Nate Federman
@natefederman.bsky.social
TV writer currently on Big City Greens / Second normal thing / Jamband apologist
Pinned
When I worked on The Office, Greg Daniels had a list of questions he asked of every story. Some were show-specific (eg “Are we saying something truthful if exaggerated about office life?”), but many are applicable to any script. Here’s a little thread on them…
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#Scriptsky #Screenwriting
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#Scriptsky #Screenwriting
All this 15 year old pup wanted for Christmas was non-stop pets and scritches. And she got ‘em. #DogsOfBluesky #Dogs
December 26, 2025 at 7:15 PM
All this 15 year old pup wanted for Christmas was non-stop pets and scritches. And she got ‘em. #DogsOfBluesky #Dogs
My favorite Christmas book is, “One Thousand Christmas Beards” by Roger Duvoisin. It’s the story of Santa viciously assaulting all the people dressing up like him and stealing their fake Santa beards. Seriously.
December 26, 2025 at 6:16 PM
My favorite Christmas book is, “One Thousand Christmas Beards” by Roger Duvoisin. It’s the story of Santa viciously assaulting all the people dressing up like him and stealing their fake Santa beards. Seriously.
My favorite part of holidays are cooking for my family. Tonight, we had two Melissa Clark recipes: Roman lamb over cheese polenta (pommes purée for the kids) and dark chocolate pudding w/ homegrown blackberry sauce. Plus, my wife and kids made a Yule log with meringue mushrooms.
December 26, 2025 at 3:45 AM
My favorite part of holidays are cooking for my family. Tonight, we had two Melissa Clark recipes: Roman lamb over cheese polenta (pommes purée for the kids) and dark chocolate pudding w/ homegrown blackberry sauce. Plus, my wife and kids made a Yule log with meringue mushrooms.
Help me solve a Christmas mystery…
There was a huge Amazon box on our doorstep this morning addressed to my 8 year old. Inside, there were plates and glasses. No one we know ordered them for us. So uh… what the hell is going on? Is this what happens when you wait until Dec 24 to make a Santa list?
There was a huge Amazon box on our doorstep this morning addressed to my 8 year old. Inside, there were plates and glasses. No one we know ordered them for us. So uh… what the hell is going on? Is this what happens when you wait until Dec 24 to make a Santa list?
December 25, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Help me solve a Christmas mystery…
There was a huge Amazon box on our doorstep this morning addressed to my 8 year old. Inside, there were plates and glasses. No one we know ordered them for us. So uh… what the hell is going on? Is this what happens when you wait until Dec 24 to make a Santa list?
There was a huge Amazon box on our doorstep this morning addressed to my 8 year old. Inside, there were plates and glasses. No one we know ordered them for us. So uh… what the hell is going on? Is this what happens when you wait until Dec 24 to make a Santa list?
My wife and I decided not to shop at Target, Walmart, and Amazon in 2025. We weren’t perfect but spent less than $100 and managed to make Christmas happen only spending $15 between the three companies. It’s not much, but it felt good to support less awful businesses.
December 25, 2025 at 5:14 AM
My wife and I decided not to shop at Target, Walmart, and Amazon in 2025. We weren’t perfect but spent less than $100 and managed to make Christmas happen only spending $15 between the three companies. It’s not much, but it felt good to support less awful businesses.
My 11 year old just wrote a wishlist for Santa (that we aren’t allowed to see). She said, “If he’s real, he’ll get me something from it.” I spent the next 30 minutes explaining building/wrapping/packing/shipping logistics of the North Pole and why she was royally fucking over Santa.
December 24, 2025 at 9:46 PM
My 11 year old just wrote a wishlist for Santa (that we aren’t allowed to see). She said, “If he’s real, he’ll get me something from it.” I spent the next 30 minutes explaining building/wrapping/packing/shipping logistics of the North Pole and why she was royally fucking over Santa.
When we did the punch-up on my very first script for Big City Greens, one of the writers who’d been on the show for a couple years said, “This script feels like 100% the tone of the show but also something only you could’ve possibly written.” That’s always what I’m aiming for.
What's a compliment you'll never forget?
What's an insult you'll never forget?
December 24, 2025 at 9:33 PM
When we did the punch-up on my very first script for Big City Greens, one of the writers who’d been on the show for a couple years said, “This script feels like 100% the tone of the show but also something only you could’ve possibly written.” That’s always what I’m aiming for.
Looking for some new Christmas programming? Big City Greens has you covered. Check out: “Green Christmas,” “Virtually Christmas,” and “Dream Tree.” The latter two were written by this Jew, but are still very much holiday appropriate.
December 24, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Looking for some new Christmas programming? Big City Greens has you covered. Check out: “Green Christmas,” “Virtually Christmas,” and “Dream Tree.” The latter two were written by this Jew, but are still very much holiday appropriate.
This is a good move for Ben Simmons, because unlike most forms of hunting, fishing doesn’t involve any shooting. #NBA
andscape.com/features/ben...
andscape.com/features/ben...
