On The Page

Actress, director, writer Tiffany Yvonne Cox (Reasonable Doubt, Napa Ever After) talks about the work she does on screen, on the page and behind the scenes to improve artists' lives and "expose the world one story at a time."

How do you write a character over 50? By writing them as a superhero. From their secret lair to their Kryptonite, Pilar gives a tip-packed lesson in writing mature characters.

From working in development for Ivan Reitman to writing short stories and making the Love List with her feature film, Victoria Male has done it all. Here she shares a wealth of information including her unique take on IP and the secret skills that come with being a “fan girl." 

Director Elliott Lester returns to talk about how a gender swap and involvement by Peter Dinklage brought him to his latest project, The Thicket. 

Career coach Lee Jessup discusses Hollywood’s current “contraction” and suggests that it might ultimately result in a positive outcome.

Writer/Director Tracie Laymon turned a painful truth into an award-winning independent feature. Hear how she conceived, wrote, directed and produced Bob Trevino Likes It, earning the jury prize for Best Narrative Feature and the Audience Award at the 2024 South by Southwest Film Festival. 

Writer James “Doc” Mason digs into the elements of the logline as discussed in his book, Mastering the Logline: How To Excite Hollywood in a Single Sentence.

From getting stuck in a Zoom room to working in hospice, everything that writer Lauren Glover (Chicago Med, Fight Night) thought was an obstacle, came full circle to help her in her writing career. 

Barbara Stepansky, writer/producer on Outlander and head writer on Woman of the Dead, talks about how the rules of the shows she writes on present creative challenges that make her job even more interesting.

Writer/Director Marie-Emmanuelle Hartness comes from a personal place in her work and asks the same of her students at Emerson College. 

Writer and “good witch,” Glenda L. Richardson describes her process for capturing voices and crafting stories for celebrities such as Kevin Hart, Tiffany Haddish and Taraji P. Henson.

Entertainment attorney and composer Corey Field sees his work as helping writers and creators achieve their dreams. Here he explains the difference between sales, options and work-for-hire and discusses potential gains and traps along the way. 

Writer Delondra Mesa (American Rust, Pretty Little Liars) talks about her approach to discovering story and creating content even as the industry experiences “The Great Contraction.” 

Director Dans Karagannis and Writer Liz Renner discuss their journey meeting in an On the Page class and joining together to make their short film Damned If You Do, currently screening in major festivals. 

Writer Suha AL Khalifa is a senior writer at the Saudi Giant MBC Studios (Rashash, Devil’s Promise) and also wrote the region's first female super-hero film. She talks about how her experience as a psychotherapist and as a "cultural hybrid" (Bahrain, UK, and US) has informed her writing and storytelling.

Joe Gold’s “Shakespeare Inc.” offers sixteen variations of a story. Hear how he wrote it, how “choose your own adventure” storytelling is structured and how this approach can work for video-game and screenwriting.

Emily Harris is not only an award-winning writer-director (Carmilla), she also has an amazing “day job” as the Curator of Film at the Victoria & Albert Museum.  

Filmmaker/ professor Michele Meek shares her thoughts about changing sexuality in teen films, how rom-coms often rely on a non-consent premise and about her wish that writers put their sex scenes on the page.

From "safety nets” to “act three payoffs," Pilar goes solo to talk about what she’s learning while working with writers Story to Script.

Writer/director Hilari Scarl discusses her latest multi-media work, Not Another Deaf Story, written and performed with deaf actors on stage and on screen.

Writers Chris Lawing and Alex Grossman have independently made the movies they’ve written and prepare to makes more! Here they talk about how they’ve pulled it off and what they’ve learned along the way.

Actor Joel Stoffer (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, Stranger Things) stage-reads scene direction submissions from listeners as they showcase their writing skills! Who will win?

Writer/producer Tracy Grant (Lincoln Heights, Lace) tells a personal story filled with highs and lows that led to a number of writing lessons and his confirmation that "you only need one yes."

Did you write a prize-worthy piece of scene direction? Enter it in the On the Page Scene Direction Contest! Pilar explains the rules and gives the deadline.

A catch up with writer/comedian Laura House as she talks about the lean years and the ripe years, including running a British show in the middle of Covid and learning to feel “the right amount of proud” about her accomplishments.

Science through entertainment. Entertainment inspiring science. Filmmakers Tamara Krinsky and Taryn O’Neill co-founded Scirens to explore all of the possibilities.

Writer Jimmy Miller reflects on a script that changed as he changed, ultimately leading to his current Nicholl Fellowship win.

We’re covering it all in this one: Six writing tips from Pilar’s list, some talk of movies that got overlooked at the Oscars and a discussion of writer Sam Benjamin’s new wrestling short film, Screwjob.

Pilar and her friends Brian Pope, Mike Musa and Alex Troxler get together for their annual discussion about the best screenplay and best adapted screenplay Oscar nominees.

Writer/Producer Christine Lenig worked hard and took notes for twelve years before her rom-com Upgraded was finally produced with Camila Mendes, Marisa Tomei and Lena Olin. Now it’s #1 on Amazon! 

Writer/Scholar David Noller discusses his book Master Poetry Forms and talks about the ways that screenwriting and poetry are similar in terms of structure, form and craft.

Writer Andrew Zinnes provides nuggets from his new book, Screenwriters Advice, a “how to” as told through the interviews of successful writers of film and TV.

Spotlight on Robert Wooldridge and Kimberly Dilts, two talented On the Page writers with excellent material, ready for their big break!

Writer Allison McGevna talks about how the tools and narrative style she uses in her job as a multimedia storyteller and media executive help her as a screenwriter. 

Please note: This episode was originally recorded on January 20, 2024 before the recent Conde Nast strike in response to media layoffs.

Today’s glut of rom-coms: Why do we love them? What do they get right? What do they get wrong? Writer Elizabeth McKenzie has opinions!

Writer/director Christy Stratton returns to the podcast to discuss her short film, The Runt (and to hear about Pilar’s horror-movie Christmas.)

Jonterri Gadson went from "comedy nerd" to "comedy expert" when she earned fellowships with the NBC Late Night Writers Workshop and Kevin Hart’s LOL to land a show on adult swim and launch a career writing for The Upshaws, A Black Lady Sketch Show and the upcoming animated show Everybody Still Hates Chris. 

