Watching TV Through a Mother’s Eyes

We had a Baby

Many faces of Halle Jo
The many faces of our daughter, Halle Jo.

From the moment we announced our pregnancy, I was told by friends, business associates and the media how motherhood would change me.

I was frightened some magic hormone potion would get released in my body and I would no longer be me.

I’m here to tell you, I’m still me, I just have one more person I love in my life.

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MTV Caged: Sneak Peek of Episode One Tonight

Wes Caged

Cage fighter Wesley Branch featured in Entertainment Weekly’s Must List

Caged: January 5th, 2012

We’re on a plane to Shreveport, Louisiana. Tonight we get to share a few of the upcoming episodes of MTVs Caged with our main cast members and tomorrow we will throw a private screening/party for them, their friends and the community that welcomed us.

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MTVs Caged: May I never Forget This Feeling by Joke Fincioen

Biagio: Today, Variety broke the news that our new show CAGED will premiere on January 9th at 10pm/9 central on MTV.

We love this show. We feel it’s the very best television we’ve ever made.

Joke, my wife and business partner, shared this journal entry with me, and I was so moved I asked her if I could share it with you. After thinking about it for a while, she gave me the go ahead.

Far more than “just another TV show” for the two of us, CAGED represents everything we ever hoped to accomplish in unscripted television.

I hope her words will touch you as they did me.

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I’ll Work for the Promise You’ll Pay Me Eventually

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Good luck seeing this anytime soon!

One of the blogs we love to frequent is run by acclaimed screenwriter John August. I met John once, although I’m sure he won’t remember. I was an assistant on the Paramount Lot and he was one of the nicest, most down-to-earth writers coming through our offices.

The other day John posted an anonymous blog from a fellow writer ranting about the fact that, in our industry, companies don’t pay until there are “executed” agreements. They will not write the check…but we ARE expected to start delivering work right away.

Some Background

Whether you’re a writer, director, producer or production company, the process of getting to a signed contract is basically the same. Most deals get beat out verbally, deal points are agreed upon by email, and then the deal is “closed.”

Sort of.

Once the artist/agent/lawyer/studio all agree and a deal is “closed” (verbally) we as artists are usually expected to start work right away.

However, the deal isn’t “executed” until a proper “long-form” agreement is written up and signed.

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Happy Holidays: Stay Extraordinary

Driving from a lunch pick-up for Biagio’s all day edit session, I passed the new Diet Coke billboards. Their new slogan is STAY EXTRAORDINARY, and maybe it is because I’m cheesy, or really like Diet Coke, but I love the slogan. So in the spirit of the holiday season, I hope you all take a … Read more

Welcome to Undeadwood

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Biagio is off editing our documentary Dying to do Letterman, and has entrusted me with the reigns to this week’s Scream Queens behind-the-scenes post.

Allow me to channel my inner-Biagio…

THE CAMPY SIDE OF HORROR

When we start developing a season of Scream Queens, we know there will be an episode that deals with the campy side of horror. Zombies, Vampires, Werewolves…it’s all too much fun NOT to include.

Plus, the chance to make a fake movie trailer for a campy movie in just one day is one exhilarating challenge. It gets everyone, from the cast to the crew excited. It’s the day that’s the most work, yet the most rewarding.

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Is Joke a Debbie Downer?

So, I got called a “Debbie Downer” tonight by someone trying to break into our business.

She asked me some questions. I gave her some straight forward answers. (To set the record straight, I may be more of a realist than an optimist, but I’m far from a pessimist.)

She Did Not Take My Answers Well…

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