Neal Shusterman:" For many months I've been asked questions by kids interested in knowing more about my TV writing work. Here are some of the answers..."
What TV shows have you written for?
I've written for Goosebumps, Animorphs, and several series that aren't on the air yet.
Did you ever meet R.L. Stine, or K.A. Applegate?
I haven't met K. A. Applegate -- but I did meet R.L. Stine. He's a real nice guy.
How did you get to write for the Animorphs TV Show?
Scholastic productions had read some of my scripts, and books such as The Dark Side of Nowhere -- which is an Alien novel, The Eyes of Kid Midas, and my MindQuakes short story collections. First I wrote several Goosebumps episodes for them, and when it came time to develop Animorphs as a TV series, they asked if I'd be interested in doing it. Of course I was interested!
Are you the only writer on the Animorphs TV series?
No -- there are quite a few writers, and writing teams working on Animorphs -- I'm just one of many.
Did you write the first episodes?
I was one of several writers on the first three episodes.
Which is your favorite script?
I can't talk about that until the shows air.. But I can tell you my favorite kinds of scripts -- they are the ones that really get into the minds of the characters -- what they're thinking and feeling . I like the stories that have lots of action, but also have powerful emotions as well.
Have you met the cast?
Actually I haven't. The writer's job is done early on -- and the rest is left to the producers, directors actors, and editors. Although I've been invited to the set, I've been busy working on new books, a game, and a new movie script, so I haven't had the chance to visit the set yet.
When do you get to see the shows?
Sometimes I'll get a copy of the episodes a few days before they air, but to be honest, I prefer to watch them when they actually air -- it's more exciting that way!
Where can I go to get official Animorphs information?
www.scholastic.com, and www.nick.com are the official sights where you can find out breaking Animorphs news.
Which do you like more, writing books, or writing for TV?
I like them both, for different reasons. The books are mine; my stories and characters, all my own ideas -- but then on the other hand there's nothing more exciting than seeing a TV show or movie you worked on, on the screen!