The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna

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On today's eerie episode, we welcome three creatives behind Hulu's new campy horror slasher film, "Carved" - director and co-writer Justin Harding, co-writer Cheryl Meyer, and star Peyton Elizabeth Lee - to talk about horror, and particularly, how to write it. Happy Halloween!

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We talk about ACTIVE protagonists all the time on the show, but we know that creating one is easier said than done. Luckily, Meg and Lorien have a laundry list of practical exercises you can explore today to bring your protagonist to life.

But first, we talk with longtime TSL listener and TSL workshops member Laurel Senick about a lovely, lava-filled email she sent us.

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How does a TV writer go from working on a classic sitcom (The Office), to a deeply-felt immigrant dramedy (Little America), to creating a hidden camera show (Jury Duty), and most recently, creating an Emmy-nominated female-driven workplace drama (Lessons in Chemistry)? Hard work. Despite his mega-career, Lee Eisenberg doesn't believe he is in the upper echelon of Hollywood's most talented writers, but he does believe he outworks almost anyone else in town. Tune in to find out how you can, too.

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Joey Tuccio may know more writers in Hollywood than just about anyone. In fact, he loves writers so much, that he created an entire program to nature, incubate, and propel writers to representation through his brainchild ROADMAP WRITERS. Today, in a re-broadcast of a hugely attended Facebook live from 2023, we ask the hard questions about what it really takes to get a manager.

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John Hoffman is the first to admit his surprise at just how comfortable he felt directing Meryl Streep on his set for Only Murders In The Building. She's not the only legend to have appeared on the show...Steve Martin, Martin Short, Tina Fey, Paul Rudd, Nathan Lane: it's a murderers' row. And yet, it's been decades of hard work, ups and downs, passes, "almost-greenlights" and visits from Moetta...John's imaginary muse, that have earned him the confidence to showrun one of TVs most beloved comedies. Learn about how he built that confidence in today's lovely conversation.

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When Patton Oswalt considers a part, he has a simple litmus test: "When the movie is finished it's either gotta be, 'I can't believe they pulled this off, or this movie should not have been made.'" Risk has always been an important part of Patton's life as an artist in every medium: writing, acting, performing, and stand-up. Enjoy this incredible conversation with one of our best working stand-ups.

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Though he's perhaps best known as Miguel on This Is Us, Jon Huertas has been a TV staple for decades, having worked on broadcast, cable, and streaming, both in front of and behind the camera. With such a deep well of experience, Jon has incredible advice for TV writers in today's conversation.

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Years ago, Alex Convery and Tate Hanyok were merely attending the Austin Film Festival as screenplay competition winners, and this year, they're attending as panelists! Find out how they used the festival to meet writers, rep, and most importantly, motivate their career in the right direction.

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Barbara Stepansky’s career is the culmination of years of incredibly hard work. In addition to winning the highly competitive Nicholl Fellowship, Barbara is a WGA-award winner for a TV movie, the head writer on a German-language Netflix show, and a writer/producer on Starz’s Outlander. Today’s conversation is all about how Barbara built her uniquely multi-faceted career.

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How does a Chicago-based Indie film team break into Sundance, sell their movie at the fest, debut with a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, and make a Box Office Splash? They make a really, really great movie. Writer/director Kelly O'Sullivan knows a thing or two about Indie Filmmaking; her debut "Saint Frances" won SXSW in 2019. Today she discusses how she writes, casts, and directs outside of the traditional indie ecosystem, and how you can, too.

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Whether it was writing for SNL in the '80s, writing RAT RACE in the 90s, or creating MONK in the 2000s, it's no secret that Andy Breckman has had an incredible career. What does he chalk it up to? Luck (and a whole lot of hard work).

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When Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky, and Lucia Aniello were first pitching Hacks, they didn't have a precise tonal comp when the network asked. But the trio ultimately knew that they wanted a show that was allowed to be "hard funny," but still make lots of space for rich emotional moments. Today, Paul and Jen discuss HOW they walk that tightrope while writing, and how centering Ava and Deborah's professional and personal relationship serves as their creative North Star helps the process.

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Animation is a MEDIUM, not a genre. This, among many other important lessons on today's episode, is one of the first things Lorien tells people who are interested in writing animated TV for children. Today we discuss how to break into children's animated TV, how production considerations weigh into the writing process, and what it means to signal a "red alert" in your work (hint: this is a good thing).

