StoryTroy: The Official Online Home of Writer/Producer Troy DeVolld: Recent Comments

Comment on Bubbles and Cheesecake... Dig It.

Brent Igo — Tue, 06 May 2008 03:05:17 GMT

Good stuff, here. Something brought you to mind today, Troy. I saw a story online describing a substitute teacher in Florida who was fired after he made a toothpick disappear in front of a room full of students. The official charge leading to his firing: wizardry. No lie, wizardry.

Comment on OT in the LA

MXXMC1 — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 07:13:32 GMT

Reality writers need a guild to provide employer oversight, benefites and fair wages.

Reality tv employees need to unite and demand it. Once the tide turns and it becomes more expensive to fight these cases in court and once precedents like the one stated in the article about overtime are set then fair wages will be had by reality writers.

Thanks for the blog. It's also something that will help by bringing attention to this matter.

I work as a writer in reality television for a major brand on a major cable network and it's amazing how many people do not even know about the fight for fair working conditions.

Comment on So you want to be in reality television.

Michael — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 06:24:26 GMT

Thanks for the article. I work in reality television and I like your page.

Comment on Reality

Tom Neary — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 22:15:36 GMT

p.s. I meant to write"found your articles" sorry, Tom N.

Comment on Reality

Tom Neary — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 22:11:51 GMT

Hi Mr. Devolld, My name is Tom Neary, I'm a friend of Rachel Riskind(I also work for Todd A-O,but in Santa Monica, with Brett Voss,Full Sail grad)and she encouraged me to write you. First of all, I really found you articles to be enlightening and certainly useful. I used to bartend acsross the street for Second City Theater in Chicago and from time to time Tim Kazurinsky would come in for a drink, he is a really nice guy. Anyway, I'm certain you hear this day and night,but I have what I think is a really great idea for a reality show and need to know what steps are availble for me to take in order to find out if this is true, and hopefully where, if anywhere to take it from there. I have been reluctant to tell many people about it,in fear of it getting stolen, but the few I have were very positive when they surely didn't need to be. I would appreciate any advice or help you are able to give me, Thank you, Tom Neary 323.382.3030 tnearyster@gmail.com

Comment on So you want to be in reality television.

Lloyd — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 23:22:51 GMT

Just wanted to thank you for this entry... I was just doing a Google search for "Assistant Story Editor" when I found your blog since I'm applying for that position. Had to make sure I was applying for the right job considering I'm in the awkward Associate Producer/Segment Producer/Story Assistant/Assistant Story Editor/Assistant Story Producer stage. All the titles are just screwing with me. Anyways, thanks again for an informative blog entry! It's actually everything I was looking for and wondering.

Comment on Film Schools

James Barnes — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 05:25:13 GMT

I've thought about this a lot, and seen much of the same attitudes in the past 10 years. In a certain sense, I understand the negativity, as we are rarely in the place we wish to be, but I think there is a certain sense of entitlement that is imparted in people who attend film schools as opposed to other professional training.

I think a lot of the blame falls at the feet of the film schools themselves. Film schools are marketed to students as a “leg up” into the film industry, as if it is a professional trade one can assume upon completion of training. But film school graduates are not plumbers and do not leave school with all the pertinent knowledge in order to obtain an immediate position in the industry. The truth is that film school training is way too broad to guarantee ANY real paying position, as it’s essentially a gigantic 101 level course in basic filmmaking. It is the start of the learning process, not the culmination of it, but that kind of truth won’t sell tuitions.

The problem comes in the fact that any relevant position in the film industry comes at the culmination of many years of specialization (work), not from a couple years of generalization (school). A film school graduate leaves their institution with exactly the same potential as any other unpaid PA, and the most valuable thing that I learned at Full Sail is a single sentence that has followed me through the years.

“Attitude defines altitude”

It’s not what you know that defines your potential, but what you choose not to do.

Comment on Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig

James Barnes — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 05:03:37 GMT

Wow, that certainly IS a big change from when we attended. I can't believe Dave Franko is still there!

Comment on So you want to be in reality television.

Ken H — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 12:23:34 GMT

Troy,
You look like cabin boy. Glad I found you.
Ken H.

Comment on On Networking

Rob Ward — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 18:43:02 GMT

Great Article! I feel bad though, because I'm somewhat guilty. I've met people that I connect with on one level or another, and I know that I want to work with them on something. Time and other things may not permit me to do that right away.

I try to keep an open communication with that person, so that when time does allow me, we can go hang out or work on something.

In most part, I do agree with the article and not doing it just to do it. A great example is me giving you my card, when you spoke at Full Sail. I knew from listening to you, and the Q&A, that I'd like to do something with you, your ideas and guidance, and my ideas. Now, this is most likely not going to happen for a couple years. However, it could!

I've seen stranger! People you haven't seen in years, and the right person crosses your path when you need them to.

Take care,
Rob Ward
Merlyns Entertainment