Career coach Lee Jessup returns to discuss the industry changes and writing trends of 2023 and shares what’s ahead for the new year.

Pilar reads and gives feedback on the loglines that didn’t make the top fifteen lists for the 2023 Logline Contest.

Pilar and Aadip read, evaluate and vote on feature and TV loglines sent in by listeners. Dimwitted extraterrestrials. Time-traveling teachers. Felons at birthday parties. Who will win?

A healthy “impatience” led writer Lenore Adediran to stop waiting and make a web series. Since then she’s sold a pilot, a feature and the Christmas movie, A Christmas Serenade, produced by Harpo Films and streaming on Max. 

Portuguese Script writer Miguel Simal spent years in telenovela writers rooms learning to be as creative as possible before going on to co-write the award-winning Netflix series, Glória. 

Writer Isabel Dréan talks about her shift from thrillers to holiday movies, leading to five of her scripts being produced in an 18-month period.

Ready to submit for the annual On the Page logline competition? Pilar explains the rules and gives the deadline.

As he reaches his ten year anniversary of writing, Scotty Mullen returns to share his thoughts on what he’s learned from writing low budget horror, women in peril movies, Christmas movies and so much more. Bottom line: Writing has to be fun!

Writer/Director Lee Whittaker spent years as a stunt man, stunt coordinator and second-unit director before setting out to make a feature film on his own. Hear what he learned from his experience and desire to make a movie with a message.

Writer/directors Dave Merlino and Dustin Sweet set out to document the stories of the men who served in the 9th Cavalry Regiment in Vietnam. But what they ended up with was a documentary about the need to talk through trauma. Here they discuss their years-long journey making and distributing Apache Blues: Welcome Home. 

From providing a performance space for the UCB in New York to contributing to "Second Draft” evenings in Los Angeles, writer Ellen Ancui continually brings together groups of creatives and builds her own supportive writing community.

Writer Crescent Imani Novell won the Nickelodeon Writing Fellowship in 2018 and has been writing on an animated shows like Dreamworks' Fright Krewe, Marvel’s Moon Girl and Mattel's Barbie: It Takes Two. She’s got excellent advice about story, character and dialogue, with a little personal hustle thrown in.

Writer Seth M. Sherwood (Leatherface, Light as a Feather) discusses common horror themes from “screwed by the system” to “man plays God” as written about in his new book, The Scary Movie Writers Guide.

Writer Nick Smith joins Pilar and her husband Pat Francis in a discussion about Hammer Films, the production company that made Dracula, The Curse of Frankenstein, The Mummy and much more! 

From writers' room minimums to guaranteed second steps, career coach Lee Jessup talks about the “exceptional” gains made by the WGA as a result of the 148-day writers’ strike.

Writer/director Nico Casavecchia has made award-winning movies and short films with everything from VR to carbon monoxide molecules. Here he discusses his approach to telling story through unconventional mediums and ways to think of AI as a potential creative tool.

Last time writer/actor Michael-Leon Wooley was on the podcast his script Hey Wait A Minute had just gotten the attention of UTA. Two years later UTA is repping another script, Witch Please, and both have been optioned and packaged by major production companies. His ultimate goal? To write "everyone’s favorite movie."

Leigh Medeiros, co-founder and co-director of the Hollywood Climate Summit’s Pitchfest for Film and TV, talks about how climate screenwriting equals good storytelling and gives “ten reasons why the time is now for screenwriters to help save the planet."

Daniel Augustin and Sh’Kia are actors, writers, musicians and spouses. Listen to how they learned production from music, acquired filmmaking skills from auditioning and started writing directing and starring in their own projects to keep it all alive.

Producers Trishtan Williams and KC Chan Haimes describe the storytelling process behind their new docuseries Why Not Us: Howard Golf and discuss their approach to finding narrative and character authenticity in all of their work.

What does Once Upon a Time In Hollywood and Barbie have in common? They’re both examples of “Metamodernism." Writer M. Elizabeth Eller explains it all!

Writer Marc Haimes stresses the importance of creative collaborations and the need to have fun as he returns to the podcast to talk about his latest projects, Nimona, Ultraman and Lost Ollie. 

Rocky (RaKenna) Luckey talks about how she took the skills she learned from “pressure cooker" jobs in music, production and film festivals to write a spec and land a job in television!

Dr. Laura Erickson–Schroth, psychiatrist, writer and activist, discusses positive and negative portrayals of mental health issues in film and television.

Managers versus agents, packaging deals versus spec sales. Zack Zucker from Bellevue Management breaks it all down for us.

Proving that a couple who creates together stays together, writer Elizabeth Musgrave and artist Frank Forte talk about their adventures turning features into plays, plays into short films and scripts into comic books.

Pilar helps you “declare your independence” from a conventional screenwriting school of thought on outlining, branding, daily writing and more!

Actor/writer Scott Turner Schofield, Executive Producer of They/Them and consultant for Euphoria, talks about his work bringing complex and authentic stories of trans-characters to script and screen. 

Jon Fitzgerald, co-founder of Slamdance and author of Filmmaking for Change talks about ways to get attention at film festivals, the importance of a call to action in movies with a message and how his latest venture, Cause Cinema, highlights content with social impact.

Writer Bill True, Department Chair at the Scottsdale School of Film and Theater, talks about the specific factors that helped propel a community college in Arizona to Variety’s list of "Top Film Schools in North America.” 

Bafta-winning, Academy Award-nominated writer Tony McNamara, (The Favourite, The Great, Cruella), talks about his approach to telling story and creating period pieces with a contemporary stamp.

Jennifer Cram’s experience in casting helped her say “yes” to directing her first feature. Jen talks about the years-long journey of her soon-to-be-released feature film, Sick Girl, why it’s fun to write about unlikeable characters and how she’s learned to be an advocate for her own work.  

Advice from Brian Keith Etheridge (Mythic Quest, The Neighborhood, The Ranch, Mike and Molly), will help you with pitching and characters, and may just make you a better poker player as well!  

For Mother’s Day, Pilar’s 18-year-old daughter Rita Dodson shares her thoughts and wisdom about on-screen content that portrays teenagers in accurate and interesting ways.

Career coach Carole Kirchner returns to the podcast to talk about ways to brave career obstacles and overcome writers block.