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Let's be frank: sexism and ageism are no joke in Hollywood. That being said, women over forty posses superpowers that the peers may lack - experience and wisdom. For Nitza Wilon & Elizabeth Kaiden, this is part of the juice behind the Writers Lab, the only screenwriting lab solely focused on nurturing women and non-binary folk over 40.

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Today, we’re joined by Jaiver Barrios, Lauren, O’Connor, and Hilary Swett to discuss the INVALUABLE resources that the WGF library provides for writers…FOR FREE.

RESOURCES DISCUSSED:

WGF Blog (Spec Primer Example!): https://www.wgfoundation.org/blog/2023/1/18/formatting-your-spec-script-a-primer-part-22?rq=abbot

WGF Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/WritersGuildFoundation

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Today is your last day for a lifetime TSL Workshops Discount! Sign up here: https://tslworkshops.circle.so

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Get Chris' Book!: https://www.amazon.com/Writers-Journey-Mythic-Structure-3rd/dp/193290736X

Though Chris Vogler is generally credited with introducing the FRAMEWORK of The Hero's Journey into modern Hollywood discourse, it almost didn't happen. When someone else plagiarized his memo and trafficked it to Jeffrey Katzenberg trying to take credit for it, Chris faced a crossroads. Find out HOW he managed that, and became an essential creative pillar behind the development of THE LION KING.

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Over the lifespan of our show, you've heard Meg and Lorien interview a ton of incredibly talented writers, but today, we turn the tables, and get to hear from them! (And a bit from producer Jeff too...)

Andrew Zinnes, a screenwriter and teacher himself, helped compile a book of interviews by top-tier screenwriting pros (including Meg), so today, he wanted to enrich the conversation presented by the book by hearing from all of TSL!

TO ORDER ANDREW'S BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Screenwriters-Advice-Popular-Winning-Streaming/dp/1501363271

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On today’s show, we answer your (excellent) questions. Among the topics we discuss are:

• How to lean into our best writer selves
• How many drafts we “really” need to be taken seriously
• How to improve readability in our work
• Advice for sharing undeveloped ideas with executives
• Deepening our midpoint and act 2b.

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Joey's impressive resume in TV includes shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live, Arrested Development, and I'm Sorry, which she show-ran for two seasons next to Andrea Savage. And even so, she's the first to acknowledge her both her strengths and growth areas as a writer, which has been one of the most valuable tools to propel her to the very top of a the writers room.

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Thanks for your patience! Our new episode this week will be dropping TOMORROW in your feed.

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Todd A Kessler's newest Apple TV+ THE NEW LOOK is one of Meg's favorite of the year. The show, which chronicles the rivalry between infamous fashion designers Coco Chanel and Christian Dior tracks their rapid ascent against the tense backdrop of WWII Europe, and for Meg, the way the show explores art, survival, and the risks we take to be great, speak to that time as much as they speak to today.

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Use code "EARLYBIRD" at checkout for $5 off a month for LIFE! (Only lasts until Jul 15).

Meredith Scardino has been many things: a fine artists, an animator, a late night writer, and now, a narrative comedy Creator/Showrunner (the wonderful Girls5Eva), but her focus on providing value wherever she is. Listen to Meredith take us through her twisted path to showrunning a Tina Fey-produced comedy and how she staffs her room.

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When Inside Out debuted, it was quickly celebrated as one of Pixar's masterpieces, earning multiple Oscar noms (including one for our HOST Meg LeFauve!) How then, do you approach a sequel to such a beloved classic? This was one of the many questions that weighed on both Kelsey Mann and Meg LeFauve as they reopened Riley's head to jump back in. Jump in with them!

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When asked about his first time working in feature animation, Meg's Inside Out 2 co-writer Dave Holstein described the process as: "writing inside a dishwasher while it's running." This is just one of many charming talking points in this lovely conversation between two brilliant minds: Dave, and our very own Meg LeFauve!

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Friend of the show Dustin Lance Black is back to talk about the central lynchpin of a great film: the protagonist. Lance is known for his complicated heroes (often real people) who draw us in and don't let go. Today, we discuss how to draw a protagonist that will hold an audience's attention, and perhaps more importantly, what to avoid so that same audience won't lose interest.

