Showrunners: The Art of Running a TV Show

This documentary examines the role of the showrunner within the American television industry. It focuses on the individuals who serve as the primary writers and producers for comedy and drama series, often acting as the original creators of the shows. The film explores how these professionals manage the creative, financial, and logistical demands of production while balancing artistic goals with commercial requirements.

Directed and written by Des Doyle, the production was a joint effort between Ireland and the United States through Black Sheep Films. The film features interviews with various industry figures appearing as themselves, including Joss Whedon, J.J. Abrams, Steven S. DeKnight, Ronald D. Moore, Jane Espenson, and Jonathan Nolan, with a total of 26 credited cast members.

Released in October 2014 with a runtime of 88 minutes, the film has received generally positive feedback from viewers. On IMDb, it holds a rating of 6.7 based on 1,300 votes, while on TMDB it has a score of 6.4 from 49 votes.