HELLO! I'm here. Really excited to be doing this, but man, also just seen the Ray Liotta news and what a loss. JUST on Goodfellas he's one of the greatest of all time. I'll be writing about him overnight. But for now...let's go with ASK ME OWT
Thank you so much for all of your brilliant questions! I have to go and parent now, but I'll come back to this page over the next couple of days to answer the questions I didn't get to, and we'll do another AMO soon! Have a truly excellent night xx
Very, in short! I'm writing it. All hail to Jane Tranter and Kate Crowther at Bad Wolf for trusting me - someone who has *never* written a screenplay - with it. I honestly don't think many other people would have had the same faith in me, being completely, entirely untested. And I'm also going to Exec Produce it. We're still in development, but it's just been the most wonderful process so far. The women at Bad Wolf, plus Billie (GENIUS) Piper is pretty much my absolute dream.
As Exec Producer do you get much sway? I very much doubt there would be a conflict of interests but say the director wanted to portray something in a certain way and you didn’t agree... what would happen then? I think it’s great you’re so involved but I sometimes worry with biopics that the subject, who is involved, can put a slant on things that someone on the outside could see differently. Not at all saying you’re an unreliable narrator! Your book is fantastic and the last thing I think is that you tried to make yourself seem cooler or more likeable etc.
What I love about Bad Wolf is that they totally got the things in the book that other people might have had problems with - I wasn't very likeable, it wasn't very glamorous, the hard stuff was presented unflinchingly. To be honest, I think that's actually why they liked it, as opposed to a more traditional memoir. As ever with TV/film, you have to broaden out the world a bit, but I can't see a situation in which we'd ever end up with something unfaithful to the book/me.
What is the difference between a producer and executive producer? I see big actors often credited as exec producer in their own shows these days and assumed it was a just a contractual way of getting paid more!
Good luck with the show! Sounds daunting, terrifying, exciting and brilliant for you all in one.
Congrats again on your great work as Empire editor. To ask quite a blunt question (as an Empire subscriber and lover of magazines), where do you see the future of magazines and will they continue to exist in physical form going forward?
Thank you. And I love a blunt question! Honestly, the magazine industry is in a tight spot. Revenues are falling, resource is tight, the medium has to continually prove itself. BUT (and this is a big but), I absolutely believe that magazines will always exist. Specifically, specialist magazines with a passionate audience. EMPIRE truly has the most committed audience I ever had the privilege to work for in magazines. Those people will listen to the podcast, talk to EMPIRE on social, maybe read stuff online, but SO many of them will always value the print magazine too. The number of readers I met and spoke to who collect issues, who would talk about the visceral reaction when the magazine came through the letterbox and landed on the mat. Who demanded a physical magazine in their hands that they could touch and smell and *feel*. That connection endures. And I have never worked with an editorial team who fights more to make the absolute BEST content. Original reporting, exclusive interviews, superb photoshoots. Under Nick de Semlyen, I really do believe that they will continue to prove why magazine media exists, what it does brilliantly which no other platform can do. I cannot imagine EMPIRE existing without a print magazine and, for me, it truly shows why it's needed, still.
Magazines - the right magazine with the right content (good writing and/or images) not just advert filled drivel will always have a place. Reading print is still more enjoyable and satisfying than scrolling on a tablet or phone.
I love the “zine” scene that’s coming back - I’m into mountain bikes and have a few regular publications I pick up and they are timeless works in print for me.
Oh my god, my kind of woman. Well, to take the last bit of your question first: THERE IS NO WAY IF YOU'RE DOING IT YOURSELF. When I was 27 I googled bleaching my hair, didn't realise that after the first time you should only do the roots and did my entire hair over and over again every few weeks. Guess what: all of my hair broke and fell out! The only way is to go a hairdresser. Goddamn it. The genuine vs oversharing is a good question. I tried my absolute best to reveal nowt of myself for many years, and then arguably shared too much! I think you have to work out what you need to keep private and what you need to reveal to be the real you. For me, it centred around my mental illness. I needed to find a way to accept and be open about the fact that I struggled at times, otherwise keeping up the 'face' was ultimately incredibly draining and just served to make me feel worse. I spent many years terrified that I wouldn't be hired (who would trust an ill woman with their magazine?), but things had changed so much by the time I spoke about it publicly that it wasn't an issue. I don't think it was anyway! And to be honest, I reasoned that any company that would judge me for being ill isn't a company I would ever be happy in...
Yes, my old boss challenged me to 'maybe wear your heart just slightly less prominently on your sleeve??' and I thanked him, but said that my relationships were solid because I wear enough of it for people to trust me with their own inner selves. But that isn't the whole of me. Anyone thinking that is missing part of the point. So I think share what you like! You will always be keeping some in reserve, even if people can't see that.
