See ya. Gone to Novel Rocket today. Hope you'll meet me there.
Father, once again I thank you for every opportunity. Bless those who are so generous with their time and places. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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The new CBS series Scorpion has gained some viewers with its primo placement on the Monday programming slot right before the new day and time for NCIS-LA. Well-promoted, it's still growing into itself. No easy task for writers making unemotional geniuses compelling individuals. Watching them solve complex crimes with ingenius ways of computing available data and information gathering is proving to be interesting. Not completely enticing yet, but interesting enough to keep watching.
For those of you who've watched, any thoughts?
Father, the magnificence of the talent you give to people never fails to impress and wow. I simply ask that each one would learn or recognize from whom that talent comes. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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Veterans, we honor you. You took an oath to honor the constitution and lay your life down for your country. We thank you for preserving our freedoms. Without you, we would not have liberty. Thank you is never enough.
God Bless the veterans and the USA.
Father, you are the sole and soul reason for the existence of this great nation. We offer repentance for the damage done through sinful ways. Please forgive us and help us to serve you above all. We're desperate for you, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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As time passes, I can't help but wonder why a television network would premiere a series without proper promotion, switch the viewing nights around to make it difficult for viewers to locate, and then after extremely well done debut episodes, cancel it. Yes, viewers were not numerous, but through no fault of their own. After all, it was a summer series, changed nights occasionally, and wasn't advertised heavily or often. Poor marketing.
Now new fans are discovering Reckless on Netflix and wondering why they missed it. They want more of it. Others keep asking if the network set it up to fail. And I'm asking what would be the point of that even though everything points to that very thing.
I know those of you who never saw the series must be wondering why I keep harping on Reckless. Only one reason: it's been a long time since I've been this impressed with a series at every level of its production. Most of you know I rarely gush about many things. Yes, occasionally, there's a novel that I love, and I won't fail to say so. Reckless was exceptionally done.
So, I ask, what was the point of not effectively promoting, switching viewing nights, and letting a very promising and well done series drop without renewing it for at least a second season? Why?
Father, you know the agendas of every human heart on this earth. Nothing is hidden from you. Help me to never attempt to hide anything from you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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For in his own eyes he flatters himself
too much to detect or hate his sin.
The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful;
he has ceased to be wise and to do good.
Even on his bed he plots evil;
he commits himself to a sinful course
and does not reject what is wrong.
Psalm 36:2-4 (NIV)
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F I V E
Five weird things about me:
There are certain windshield wiper speeds I can't tolerate. Their pauses make me anxious – like the tempo is all wrong, uneasy.
My favorite household chore is doing laundry. On the racetrack we had to go to laundromats for so many years. To have my own washer and dryer is a total treat.
Bad drivers or pokey drivers must be avoided at all costs. If I can't get around or past them, I'm tempted to go extra miles to get to my desination just to avoid or bypass them.
Sometimes cussing seems like the appropriate response, but I rarely do that anymore. I had to teach and force myself to do it in the beginning, but then I got pretty good at it. Not proud of that.
I can't remember the last time I slept through the night.
Father, we're all desperate for you, whether we know it or not. Thank you for all you've given me, your patience with me, your pure grace. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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My interview with script/screenwriter Corey Miller revealed a sensitive, kind professional, willing to engage a nobody - albeit a fellow writer of a different genre – and extend himself to those who love to hear about the reasons, motivations, scenarios, and events which pointed him to his career choices.
I realized in the process of this conversation those of us who write novels can easily relate to some of the seemingly universal truths of creating fiction. Whether it be in the medium of television or the novel, we recognize a common ground on certain levels. We love to tell stories, get reactions, share our emotions, and hope to elicit some favorable intensity from our viewers and/or readers.