NBA return on hold, Ben Simmons angling for success in pro fishing - Andscape
TARZANA, Calif. – NBA free agent Ben Simmons is back with a team, just not in the NBA yet. Rather, the avid fisherman is the new controlling operator of the South Florida Sails of the Sport Fishing Ch...
andscape.com
December 23, 2025 at 8:53 PM
This is a good move for Ben Simmons, because unlike most forms of hunting, fishing doesn’t involve any shooting. #NBA
andscape.com/features/ben...
andscape.com/features/ben...
Rewatched A Few Good Men for the first time in 20+ years. What a banger! It’s 33 years old and yet it feels so timely. I know the court scene between Nicholson and Cruise gets parodied a lot and feels sorta over the top out of context, but it works so damn well. What a thriller!
December 23, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Rewatched A Few Good Men for the first time in 20+ years. What a banger! It’s 33 years old and yet it feels so timely. I know the court scene between Nicholson and Cruise gets parodied a lot and feels sorta over the top out of context, but it works so damn well. What a thriller!
A script is well-structured, it flows well, the story math checks out, and yet... readers aren’t responding to it. There’s a good chance they’re getting ahead of the story, ‘cuz it’s too predictable. Here’s a quick #Scriptsky #Screenwriting thread on ANTICIPATION and SUBVERTING EXPECTATIONS.
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December 20, 2025 at 3:32 PM
A script is well-structured, it flows well, the story math checks out, and yet... readers aren’t responding to it. There’s a good chance they’re getting ahead of the story, ‘cuz it’s too predictable. Here’s a quick #Scriptsky #Screenwriting thread on ANTICIPATION and SUBVERTING EXPECTATIONS.
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My 8YO was bouncing off the walls when I was reading to her. She told me she was just, “Feeling her feelings.”
December 20, 2025 at 5:02 AM
My 8YO was bouncing off the walls when I was reading to her. She told me she was just, “Feeling her feelings.”
Good thread. I’ll add: on the comedy side, sometimes demonstrating your unique voice is as simple as writing a few killer jokes. Far too many writers pick the low hanging fruit, but anytime I read a script where I know I couldn’t have come up with the joke but wish I had, I walk away impressed.
A writer sends me their sample. The writing is clean, the structure works, the dialogue flows. It's professional. Polished, even.
December 19, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Good thread. I’ll add: on the comedy side, sometimes demonstrating your unique voice is as simple as writing a few killer jokes. Far too many writers pick the low hanging fruit, but anytime I read a script where I know I couldn’t have come up with the joke but wish I had, I walk away impressed.
Rob Reiner did an event for Syracuse University in LA. He told stories and answered questions. And of course he was funny, but I was blown away by how humble, and generous, and kind he seemed. His humanity was just so damn palpable as he spoke. Then, during the Q&A a college kid asked him…
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December 15, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Rob Reiner did an event for Syracuse University in LA. He told stories and answered questions. And of course he was funny, but I was blown away by how humble, and generous, and kind he seemed. His humanity was just so damn palpable as he spoke. Then, during the Q&A a college kid asked him…
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This one fucked me up. So I’m watching The Princess Bride.
I saw it for the first time in 2nd grade when I slept over at my friend PBJ’s house. It became my favorite movie. It’s remained one of my favorites. It was the 1st movie my wife and I saw together. One of the first movies I showed my kids.
I saw it for the first time in 2nd grade when I slept over at my friend PBJ’s house. It became my favorite movie. It’s remained one of my favorites. It was the 1st movie my wife and I saw together. One of the first movies I showed my kids.
December 15, 2025 at 5:52 AM
This one fucked me up. So I’m watching The Princess Bride.
I saw it for the first time in 2nd grade when I slept over at my friend PBJ’s house. It became my favorite movie. It’s remained one of my favorites. It was the 1st movie my wife and I saw together. One of the first movies I showed my kids.
I saw it for the first time in 2nd grade when I slept over at my friend PBJ’s house. It became my favorite movie. It’s remained one of my favorites. It was the 1st movie my wife and I saw together. One of the first movies I showed my kids.
Reposted by Nate Federman
On the most recent season of Platonic (Apple), one of the characters develops a catchphrase for her podcast: “Don’t ask, don’t get.” There’s some truth to this in Hollywood but only some. So this week’s #Scriptsky #Screenwriting thread is on FAVORS. When/when not to ask and what to ask for.
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December 13, 2025 at 3:50 PM
On the most recent season of Platonic (Apple), one of the characters develops a catchphrase for her podcast: “Don’t ask, don’t get.” There’s some truth to this in Hollywood but only some. So this week’s #Scriptsky #Screenwriting thread is on FAVORS. When/when not to ask and what to ask for.
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My daughters have a friend sleeping over. They watched a movie and then spent the last two hours writing, practicing, and performing songs with a ukulele and hand drums about subjects like pterodactyls eating cheeseburgers. Not gonna lie, it was pretty awesome. Hope they never lose this creativity.
