Some Lessons from South Park

Say whatever you like about the content and themes in South Park … but anyone who has ever written anything has to respect the creative process that produces a 22-minute animated show in exactly one week’s time.

The show’s creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone recently spoke to a storytelling class at NYU about the process they go through every week. While the fast-paced creative process might feel like a pressure cooker to some, Trey and Matt describe the simple rules they follow that help the process go smoothly week after week. Here are some of their very simple pointers to the students that serve as good reminders for anyone:

In our writers room, you never say no … you just don’t need that energy.

You can’t get writers block. Or you can for like an hour or maybe two.

For us, it doesn’t work unless you have a deadline.

Click here to watch the clip.

-- Alicia