The Hollywood TV Carno-dance: insider Laurie Zaks on audiences, deals and the power of fear

Laurie Zaks has the power to bend minds in the ruthless carnage of US TV drama deals. How does she use it?
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Ancillary for Castle. Heh. It reads: There are two kinds of people who sit around thinking about ways to kill people. Psychopaths and mystery writers. I’m the kind that pays better. – Castle.

Laurie Zaks is one of less than thirty people responsible for the successful construction of new TV shows in the US. She is the president of Mandeville Television which is a key player in the white-knuckle hustle-game of developing and selling shows through its deal with ABC Studios, the  television production division of Disney-ABC Television Group.

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David Tiley was the Editor of Screenhub from 2005 until he became Content Lead for Film in 2021 with a special interest in policy. He is a writer in screen media with a long career in educational programs, documentary, and government funding, with a side order in script editing. He values curiosity, humour and objectivity in support of Australian visions and the art of storytelling.