TV Writers Vault | Industry Executive Interview Series Beyond the selling and scouting of television formats for writers, creators and producers, The Television Writers Vault works to provide our members with firsthand, personal insights and perspectives from many of our top Industry Executives. In this continuing series, Scott Manville (Founder and President of the TV Writers Vault), shares these focused discussions to bring you more understanding and knowledge of the inner-workings of the television industry, and the many executives who use our service to scout new projects. [Click Executive Names below, or navigate from the left column to read the interviews:]         Chris Cowan Executive Producer - Angel City Factory "Finding an extraordinary adventure in real life circumstance is something we've always been drawn to."       Rita Mullin Executive VP, Programming & Development - OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network "I think we're in a golden age for scripted right now, and they often inspire my thoughts about making our own non-scripted shows stronger"       Jim Kiriakakis Executive Producer, Head of TV - Buck Productions "You offer one of the only services out there, where a Creator can put their concept out to Producers in a user-friendly manner. Its my go-to source."       Phil Gurin Executive Producer - The Gurin Company "If you believe in your ideas, stick with them. Passion and skill will rule at the end of the day."       Corie Henson Vice President of Alternative Series & Specials ABC Entertainment "We’re looking for something that will be the next step in reality.  Not to reinvent the wheel, because there is comfort in the familiar, but to think big and take a unique approach."       Natalie Mashaal Executive Producer, Media Brand Consultant "...Interesting people or places in the world. Tiny slices of life that we never realized existed. Those make for the best stories"       Sara Hansemann Vice President, Development - Zodiak USA "Television and film takes storytelling to the next level by enriching it with the texture of sight and sound"       Karyn Smith-Forge Vice President of Programming - Fox Television Studios "...stay true to your own voice and style... those fresh, original voices are what studios and producers look for."       Paul Gilbert Senior Vice President of International Formats -CBS Studios International "Be a leader, not a follower. As Michael King used to say to me all the time, "We have to zig, when everyone else is zagging."       Stephen Bulka VP Original Movies Lifetime Television "At the end of the day it’s still all about the storytelling--starting with a good idea, finding the right writer, and then rolling up your sleeves and doing the hard work..."       Vin Di Bona President & CEO- Vin Di Bona Productions "...When I sold my first network series (Animal Crack-ups), that sale was the result of 138 pitches.  My second show (AFV) was sold in four minutes on the first pitch!"       Fenton Baily CEO, Executive Producer World Of Wonder Productions "What reality TV does more than any other genre is explode the myth of the ordinary"       Dan Riley Executive Producer - E! / Port Magee Pictures "Hollywood is chewing its proverbial fingernails, and on its knees praying every day that something original and exciting will fall into its lap."       Nate Barlow Vice President of New Media - Automatic Pictures "...every project has its natural format, for which it is best suited"       William Neil Senior VP of Original Content - KoldCast TV "...The gems are certainly out there- they're just really hard to dig up"       Andrew Lear VP of Development / Manager - The Core "...Networks will challenge you on ideas and ask good questions to throw off the pitcher if their homework is not done"       John Meindl President - Sports Branded Media "...Do your homework, ask questions, network, do more homework, and be tenacious as hell"       Dena Hysell VP of Development - Slate of Eight Productions "...Networks are looking for project that can air long enough to go into syndication"       Dave Pullano   Executive Producer "...the beauty of this town is that any idiot can make it... It's also one of the problems"       Paul Gagne Executive Producer "...if you have a personal experience that is highly marketable, definitely write it"