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TSL WORKSHOPS: www.thescreenwritinglife.co/workshops

BILLY'S BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001JSFBR4

The romantic comedy is one of the most enduring genres in American Cinema and for good reason: it's all about love, joy, and transformation, aka, the heart of good storytelling. This is Billy Mernit's entire ethos, the foundation that has made Billy's rom-com philosophy one of the most celebrated in our business. Billy is a story consultant, novelist, and Romcom guru, who's booking WRITING THE ROMANTIC COMEDY is a fundamental screenwriting craft text for emerging writers and pros.

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We're back with part TWO of our ten common traps that will kill your script. Take notes, TSL Fam!

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Whether you're a pro or a beginner, there are certain traps as screenwriters that will almost ALWAYS kill our writing. On today's show, we cover the first five...(stay tuned for the rest!)

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Linda Seger basically created the job of independent script consultant. After years of exploring, she discovered that her gifts lie in making a good script great, which is the name of her first book: "Making A Good Script Great." Since then, Linda has become one of Hollywood's most sought after and celebrated consultants, because her ability to distill down what is needed on the page.

For Linda's Books: https://lindaseger.com/screenwriting-books/

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Navid Mcllhargey has been a studio executive and producer for over 20 years, and over the course of his impressive career, he has seen the business change dramatically. Today, we get an inside look into the life of a studio-exec-turned-producer, and more importantly, what it looks like for a producer to puzzle together a movie in today's dramatically different Hollywood.

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Carole Kirschner, the director of the CBS Diversity Writers Program & WGA Showrunner Training Program, is passionate about helping creative professionals build thriving Hollywood careers. Whether you're an emerging writer of a pro, Carole will offer you PRACTICAL advice as to how to approach this ever-changing business.

FOR CAROLE'S BOOK: https://www.carolekirschner.com/book

FOR CAROLE'S BOOTCAMP: http://ckbootcamp.com/

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Octavio Solis is among the most celebrated playwrights discussing the Latin American experience, but he wasn't always a writer. Octavio began his artistic journey as an actor-turned-writing-teacher. But when his students started succeeding, he felt an emerging feeling; a need to take his own advice and get to the page.

Since then, Solis has written dozens of celebrated plays, in addition to culturally consulting on Pixar's COCO, which we discuss today.

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Even though Debby Wolfe began her career writing "edgy, brooding feminist shorts" (her words), but really found her lane as a writer when she wrote a Modern Family spec that launched her career. Since then, she's written on a number of multi-cams, eventually arriving on Lopez vs. Lopez, which she's currently showrunning. Today, Debby discusses how she manages to produce at the pace Network TV requires, how she staffs, and the importance of character-driven comedy.

Watch Season 2 of Lopez vs Lopez starting on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 with back-to-back episodes at 8/7c and 8:30/7:30c on NBC. New episodes air next day on Peacock. It will continue in those time slots going forward — which means, yes, you'll be getting two new episodes of the show per week! 

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Jeff Melvoin is - for lack of a better word - a legend in TV. He's an award-winning television writer, producer, showrunner, and educator who has written dozens and produced hundreds of one-hour episodes on over a dozen television series. He's also the founder and chair of the Writers Guild of America's Showrunner Training Program, now entering its 19th year.

Jeff's incredible book RUNNING THE SHOW, the focus of our convo today, is part memoir, part playbook, and part cheat sheet all about TV writing, from staff writer all the way to showrunner. It's a must read.

BUY JEFF'S BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Running-Show-Television-Jeff-Melvoin/dp/1493075292

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Cole Haddon is many things: a feature writer, a showrunner, a novelist, but he's grown an incredibly loyal community for his STORY brain, which mostly congregates on his very popular substack.

Today we discuss tone, genre, and plot through a case study in which we compare two very popular TV shows: The Bear and Ted Lasso. In this discussion, we'll trace how, despite them sharing a lot narratively (plot), they exist in totally unique WORLDS when it comes to tone and genre (and why this matters.)

For a deep dive into Cole's brilliant story brain, check out his substack: https://substack.com/@colehaddon

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Today is a chance to hear from YOU! We were thrilled to invite longtime listener Jennifer Deaton onto our show to hear about her impressive career in the biz including her life as a reader for Focus Features and screenwriting debut, the award-winning indie feature Jack of the Red Hearts.

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This year, one of the most talked about Animated Shorts at this year's Oscars is WAR IS OVER. The project, inspired by the Music of John and Yoko, is an 11-minute animated short featuring the 50-year-old classic song Happy Xmas (War Is Over), set against the backdrop of war.

