As The World Turns: Head-Jean Passanante; co-Heads-Christopher Whitesell & Leah Laiman Guiding Light: Head-David Kreizman; co-Head-Donna M. Swajeski All My Children: Megan McTavish Passions: James E. Reilly The Bold And The Beautiful: Bradley Bell Days Of Our Lives: Head-Hogan Sheffer; co-Head-Meg Kelly Primetime Serial Head Writers (aka Showrunners) Grey's Anatomy: Shonda Rhimes Desperate Housewives: Marc Cherry Brothers & Sisters: Greg Berlanti Notable TV Head Writers: Irna Phillips, Frank and Doris Hursley, Pat Falken Smith, Agnes Nixon, William J. Bell, Douglas Marland & Pamela Long