‘You’re selling the sizzle, not the steak.”

My first guest in Season 2 of the podcast is screenwriter, script producer and script editor John Armstrong. We first met at a screenwriters’ pitch event in Sydney in 2017 and have since co-created a teen drama series which is in early stage development.

In this episode we discuss what goes into different story bibles from the pitch ones used to sell a television show, to the more detailed series or writers’ bible used to help writers before and during production.

We also discuss the US showrunner model of creating shows versus Australia’s producer-created model and how that informs how TV pitch/series bibles are compiled.

Podcast Guest Profile

John Armstrong is a screenwriter, script editor and script producer with over 20 years’ experience in creating television for younger audiences.

Most recently he was the script producer and writer for the Netflix animated series Beat Bugs (featuring the music of The Beatles) which won the 2017 Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in Preschool Animation, and the 2016 AACTA Award for Best Children’s Series.

John has also won three Australian Writers’ Guild Awards (AWGIES) and been nominated seven times.

Time Stamps

0:51 | Why I’m making a kids’ TV show in Australia

9:11 | Interview with John Armstrong

Interesting Links
Australian Writers' Guild https://www.awg.com.au/
Examples of successful TV series bibles on Carol Kirschner’s website https://www.carolekirschner.com/blog/series-bible
Stranger Things Series Bible http://www.zen134237.zen.co.uk/Stranger_Things/Stranger_Things_-_Bible.pdf
Beat Bugs on Netflix https://www.netflix.com/au/title/80057611
Motown Magic on Netflix https://www.netflix.com/au/title/80134440

Say Hello!

I'm at taku.com.au, Instagram/Twitter: @takuspeaks or Facebook: @TakuTV.

<blockquote>
&lsquo;You&rsquo;re selling the sizzle, not the steak.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
My first guest in Season 2 of the podcast is screenwriter, script producer and script editor John Armstrong. We first met at a screenwriters&rsquo; pitch event in Sydney in 2017 and have since co-created a teen drama series which is in early stage development.
In this episode we discuss what goes into different story bibles from the pitch ones used to sell a television show, to the more detailed series or writers&rsquo; bible used to help writers before and during production.
We also discuss the US showrunner model of creating shows versus Australia&rsquo;s producer-created model and how that informs how TV pitch/series bibles are compiled.
<hr>
Podcast Guest Profile
John Armstrong is a screenwriter, script editor and script producer with over 20 years&rsquo; experience in creating television for younger audiences.
Most recently he was the script producer and writer for the Netflix animated series Beat Bugs (featuring the music of The Beatles) which won the 2017 Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in Preschool Animation, and the 2016 AACTA Award for Best Children&rsquo;s Series.
John has also won three Australian Writers&rsquo; Guild Awards (AWGIES) and been nominated seven times.
<hr>
Time Stamps
0:51 | Why I&rsquo;m making a kids&rsquo; TV show in Australia
9:11 | Interview with John Armstrong
Interesting Links
<ul>
<li>Australian Writers' Guild <a href="https://www.awg.com.au/">https://www.awg.com.au/</a></li>
<li>Examples of successful TV series bibles on Carol Kirschner&rsquo;s website <a href="https://www.carolekirschner.com/blog/series-bible">https://www.carolekirschner.com/blog/series-bible</a></li>
<li>Stranger Things Series Bible <a href="http://www.zen134237.zen.co.uk/Stranger_Things/Stranger_Things_-_Bible.pdf">http://www.zen134237.zen.co.uk/Stranger_Things/Stranger_Things_-_Bible.pdf</a></li>
<li>Beat Bugs on Netflix <a href="https://www.netflix.com/au/title/80057611">https://www.netflix.com/au/title/80057611</a></li>
<li>Motown Magic on Netflix <a href="https://www.netflix.com/au/title/80134440">https://www.netflix.com/au/title/80134440</a></li>
</ul>
<hr>
Say Hello!
I'm at <a href="http://www.taku.com.au">taku.com.au</a>, Instagram/Twitter: <a href="https://instagram.com/takuspeaks/">@takuspeaks</a> or Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/takutv">@TakuTV</a>.

Hi, I'm Taku Mbudzi and I love to tell stories — give me a pen, a microphone or a camera and I’ll have something to share.

Two Words with Taku is a podcast and pit stop for writers and storytellers — a place for rest, encouragement, inspiration and fuel before you head back out to the work of writing.

Join our community at https://twowordswithtaku.substack.com/, and follow the show on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TwoWordswithTaku/ and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/twowordswithtaku/ for updates on our LIVE in-person podcast recording events.

Podcast produced and recorded on the traditional country of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, Australia.

Hi, I'm Taku Mbudzi and I love to tell stories — give me a pen, a microphone or a camera and I’ll have something to share.
Two Words with Taku is a podcast and pit stop for writers and storytellers — a place for rest, encouragement, inspiration and fuel before you head back out to the work of writing.
Join our community at <a href="https://twowordswithtaku.substack.com/">https://twowordswithtaku.substack.com/</a>, and follow the show on Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TwoWordswithTaku/">https://www.facebook.com/TwoWordswithTaku/</a> and Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/twowordswithtaku/">https://www.instagram.com/twowordswithtaku/</a> for updates on our LIVE in-person podcast recording events.
<hr>
Podcast produced and recorded on the traditional country of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, Australia.

Writer by day; comedian and filmmaker by night.

Two Words with Taku

Hi, I'm Taku Mbudzi and I love to tell stories — give me a pen, a microphone or a camera and I’ll have something to share. 

Two Words with Taku is a show about my writing and storytelling adventures. Watch my film Gugu naGogo on ABC iview at https://iview.abc.net.au/show/gugu-nagogo.

Podcast produced and recorded on the traditional country of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, Australia.

Hi, I'm Taku Mbudzi and I love to tell stories — give me a pen, a microphone or a camera and I’ll have something to share. 
Two Words with Taku is a show about my writing and storytelling adventures. Watch my film Gugu naGogo on ABC iview at <a href="https://iview.abc.net.au/show/gugu-nagogo">https://iview.abc.net.au/show/gugu-nagogo</a>.
<hr>
Podcast produced and recorded on the traditional country of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, Australia.

Advertisement