"What I loved most about writing when I started is the same thing I love today: creating something that can be watched by millions of people all around the world. I so enjoy entertaining people and letting them escape from their own stresses even for that small bit of time." Corey Miller
In Part One of the interview Corey spoke of making his own contacts and breaking into the industry. Fiction authors know they must attend writers conferences and make those contacts any way they can without plaguing the agents looking for that one special writer to add to their stable. Agents usually are the only way to get to a publisher, but agents prefer writers who have already established a platform before they take you on as a client. It can be one of those clichéd catch-22 situations.
"When I first started trying to be a screenwriter, no one would read my script unless I had an agent, yet I couldn’t get an agent without already getting some traction. So you definitely have to do a lot of pavement pounding on your own, because there is so much competition out there, and agents are busy enough handling the clients they already have. So, usually, you end up getting your first job or two on your own." Corey Miller
Authors who enter the publishing world are subjected to some of the same criteria of "criticism", or shall we say "critique", as Corey described here:
"Television scripts have the fingerprints of many people all over them. From the moment a script leaves the printer, it is basically offered up for criticism. First you get internal notes. Then you get notes from the studio. Then the network. Then all of the department heads who have something to say about their part. Then you find out from the Line Producer that things need to be shifted or trimmed or altered to get the episode in on budget. Then the director has thoughts, and so do the actors." Corey Miller
In the publishing realm some writers experience instant success, but that situation is a rarity. Breaking into it is difficult and requires enormous perseverance. However, authors now have the privilege of being their own "gatekeepers". With the indie, self, or custom publishing phenomenon taking the publishing world by storm, authors now have a fighting chance to get their work into a digital or print format without having to experience years of rejection because their pieces "aren't a fit for us", etc.
"It is very difficult to encourage people to do what I do, because even though it can be extremely fulfilling and lucrative, it is a business filled with rejection and heartache no matter how far you work your way up the ladder, and there is no road map showing anyone how to succeed. There are a million different paths, a million different stories." Corey Miller
Corey Miller provided insights into the medium of writing for television. Entertaining, thought provoking, and informative, it was fascinating to see the similarities and differences in the screenwriting and novelist fields. Good drama has always inspired me, and Corey Miller writes and produces some great episodes. He's a gifted individual and this interview proved to be a personal blessing in my life. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed my time with Corey.
Father, I pray you would continue to provide meaningful opportunities for Corey to use the talents you've given him. I ask you to lead him to the places you have just for him and please bless his work. Let him know you love him and deeply care about his writing. Watch over him and his family. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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This concludes my interview with uber-talented script/screenwriter, photographer, and gentleman Corey Miller. My gratitude for his time, his thoughtful candid answers, and the pleasure and privilege of having viewed his work - well, I really can't thank him enough. Tomorrow I'll conclude this series with a few of my thoughts on his answers. Thank you, Corey!
Outside of work, what do you love to do? I believe I caught something about vintage signs?
