The Successful Screenwriter with Geoffrey D Calhoun: Screenwriting Podcast Ep 266 - Creating On Call: From Short Form Concept to Amazon Prime Hit
Apr 7, 2025
19:06
Geoffrey D. Calhoun sits down with Tim Walsh (Chicago P.D.) and Elliot Wolf, the creators behind the new hit police procedural On Call, now streaming on Amazon Prime and Freevee. They dive into the show’s unique origin, its five-year development journey, and how they reimagined the procedural format. If you're writing a TV pilot or dreaming of your own series, this episode is a must-listen.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
02:24 – Reinventing the half-hour procedural
03:32 – Tim Walsh on joining the project and developing Harmon’s character
05:03 – The show’s unconventional structure and research-driven approach
08:29 – Character-driven serialization vs. case-of-the-week storytelling
10:55 – Navigating studio notes and political sensitivities
14:50 – Real-world advice for spec writers trying to break in
About the Guests:
Tim Walsh is a veteran TV writer and producer with credits including Chicago P.D.. As showrunner of On Call, he brings years of procedural storytelling expertise.
Elliot Wolf is the co-creator of On Call, originally developing the show as a Quibi short-form series before adapting it for traditional TV.
About the Host:
Geoffrey D. Calhoun is a screenwriter with produced works on television and streaming platforms. He is the author of The Guide for Every Screenwriter and the host of The Successful Screenwriter, where he interviews industry pros and shares insider tips to help writers level up.
Resources Mentioned in the Episode:Connect with Geoffrey D. Calhoun:
#Screenwriting #OnCallSeries #TVWriting #AmazonPrime #TheSuccessfulScreenwriter #GeoffreyDCalhoun #ProceduralDrama #WritersLife #ScriptwritingTips #TVDevelopment
Explore Free Resources & Membership
👉 Visit TheSuccessfulScreenwriter.com for free tools, guides, and podcast extras.
Members unlock Virtual Geoffrey, the AI screenwriting assistant built to transform good drafts into great scripts.
Connect with Geoffrey
📸 Instagram: @screenwriterpod
▶️ YouTube: The Successful Screenwriter
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Share it with a fellow screenwriter who’d find it valuable!
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- The origin story of On Call and its evolution from a Quibi concept
- How the creators reinvented the half-hour procedural for modern audiences
- The importance of strong character dynamics over traditional plot arcs
- How to navigate studio notes while protecting creative vision
- Advice for emerging screenwriters trying to break into TV
02:24 – Reinventing the half-hour procedural
03:32 – Tim Walsh on joining the project and developing Harmon’s character
05:03 – The show’s unconventional structure and research-driven approach
08:29 – Character-driven serialization vs. case-of-the-week storytelling
10:55 – Navigating studio notes and political sensitivities
14:50 – Real-world advice for spec writers trying to break in
About the Guests:
Tim Walsh is a veteran TV writer and producer with credits including Chicago P.D.. As showrunner of On Call, he brings years of procedural storytelling expertise.
Elliot Wolf is the co-creator of On Call, originally developing the show as a Quibi short-form series before adapting it for traditional TV.
About the Host:
Geoffrey D. Calhoun is a screenwriter with produced works on television and streaming platforms. He is the author of The Guide for Every Screenwriter and the host of The Successful Screenwriter, where he interviews industry pros and shares insider tips to help writers level up.
Resources Mentioned in the Episode:Connect with Geoffrey D. Calhoun:
- Website
- Instagram @screenwriterpod
- TikTok @screenwriterpod
#Screenwriting #OnCallSeries #TVWriting #AmazonPrime #TheSuccessfulScreenwriter #GeoffreyDCalhoun #ProceduralDrama #WritersLife #ScriptwritingTips #TVDevelopment
Explore Free Resources & Membership
👉 Visit TheSuccessfulScreenwriter.com for free tools, guides, and podcast extras.
Members unlock Virtual Geoffrey, the AI screenwriting assistant built to transform good drafts into great scripts.
Connect with Geoffrey
📸 Instagram: @screenwriterpod
▶️ YouTube: The Successful Screenwriter
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Share it with a fellow screenwriter who’d find it valuable!