Today, we welcome three of the shorts' brilliant creators: Pixar alum and Oscar®-nominee Dave Mullins, Golden Globe®-Nominee Brad Booker, and co-writer Sean Ono Lennon who executives produces alongside Yoko Ono.

This is part ONE of our two part conversation with the brilliant trio, so make sure you tune into part two tomorrow!

WATCH JEFF'S MOVIE FOR FREE: https://tubitv.com/movies/100007554/always-lola?start=true&tracking=google-feed&utm_source=google-feed

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This year, one of the most talked about Animated Shorts at this year's Oscars is WAR IS OVER. The project, inspired by the Music of John and Yoko, is an 11-minute animated short featuring the 50-year-old classic song Happy Xmas (War Is Over), set against the backdrop of WWI.

Today, we welcome three of the shorts' brilliant creators: Pixar alum and Oscar®-nominee Dave Mullins, Golden Globe®-Nominee Brad Booker, and co-writer Sean Ono Lennon who executives produces alongside his mom, Yoko Ono.

This is part ONE of our two part conversation with the brilliant trio, so make sure you tune into part two tomorrow!

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Nimona isn't just one of 2023's best animated movies, it's one of 2023's best movies, full stop (and yes, it is Oscar-nominated). Today, we welcome one it's co-writers, Lloyd Taylor, to talk about adapting ND Stevenson beloved graphic novel, working through a roller coaster development window, and not being afraid to blow up his own work in service of finding the best version of a movie possible.

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Elizabeth Hargrave's debut board game Wingspan has become a one this century's most definitional games, but her inspiration to create was pretty simple. She says, "I felt like there were too many games about castles and space, and not enough games about things I’m interested in. So I decided to make a game about something I cared about." This is just one of the MANY points that will apply to your life as a writer.

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STORY ENGINE. Two words we so often dread, but let's be honest: the engine of your story is what POWERS your movie. It's make, or break. And today, we break down eight elements to test whether or not you are on your way to a feature film story engine that will take you from fade in, to fade out!

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Despite this being his first produced feature, David Hemingson's script for THE HOLDOVERS is one of the most celebrated of the year, nominated for over 40 industry prizes (including the Oscar), having won many of them. He's a self-proclaimed "journeyman" writer having bounced between children's animated, network comedy, and hourlong procedurals for over two decades. Even given his decades of experience, his approach to working with Alexander Payne was still one of humility, openness, and discovery. Today, David, Lorien, and Jeff, discuss how Hemingson's "unsellable" pilot about an all boys prep school became a new American classic.

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Hearing Celine Song discuss her authority as an artist is powerful stuff. Despite no feature film directorial experience, she knew she had the secret key to lead the production of Past Lives, which is now a 2024 Oscar nom: a fierce commitment to her script, the story, and characters. For Celine, all of the power and authority that we bring to our work comes from the simple fact that we are the authors and engineer of that sacred document that drives the whole thing: the script.

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We talk about lava, character wounds, and emotional storytelling ALL THE TIME on the show, but it's important to remember: there's more to good storytelling than an emotionally juicy character. Today, Oscar-winner (and friend-of-the-show) Michael Arndt discusses this, along with trends he is noticing in the evolving world of 21st century cinema.

GREAT RESOURCES FROM MICHAEL:

http://www.pandemoniuminc.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@michaelarndt8848

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Cord Jefferson knows what if feels like to watch a project die. Recently, he had a greenlit show that was so close to shooting that the production office for the show had an physical address. And then, it died. In a creative funk, Cord discovered Percival Everett's novel Erasure which immediately reignited a passion in Cord, and eventually became his debut feature film AMERICAN FICITION. Today, Cord discusses the process of adapting the novel.

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ORIGINALLY BROADCAST ON JUL 26, 2023

Despite being a multiple Academy Award winner, celebrated producer, and feature/TV director, Jodie Foster is still aiming for a singular goal: to tell truthful stories. On today's show, we discuss how Jodie processes her work, how she collaborates with others, and what Robert De Niro taught her on the set of Taxi Driver.

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Do you ever feel stuck in your work? Like there's an invisible wall blocking you from generating your best material? You're not alone, and today, we're thrilled to be joined by 5-time NYT bestselling author Adam Grant to talk about just this. Adam's new book HIDDEN POTENTIAL illuminates how we can elevate ourselves and others to unexpected heights, which couldn't be more relevant to you as a writer.

