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

Meet my new(er) blog.

Troy DeVolld — Mon, 24 May 2010 14:39:00 GMT

While I'll be hanging on to this domain, my blog has moved to http://realitytvtroy.wordpress.com

Planning update.

Troy DeVolld — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:54:00 GMT

It's that time of year again, when our thoughts turn to New Years resolutions.

Me, I'm a fan of makin' plans and setting goals.

If you've been following this blog for any length of time, you might remember that I made one, five and ten year plans the year I moved to Los Angeles. With just one year left to round out my first decade in Los Angeles, it's time to check in on my original list again:

My original plan (August, 2000) and status updates:

YEAR ONE
Do it. Move. (Moved in August of 2000)
Find Representation. (Happened late --- signed with APA in 2002 or 3, I can't recall)

YEAR FIVE
Full-time writer (I was a story producer within my first year here... yay!)
Join WGA/ATAS/AMPAS (Joined ATAS in 2002, became WGA NonFic Caucus Member in 2004, though I'm not a "member" yet)
Produce a motion picture (Co-Produced LOLLILOVE in 2004, a year ahead of schedule, now producing web series TRISHPATTYPAT as a practice run before making my own feature mid-2010)

YEAR TEN
Debt Free (Hiccup there thanks to a kooky combo of unforeseen events last coupla' years, but it'll happen by March)
Earn a Created by and/or Executive Producer credit (Made strategic partneship with an established EP friend and have four major meetings on original series in January... fingers crossed)
Purchase a home (No dice yet --- scouting condo market)

NEW GOALS:

2010 (one year add-on): Finish writing book. Get out of the house more. Lose 60 pounds. Reconnect with friends --- hit the town at least one night per week! Get back to see family once every 6 months.

TrishPattyPat

Troy DeVolld — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 06:55:00 GMT

Please check out the first promo for my upcoming web series, TRISHPATTYPAT, making its debut in the Spring of 2010. You can get updates through twitter.com/TrishPattyPat in the meanwhile.

Reconsidering my stance on auto-tuning...

Troy DeVolld — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:07:00 GMT

But just this once.

Classy surprises.

Troy DeVolld — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 21:49:00 GMT

Look at this lovely quarter-page ad my agency took out in Daily Variety today. Ain't that nice?

Surprise!

Troy DeVolld — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:20:00 GMT

Well, whaddya know. I accidentally discovered last week that the folks at 44 Blue had included their story producers on the list submitted to ATAS on the Daytime Emmy nom for SPLIT ENDS. Very exciting stuff (my first-ever shared Emmy nomination), and a nice gesture from a great company.

None of the story team on DANCING WITH THE STARS were listed during the two seasons the show was nominated for Primetime Emmys while I was there, but in the show's defense, the only program I ever saw include its story producers in either of those years was THE AMAZING RACE.

New season of SPLIT ENDS begins August 8 at 9pm/8c on Style.

Set Tivo's to Gawjuss, dahlink.

Troy DeVolld — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:35:00 GMT

It's here! Well, almost.

Season Two of SHE'S GOT THE LOOK, for which I story produced the premiere and one other episode, airs June 11 at 9pm on TvLand.

Split Ends: Daytime Emmy Nomination

Troy DeVolld — Sun, 24 May 2009 00:56:00 GMT

Style Network's SPLIT ENDS, on which I am enjoying yet another season of gainful employment, has received a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Special Class Program for the last outing.

Congratulations to all involved.

Twitter

Troy DeVolld — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 06:04:00 GMT

Now you can follow me with Twitter. You know, if you're that kind of person.

SHAKES THE CLOWN screening, Full Sail University

Troy DeVolld — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:59:00 GMT

Super-gigantic thanks to Full Sail University staff as well as director Bobcat Goldthwait and actor Tom Kenny for participating in the decidedly under-teched but extremely awesome screening of SHAKES THE CLOWN at Full Sail University this past week.

I'd heard a month or two earlier that SHAKES was a contender for their new screening series, and it was a real pleasure to moderate the student discussion of the film --- complete with call-ins from Bob and Tom graciously arranged by the incredible Paul Kozlowski.

Full Sail Network's RG Lacandola posted this brief interview with me afterward.

Story Producer and Grad Troy Devolld from Full Sail Network on Vimeo.

HEY JERRIE

Troy DeVolld — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:37:00 GMT

As you can tell from the frequent championing of her work that I do here on my wee blog, I've had the pleasure of knowing the multitalented, multiplatform mediaist tornado Allee Willis for about a year now. Whether you know her as the songwriter behind Boogie Wonderland, Neutron Dance, The Theme from Friends, Broadway's The Color Purple, or countless other projects, as a multimedia artist whose paintings and sculptures have sold in the thousands around the world, as a brilliant set designer for music videos and television programs, or as any one of her myriad creative selves, there's no debating her ability to remain creatively evergreen, boldly charging down the dark alleys of creativity like some kind of pink and green superhero.

So believe me when I tell you that her latest project, a music video called HEY JERRIE that posts on YouTube at 6pm tonight, will be worth the watch. The video features Allee with 91-year-old drummer Jerrie Thill.