WGA writers are striking to get the pay and benefits they deserve. But how does this effect non WGA writers as well? Career coach Lee Jessup explains it all.

Brit McAdams talks about the fact that it took twelve years to make his comedy Paint, starring Owen Wilson, only to discover that now is the perfect time.

What does a late night talk show, a game show, a limited series about The Godfather and a college soap have in common? The writer Mona Mira! Listen to how she wrote and learned on The Weakest Link, The Offer and the Hulu series Tell Me Lies.

Co-writer/directors Peter Murphy and Rachael Moriarty talk about making movies in Ireland, their creative process and the open door that allowed them to write their award winning movie, Róise and Frank, about a grieving woman and the dog who may or may not be her husband.

When Broadway went dark and Tommar Wilson found himself without a job, he turned to writing. Now he’s an NBC Fellow and has just been staffed  on an upcoming TV show for Universal Content Productions that will air on Netflix.

After years in the music business and as a counselor in corrections, Jevon Graves found himself writing on the We TV show, Kold x Windy. Now he’s truly doing what he loves.

Actor/writer Kristen Lee Kelly (original cast of Rent) stage-reads scene direction submissions from listeners as they showcase their writing skills! Who will win?

Acclaimed theater director Marya Mazor shares her thoughts on the differences between directing for theater and for the screen and how she follows the clues within the script to help achieve her vision.

Did you write a prize-worthy piece of scene direction? Enter it in the On the Page Scene Direction Contest! Pilar explains the rules and gives the deadline.

Emphasizing “the art of reader engagement," writers Chris Perry and Eric Henry Sanders’s new book Scenewriting helps writers come up with new ways to plan, draft and perfect their scenes. 

Pilar and her friends Brian Pope, Mike Musa and Alex Troxler get together for their annual discussion about the best screenplay and best adapted screenplay Oscar nominees.

Writer Alicia Lomas-Gross shares about her experiences and writing process on her first produced feature, Perfect Harmony for Hallmark Movies and Mysteries.

Writer Matt Pacult of Documentary Now talks about the creative ways he goes about finding story, pitching ideas and giving notes.

Hear how Victor Gabriel captured “the resilience of innocence” in his first short film that went to Sundance and his feature film which attracted none other than director Spike Lee.

Writer Gary Jones talks about what he’s learned about writing and editing as he turns written short films into spoken radio plays.

Mika Frank talks about how her love of writing, combined with her training in pharmacy and research led her to her current job as story editor on Fox’s hit show, The Resident.

From comedy writer to therapist, Phil Stark, writer on South Park, That 70’s Show and the screenwriter of the movie Dude, Where's My Car? talks about his unique, personal journey.

Career coach Lee Jessup returns to discuss the writing trends popular in 2022 and shares what’s ahead for the new year.

Pilar reads and gives feedback on the loglines that didn’t make the top fifteen lists for the 2022 Logline Contest.

Pilar and Aadip read, evaluate and vote on feature and TV loglines sent in by listeners. It all comes down to a well-written sentence and a creative idea. Who will win?

When his day job was threatened, writer Jeff Bonnett decided that he wasn’t going to write a resume; he was going to write a screenplay. The end result is “Falling for Christmas,” a Netflix movie starring Lindsay Lohan.

Linda Klein, co-editor of the new book Loss and Grief, discusses the visual, sensory and emotional realities of the dying and grieving experience and how writers can use this knowledge to create more truthful depictions on screen.

Ready to submit for the annual On the Page logline competition? Pilar explains the rules and gives the deadline.

Screenwriting teacher and author John Truby reveals how to master and transcend genre by understanding their unique story systems and philosophies.

The writer of the Oscar winning film Inside Out talks about her new movie My Father’s Dragon and how she builds story from theme and emotion.

We check back in with writer Kris Crenwelge after her “year of going for it” earned her three writers’ fellowships, staffing on an animated show and a new job on the series True Lies on CBS.

Brandon Childs was only a PA when he started adding jokes to the lunch order e-mail. Before long he was brought into the writers room on Black Monday, Kenan and, most recently, Netflix’s new comedy Blockbuster.

Cinematographer Sarah Whelden talks about how she holds the vision of the director, looking through the lens to help capture theme, tone and story.

As British writer Sam Benjamin discusses the release of his new film The Payday he’s joined by Elizabeth McKenzie from Australia and Dawn Ius from Canada to discuss the challenges of writing in their home country, the lure of Los Angeles and the love of their genres. 

Andy Raymer shares writing and industry information gleaned from his experience as a writer, creative exec, independent producer and script consultant.

Actor/writer Cynthia Gravinese decided to stop feeling powerless and write a web series about the people and place she loved. When Covid hit her hard and she lost the ability to speak, she did the same thing all over again.

Pilar and her husband Pat brainstorm film and TV show premises inspired by song titles in Pat’s playlist. A fun way to find your next script idea!

Vanessa Benton wrote their “F-it” script and broke through. Now they're a writer for Netflix projects Sandman and Fate: The Winx Saga, writing the dark fiction that they love.

Writer and historian Gina DeAngelis talks about the balance of historical accuracy and entertainment in her scripted work and on screen in general.

Josh Staman, Executive Producer of Weird Waters (Peacock), talks about the unique structure of short-form animation, pushing through “analysis paralysis,” and learning to be more “hare-brained” in his writing.

Pilar sits down with her 16 year old nephew, Eric Pick, to find out about the classic films he’s watching as he embarks upon his journey to become a director and screenwriter. A worthy film list for any writer!

Filmmaking duo Adamma & Adanne Ebo talk about the work and thought that went into writing, directing and producing their feature film Honk for Jesus, Save Your Soul starring Regina Hall and Sterling K. Brown.

From writer to producer to director to actor to parent, Keena Ferguson is always thinking creatively about ways to get her message and stories onto the screen and out to the world.

An informal Q&A with two students from Pilar’s class, Laura Weekes and Dale Hildebrand, resulted in an in-depth discussion about the pros and cons of independent filmmaking.

Writer/director Jennifer Sharp decided to buck the system, travel to Mexico and make her movie ... which ended up being a story about a writer trying to make her movie while battling the system.

Writer Paul Bellini, “the guy in the towel,” talks about what he’s learned from writing with Scott Thompson and the Kids in the Hall for over thirty years.

