Ian Deitchman and Kristin Robinson (It's Not Like That)
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In this episode of The Writers Panel, host Ben Blacker welcomes writing partners Ian Deitchman and Kristin Robinson to discuss their upcoming Amazon Prime series, 'It's Not Like That,' their journey from feature writing to showrunning, and the evolving landscape of television. The conversation centers on the emotional core of their storytelling—character-driven narratives that explore love, grief, and family dynamics—while navigating the challenges of pitching, development, and production in a competitive industry. They reflect on the unexpected success of a pilot they wrote years earlier, which found new life through a faith-based content provider, Wonder Project, and was fast-tracked into production during a writers' strike. The duo shares insights into their intensive six-week writer's room, emphasizing the importance of physical collaboration, trust, and emotional authenticity. They also highlight the value of mentorship, the creative benefits of budget constraints, and the significance of empowering junior writers by including them in every stage of production. The episode closes with reflections on the shows that inspire them, including 'The Pit,' 'Andor,' and 'Afterlife.'
Emotionally authentic storytelling—centered on relationships and personal growth—is the core of Ian and Kristin’s creative identity.
A long-dormant pilot found new life through serendipity, timing, and the right partner (Wonder Project), proving that persistence pays.
Physical writer’s rooms foster trust, nuance, and emotional safety—critical for shows dealing with personal trauma and intimacy.
Fast development cycles (six weeks) are possible with a trusted, pre-existing team and clear creative vision.
Showrunners have a responsibility to mentor junior writers by involving them in every phase of production, not just the room.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The State of the Industry and Ben's Live Projects
Ben Blacker opens the episode with a candid reflection on the current struggles in the entertainment industry, sharing his own challenges as a writer and host. He promotes his upcoming live reading of the pilot 'Spectacular,' based on the failed Spider-Man musical, and encourages listeners to support the podcast via his paid newsletter.
Introducing Ian and Kristin: From Features to Showrunners
Ian Deitchman and Kristin Robinson introduce themselves, highlighting their collaborative history and credits on shows like Parenthood, Carnival Row, and As We See It. They announce their debut as showrunners on Amazon Prime’s 'It's Not Like That,' a family drama centered on grief, romance, and emotional complexity.
The Emotional Core of Their Storytelling
The duo discusses their shared creative through-line: emotionally rich character-driven stories. They trace their inspiration to films by Jim Brooks and Cameron Crowe, and TV shows like 30 Rock and Six Feet Under, which blend comedy and drama. They emphasize that their work is about the 'beautiful mess' of real human relationships.
The Journey of 'It's Not Like That' from Concept to Development
“It was that there was this romance, this potential romance at the center of it. But that you have these two characters who don't know if their feelings are real or if those feelings are coming out of grief or sadness over a marriage falling apart.”
The Intense Writer's Room Experience
“There's a nuance, there's a vibe in the room, there's an easier sort of flow of people listening and weighing in over Zoom. There's a lot of... you can't see what I'm doing, but I'm mimicking shaking a salad in its little plastic container.”
“It was that there was this romance, this potential romance at the center of it. But that you have these two characters who don't know if their feelings are real or if those feelings are coming out of grief or sadness over a marriage falling apart.”
“It's not like that. Like, it's all those things. And then all the complications that come with that.”
“It was delightful because it was so freeing. You didn't feel like, you know, and Ian and I come from features where it was just the two of us working together on scripts.”
Host
Guests
Ian Deitchman
person
Kristin Robinson
person
It's Not Like That
media
Ben Blacker
person
Parenthood
media
Amazon Prime
organization
Wonder Project
organization
Jason Kadams
person
Carnival Row
media
Garrett Lerner
person
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