My biggest hobby outside of work is photography. I have become a vintage sign photographer when I am not toiling away on shows. Primarily fading neon signage. I do it for fun, but have been lucky to have had work featured in books, magazines, and galleries. People can check out my work on Flickr (www.flickr.com/toomuchfire) or Instagram (toomuchfire).Is Los Angeles/Hollywood your home?I was born and raised in a suburb not far from Los Angeles, but it seemed worlds away from the “Hollywood scene.” I didn’t know a soul in the business, but luckily when my interest in entertainment sprouted, I could go to television show tapings and experience some things first hand. I was also an extra in college, so I could watch what actually happened on film sets. So the proximity helped fuel my desire.Would you encourage others to do what you do? What would you say to them?It is very difficult to encourage people to do what I do, because even though it can be extremely fulfilling and lucrative, it is a business filled with rejection and heartache no matter how far you work your way up the ladder, and there is no road map showing anyone how to succeed. There are a million different paths, a million different stories. What I do tell young people is this: go to college. Get a degree. In film, or english, or history, or anything you also enjoy. Get an education because it does matter. It could also be the hammock you have to fall back on. Also, you may have to struggle for years, so it’s not for the unmotivated or for anyone who expects things to be handed to them. I believe Woody Allen said it best: “it’s worse than dog eat dog — it’s dog doesn’t return other dog’s phone calls."Have there been or are there now particular people in your field or in the overall industry who you truly admire and/or respect?In general, I just admire creative artists who use their medium to tell stories or to evoke feelings. And if they can collaborate with other artists and treat them with kindness and thoughtfulness, then they have my respect as well.Do you plan to work year round?I’ve given up on trying to plan anything, being in the business I am in. I have been lucky to have been on a few shows that have lasted multiple seasons, but nowadays episode orders are also shorter, giving writers more time off. Since the hours are brutal during the production season, I really enjoy the time off when I can get it. It’s more time I can spend with my family, for one. Just as well, one thing that I have discovered is that if I have some time off between jobs or between seasons, I have a better chance of recharging my creative juices, which means I have more ideas when I’m back on a new season or a new job.What would your dream vacation be?Anywhere I can go to spend quality time with my family, where we can alternate doing unique activities with doing absolutely nothing. Both are equally important, I believe.If you could write a script for a specific actor, who might that be?I’d like go back in time and write a film noir for Robert Mitchum.Do you have time to read novels? Do you have favorite authors?I make time to read novels. And my taste tends to go towards pulp detective novels and crime stories – Raymond Chandler, Lawrence Block, James Ellroy, Ross MacDonald and the like. And I usually have two books going at once, so I can alternate with biographies on people who fascinate me. I’m currently reading one on Charles Schulz.Favorite films, TV shows?My favorite films of all time may be Sunset Boulevard, All About Eve, and Chinatown. And shows? Breaking Bad, Friday Night Lights and The Shield are a few of my recent favorites.In closing, Corey, sum up what you do, why you elected to do it, and what it means to you.When I was a kid, I was a television junkie. I loved watching shows and was fascinated by how they could make me feel, and how I could be so immersed in the stories people created that I felt like I had been transported to another planet. I am so happy to now be in the position to create works that may also have an effect on people. It’s provided me with an interesting career working with so many talented people whom I admire, and I consider myself lucky every time I step onto a set.Lord, you know his heart and soul. Bless him, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. -
Above are just a few of the projects where you can find Corey Miller's writing contributions. I "found" Corey Miller's work on Reckless, but after interviewing him, I realized I'd previously seen his work on several prominent long-running series hits. An amazing script/screenwriter, Corey is a generous, kind, affable man who took the time to answer several questions I posed to him with thoughtful, meaningful, and helpful answers. During the course of the interview you'll find out he's a multi-talented guy who loves his family and participates in a good dose of nostalgia now and then.
So here we go. Meet Corey Miller.
Tell me who Corey Miller is at his soul level and then who Corey Miller is at his professional level.