More on the project here:

www.alleewillis.com/music/jerrie-thill/index.html

Thanks in advance for supporting real genius by lending your eyes and ears to something inspiring and fun.

-Troy

Thanks.

Troy DeVolld — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:35:00 GMT

I'll be 38 next week, which is no big shakes as life is good and numbers don't mean anything. I've had a great year personally and professionally, and owe a lot of people my gratitude for being part of my ongoing evolution as a human being.

A few:

My folks, who survived my stints in art school, then film school. You are both brave to have not steered me toward the safety of more ordinary pursuits.

Patricia, from whom I've learned plenty. Thank you from the bottom of my feet.

Allee, the most purely creative, unrestrained artist I may ever have the pleasure to know. Your fascination with process is catching.

Beth, who opens doors and somehow manages to be an agent and a human being at the same time.

Carrie, who never stops moving and doesn't let me, either.

Christo, who continues to make films that matter to him. You are a true friend and visionary.

Garry, whose easygoing demeanor still serves as a model for my own twelve years after graduting film school.

Paul, the only person fool enough to ever give me stage time. You're a genius.

Stevie, who has provided me with many great adventures in filmmaking since (along with Christo and Bobby) putting me up when I was new to town.

My WA friends, whose comraderie and occasional lunches remind me that I belong here and that this is what I should be doing instead of cleaning horse stalls.

The membership at large of the many professional organizations that I belong to here. It blows my mind to be in a room filled with people who all, at some point, gambled on a career in the arts and won.

There are more, and you know who you are. Here's to the next year and beyond, and thank you.

Bubbles again.

Troy DeVolld — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 02:12:00 GMT

How about some more exciting Allee Willis / Bubbles the artist YouTubage?

This time out, it's "I Confess," an incredible video resulting from the collaboration of Bubbles (Allee), Holly Palmer, and animator Prudence Fenton, who belongs in the pantheon of history's greatest animators for her groundbreaking work on everything from Pee Wee's Playhouse to Liquid Television to Peter Gabriel's best-remembered videos and beyond.

Dig in, eyeballs.

Another Allee Willis Bit of Bubbles-ishousness.

Troy DeVolld — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:37:00 GMT

Allee Willis, the pied piper of new media (or she would be if she was trying to get you to follow her instead of your own creative gut) just debuted her latest work last night at a huge party at her pad.

Behold... Editing is Cool.

Congrats, Joe.

Troy DeVolld — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 21:31:00 GMT

A hearty handshake and a slap on the back to Joe Lawrence on his new job. Way to go, Joe.

Launching Allee

Troy DeVolld — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 14:32:00 GMT

Super-collabo-friend Allee Willis's site just went explosivo with a new look and lots of new content. If you've never been there or haven't seen it in a while, get thee to www.alleewillis.com.

It'll shake your brain until the good stuff floats to the top.

Pluggity plug plug plug, or "Full Sail."

Troy DeVolld — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 01:25:00 GMT

If you read this blog (does anyone read this blog?), you hear me mention Full Sail Universty quite a bit. Here's a video glimpse into my alma mater, now grown into an even more hulking, brain-smashing temple of technological wonderment.

Interviewed here is Garry Jones, one of the founders and easily one of the top ten most influential people in both my career and the way I approach life.

More on Writing Reality.

Troy DeVolld — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:31:00 GMT

Another informative video for those with an interest in writing for reality tv.

Je t'adore, Gogosha Optique!

Troy DeVolld — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 03:58:00 GMT

I've spent 30 plus years in glasses, but never had as much fun getting a new pair as I did from Gogosha in Silverlake. Go! Patronize! I command thee!

Okay, how about if I just act nice and suggest it?

And as long as you're there, go across the street and have the best fish taco you've ever had.

http://gogosha.tumblr.com/

Reality Television and the "No-Aftermarket" myth; Story Producer pay

Troy DeVolld — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 04:10:00 GMT

Okay, it's no secret that I've been a great proponent of organizing reality television writers, but today a discussion with a dear friend and reality producer drove me over the edge.

Once again, I was offered the argument that reality television shows can't afford to go union (you know, like Gary Benz's wonderful INTERVENTION, which is WGA signatory, and DANCING WITH THE STARS, which is WGA signatory if only to the benefit of the wunnerful Mr. Dave Boone) because reality television shows can't be reaired. There's just no shelf-life, my friend argues.

In the past few months alone, I've watched the same episodes of many shows multiple times on cable networks like HGTV and others, and have seen my own work on THE BACHELOR, FLIPPING OUT and THE SURREAL LIFE reaired on networks other than those they originated on.

I'm passionate about organizing, but have always considered myself a pretty civil guy about it. The "there's no money in the aftermarket" argument for ever-decreasing non-union story rates, though, is really getting under my skin.

By the way, I've heard of some younger story producers taking jobs at 1000-1200 a week, and just wanted to let you know that most of the folks I know that are worth their salt are commanding two thousand to twenty eight hundred a week. Taking low-paying jobs, in the absence of minimums being set by a collective bargaining agreement, only serves to lower the bar and reduce your future earnings. You've getting your foot in the door to a business you're simultaneously hurting your earning potential in... so get the rate you deserve, and remember --- if you turn one down, there's always another job.