Showrunners Ben Sinclair & Prentice Penny

What does a TV showrunner do? More to the point, how many other tasks does a TV showrunner tend to take on? What is their relationship to actors? In today’s deep dive episode, Ben Sinclair of “High Maintenance” and Prentice Penny of “Insecure” reveal the creative and logistical processes of keeping a hit show...running!

Writer-director-editor-actor Ben Sinclair became a pioneer of short form content alongside Katja Blichfeld by developing a community of filmmakers around “High Maintenance.” First a hit Vimeo web series, then as of 2016 a half-hour anthology series on HBO, “High Maintenance” features snapshots of modern New York City life, each episode featuring Ben as a cannabis courier known only as The Guy. Ben’s critically acclaimed work has earned him a Writers Guild of America Award.

Multihyphenate Prentice Penny got his start in Hollywood writing on the hit sitcom “Girlfriends,” before contributing to the writers’ rooms on, and often producing episodes of, “Scrubs,” “Happy Endings,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” and more. He is the showrunner and executive producer of HBO’s hit “Insecure,” created by and starring Issa Rae, now nominated for eight 2020 Emmy Awards including outstanding comedy series. Prentice also wrote and directed the acclaimed Netflix film “Uncorked.”

For more on showrunners and their advice, check out Backstage.com: https://bit.ly/33yDl4J
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Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ

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Special thanks to...
- Host: Jack Smart
- Producer: Jamie Muffett
- Social Media: Katie Minard
- Design: Mark Stinson and Caitlin Watkins
- Additional Support: Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Oriella St. Louis