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Don't worry, we hate talking about it too. And yet, Paco de Leon has a way of discussing money that feels safe, generous, and even hopeful. She specializes in helping creatives and freelancers manage their money by talking about what they believe about their income and even...gulp...themselves. You'll feel better about both your finances, and yourself after we finish this conversation!

FOR MORE ON PACO: www.thehellyeahgroup.com

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As we navigate the holidays, it's easy to look back (and forward) on our career and feel a complicated mix of emotions. But at the end of the day, we HAVE to give ourselves permission to dream if we want to maintain stability in this business. Today, we discuss just that!

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It's that time of year when hundreds of Holiday Movies air on screens all over the world. Whether its Hallmark, Lifetime, Disney+, Netflix, or Apple, or even Theaters, it's one of the hottest markets around for emerging and professional writers, and for Holiday screenwriting Queen Eirene Tran Donohue, one of the best ways to break in. Listen to her break down why!

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Having begun his career as an actor, and then transitioned to an Oscar-winning writer/director, Tom has worn MANY hats in this business. Because of that, he has a particularly unique point of view when it comes to writing. Today, Tom discusses how he embraces his multiple creative identities when approaching the blank page, especially he considers drafts that are going to producers, the studio, or actors.

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Today we're honored to welcome NINE members from the WGA's inclusion and equity committees in a thoughtful conversation about the state of the industry and representation on and off the page. Today's guests are:

Asian American Writers Committee: Kristina Woo

Career Longevity Committee: Catherine Clinch

Committee of Black Writers: Hilliard Guess

Committee of Women Writers: Franki Butler

Disabled Writers Committee: Shea Mirzai

Latinx Writers Committee: Christina Piña

LGBTQ+ Writers Committee: Spiro Skentzos

Middle Eastern Writers Committee: Cameron Ali Fay

Native American & Indigenous Writers Committee: Anthony Florez

RESOURCES:

TTIE Fact Sheets: https://www.writeinclusion.org/factsheets

Storyline Partners Fact Sheets: https://www.storylinepartners.com/resources/

Women Of Color Unite: https://wocunite.org/

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This week, producer Jeff walks you through how he got his film Always, Lola from idea to distribution with a VERY low five figure microbudget...and you can too!

TO WATCH THE FILM: https://www.alwayslolafilm.com/watchathome

TO TAKE THE CLASS: www.jeffgrahamdigital.com/class

Territory Info:

United States/Canada - Amazon, Apple, Google Play, YouTube

Australia/New Zealand - Apple, Google Play, YouTube

UK/Ireland - Apple, Google Play, YouTube

South Africa - Apple

For non-English territories, google the movie, you might find it! If the film is not available in your territory and you want access, email [email protected].

To sign up for our patreon: www.patreon.com/thescreenwritinglife

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Happy Thanksgiving TSLers! Enjoy this throwback to our very first episode.

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To prepare for his upcoming appearance on our show, TSL is proud to rebroadcast a classic, Michael Ardnt's Act 1 Masterclass.

Little Miss Sunshine's script, written by our guest Michael Arndt, won almost every major industry award, and for good reason. Its warmth, humor, and surefooted commitment to its themes makes it one of the finest scripts written this century. And SO many of those themes show up in Act 1.

Michael has become a bit "obsessed" with act 1's lately, because it's our chance to maximize the "rooting interest" around our hero so that our audience has no choice but to keep watching. FOR MICHAEL'S (AMAZING) WEBSITE: https://www.pandemoniuminc.com/

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The Morning Show is one of TV's most discussed shows, and season 3 showrunner Charlotte Stoudt recognizes it's cultural foothold. For her, the idea of incorporating real world events is all about character, and a chance for both the characters and their discussion of the world around them to illuminate each other. Charlotte also discusses how she runs the morning show room, works with her powerhouse cast, and looks back on her impressive career.

PATREON: www.patreon.com/thescreenwritinglife

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In our time time-honored tradition of asking the same three questions at the end of every show, we wanted to put together a supercut of some great guest responses to be enjoyed in one fell swoop. New episodes

Featured in today's supercut:

- Nora Twomey

- Eirene Tran Donohue

- Constanza and Domenica Castro

- Allison Tolman

- Dustin Lance Black

- Dana Stevens

- Jeremy Doner

- Joe Robert Cole

- Kelly Edwards

- John Lee Hancock

- Jane Anderson

- Julia Cho and Domee Shi

- Rafael Casal

- Kelly Fremon Craig

- Charlie Day

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In our time time-honored tradition of asking the same three questions at the end of every show, we wanted to put together a supercut of some great guest responses to be enjoyed in one fell swoop. Part two coming Monday!