What do you do when your dad catfishes you? Write a movie about it, of course! James Morosini talks about drawing from the truth and creating empathy for his characters as he wrote, directed and starred in his feature film, I Love My Dad, starring Patton Oswalt.

From his critically acclaimed screenplay Palm Springs to his upcoming series The Resort, writer Andy Siara likes to explore the “disappointment of time.” 

Author Jess King talks about their new game-changing screenwriting book, Inclusive Screenwriting for Film and Television, which examines and challenges conventional notions of characterization, world building and three act structure.

Keith Giglio and Juliet Aires Giglio share the knowledge of screenwriting and Christmas movies that inspired their new book, “The Summer of Christmas."

Pilar’s oldest child Ezra walks us through the structure and character rules of Dungeons and Dragons, emphasizing the ways in which it can work as a writing and brainstorming tool for non-D&D storytelling.

After years of assisting and learning on the job, Naomi Brodkin is a working writer with an episode of Little America coming out soon. She discusses what she’s learned from being on set and in the writers’ room and how her hard work led to the good luck of being involved in the Academy Award winning movie Coda.

Writer Jared Pascoe shares the personal experiences and desire for story that led to his co-founding the Pre-Rainbow Pages aimed at bringing visibility to non-writers guild LGBTQIA+ writers.

Phil Rosenthal, the creator of Everybody Loves Raymond, Somebody Feed Phil and the new podcast Naked Lunch, talks about the ways that specificity contributes to great storytelling.

Writer Gigi Rios New discusses writing for The Garcias on HBO Max and for the need for Latin-driven content in TV and film.

Writer / director Chris Derrick discusses writing for Star Trek: Picard and how it’s taught him to write to the emotional arc first and bring the cool stuff in later.

What takes eight years, sixty-seven writers, thirty-six directors and one actual apocalypse? Hear how filmmaker Chris Jones produced the crowd-created feature film, The Impact, connecting 50 short films into one narrative.

Actor, writer Beverly Mickins, creator of Los Angeles’s longest running storytelling venue Story Salon, talks about the elements that make up a well told, personal story.

Screenwriter Agnieszka Kruk talks about the ways that her creative community in Poland is helping filmmakers in Ukraine affected by the war, and suggests ways that writers worldwide can support their cause.

On "Sibling Day” Pilar sits down with her brother Chris Pittas to discuss his decision to pursue screenwriting, his success in competitions, recent representation with Citizen Skull Management … and what he’s learned along the way. 

Veteran comic book editor Shelly Bond discusses the similarities and differences between comic book writing and screenwriting.

Television director and feature writer Pete Chatmon dives into his extensive experience and unique perspective on storytelling and directing, while giving a sneak peak of his new book,"Transitions: A Director's Journey and Motivational Handbook."  

York Walker, staff writer on FBI, talks about his personal path from actor to playwright to television writer.

How can writers truly observe their world and society and write honestly about them? Dr. Teruko Vida Mitsuhara, a linguistic anthropologist and script writer, is here to tell you.

Joshua Berman found himself in the middle of a movement, reached for a camera and never stopped filming. Director Amy Goldstein took it from there, crafting the story that became The Unmaking of a College, a documentary about the 2019 student-led, 75-day sit-in at Hampshire College – the longest in American college history

A passion for the true story and years of “crawling through broken glass” helped writer David Kessler get his movie Minamata produced, starring Johnny Depp and directed by Andrew Levitas. 

For 30 years Charlie Vignola has had a hand in developing some of the world’s most successful movie franchises for Jerry Bruckheimer Films. Here he shares what he learned about acquiring, developing and “creative problem solving,” for the Pirates of the Caribbean saga, the National Treasure films, the Bad Boys series and others. 

Barbara Ward Thall's script Geriosity sparks a discussion about how our views on aging create bias in the hiring process and prevent accurate depictions on screen.

Allard Cantor, co-founder of the literary management company Epicenter, shares about finding talent, developing material and getting his clients work in the film and TV industry. 

Doug Passon and Randy Olson talk about the “And, But, Therefore” template they use to help lawyers, scientists and screenwriters tell effective stories.

From love interests to courtroom scenes, Pilar offers writing tips to kickstart the writing year. Writer Sam Benjamin joins her to discuss!

Career coach Lee Jessup returns to discuss the writing trends popular in 2021 and shares what’s ahead for the new year.

Writer Scotty Mullen returns to to talk about his newest movie, A Christmas Village Romance, his love of all things Christmas and why the entertainment industry is a "buffet of bonkerness.” 

Pilar gives a logline lesson built off of listener submissions, then Pilar and Aadip pick their favorites! 

Development executive Zsófia Szemerédy talks about the the importance of sustainable practices in filmmaking and discusses ways to implement them on set and on the page.

Writer-director Nathalie Biancheri discusses the preparation, script-work and directorial vision that went into creating her new psychological drama, Wolf.

'Tis the season for the annual On the Page logline competition! Pilar explains the rules and gives the deadline.

Emerson film student Kat Poole’s passion is to rediscover and celebrate female film pioneers. Here, she educates us about three of them: filmmaker Alice-Guy Blache screenwriter Jeanie MacPherson and editor Margaret Booth.

George Stevens Jr. the founder of the American Film Institute, talks about the passion for film that inspired him to preserve and archive great movies, establish the Kennedy Center Honors and serve as a voice for the arts in Washington DC. as Co-chair of the Presidential Committee on the Arts & Humanities.

Director Philip Barantini shot his independent feature film Boiling Point in one take and lived to tell the tale. Hear how he kept the camera moving while also telling a rich story of an intense night in a restaurant.

Writer Celia Finkelstein talks about the projects she has in development, her pitch style on Zoom and how her acting experience has taught her not to judge a character.

Canadian writer Lindsay Gossling reveals the work and effort that went into writing and directing her disaster movieThirteen Minutes. She also talks about the challenges of making her film Un Traductor which went on to become Cuba’s submission for the Academy Awards.

Sean S. Cunningham, director and producer of the original Friday the 13th movie, talks about the film's humble beginnings, Jason’s evolvement as an “anti-hero” and the need for great story above all.

What makes us afraid and how do we write that on the page? Writer Neal Marshall Stevens provides answers as he gives a preview of his book, A Sense of Dread: Getting Under the Skin of Horror Writing. 

