TheWrap and Geek Media Ventures joined forces at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con for a series of panels featuring top writers behind some of Hollywood’s most beloved genre films and TV shows.
The “Inside The Writers Room: The Series” on Saturday night in Hall H, moderated by Sony Pictures TV’s Senior VP of Drama Development and Production Chris Parnell, featured a lively discussion about the creative process, show runner tips and how to turn bad ideas into good ones.
Panelists included Gabrielle Stanton (“Haven”), Michael Narducci (“The Originals”), Gennifer Hutchison (“Breaking Bad,” “Better Call Saul”), Steve Holland (“The Big Bang Theory”), Ryan Condal (“Colony”), William Harper (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Steve Melching (“Guardians of the Galaxy”), Jose Molina (“Agent Carter”) and Mark A. Altman (Agent X, Castle, Femme Fatales).
“It’s really important to keep the room moving,” said Narducci when asked about writer’s block. “And another way of making sure the room is loose is to talk about something else, usually other TV shows and movies.”
His fellow panelists agreed that discussing other content was energizing, and talk turned to what makes a great showrunner as both a leader of writers and a central voice for the production.
“It’s funny, because none of the qualities you need to be a great writer are the same as being a great show runner,” said Hutchison, “like sitting alone in a dark room at a computer.”
“You need to be a manager of people,” said Altman.
“And you must, must, must be decisive,” Narducci added. “You can’t always make the right decision, but you need a decision when any of the other departments come to you — from costumes or transportation, you need to be ready to give direction.”
Switching Back to the writer’s room, Condal expressed anxiety that not enough writers take the time to properly form an idea, instead agonizing over drafts of something half baked.
Hutchison laughed over a now-iconic “Breaking Bad” moment she wrote in which a DEA team in the desert discovers the head of an informant glued to a turtle’s shell. An unlucky agent attempts to remove the head, which detonates a nearby explosive.
“It’s funny what you [think] is a bad idea. When I pitched it, someone said, ‘and then it should explode.’ And we laughed about it for two weeks. But the more you think on it, yes, it should explode,” Hutchison said.
Comic-Con Party Report in Pictures: Jennifer Lawrence, Bill Murray, 'Star Wars' Crew Mix It Up (Photos)
There are two sides to Comic-Con. This gallery is about the right side of the collage.
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Jennifer Lawrence, Bill Murray and the cast of "Star Wars" are mixing it up alongside Tara Reid and Mike Tyson in San Diego.
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"When Harry Met Tyson": The unlikely duo met up at the Getty Images Portrait Studio Powered by Samsung Galaxy.
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James McAvoy, with a new dome, pal'ed around with Jesse Spencer at EW's bash at Float on Saturday night.
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Joss Whedon and Riki Lindhome at EW.
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The "Silicon Valley" guys are always festive. It is appropriate that they are near the HBO wing of the EW party.
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Quentin Tarantino flew down to Comic-Con to talk "The Hateful Eight". Cast members Kurt Russell, Tim Roth, and Walton Goggins flew in to the Samsung space.
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Christian Slater's new "Mr. Robot" is worth finding out where USA is on your channel guide. Slater showed up at EW.
Michael Buckner/Samsung
"Scream Queens" Lea Michele, Abigail Breslin, and Billie Lourd become selfie queens at Samsung.
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Will Forte and Seth MacFarlane are pals from "The Cleveland Show" and "American Dad." Both Fox guys met up at the studio's bash at the Andaz.
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J. Law knows the best way to deflect attention is to hang out with Bill Murray. The two were backstage at Open Road's panel.
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Tara Reid, riding the "Sharknado" renaissance, bumped into Iron Mike at the Con on Friday.
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"Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens" producer Kathleen Kennedy backstage at the surprise symphony concert after the "Star Wars" panel on Friday night.
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A new generation of fans awakens for the franchise that was once the apotheosis of the "Con", as in "those 'Star Wars geeks' at that thing in San Diego." No longer.
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Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie) and Finn (John Boyega) at the "Star Wars" concert.
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Light sabers stood in for conductor's batons.
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"Sorry Gene, we don't have a tongue-operated controller for the WiiU." - at Nintendo's celeb lounge on a yacht.
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Wesley Snipes' reality: promoting this fall's Thursday night NBC series "The Player." His virtual reality: Samung. He put on the VR goggles at the Samsung Galaxy Suite in the Hard Rock.
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The Playboy party took over Parq Restaurant and Nightclub on Friday night.
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Kendra Wilkinson has written two books and not slagged off Hugh Hefner enough to earn guest list banishment.
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Meagan Good never pulls a Zuckerberg.
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Eden Sher ("The Middle") reminds everyone she is a fan of The Rolling Stones at the Playboy party, a partnership with Gramercy Pictures tied to Friday's release of "Self/less".
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Alexander Ludwig with the playmate that Playboy pushed forward for all of the hero and branded sponsor posed shots, Miss February 2007 Carly Lauren.
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Before the weeekend started, Tyler Posey and Bella Thorne hosted the "MTV Fandom" awards first, and made a Mel B panini second.
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Vanessa Hudgens and Austin Butler.
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Inside and backstage the best bashes in San Diego with TheWrap’s Mikey Glazer
There are two sides to Comic-Con. This gallery is about the right side of the collage.