Issue date: 4/7/08 Section: Campus

However, too much flexibility can also be a problem, Tolchinsky said.

"Nobody wants to work with a writer that says, 'Yeah, do whatever you want,'" he said.

The discussion was mixed with short film clips of the panel's work, including several from "CSI." After each clip the speakers discussed the collaboration that went into each scene.

The theme of collaboration led to talk of networking and community building in the industry, including situations future writers should avoid.

Laverne McKinnon, the president of TV production for 50 Cannon Entertainment and former CBS senior vice president of drama series development, shared a story of a beginning writer who made the mistake of criticizing his co-writers in a blog and had trouble finding work afterward.

"Be very, very careful of the things you say," said McKinnon, Communication '87. "You never know who knows who and how it could get back to them."

The audience included many Masters of Fine Arts students, many of whom said they enjoyed the opportunity to hear from successful members of the industry.

"Writing for Hollywood is a very vague artistic endeavor, and it's nice to hear about it from people who know," said second-year master's student Kristin Chirico.

The panel ended by answering audience questions and encouraging students to always be persistent.

"There are moments of despair," Helgenberger said. "The important thing to always keep in mind is to always go back to the craft and go back to the process."

c-salter@northwestern.edu

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