Shelley Dennis grew up loving the TV show Roseanne and now she has a staff writing position on The Conners! Hear how hard work, attention to story and a little mindfulness paid off.

Veteran producer and creative executive Kelly Edwards worked with every major studio in Hollywood and is now pursuing her dream of being a television writer on the Fox Drama Our Kind of People.  Here she talks openly about her career pivot and also offers nuggets from her new book The Executive Chair: A Writer’s Guide To TV Series Development.

Writer Jo Rochelle was just about to call it quits when her writing career caught fire. Hear how she got the attention of a manager, became staffed on her favorite show Good Trouble, and filmed her own independent movie - all while continuing to “ride the rollercoaster."

Actor/writer Danielle Pinnock had a crazy year full of ups and downs but she kept writing, found inspiration in her underwear drawer and set up her animated series Unmentionables with Taraji P. Henson! 

Michael-Leon Wooley’s search for depth in his singing and performing has informed his writing as well, leading to major attention on his very first feature-film script! Hear how he did it and why “fine is not enough."

Pilar Alessandra’s teaching and consulting business On the Page celebrates a 20 year anniversary! Alex Troxler interviews Pilar about her program, its humble beginnings and the way her teachings and the industry have changed.

Richie Siegel and Marissa Torelli-Pedevska, co-founders of the Inevitable Foundation, talk about the need to hire and produce the work of disabled screenwriters. 

Writer Matt Foss talks about how he went from being “terrible and earnest” to "consciously competent” as an award winning playwright and how he uses “given circumstances” to ground his stories and adaptations.

Elizabeth Kaiden and Nitza Wilon, co-founders of The Writers Lab, talk about their efforts to highlight the voices of women over 40 on the screen and on the page.

Writer/producer Emily Fox (Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, Daybreak, Girlfriends Guide to Divorce) shines a light for writers as she describes how she comes up with story and runs a writers room.

Writer and director Dan Mazer talks about his long collaboration with Sacha Baron Cohen and the complex storytelling that goes into writing movies with a number of possibilities and outcomes.

Eric Pearson, the writer of Black Widow and Thor: Ragnarok talks about his and Marvel’s approach to storytelling, including “every scene needs to do two things” and “that’s a long way to go for salami." 

Tim Long’s nerdy beginnings inspired his new movie The Exchange, and his story sense and comedy chops earned him head writer status at Letterman and a 20 year run on The Simpsons. 

Ted Campbell talks about how his experience as a second unit director and assistant director helped him develop the writing and directing skills he needed to be hired as a writer and director for three projects for MarVista Entertainment.

Glenn Sanders, Senior Creative Director at Amazon Prime Video, talks about entertainment marketing and how it can impact choices a writer makes early on in terms of concept, story and character.

Writer Kris Crenwelge turned a lockdown low to an end of the year high when she set her mind to treating her writing passion as a TV business. Hear her take on applying to labs, interviewing for “entertainment adjacent” jobs and doing the hard work that eventually landed her her first paid writing gig.

Writer Antwone Fisher talks about what went into writing and selling the classic movie about his real life and the importance of letting yourself be embarrassed by the truth.

Comedian Wayne Federman, author of “The History of Stand-Up," talks about the way that technology and the times have changed stand-up from Mark Twain to Dave Chapelle.

Writer/director Sonya Ballantyne talks about her experiences as a “creative native” and about her scripted work focusing on Indigenous women and girls in non-traditional film genres. 

Writer Savannah Ward loves to be “devastated” by a good story. They discuss the multiple timelines highlighted on Cruel Summer and, as a non-binary writer, give their personal take about trans characters on screen.

Alicia Carroll, staff writer for Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, talks about the show’s unique structure and approach to story and music. 

Award-winning playwright Dezi Gallegos is now a creative executive at Proximity Media (Judas and the Black Messiah). Here he talks about the company’s desire to develop original movies with a unique perspective. 

Jennifer Paz talks about her take on script and story as an actor and writer and about the need for more Asian-American content and characters on screen.

Rob Buchta, producer of Running Wild and creator of You vs. Wild on Netflix, talks about the challenges of a choose-your-own-adventure experience and the marriage of action and emotion needed for a factual adventure show.

Deborah Patz’s book, Write! Shoot! Edit! was intended for teenagers but it’s the perfect primer for anyone who’s ever wanted to film something but was too afraid to start. 

Pilar and her friends Brian Pope, Mike Musa and Alex Troxler get together for their annual discussion about the best screenplay and best adapted screenplay Oscar nominees.

Writer Michelle Denise Jackson talks about what she’s learned as she advanced from Writer’s PA on Grey’s Anatomy, to Writers Assistant on Mrs. America, to Staff Writer on two Netflix series and now as Co-Producer on Queen Sugar! 

Writer/Producer Evette Vargas discusses the content and applications needed to create successful pitch decks and sizzle reels.

Pilar Alessandra talks about ways to give and get script notes at the submission stage, the development stage and the production stage.

Rebecca Phelps talks about her approach to writing the Watty Award-winning novel Down World and its similarities, in process, to writing a screenplay.

Screenwriter and executive producer Jessica Goldberg talks about Cherry, the feature film she co-wrote starring Tom Holland, as well as her experiences creating the Hulu series The Path and acting as showrunner for the Netflix series Away.

Tom McCafferty, Vice Chairman of Veterans in Media and Entertainment, talks about the creative possibilities and unique challenges of writing movie and TV shows that focus on military events and characters. 

When should you incorporate? How can you take a home office deduction? How can you get financially organized? Entertainment accountant Trina Rozen explains it all to you.

Actor/Writer Finnerty Steeves discusses the courage and "1001 favors" it took to write, produce and star in her independent film, Before/During/After being released by Gravitas Pictures.

Andrew Robinson, senior writer for  Blizzard Entertainment talks about how he helps craft narrative and world-building for World of Warcraft, StarCraft, Heroes of the Storm, Hearthstone and Overwatch with animated cinematics, short stories, comics and songs. 

Johanna Stein, show-runner of Madagascar A Little Wild, breaks down the animation process from story board to “lip flap."

After years of hard work and hustle, writer Crosby Selander defied the odds and sold his script in a major bidding war to Legendary Pictures. Hear how he did it and cleared that “final hurdle!"