At my soul, I am a dedicated husband and father to two amazing boys. And my sons being born changed who I was going to become at a professional level — I always seek balance in my life and work so I can enjoy what is truly important, and that’s my family. But on a professional level, I am someone who likes to tell stories, and I love using the television medium to do that.In your life what determined your talent and how you intended to use it?When I was a child, I was a voracious reader and loved storytelling. I began primarily writing short stories and poems. I also loved movies and television shows, and wanted to be in the entertainment business. But the idea of combining my two loves wasn’t an idea that just came to me, for some reason. Being an actual screenwriter seemed very intangible. After I graduated college with a film degree, I began to work in the entertainment business, in the production office of the television show “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.” And after reading the scripts that came out, the idea seemed more possible and real to me. I ended up writing a sample script of the show with a friend who was my writing partner for a spell, and one of the producers read it. He liked it and wanted us to pitch some more ideas. He ended up buying one of the stories from us, and I got my first story credit. This fueled my desire in a huge way, and I never looked back.Corey, I only became aware of your work recently in episodes of the very well done CBS summer replacement series Reckless. Amazing work there by you. Give us a little history on your writing career and tell us what makes working on certain projects the most fun or the least fun for you.First of all, thank you. Reckless was a wonderful project to be involved with. Well, after that “Lois & Clark” credit, I became a very prolific writer – though for years, I wasn’t paid a dime. While I worked in production offices, I wrote scripts on my off time and tried to get them into any door that I could using personal contacts. I didn’t have an agent, and things were very difficult. Then, back in the year 2000, I took a job working for the Showrunner of “CSI," Carol Mendelsohn. The show had just began shooting and had not yet aired. I eventually got the opportunity to write two freelance episodes of the show, which were well-received. By that time, “CSI: Miami” had been on the air, and I was asked to write an episode of that show in its first season. I became a full time writer on the second season of “CSI: Miami” after I was hired by Ann Donahue, and I stayed there for six seasons. Since then, I’ve also worked on the shows “The Forgotten,” “NCIS: Los Angeles,” and “Body of Proof.” Then “Reckless” came along.What I loved most about writing when I started is the same thing I love today: creating something that can be watched by millions of people all around the world. I so enjoy entertaining people and letting them escape from their own stresses even for that small bit of time. And nothing beats thinking of an idea and watching it come to life on the set. It’s such a pleasure working with so many talented people that bring the words to life in such amazing ways.Your ultimate goal in screen/scriptwriting if you have one?I do not have an ultimate goal per se – all I hope for is to keep having opportunities to be able to write varied and interesting stories and characters, and to be in the position to work with talented and unique people.How did your involvement in Reckless come about?I had just finished up three seasons working on the show “Body of Proof,” and had a meeting with my agents to try and spitball some possibilities for my next job. One of my agents had heard that CBS was looking to find a showrunning partner for Dana Stevens, the creator of the show. I had a very good relationship with CBS, and was ready to jump to that level. I said I would read the script that night and let them know if I was interested. And once I read it, I instantly knew it could be a fun show to work on. I expressed my interest, and then met with Dana. We shared our philosophies on the type of environment we would like to create on a show, and talked about our writing styles, and discussed possible directions that “Reckless” could take. I felt an immediate rapport with her, which is actually pretty rare in this business. I got the job, and a few days later was on a plane to Charleston to shoot the pilot.Do you have a specific purpose when writing a script, i.e. something especially important to you to be able to communicate through your story or episode?I can approach this question in a couple of different ways, using different examples that I have experienced. First, when you are a television writer on staff when it’s someone else’s show, you have to be extremely flexible and versatile. Sometimes you will be able to pitch a storyline that you are interested in telling, but many times you simply get assigned a story has been approved for that episode you are going to write. So many times you have to “disappear” and write what the show itself dictates – and so you may at first lack some deep or meaningful attachment to the story you’ve been assigned. So, when that has happened to me, I do try as much as possible to insert something with some personal meaning to me, or even give a character a world view that may be similar to mine. If that doesn’t seem possible, I at least have tried to infuse stories with a sense of humor.This changes when you are a showrunner, because you have ultimate control over which stories are being told. This alone makes everything more personal, because you are telling stories that you are most interested in. They may not have even originally come from your brain – one of the writers on your staff may have pitched it – but just from the fact that you find it interesting and entertaining enough to become an actual episode, I do think that whether you realize it or not, the show reflects