He moved permanently to Los Angeles! And then the phone started ringing for Canadian jobs… Award-winning Canadian TV & feature writer-producer Wil Zmak is sure to win records for the longest commute!
Wil Zmak grew up in Toronto, and studied film at Toronto’s York University (around the same time Gray was there), as well as the Canadian Film Centre. Then, his wife’s career demanded a move to the US, and it was off to Los Angeles!
Now permanently planted in L.A., Wil was offered the first of many Canadian jobs, that would see him travel to Canada for several months at a time, flying home on weekends to be with his family. Since then, Wil has worked as a writer, producer, and story editor on several Canadian television series, including The Listener (CTV, FOX International), The Aladdin Project (CTV), Stone Undercover (Tom Stone – CBC / US syndication), Jinnah on Crime (CBC), and Being Erica (CBC).
Hear the fascinating story of how a conversation with director Paul Fox on the state of film storytelling resulted in Wil writing the script for the 2005 thriller The Dark Hours, which has won fifteen awards at international festivals, including seven for Best Feature.
Wil has also worked in development for both TV and features, and offers many helpful tips, including the best way to adapt novels to the screen; what adaptations can teach you about your original material; targeted networking; and why you shouldn’t limit yourself to the hero’s journey and commonly taught story structures.
Follow Wil Zmak on Twitter: @wilzmak
Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews.
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 1,000 TV writers. Find our previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com or on Gray’s YouTube channel.
First published March 27, 2011.
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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)
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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)
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039 – Kojak, Rockford Files Writer Eric Kaldor (mp3)
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