Featured in today's supercut:

- Matt Lieberman

- Monique N. Matthews

- Sean Presant

- Stacy Rukeyser

- Sam Bain

- Nicole Perlman

- Stephen Karam

- Anna Drezen

- Jenny Lumet and Alex Kurtzman

- David F.M. Vaughn

- Dan O'Shannon

- Jen Grisanti

- Patrick Osborne 

JOIN OUR PATREON: www.patreon.com/thescreenwritinglife

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We're back for another story workshop, plus some amazing suggestions for writing exercises to help crack act 2.

Join our patreon: www.patreon.com/thescreenwritinglife

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Believe it or not, documentary filmmaking has lots in common with traditional narrative feature filmmaking...tune in today to learn why, with two award-winning documentarians!

TO SEE MONIQUE'S DOC (screening this week!): https://www.birthingjustice.com/screenings/

FOR MORE ON LINDA: https://ladylikefilms.com/

TO JOIN OUR PATREON: www.patreon.com/thescreenwritinglifea

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Throughout the 21st century, video games have become one of pop cultures most valuable mediums, and their narrative ambition grows with each passing year. Today we feature two of the industries top writers, Shanon M. Ingles (Batman: A Telltale Series) and Stephan Bugaj (Tales From the Borderlands) to discuss how the industry has evolved from a writing standpoint, and how you can break in.

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Today, we do one of our favorite things: answer YOUR questions. As is always the case, a theme emerged across your questions and our conversation, which boils down to one of the hardest and most important questions we face as artists. How are we supposed to feel validated in our work, especially when it's hard?

Don't forget to join us for our FINAL DRAFT in Austin this year on Saturday evening at Stephen F's Bar & Terrace after our workshop. We are so exciting to be partnering with Final Draft!

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TSL was on set this week! (Exciting - more soon)...but because our bandwidth was stretched a bit thin, we're going to be rebroadcasting a fan favorite: the lava episode!

There may be no topic we discuss more on this show than lava, so we decided to put an episode together unpacking the entire volcano.

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The Austin Film Festival is many things, but one if its most infamous opportunities is the annual 90-second pitch competition, where writers join to do just that: pitch their story in JUST 90 seconds. In the industry, we call this "the elevator pitch" and its more important now than ever.

To help us unpack the nature of elevator pitching, we're featuring an amazing roster of guests: TSL veteran and super producer Sheila Hanahan Taylor, Austin Film Festival Screenplay Department Director Alyssa Alvarado, and the five brave souls who are joining to pitch them!

TO BUY YOUR AFF PASS: https://austinfilmfestival.com/product/film-pass-2/

TO PURHASE FINAL DRAFT: https://www.finaldraft.com/

TO JOIN OUR PATREON: https://patreon.com/thescreenwritinglife

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There is nothing worse than writer's block when facing a rewrite, but there's hope! Today we discuss 6 Essential Strategies To Tackle a Rewrite.

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We're back for part two w/ super producer Ted Hope! This week, we talk about some of Ted's top pieces of advices for living a successful creative life, and spend a long time talking about the importance of balancing multiple projects as a creative.

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You finally get the meeting, make the connection, and a bigshot producer is excited to read your script. But you panic. Is it good enough? Is it READY? Today, award-winning independent film producer Ted Hope walks us through those always complicated questions, and answers TONS more along the way.

FOR MORE: https://tedhope.substack.com

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Every writer can point to a movie that made them say: "THIS. This is what I want to do." And today, Meg, Lorien, and Jeff share the movies that turned THEM into writers. Yep, we're movie nerds too.

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Though it can sometimes feel like a prison, screenplay structure is actually a very freeing element of the story process. Jill Chamberlain, a veteran script consultant, is obsessive about structure, to the point where she has created a popular technique to re-consider how we approach our work. On her technique, producer Callum Greene (Star Wars Episode 9) offers “the Nutshell Technique is like the Rosetta Stone: it cracks the code behind why we love the movies that we love. It goes way beyond tired old beat sheet ‘formulas’ and instead guides you to organically write the story you want to tell.”