your personality and experiences more than it would otherwise.Please explain how the process of being hired and/or submitting your work is done or accomplished. Do you attain work through an agent?There is no one simple or correct answer to this question, unfortunately. When I first started trying to be a screenwriter, no one would read my script unless I had an agent, yet I couldn’t get an agent without already getting some traction. So you definitely have to do a lot of pavement pounding on your own, because there is so much competition out there, and agents are busy enough handling the clients they already have. So, usually, you end up getting your first job or two on your own. Once you get representation, however, agents are trying to open new doors for you and keep you working, but you have to continue to foster relationships and network on your own. Most of my jobs have come around because of my own contacts, but you need to be backed up by an agent who understands what you are trying to accomplish so they can continue to advise your career moves and hopefully help create new ones.What's your favorite part of what you do?The part I most enjoy is being on set, watching actors work with my words and turn them into something that breathes and evokes emotion. But what gives me the most satisfaction is hearing from people who have watched my work and have either been moved, educated, surprised, or just plain entertained.When working on a series, with whom do you primarily work?As a writer on staff, first you usually work in a communal atmosphere with a group of other writers to get the story “broken” and outlined. After you’ve written the script, if you are producing your own episode, you then work with the department heads (wardrobe, art, camera, special effects, locations, etc.) in tandem with the episode’s director to communicate every detail of what you are trying to get across in your script to best duplicate your words and thoughts on screen. You also work with the actors on set. As a showrunner, you have that same experience, but with added layers. You are also working with the studio and network to ensure you are giving them what they are looking for. You are working with the casting department to hire actors. You are also working with the post production team (editors, sound designers, composers, visual effects, etc.) to complete the episode. You are the final say on every little matter, and it is an extremely difficult position.Are you consulted or given the opportunity to change your script if there is a problem of some kind? Is it always a work "in progress”?Television scripts have the fingerprints of many people all over them. From the moment a script leaves the printer, it is basically offered up for criticism. First you get internal notes. Then you get notes from the studio. Then the network. Then all of the department heads who have something to say about their part. Then you find out from the Line Producer that things need to be shifted or trimmed or altered to get the episode in on budget. Then the director has thoughts, and so do the actors. Luckily, television is a writer’s medium, so you are able to control most of the changes. But it is all an exercise in compromise. I mean, sure – there are writers out there who draw a hard line in the sand, and won’t listen to anyone and insist on full creative control. And a few will get it. But sometimes those people are just being stubborn. I welcome thoughtful input, because I always strive to make the episode I’m working on the best that it can be under the extreme time pressures we are put in doing episodic television. And if words don’t sound right coming out of an actor’s mouth, your scene will suffer. And then, let’s not forget, things change again once the script is shot and the footage is in the editing room. So I am collaborative and communicative, but if I feel that a discussed alteration is doing an injustice to a scene or to the overall story, I will not change it. Everything is to be judged on a case-by-case basis. Everything is indeed a work in progress until that final sound mix.. . . to be continued . . .Father, please keep Corey safe from all harm and continue to bless his life. In the name of Jesus, Amen. -
It's hard to believe that a CBS summer replacement series by the name of Reckless could capture my attention and almost immediately become one of my favorite TV series. Ever. Only to learn it was not renewed. #SaveReckless has labored to get the attention of CBS and other stations for extending the series, but so far to no avail. The sci-fi Extant with Halle Berry was kept and the Stephen King series Under the Dome was renewed. I forced myself to sit through one episode of Extant but could not manage sitting through it a second time. Under the Dome didn't interest me.
Most of you know I did an entire series of "character studies" on several of the primary personalities in Reckless. So well written and performed, I also wrote about how Reckless had it all.
Those posts were a result of my absorption, appreciation, and genuine interest in the series and yielded some positive results from its creator Dana Stevens and "showrunner" Corey Miller. Because of their responses, I inquired to see if Corey Miller would have the time (and desire) to do an email interview with me, and he graciously agreed to do so.
Corey Miller's responses to my questions will be done in two parts tomorrow (Tuesday the 4th) and Wednesday. If you've ever been curious about the script/screenwriters of those television shows you watch religiously, you'll be both informed and impressed by Corey's candid answers to my questions.
You'll find Corey to be an incredible, multi-talented, thoughtful, and interesting man. I guarantee you won't be disappointed in what he has to say.
Father, please continue to bless Corey's family, his talents, his hard work, and his gracious attitude. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
