Scriptapalooza TV Interviews Pilot Winner

T.J. Brady
1st place winner
Pilot category


How did you come up with your story idea?

I came up with the idea for “RED TEAM” while watching the first season of “THE SHEILD” on DVD. I’m a big fan of Shawn Ryan, and in his commentary he spoke about the paradox of cops breaking the law in order to preserve the greater good, and “THE SHEILD” being about how far his characters would push that line.

I started thinking about that concept on a larger scale and how in the post 9/11 world we are struggling with the same issues: wire-tapping, torture and interrogation, and racial profiling – How far are we willing to go in the name of national security, and what information would we as the “American Public,” rather not know about?

How long did it take you to write it?

The first draft took me about a month to write, including outlining the story and characters. Then I took another two months to get notes from friends and rewrite.

Is this your first script that you have written?

No. I’ve written 8 feature scripts and three TV Drama specs as well.

Have you entered other screenwriting competitions?

Yes. Last year I was fortunate enough to be a Semi-Finalist in the Austin Film Festival’s Screenwriting Competition, and I also won the Writer’s Arc Fellowship with my feature, “THE TIPPING POINT,” an Iraq War drama.

If you could write for any TV show, which one would it be?

If it wasn’t in its last season, I would have said, “THE SHEILD.” Now it’s tough because there are so many good shows out there right now. I’d have to take the cop-out answer of the following three:

“LOST” and “JERICHO” because they both explore how people react when they are put in unfamiliar and hopeless situations. Or “THE UNIT,” because of my military experience, and it would be an opportunity to work with Shawn Ryan and David Mamet.

Updated: 03/13/2007

Additional Contest Info: Scriptapalooza TV Writing Competition