December 14, 2025 at 4:44 AM
My daughters have a friend sleeping over. They watched a movie and then spent the last two hours writing, practicing, and performing songs with a ukulele and hand drums about subjects like pterodactyls eating cheeseburgers. Not gonna lie, it was pretty awesome. Hope they never lose this creativity.
Reposted by Nate Federman
Helpful thread. I'd add: when asking, make sure it's in the realm of possibility. Ex: actor ask me to help them get on a tv show I was DPing. Waste of an ask & showed that they hadn't done their research. Irks me when people don't understand my role. I'm not pitching casting to my Showrunner
On the most recent season of Platonic (Apple), one of the characters develops a catchphrase for her podcast: “Don’t ask, don’t get.” There’s some truth to this in Hollywood but only some. So this week’s #Scriptsky #Screenwriting thread is on FAVORS. When/when not to ask and what to ask for.
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December 13, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Helpful thread. I'd add: when asking, make sure it's in the realm of possibility. Ex: actor ask me to help them get on a tv show I was DPing. Waste of an ask & showed that they hadn't done their research. Irks me when people don't understand my role. I'm not pitching casting to my Showrunner
A rising tide lifts all boats. The more people you know in positions to help, the better. Find people who look out for and help each other, and you have a much better chance of “making it.”
This is a great thread on favors in the industry -- what to ask for and when. But also contains a lesson in not holding people back just so you can get ahead. Be known as someone who's kind, who's generous and who's supportive, not someone who fucks people over.
On the most recent season of Platonic (Apple), one of the characters develops a catchphrase for her podcast: “Don’t ask, don’t get.” There’s some truth to this in Hollywood but only some. So this week’s #Scriptsky #Screenwriting thread is on FAVORS. When/when not to ask and what to ask for.
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December 13, 2025 at 9:47 PM
A rising tide lifts all boats. The more people you know in positions to help, the better. Find people who look out for and help each other, and you have a much better chance of “making it.”
On the most recent season of Platonic (Apple), one of the characters develops a catchphrase for her podcast: “Don’t ask, don’t get.” There’s some truth to this in Hollywood but only some. So this week’s #Scriptsky #Screenwriting thread is on FAVORS. When/when not to ask and what to ask for.
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December 13, 2025 at 3:50 PM
On the most recent season of Platonic (Apple), one of the characters develops a catchphrase for her podcast: “Don’t ask, don’t get.” There’s some truth to this in Hollywood but only some. So this week’s #Scriptsky #Screenwriting thread is on FAVORS. When/when not to ask and what to ask for.
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My lowest queue number was 11K. My highest was 95K. I blame Drew Carey.
Go fuck yourself
Go fuck yourself
Go fuck yourself
Go fuck yourself
Go fuck yourself
Go fuck yourself
Go fuck yourself
Go fuck yourself
Go fuck yourself
Go fuck yourself
Go fuck yourself
Go fuck yourself
Go fuck yourself
December 12, 2025 at 7:39 PM
My lowest queue number was 11K. My highest was 95K. I blame Drew Carey.
My Grandmother once pulled my mom aside and told her she had been thinking and had something very important to tell her. My mom thought maybe this was the start of an emotional breakthrough. But my grandmother merely said, “I want you to know that that dress makes you look very fat.”
IN DEPTH | If you could speak to your dead grandmother forever, would you?
If you could speak to your dead grandmother forever, would you?
www.independent.co.uk
December 11, 2025 at 2:53 PM
My Grandmother once pulled my mom aside and told her she had been thinking and had something very important to tell her. My mom thought maybe this was the start of an emotional breakthrough. But my grandmother merely said, “I want you to know that that dress makes you look very fat.”
Unfortunately, I can’t make it to @taperschoice.bsky.social tomorrow night in Venice. Anyone want a free ticket? Very special show. They’re celebrating the one week anniversary of their West Side debut.
December 11, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Unfortunately, I can’t make it to @taperschoice.bsky.social tomorrow night in Venice. Anyone want a free ticket? Very special show. They’re celebrating the one week anniversary of their West Side debut.
If you missed him at the Dolby Theater, here’s another chance to catch this incredible show. And at one of the best outdoor venues in the country.
Former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne has added a headlining show at the Santa Barbara Bowl in between Coachella 2026 sets on Tuesday, April 14!
Presale tickets are on sale now. Get the code here: bit.ly/44Zi3xu
#davidbyrne
Presale tickets are on sale now. Get the code here: bit.ly/44Zi3xu
#davidbyrne
David Byrne show at the Santa Barbara Bowl
David Byrne show at the Santa Barbara Bowl
bit.ly
December 10, 2025 at 5:20 PM
If you missed him at the Dolby Theater, here’s another chance to catch this incredible show. And at one of the best outdoor venues in the country.
My timeline is real depressing. And understandably so. But we could all use a few more laughs in our life, and this one made me laugh very hard.
Will Arnett was on Conan and told a story about how Conan dealt with the death of his parents by accusing Jason Bateman of killing them. It’s so funny.
December 9, 2025 at 11:12 PM
My timeline is real depressing. And understandably so. But we could all use a few more laughs in our life, and this one made me laugh very hard.