From Alaska to the CIA to being the funny drama guy... this week host Gray Jones interviews TV writer and Script Anatomy instructor Zach Ayers.
Zach Ayers is a versatile TV writer who has found his stride as the funny guy in a drama room. Although before his TV career, Zach spent five years in a deadly-serious job at the Central Intelligence Agency. There he wrote and produced top-secret training films that taught US intelligence officers how to do their job well and survive doing it. He knows all the scary stuff. Which, in retrospect, Zach finds hilarious.
Recently, Zach wrote and produced the bio-series "American Soul" (BET). Other credits include "Siren" (Freeform), "State of Affairs" (NBC) and "A.N.T. Farm" (Disney). He’s also developed and sold several TV projects of his own across genres and formats. Zach's one of those oddball writers who actually loves to pitch.
Zach's an alumnus of the ABC/Disney Writing Fellowship, Second City and Ithaca College. He grew up in rural, working-class Alaska, learning how to drive a forklift before he learned how to drive a car. But now he’s 100% city kid, living with his family and his cat Balki on the eastside of Los Angeles. He still does his own yardwork.
Follow Zach on Twitter: @ZachTellsLies
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Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.
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056 – Bristol Boys Writer Brandon David Cole (mp3)
055 – Dark Oracle, Being Erica Creator/Showrunner Jana Sinyor (mp3)
054 – Hollywood Game Plan Author, Showrunner Training Program Director Carole Kirschner (mp3)
053 – Beyond Screenwriting Author, The Unit Writer Sterling Anderson (mp3)
052 – Carnivale, Bxx: Haunted Creator Daniel Knauf (mp3)
051 – Dancing With the Stars Producer, Reality TV Author Troy Devolld (mp3)
050 – Awake, Lone Star Creator Kyle Killen (mp3)
049 – Writing the Pilot Author William Rabkin (mp3)
048 – Manager Brandy Rivers of Gersh Agency (mp3)
047 – The Cosby Show Writer, Byte-Sized Television Author Ross Brown (mp3)
046 – Comic Toolbox Author, Married… with Children Writer John Vorhaus (mp3)
045 – Drop Dead Diva, That 70’s Show Writer & TV Script Doctor Sarah McLaughlin (mp3)
044 – Coronation Street Writer, A Family At War & Sam Creator John Finch (mp3)
043 – Writing the TV Drama Series Author, USC Professor Pamela Douglas (mp3)
042 – Weird Science, Dawson’s Creek Writer Alan Cross (mp3)
041 – The Coffee Break Screenwriter Author, On The Page instructor Pilar Alessandra (mp3)
040 – Veronica Mars, Chuck Writer Phil Klemmer (mp3)
039 – Kojak, Rockford Files Writer Eric Kaldor (mp3)
038 – Chuck, That 70’s Show Comedy Kristin Newman (mp3)
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