Award-winning Brazilian writer Rosane Svartman talks about the story work that goes into writing 155 episodes of one season of a prime-time telenovela.

Hunter Doohan discusses what he’s learned as an actor and as a writer from portraying the role of Adam opposite Bryan Cranston on the Showtime series Your Honor.

Mitch Lusas, Head of Product for Coverfly, talks about his company’s approach to finding talent and helping writers.   

JaNeika and JaSheika James, co-executive producers of Gossip Girl, talk about the life and career experiences that went into their inspiring memoir, Living Double.

Pilar reads and gives feedback on the loglines that didn’t make the consider or recommend list for the 2020 Logline Contest.

Pilar and Aadip evaluate loglines sent in by listeners. Who will get a consider, recommend or pass? 

Career coach Lee Jessup returns to discuss the writing trends popular in 2020 and shares what’s ahead for the new year.

With a little help from Michael Bay, Adam Mason and Simon Boyes wrote and produced a movie about the pandemic during the pandemic. Hear how both the story and the production of their movie, Songbird, adapted to the real-life events happening around them.

Alexander Troxler reached out to other writers during the lockdown and ended up with a collaborative tv pilot and a whole new kind of writers’ room.

Announcement of the deadline and rules for the 2020 Logline Competition.  Plus a replay of last year’s bonus episode to remind you of 10 patterns to help build your logline.

Whether she’s writing on the prequel to Game of Thrones, helping adapt Daisy Jones and The Six for Reese Witherspoon’s company or developing a feature film for Margot Robbie, it all comes down to one thing for writer Charmaine DeGrate: theme.

David Newhoff, author of Who Invented Oscar Wilde, dives deep into the history of copyright and the protection issues writers and creatives still deal with today. 

Making movies. Making film festivals. Tony Gapastione of Bravemaker Productions talks about the many things he’s learned as he creates and curates short films and features.

Free-writing, fun writing and brain dumps! Writer/comedian Marc Warzecha talks about ways you can turn an ordinary subject into a hilarious sketch.

Writer/ Producer Mike Royce talks about the ways that life issues and personal stories in the writers’ room inspire episodes of the shows he’s worked on: One Day at a Time, Enlisted, Men of a Certain Age and Everybody Loves Raymond.

Landi Maduro, director and producer at Bluechild Entertainment, offers advice to new filmmakers about creating the emotion, tone and visual look of their on-screen projects.

Writer Delondra Mesa (Z-Nation, Step Up) has paid her dues, working from Zombie-movie writer to Executive Story Editor. Hear how she did it and why she is a better writer because of it!

Writer / producer Erica Rivinoja (South Park, Clone High, The Last Man on Earth) has great advice about turning simple kids stories into big movies, finding the funny in a scene and pitching with confidence in the writers room. 

Shireen Razack and Angela Harvey, co-chairs of the Think Tank for Inclusion & Equity, talk about issues and problems in the industry facing underrepresented writers and the ways in which their report put hard numbers to the anecdotes.  

Writer Tiffany Thomas talks about writing on the reboot of The Proud Family and how working as a sketch comedian helped her on the page and in the writers’ room.

Writer Shannon Houston (Homecoming, Little Fires Everywhere, Station 11) is both a writer on and a fan of the HBO show Lovecraft Country which she describes as "complicated, strange and always unraveling.”

Andrew Chapman, Executive Producer of The Resident, talks about the ways in which the show shines a light on the problems within the medical industry and stresses themes of accountability.

Richard Bosner talks about the ways working as a producer on independent movies like Fruitvale Station, Other People and Mapplethorpe have taught him as a writer and director.

Writer/actor Kemiyondo Coutinho (MTV’s Undressed, Starz’ Step Up:High Water), talks about the ways that creating content for herself led to her current career as a TV writer.

Writer/Producer Michael Jamin (Tacoma FD, Maron, King of the Hill) talks about relying on the truth when he needs to find the story and the funny for TV or memoir.

Screenwriter Alison Peck, writer of Ugly Dolls and You Can’t Keep a Good Girl Down (in development)  talks about her approach to writing story and dance in the new Netflix movie Work It.

Fugitives, murders, UFOs and lost loves! Christine Lenig, Senior Vice President of Cosgrove/Meurer Production, talks about the storytelling that goes into the Netflix reboot of Unsolved Mysteries.

TV showrunner Janine Sherman Barrois (Claws, Self Made, Criminal Minds, ER) talks about what she looks for in writers' participation and pages, how she breaks story in the writers’ room and why a writing career is like getting to eat chocolate chip cookies all day.

Writer Aydrea Walden discusses her recent job as a development executive at DreamWorks TV and her new gig writing for a Disney Jr. show. She also gives some valuable tips about networking and insight into the writers' room.

Writing/Directing brothers Tony Dean Smith and Ryan W. Smith talk about their journey from making movies in their living room to independent filmmaking and the release of their feature film “Volition."

Ten writers from across the country and around the world get together on Zoom to ask questions about the craft of screenwriting. Special thanks to guests Christina Nicole, Danielle Pinnock, Deanna Brauer, Glenn Lawrence, Kennet Bennervall, Lateefah Holder, Mario Kersey, Marky Hinojosa, Mykal Kilgore, Seamus Heffernan and Tony Gapastione.

Actor/writers Danielle Pinnock and Kimberly Hebert-Gregory talk about their annoyance with one-dimensional characterizations of black women in movie and TV stories, their wish for duality and complexity in the roles they play and their hope that the current push for change doesn’t turn out to be a “Jenny Craig moment.” 

Executive producer Liz Tigelaar dives deep into the character dynamics and issues explored in the Hulu limited series Little Fires Everywhere. Find out the difference between plot and story and learn why Liz is the “queen of the act-out."

Writer / Director Ben Mekler talks about his experiences writing for the Netflix animated series Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts.

From a "stereotype moratorium" to “divestment from discriminatory locales," writer and social justice leader Alan Jenkins describes the concrete actions that writers and others in the entertainment industry can take right now.

Episode 666 called for a discussion of one of the greatest movies of all times, The Omen, with one of the greatest screenwriters of all times, David Seltzer. Not only does he share his thoughts and feelings about writing horror, he also gives insight into the movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory!

Goal coach Debra Eckerling talks about the road trip approach to setting, planning and achieving goals laid out in her new book, Your Goal Guide.

