It’s not a quick or straightforward feat to make it to a T.V. writers’ room. But as comedy producers Michael Feldman
and Bryan Behar shared with Pierce College students on Monday, the years of scraping by, working odd jobs and pitching scripts can prove worth it.
Feldman, known for T.V. shows including “That’s So Raven” and “Sonny with a Chance,” and Behar, known for “Fuller House” and “Last Man Standing,” spoke to dozens of Pierce’s aspiring screenwriters and film enthusiasts in the business building on April 21. uring the event, which was part of the Media Arts Department’s speaker series, the two longtime T.V. writers discussed their creative processes, as well as the importance of persistence and authenticity in the entertainment industry.
“It’s a hard business and there’s not a ton of stability,” Behar said “But if deep down in your soul, you’re like ‘I have stories to tell and I’m a writer,’ then there’s your answer. You have to try.”
Feldman emphasized the value of bringing life experience and honesty to T.V. writing. He said he built these qualities while working as a writer in the advertising industry, and even while working at a job selling pretzels.
“Even if it’s taking you a while to break into the industry, that’s not wasted time,” Feldman said. “That’s more fodder for stories. The more you have lived and seen, the more you can draw on.”
Cinema professor Ken Windrum, who organized the event, said that bringing industry experts to speak to Pierce students is a priority. Both Feldman and Behar have previously spoken to Windrum’s students multiple times, although not together.
“The idea is that you can nevel give people enough information about the media world that they’re going into,” Windrum said. “I love doing events like this, because students get a sense of what it’s actually like to have a job in the media industry.”
Behar shared how he was always a shy kid, but he found his calling through writing. He first showed his comedy skills when he emceed an event as a senior in high school, but didn’t get his first T.V. writing job until more than a decade later. He said it’s crucial to keep putting yourself out there.
“You never know when you’re going to find your voice or find the urgency to use your voice, Behar said. “But if that voice is there, you’ll know it.”
