We recently connected with James DeLorean and have shared our conversation below.

James, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s jump right into the heart of things. Outsiders often think businesses or industries have much larger profit margins than they actually do – the reason is that outsiders are often unaware of the biggest challenges to profitability in various industries – what’s the biggest challenge to profitability in your industry?

Lately TV writing has become exceptionally challenging due to a few macro level events.

Of course the pandemic caused production delays, pulverized the economy, and COVID testing drove up production costs. A lot of people weren’t working. Before anyone had a chance to fully recover, the WGA strike happened. Writers were out of work for several months (if not much longer). Everyone is still licking their wounds from that. And somewhere within that timeframe, the streaming bubble burst.

The streaming experience was unique in part due to three components: No ads (i.e. no ad revenue), high budget productions, and low monthly fees. Each of those elements were unsustainable in and of themselves, but for a long time, streamers provided all three. Suddenly, an across the board re-evaluation is happening. Streamers are increasing fees, ads are becoming more common, and everyone seem less inclined to spend massive amounts of money on producing shows.

Other cost cutting measures are being implemented which will lead to less jobs (or shorter ones). Less shows are being made. More content is being licensed from overseas. Less episodes per season. Shorter runtimes.

All that being said, the current recalibration will eventually lead to a new baseline and I think things will improve for everyone over the next 1-2 years.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a TV Writer and Writers’ Assistant, most recently for Season 2 of THE ARK (currently airing Wednesdays at 10/9c on SYFY). I have worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade in a variety of roles. During that time, I was always writing and took a lot of classes to hone my craft. By the time I found my way into a writers’ room and was offered a freelance episode, I had developed the skills necessary to succeed in the role.

Recently I’ve been focused on development. I’m drawn to character-driven stories that explore the relationship between nostalgia and trauma, and every individual’s potential for change.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The path to become a TV writer requires the writer to assume a lot of risk. I had to invest a lot of time and money to learn the craft as I paid my dues in administrative industry jobs for years, not knowing whether any of this would pan out. There are always so many factors beyond your control. And there have certainly been moments along the way when I’ve questioned my decision to bet the farm on this unpredictable career path.

So to sometimes experience the incredible privilege of working in a writers’ room is extremely rewarding. I’ve dreamed of being a screenwriter since I was in fourth grade, inspired by movies like ‘The Explorers,’ ‘Gremlins,’ and ‘Back to the Future.’ I remind myself a lot that my younger self would be blown away to find out that I made it to California and get to write for TV. Living life knowing that I’m putting my money where my mouth is – regardless of any external outcome, not leaving anything on the table – is a life I can be proud of. If I was doing something safer, I would always wonder what could’ve been.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

A well fed crew is a happy crew. Make them laugh. Trust them. Get in the trenches with them. Be fair especially when it’s not easy. Admit when you made a mistake. Be willing to change your mind. Lose the battle to win the war. Don’t take the work too seriously – in the end, all anyone will remember was who we were, not the jobs we had.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jamesdelorean.net/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesdelorean/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesdelorean/
• Twitter: https://x.com/JamesDelorean
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/HGFCbFcKl5U?si=Y-g9W2f1b1RUhwmL
• Other: https://linktr.ee/jamesdelorean

Image Credits

Personal Photo: Sam DeLorean
Additional Photo: Troy Conrad