Documentary filmmaker Senain Kheshgi talks about the way she uses narrative movie structure to shape her groundbreaking films.

Writer/Actor/Comedian Rich Fulcher returns to crack Pilar up with his take on voice acting, pitching and writing on Matt Groening’s animated show Disenchantment.

Veteran writers Juliet Aires Giglio and Keith Giglio talk about following structure while freshening genre in their latest venture writing Christmas movies (Christmas Reservations,  A Very Nutty Christmas) for Lifetime.

Pilar enlists the listeners to talk about the bingeable shows that are helping them get through the Coronavirus quarantine.

Chris Sparling, writer of BURIED, THE SEA OF TREES (nominated for the Palm d'Or at Cannes), MERCY and the soon to be released GREENLAND, is a veteran at working remotely and taking meetings online. In this episode he offers tips on virtual networking, maintaining focus and writing well. 

Locked down with their mom, Pilar’s kids Ezra Dodson and Rita Dodson discuss “teen” language, portrayals of teenagers on screen and their mutual love of inappropriate horror movies.

Personal finance consultant Lisa Gould leads a creative conversation about ways that writers can save, manage and spend their hard-earned money.

Brian Keith Etheridge has been a writer and co-EP for the half-hour comedy The Neighborhood, The Goldbergs, Mike and Molly, The Mick and The Ranch … just to name a few. Here he shares his wisdom about writing, pitching and the dynamics of the writers’ room. His philosophy:  “Anyone who pitches the solution is a hero."

Screenwriters Dave Merlino and Dustin Sweet share their four-year journey filming a documentary about war veterans.

Writer/director Wanuri Kahiu lives in Kenya, takes meetings in LA, and makes movies for the world.  Here she gives her inspiring take on writing adaptations, directing actors and the need for “fun and frivolous” stories about African culture.

Pilar wants to let you know about online/video-conference classes at On the Page and to announce that in-person classes are suspended at the studio for spring due to COVID-19. Stay safe and have a good writing week! www.onthepage.tv

Pilar sits down with her step-father, Philippe Koenig, to discuss the first 40 years of his life as though it were a series of movies.

Writers Pete Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg discuss their love of horror, their unique writing partnership and their experiences writing Spiral (the next movie in the Saw franchise) starring Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson.

Showrunner Jeffrey Lieber digs into story, craft and the writers room as he shares his experiences about moving from playwright to filmmaker to TV writer and pitching a show called LOST along the way.

Writer/Director Danish Renzu talks about the passion and persistence that went into making his latest movie, “The Illegal.”

Pilar and her friends Brian Pope and Mike Musa get together for their annual discussion/argument about the best screenplay and best adapted screenplay Oscar nominees.

Ready, set, go!  Determined to finally get your script “out of your head and onto the page?” Hear how Pilar helped one of her toughest cases: her husband Pat!

Author / illustrator Vincent X. Kirsch talks about the ways that picture books have helped him write better screenplays and the ways screenwriting has helped him make better picture books. 

Writers aren’t the only ones who have to work their way up.  Producer Mandy June Turpin has paid her dues and now has a roster of projects to talk about - as well as advice about how to develop a movie from script to screen.

Siobhan Bachman is a TV executive who previously developed IP for Archie Studios (Riverdale), worked as a manager at 360, was ABC’s UK Comedy and Drama Development Scout and may or may not have discovered a chap named John Oliver. Here, she shares her wisdom about character development, IP adaptation and the differences between British and American story development.

Manager Kate Brogden of The Cartel discusses what she looks for in a great animated project and a great animation client. A must-listen if you write animation or just love watching it.

Career coach Lee Jessup returns to discuss the writing trends popular in 2019 and shares what’s ahead for the new year.

Pilar and Aadip evaluate log lines sent in by listeners. Who will get a consider, recommend or pass? 

TV literary agent Davina Hefflin (The Gersh Agency) talks about her work with writers and the storytelling and character development that moves her on the page.

Writer Scotty Mullen returns to the podcast to talk about his upcoming holiday movie, the Christmas tropes he loves and what it’s like to work with Donna Mills.

Writer/Directors Emily Dell and Hannah Macpherson talk about their productive year creating horror/thriller content and their interesting advice to "come at storytelling sideways."

Announcement of the deadline and rules for the 2019 Logline Competition.  Plus 10 patterns to help build your logline.

Writer/Directors Etta Devine, Barbara Stepansky and April Wright return to talk about a year writing on Outlander, getting a blacklist script produced, creating an award winning documentary and much more.

Writer and television journalist Michael Grebb returns to discuss “Five Big Trends Writers Should Know About” including a new take on "peak TV," the death of the television season and the fact that almost everything in the industry is motivated by CYA.

Kelsey Calaitges, development executive at Frederator Studios (Adventure Time, The Fairly Odd Parents) and writer on GO! Cartoons Bravest Warriors shares wisdom about pitching and writing for character-driven animation.

Pilar and writer Jake Morgan discuss ways to combine genre, tone and intention to create the perfect “genre mash” television show.

Hear how, after seventeen years of stops and starts, Matt Harris’s script “The Starling” was produced with actors Melissa McCarthy, Kevin Kline, Chris O’Dowd, Timothy Olyphant and director Ted Melfi.

Pilar offers “Five Easy Rewrites” and writers on social media add over 40 more!  Take notes on this one.

Writer Anne Kruse shares five concepts that build writer perseverance.

David Wright, writer/producer on Star Trek: Lower Decks, discusses the storytelling legacy of Star Trek.

Acting coach Crystal Carson reveals the ways she helps actors analyze story, discover characters and interpret meaning from feature and TV scripts. 

Writer/Producer Christy Stratton shares her love of act structure and enthusiasm for the new FOX animated show “Bless the Harts.”

The writers of A Quiet Place discuss their upcoming film Haunt, their long-standing writing partnership and their process of discovering story and characters on the page.

Pilar guides you through a few lazy ways to brainstorm, outline and write your TV pilot.  E-mail for the handout!

Leon Gittens, a character animator for movies and video games, talks about the different kinds of animators needed to create one product, the role of the script in that product and the ways in which he personally brings emotion to a character.

Aadip Desai has gone from On the Page Podcast producer to ABC/Disney fellow to staff writer on The Goldbergs.  Hear about his journey to get there and what he’s learned - and is still learning - along the way.