Me and my brother used to watch it together as kids. I think it's an extraordinary film. Shot with so much lyricism, while being uncompromising about the (too often) brutality of truth. For me, it absolutely spoke to the destruction of hope and ambition wrought on working-class and Black communities, while also being clear about the joy and love at their heart. I remember commissioning David Lammy to write a piece for EMPIRE after John Singleton died and it remains one of my favourite pieces. https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/john-singleton-remembered-david-lammy-mp-raised-entire-generation/
It's been a while for me, but I loved The Library (jukebox!), Keens Steakhouse, Lil' Frankie's (try the spaghetti limone) and Marie's Crisis/The Duplex for piano karaoke! Have the BEST time xx
You wrote recently about the passing of Kay Mellor and her mercurial knack of shaping northern stories. Thoughts on the writers and shows that came before or in the wake of Kay? (As an aside in kids TV, where I first saw her work, Children's Ward always gets a mention but I absolutely loved Just Us in which she also played the mum).
It was always Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather Part II is my favourite film) but I was lucky enough to speak to him for EMPIRE twice (I SHOOK). So probably Martin Scorsese. Although I'm not sure I'd hold it together
Late picking up emails and jumping in so sorry if I’m repeating a question - TV or The Pictures? If you could chose only one (and let’s assume you can watch a films every night if you choose the pictures) for the next year what would it be?
Terri! Thank you for this newsletter, you are awesome, your book is amazing and we will always support you! Any chance of a personal consultation on some journalism-related questions?
The Empire and Pilot TV podcasts (and spoiler specials) are special and my solid regular favourites. Do Bauer realise what an asset they have there and how can the teams be protected to keep it up / along with everything else. PS Beth is wonderful but you are still missed.
OK, I'm going to be honest. I don't think that they do always realise that. But, I think it's the job of an Editor to protect the team, and that's always what I tried to do. And what I know Nick - the new Editor - will be trying to do. I cannot say loudly enough how brilliant the entire team are. They give everything, all the time. They are exceptional.
HELLO! I'm here. Really excited to be doing this, but man, also just seen the Ray Liotta news and what a loss. JUST on Goodfellas he's one of the greatest of all time. I'll be writing about him overnight. But for now...let's go with ASK ME OWT
Thank you so much for all of your brilliant questions! I have to go and parent now, but I'll come back to this page over the next couple of days to answer the questions I didn't get to, and we'll do another AMO soon! Have a truly excellent night xx
*cracks knuckles, prepares list*.
BRING IT
How involved are you going to be in the Netflix adaptation of white noise?
Very, in short! I'm writing it. All hail to Jane Tranter and Kate Crowther at Bad Wolf for trusting me - someone who has *never* written a screenplay - with it. I honestly don't think many other people would have had the same faith in me, being completely, entirely untested. And I'm also going to Exec Produce it. We're still in development, but it's just been the most wonderful process so far. The women at Bad Wolf, plus Billie (GENIUS) Piper is pretty much my absolute dream.
As Exec Producer do you get much sway? I very much doubt there would be a conflict of interests but say the director wanted to portray something in a certain way and you didn’t agree... what would happen then? I think it’s great you’re so involved but I sometimes worry with biopics that the subject, who is involved, can put a slant on things that someone on the outside could see differently. Not at all saying you’re an unreliable narrator! Your book is fantastic and the last thing I think is that you tried to make yourself seem cooler or more likeable etc.
What I love about Bad Wolf is that they totally got the things in the book that other people might have had problems with - I wasn't very likeable, it wasn't very glamorous, the hard stuff was presented unflinchingly. To be honest, I think that's actually why they liked it, as opposed to a more traditional memoir. As ever with TV/film, you have to broaden out the world a bit, but I can't see a situation in which we'd ever end up with something unfaithful to the book/me.
That’s brilliant! Can’t wait to see it. Thank you
What is the difference between a producer and executive producer? I see big actors often credited as exec producer in their own shows these days and assumed it was a just a contractual way of getting paid more!
Good luck with the show! Sounds daunting, terrifying, exciting and brilliant for you all in one.
Congrats again on your great work as Empire editor. To ask quite a blunt question (as an Empire subscriber and lover of magazines), where do you see the future of magazines and will they continue to exist in physical form going forward?
Thank you. And I love a blunt question! Honestly, the magazine industry is in a tight spot. Revenues are falling, resource is tight, the medium has to continually prove itself. BUT (and this is a big but), I absolutely believe that magazines will always exist. Specifically, specialist magazines with a passionate audience. EMPIRE truly has the most committed audience I ever had the privilege to work for in magazines. Those people will listen to the podcast, talk to EMPIRE on social, maybe read stuff online, but SO many of them will always value the print magazine too. The number of readers I met and spoke to who collect issues, who would talk about the visceral reaction when the magazine came through the letterbox and landed on the mat. Who demanded a physical magazine in their hands that they could touch and smell and *feel*. That connection endures. And I have never worked with an editorial team who fights more to make the absolute BEST content. Original reporting, exclusive interviews, superb photoshoots. Under Nick de Semlyen, I really do believe that they will continue to prove why magazine media exists, what it does brilliantly which no other platform can do. I cannot imagine EMPIRE existing without a print magazine and, for me, it truly shows why it's needed, still.
