Jeremy Banks, senior in English, landed an internship with ABC Network’s “Modern Family” this past summer. Now, “Modern Family” is just the past for Banks, as a pilot for his own show may be picked up by The CW Television Network in the near future.
MK: Although shorter than you expected, how was your internship at ABC writing script cameos for “Modern Family?”
JB: First off let me just say, I hopped off the plane at LAX with a dream and my cardigan. Welcome to the land of fame excess. Was I gonna fit in? Jumped in the cab, here I was for the first time, looked to my right and I saw the Hollywood sign. It was all so crazy, everybody seemed so famous, you know? My stomach was turning and I felt kind of home sick. Too much pressure, I was nervous for sure. That's when the taxi man turned on the radio and that new Jay-Z song they play in Skybar a lot was on.
Moving to LA was and continues to be an interesting experience. Some of what you see in the movies is true; It's a fast-paced lifestyle and the city, it seems, is alive as well.
I've never eaten better sushi or had a deeper respect for the severity of Auburn pedestrian laws-they're almost nonexistent here. Working with the studio has been the single most humbling experience of my life. I quickly found out that while I am, in fact, a writing intern, I was never to forget the second part of that title.
I found myself missing readings and film sessions because the intern part of my job requires me to cut up pineapples twice a day and prepare several trays of assorted veggies that the cast and crew somehow seem to miss on their way to the El Pollo Loco catering table. Beyond that, I've met wonderful people and had the opportunity to network with everyone from producers to editors to somehow figuring out that Shia Labeouf lives three blocks from me, which prompted a three week midday power walk through his neighborhood. Shameless, I know. I'm still grateful for the opportunity.
MK: How did the chance of CW picking up your own show come about?
JB: Well just so no one assumes pitching a script is easy, I’ll start with this: It’s not. I was 18 years old the first time I pitched a script. It was a crime drama called “Nobody Move.”
It was quite terrible, but I mailed it to the NBC Los Angeles office because I’d read some place that they actually looked at all new pitches.
What I didn’t know was calling them every four days and asking the receptionist, “Hey, have you guys read my script yet? My name? Oh, I’m Jeremy, but I go by JBanks, or just Jay, you know, depending on the mood I’m in,” got me a swift but just dismissal from the hundreds of serious pitches I was surrounded by.
Five years later, I found an agent and after a very quick, for LA, three month stoop with no word from any network, I scored a meeting with a development director for the CW. Two hours later, I was doing my version of a back flip down Avenue of The Stars before being almost tazed by the LAPD.
If the show is picked up, you could be watching it from the comfort of your dorm rooms next fall. The CW has a sister studio in Savannah, Ga. so when I got the go ahead to move back across country to work on a new project this fall, next spring and summer, a single tear rolled down my face. I would have sweet tea again.
MK: When did you start drafting your ideas for your show?
JB: I started drafting ideas for the show about a year and a half ago during band camp. By the way, shout out to all my AUMB peeps who keep it live for your listening pleasure every Saturday on the Plains and abroad.
We were on a dinner break about to go out someplace and it was bid day on campus or something. Needless to say, the screaming of elated baby sorority girls was everlasting.
But that prompted an idea that sort of blossomed into this hot mess of a storyline that I kept at the back of my head for a while.
MK: Possible name for the show?
JB: I don’t have a working title for the script as of yet, so for the foreseeable future I’ll refer to it as “Working Title.” Many writers tend to adopt the same sort of policy until a title for their script or novel “comes to them.”
People think I’m joking when I say this, but every time I treat myself to a nice five star dining experience at Wing Zone, I settle down in an oversized shirt and turn on “Hoarders.” There’s something about trash-filled rooms that ignites my creativity.
15 wings later, I realize I’m fitting perfectly in that oversized shirt. Eat your heart out, Ryan Gosling.
MK: So, what’s this show all about?
JB: The show chronicles the lives of Greek society in a small college town, a particular well-to-do group of sorority sisters, who outwardly appear to have their stuff together in all the right places. They're beautiful, heavily involved in community service, charity, school spirit-the normal prerequisites of Greek life.
But beyond those gift-wrapped bags and proverbial soup kitchen soap-boxes, lies a truth so gritty, so scandalous that you'll have to wait until the show airs to find out about it.
MK: Biggest hopes for your possible new show?
JB: I just hope it gets picked up. At the risk of sounding cliché, I'll admit I get a little sentimental about the things I write.
They're a part of me- maybe even the best part of me, and it's not every day an opportunity comes around like this so I'm putting my best knock-off Steve Madden forward and hoping for a deal. If not, I'll make a mean pumpkin pice latte at Starbucks.
MK: What do you see happening in the next year or so in your writing career?
JB: Speaking in terms of my career as a writer, I just wish to keep growing. I'll never be finished doing that, so long as comedy continues to evolve.
I'll be back taking classes in the spring at Auburn to finish up, driving back to Savannah on the weekends to work on casting, editing and marketing-the whole nine.
Worst case scenario, this time next year I'll be wheeling a TV/DVD combo into a classroom and allowing budding adolescents the rare opportunity to experience Seinfeld, the complete series. Don't look at me like that. Alright, gimme a break. I'll bring in a Blue-Ray player.
MK: Is your mom still upset about your non exsistent Tyler Perry writing career?
JB: My mom once roundhouse kicked a mother of five for a pair of free Tyler Perry tickets. So yes, she is still upset about me turning down the Tyler Perry gig.
As per my twitter bio, which you can follow at @JBankSits2012, she and I are no longer friends on Facebook.
MK: Any advice you’d like to give to other comedic writers?
JB: The advice I give comedy writers is be funny. And I don't mean the kind of funny where it takes the reader or viewer 12 minutes to get your joke (that day is done).
I mean the kind of funny where the audience is not above breaking speeding laws and skipping Mass to get home to watch or read your stuff, or have your tweets sent to their phones and get thrown out of class for laughing excessively (OMG still super sorry, Maggie. I hope you got to make up that test, girl). Easier said than done, I know. Above all else, be yourself.
You'll be much more successful that way and you'll begin to hone in on your strengths and weaknesses. But I was joking, don't skip Mass.
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