Writer Taylor Vaughn Lasley talks about her exciting summer pitching two series; one with Damon Wayans Jr. and one withFunny or Die.

David Skelly (The Muppets, Splash and Bubbles, Word Party) and Jennifer Skelly (My Little Pony, The Lion Guards, Motown Magic) return to the podcast to talk about writing and creating TV for pre-school and elementary age audiences. 

Maura Chanz, Michelle Flowers and Clarissa Kern have turned their jobs assisting show-runners and producers into major stepping stones to a writing and producing career.

Writer Rachel Kaplan talks about what she’s learned in the writer’s room of the popular, animated comedy BoJack Horseman.

Writer and editor Ayser Salman returns to talk about how she turned real life experiences into a comic memoir and pitch for a tv series.

Filmmakers Sterling Macer Jr, Chris Molinaro and Jeremy Walton share their “dos” and “don'ts” about making movies cheaply, independently and with integrity.

Years of creating high quality content is paying off for writer Jude Roth.  Hear what she’s learned from taking meetings and obtaining high quality representation. 

Filmmaker Alex Ferrari talks about the “hustle” of independent filmmaking and the personal experiences that led him to write his new book, Shooting for the Mob.

Shaun Cassidy (New Amsterdam, Emerald City, American Gothic) went from pop star to rockstar writer. Here he digs into the process of the writers’ room and reveals his personal inspiration for finding story. A must-listen. 

TV executive Rev. Karen Frost talks about her path in Hollywood and her current role as creative executive at Viola Davis’s JuVee Productions.

Carnegie Mellon graduates Tommar Wilson and Beth Crosby reunited in an On the Page screenwriting class.  Although Tommar performs on Broadway and Beth performs sketch and improv, they also united in their observations about writing and acting.

The Sixth Sense, Election, Being John Malkovich, Magnolia … Tonight we’re gonna write like it’s1999!  Special assistance from Pat Francis and Azul Nino (also produced in 1999).

Writers Jason Director and Ayla Harrison are happily married and constantly moving forward in their writing career.  They’ve also developed a list for finalists and fellows to help them make contacts and get work .

Pilar is joined by writer Melissa Cassera to discuss ways to create and show the emotional progression of on-screen characters.

Canadian writers Michelle Muldoon and Geordie Sabbagh talk about the daring steps they’ve taken to seek out contacts and make their own movies. 

Ashleigh Powell (The Nutcracker and the Four Realms; one of Variety’s 10 Screenwriters to Watch) talks about her love of writing, genre, and world building.

David Matillo wrote seven unproduced scripts before his feature spec “Bare Knuckle” made the 2015 Blacklist. He discusses the projects he’s written since then and what he’s learned along the way. 

Manager/Producer Markus Goerg (Heroes and Villains Entertainment) describes a writer’s career as, “never boring, never easy and never a straight line."

Playwright / screenwriter Christy Hall (I Am Not OK With This on Netflix), discusses her approach to writing for the stage and screen.  

Organizer Tracy McCubbin, author of Making Space, Clutter Free, discusses ways to declutter your writing space and organize your writing time.

Author/ USC Professor Pamela Douglas discusses the changes to genre, structure and the international market addressed in the fourth edition of her classic book Writing the TV Drama Series.

Hilliard Guess, writer on Deadly Class, talks about asking for what you want, changing perception and his personal steps toward becoming the next J.J. Abrams.

Ryan O’ Connell talks about writing on Will and Grace and Awkward and discusses his upcoming Netflix series Special, inspired by his experiences as a gay man navigating the world with cerebral palsy.

Eight days. Thirteen states. Thirty drivers.  Pilar’s husband Pat Francis talks about his new documentary in which he traveled across country using only the ride-share service Lyft.

Kendra Jordan and Racquel Baker discuss the new B.E.T. show Boomerang and the way they find episodes and break story in the writers’ room.

Psychiatrist Laura Erickson-Schroth and general practitioner Justin Young are also writers who crave a more realistic depiction of the medical profession on screen.  Listen to their advice about myth vs. truth in the medical world.

Pilar and her friends Brian Pope, Mike Musa and Nancy Noever get together for their annual discussion/argument about the best screenplay and best adapted screenplay Oscar nominees.

Story analysts Mark Chandley (HBO), Holly Sklar (Warner Bros.) and Daniel Livnat (UTA) discuss their approach to reading and covering scripts and books for production companies, studios and agencies.

Writer / director Meredith Danluck discusses the thought and effort that went into her independent thriller State Like Sleep and her four-screen narrative film North of South, West of East. 

Stop working so hard!  In a quick tutorial, Pilar guides you through some lazy ways to brainstorm, outline and write your screenplay.

Jade Branion and Darren O’Hare made some fascinating life choices that influenced and energized their writing.

Kristin Overn, Executive Director of the PAGE International Screenwriting Awards, talks about the world of writing competitions and provides insight into the ways judges read and evaluate scripts.

David Rabinowitz’s first feature-length script got the attention of Jordan Peele and was directed by Spike Lee.  He discusses the writing and pitching process and what he’s learned along the way.

Pilar and Aadip evaluate log lines sent in by listeners. Who will win ... and who will end up on the “But List?”

One sold a movie. One was nominated for a Webby. And one decided to just focus on being happy. Denise Cruz-Castino, Aydrea Walden and Mike Martin update.

The creative team at the video game company BioWare shares their insight into writing characters, story lines and action moments.

Career coach Lee Jessup returns to discuss the writing trends popular in 2018 and shares what’s ahead for the new year.

Writer/editor Kyle Dodson discusses what he’s learned from being in the world of short-form content at the digital production company AOK.  He also shares tips for new creatives moving to Los Angeles.

Writer/Actor Taryn O’Neill discusses the ways that stories about science can entertain and change the world.

With the help of writer Elena Zaretsky, Pilar explains the meaning of the mysterious red pen marks she makes on her students' scripts.

Writers Carlton Allen and Michael Monteiro Wise love the Harry Potter movies.  Here they explain why the book-to-screen adaptations work so well and why Harry Potter fans may end up saving the world.

Suzanne Keilly has had such a successful two years writing on Dallas and Robo, creating two horror movies for SyFy and being staffed on the upcoming Netflix show Warrior Nun, that we made her return to the show to tell us about it!