Episode 8: Rick Lopez - Showrunner's Assistant

Career Closeup

[rev_slider alias="episode-8-rick-lopez-showrunner-assistant"][/rev_slider] On this episode of Career Closeup, we meet Rick Lopez. Rick works on the set of Fox’s hit series Lucifer as the assistant to the Showrunner(s). While many of us have heard about the executive producer, producer, and directors associated with television shows and in big screen movies, who truly runs everything in a production? The “CEO” of the set on any given television series is the Showrunner. The Showrunner hires the producers, directors, actors and staff for a series. This incredibly busy individual gets the praise as well as the blame for the success or failure of a show. As one of the showrunner's assistants to two showrunners, Rick keeps "the train on the tracks." Rick is the gatekeeper that coordinates everything at his level as assistant, allowing the show runners the time to focus on "a billion decisions a day." It's not a job for everybody, but it offers insight and contact with many areas involved in getting ideas turned into scenes on TV. It is an ideal job to gain experience and access if one wants to become a writer. Links: About the show: Lucifer Link to documentary on Showrunners Blog about a showrunner's assistant Showrunner's Assistant interview on Any Possibility Shownotes: 0:00 Introduction to Rick and summary of show Lucifer 4:00 Description/responsibilities of showrunner 7:51 What the cast and crew/the team is like 11:00 Favorite thing to do and the most challenging part of your job 16:01 How Rick heard about job/became interested in it 17:00 What is common to all writer’s rooms 19:23 An average day and things Rick loves most about his job 25:55 Competitiveness and what can make you stand out 32:47 Tips for college students wanting to go into writing or working on a show 42:59 Qualities that would be beneficial as a showrunner’s assistant 47:08 Summary