FOR MORE ON JILL (& FREE NUTSHELL WORKSHEETS): https://www.jillchamberlain.com

TO JOIN OUR PATREON: www.patreon.com/thescreenwritinglife

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As collaborators and showrunners, Kat Likkel and John Hoberg know that shutting down ideas is never helpful. This was only emphasized when they joined Pixar's Elemental team as writers. Today we discuss how to collaborate well with others (and ourselves), how to bring our personal experience into our work, and duckboat. Yes, you read that right: duckboat.

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**PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EPISODE WAS PRE-RECORDED & PRECEDED THE 2023 WGA STRIKE.**

In today's TSL epsiode, Meg gets personal about her lava, and how a recent production of Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George is helping her to rethink the beauty of moving on from a creative project.

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Despite being a multiple Academy Award winner, celebrated producer, and feature/TV director, Jodie Foster is still aiming for a singular goal: to tell truthful stories. On today's show, we discuss how Jodie processes her work, how she collaborates with others, and what Robert De Niro taught her on the set of Taxi Driver.

Join Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/thescreenwritinglife

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Though she got her start in multi-cam sitcoms, it was a bold sci-fi dramedy rom-com that made Pixar interested in hiring Brenda Hsueh to co-write Elemental. On today's show, Brenda discusses how her voice has evolved as a writer over the course of her career, how she brought her own experience into her work as a writer for Elemental, and how she has learned to elegantly argue for what she believes in when collaborating.

JOIN OUR PATREON: www.patreon.com/thescreenwritinglife

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/SCREENWRITERS and get on your way to being your best self.

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With hits like BRING IT ON and STICK IT, writer/director Jessica Bendinger is known for her subversive and surprising takes on female girlhood, using archetypes in a way that audiences have celebrated. Today what discuss what archetypes are, how we can use them, and what the future of our industry looks like.

FOR JESS' BOOK/PODCAST: http://www.jessicabendinger.com/

TO JOIN OUR PATREON: www.patreon.com/thescreenwritinglife

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Hi all! Today, Savana and Jeff revisit their conversation from part one of their conversation about SET! Today we discuss some of the most essential vocabulary and set dynamics that you need to understand before you take the plunge!

For internship inquiries, email [email protected] with the subject line INTERN, and include a cover letter and resume. Please note that we are only considering credit-eligible students!

To join our Patreon: www.pateron.com/thescreenwritinglife

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We bring our "beginning" miniseries to a close with this instant TSL classic, wherein Meg gives many pep talks.

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In our continued conversation about where and how to begin as a screenwriter, we take your (excellent) questions! We talk about outlining, cards, character development, and how to quiet our inner critic.

TO JOIN OUR PATREON: www.patreon.com/TheScreenwritingLife

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So you want to be a screenwriter. Now what? Today we discuss some of these important questions to ask before you jump into a draft - questions that are JUST as valuable for emerging writers as they are for professionals.

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Emmy-winning TV super-producer Javier Grillo-Marxuach is back. This time, he chats about his wonderful essay "WHAT I DO ON THE PAGE." clarifying that ultimately, the basic mechanics or writing are also the advanced mechanics of writing.

HERE is the essay we're discussing: http://okbjgm.weebly.com/uploads/3/1/5/0/31506003/script_essay.pdf

HERE is Javi's first appearance on our show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/46-writing-great-tv-characters-w-javier-grillo-marxuach/id1501641442?i=1000522797405

HERE is our patreon: www.patreon.com/thescreenwritinglife

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Podcasts are one of the fastest growing mediums today (see THIS SHOW), and they can take on many forms. Today, writer/director Susan Busa Leshner discusses her podcast series THE AMERICAN IMMORTAL, and how she turned it from an idea into a quickly growing audio drama with multiple episodes, a completed first season, and a second season on the way!

TO LISTEN TO THE AMERICAN IMMORTAL FOR FREE: https://theamericanimmortal.com/

TO BECOME A PATRON: www.patreon.com/thescreenwritinglife

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Karyn Kusama is known for film classics like Girlfight, Jennifer's Body, The Invitation, and a NEW TV classic, Yellowjackets, which she executive produces.

Karyn's work is celebrated for its thoughtfully subversive approach with feminist themes across multiple genres, and today she discusses HOW she uses her body as a barometer to seek truth in her work.

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TSL-ers are going to be meeting at Disney tomorrow. That's Wednesday, May 24th at 1:00 PM Pacific. Again, Wednesday, May 24th at 1:00 PM Pacific at the Disney lot in Burbank. We're hoping for a big turnout. And in that interest, there's a couple things you can do to help when you show up.