Magazines - the right magazine with the right content (good writing and/or images) not just advert filled drivel will always have a place. Reading print is still more enjoyable and satisfying than scrolling on a tablet or phone.
I love the “zine” scene that’s coming back - I’m into mountain bikes and have a few regular publications I pick up and they are timeless works in print for me.
How much fun will it be ‘researching’ looks for Billie’s styling for the CU adaptation?
I mean, I look back at photos of myself from that time and I'm like, whattttt. There will be plenty of material to go on!
You may have to extend that research into actual shops.. the joy!
How do you balance being genuine in a professional setting without oversharing? Also how to have bleached hair without it falling out?
Oh my god, my kind of woman. Well, to take the last bit of your question first: THERE IS NO WAY IF YOU'RE DOING IT YOURSELF. When I was 27 I googled bleaching my hair, didn't realise that after the first time you should only do the roots and did my entire hair over and over again every few weeks. Guess what: all of my hair broke and fell out! The only way is to go a hairdresser. Goddamn it. The genuine vs oversharing is a good question. I tried my absolute best to reveal nowt of myself for many years, and then arguably shared too much! I think you have to work out what you need to keep private and what you need to reveal to be the real you. For me, it centred around my mental illness. I needed to find a way to accept and be open about the fact that I struggled at times, otherwise keeping up the 'face' was ultimately incredibly draining and just served to make me feel worse. I spent many years terrified that I wouldn't be hired (who would trust an ill woman with their magazine?), but things had changed so much by the time I spoke about it publicly that it wasn't an issue. I don't think it was anyway! And to be honest, I reasoned that any company that would judge me for being ill isn't a company I would ever be happy in...
Yes, my old boss challenged me to 'maybe wear your heart just slightly less prominently on your sleeve??' and I thanked him, but said that my relationships were solid because I wear enough of it for people to trust me with their own inner selves. But that isn't the whole of me. Anyone thinking that is missing part of the point. So I think share what you like! You will always be keeping some in reserve, even if people can't see that.
On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the highest), how big a bellend is James Dyer?
78!
(Oh man, I really do love him. Don't tell him)
Ooh, I can answer this one!
You wrote about Boyz n the Hood being one of the films that saved your life – would you mind sharing your thoughts on the film?
Me and my brother used to watch it together as kids. I think it's an extraordinary film. Shot with so much lyricism, while being uncompromising about the (too often) brutality of truth. For me, it absolutely spoke to the destruction of hope and ambition wrought on working-class and Black communities, while also being clear about the joy and love at their heart. I remember commissioning David Lammy to write a piece for EMPIRE after John Singleton died and it remains one of my favourite pieces. https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/john-singleton-remembered-david-lammy-mp-raised-entire-generation/
A random one - I am going to NY for the first time over the long weekend. What is a must-visit restaurant / bar?
It's been a while for me, but I loved The Library (jukebox!), Keens Steakhouse, Lil' Frankie's (try the spaghetti limone) and Marie's Crisis/The Duplex for piano karaoke! Have the BEST time xx
You wrote recently about the passing of Kay Mellor and her mercurial knack of shaping northern stories. Thoughts on the writers and shows that came before or in the wake of Kay? (As an aside in kids TV, where I first saw her work, Children's Ward always gets a mention but I absolutely loved Just Us in which she also played the mum).
Hi Terri, how are you? I hope you are doing well! Who's the filmmaker you are yet to interview but desperately want to?
It was always Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather Part II is my favourite film) but I was lucky enough to speak to him for EMPIRE twice (I SHOOK). So probably Martin Scorsese. Although I'm not sure I'd hold it together
Late picking up emails and jumping in so sorry if I’m repeating a question - TV or The Pictures? If you could chose only one (and let’s assume you can watch a films every night if you choose the pictures) for the next year what would it be?
Terri! Thank you for this newsletter, you are awesome, your book is amazing and we will always support you! Any chance of a personal consultation on some journalism-related questions?
Sure - drop me a line
Excluding Francis Ford Coppola, have you ever been star struck?
The Empire and Pilot TV podcasts (and spoiler specials) are special and my solid regular favourites. Do Bauer realise what an asset they have there and how can the teams be protected to keep it up / along with everything else. PS Beth is wonderful but you are still missed.
OK, I'm going to be honest. I don't think that they do always realise that. But, I think it's the job of an Editor to protect the team, and that's always what I tried to do. And what I know Nick - the new Editor - will be trying to do. I cannot say loudly enough how brilliant the entire team are. They give everything, all the time. They are exceptional.
😊