First of all, if you're able to, it would be amazing if you could bring some snacks and water to share with folks.

You can bring those to check in at the front gate. Meg, Lorien and I will be in the grassy area nearby with TSL stickers to hand out. But we won't be there long because the Guild wants us to keep moving. Start walking, and you'll find us. We're gonna walk the entire block around the lot going counterclockwise toward the hospital.

So if you want to find us, you can walk the other way toward the bus stop. And you'll cross paths with us on the way. Say hi, get a sticker and meet other TSLs. Remember, you should definitely wear sunscreen and a hat or sunglasses because it could be hot. And again, if you wanna bring your own water and snacks, that would be incredibly helpful.

As a reminder, you don't need to be in the WGA to picket. We appreciate solidarity in all forms. So whether or not you're in the guild, we'd love to see you there. And in the meantime, keep writing.

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It's a scary and unprecedented time for our industry, but we're immensely proud of our guild's fight for the basic dignities of its members: writers. As negotiating committee members, our guests Michele Mulroney and David A. Goodman have been on the front lines of this historic strike and are here to help us understand exactly what writers are fighting for, why the stakes are higher than ever, and what you can do, wherever you are, to help support the cause.

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Curits Gwinn has worked on some of the most acclaimed shows of the 2010s including The Walking Dead, The Leftovers, and Stranger Things, but he's the first to admit that each room has been a valuable learning experience, even for a writer as seasoned as he is. In this candid conversation, Curtis opens up about the lessons he learned across multiple writers rooms, how to stay spiritually grounded in such a rocky business, and why a 1984 Halloween Costume helped secure his spot on Stranger Things. 

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When Charlie got to post-production of his feature writer/director debut, he was crushed to discover that the film simply didn't work. At that point, he was faced with two choices: ditch the movie and move on, or dig in, dive into his lava, and head back to set for reshoots. He chose the latter, and his new film FOOL'S PARADISE, drops in theaters next week! On today's show we also talk about the genesis of Always Sunny, Charlie's comic voice, "pushing" your tone on the page, and how to write "unlikeable" characters.

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How did Kelly Fremon Craig manage to convince Judy Blume to let her adapt Are You There God, It's Me Margaret? Tune in to find out!

We're thrilled to be joined by award-winning writer/director Kelly Fremon Craig. She's the award-winning writer and director of two feature films: The Edge Of Seventeen starring Hailey Steinfeld, and Are You There God, It's Me Margaret, which will be released in theaters tomorrow. Kelly's work is celebrated for its unflinching depictions of teenage girlhood, which The New York Times calls "smart and achingly bittersweet." Hi Kelly!

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However you feel about Starz' award-winning show BLINDSPOTTING, one thing is for sure, you've never seen anything like it. Today's guest, showrunner Rafael Casal, likes it that way: confronting his audiences with genre-breaking, even medium-breaking decisions in the production. For Rafael, as long as the writing remains deeply committed to truth and honesty, the writer is entitled to "break the rules. "

Rafael Casal is a poet, rapper, actor, filmmaker, and showrunner who is best known for Blindspotting: a feature-film-turned-TV-show that he co-created with his longtime creative partner Daveed Diggs. Casal's work explores the complicated social dynamics of urban life in the 21st century, particularly in Oakland, where he grew up. 

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Jump behind the scenes with us to experience the highs and lows of producing one of Pixar's most celebrated and subversive films: Turning Red from the minds of Domee Shi and Julia Cho, who wrote it.

Domee Shi began as a story intern at Pixar Animation Studios in June 2011, and was soon hired as a story artist on the Academy Award-winning feature film INSIDE OUT. In 2015 she began pitching ideas for short films, and soon was green lit to write and direct BAO which won the Academy Award® for Best Animated Short Film. Shi most recently made her feature film directorial debut on TURNING RED which was also Oscar-nominated. Her TURNING RED co-writer Julia Cho began her career in the New York Theater scene, writing a number of celebrated plays which scored her the Windham-Campbell Literary Prize in 2020 celebrating her body of her work. Her work as a playwright earned her spots in a number of prestigious writers' rooms including BIG LOVE, HALT AND CATCH FIRE, and PAPER GIRLS, which she co-executive produced.

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Jane Anderson is an award-winning writer of plays, television, and movies, with over three decades of produced material, some of which she herself directed. Jane's work is known for its rich and complicated depictions of female life, with films like THE WIFE, which was Oscar-nominated, and shows like OLIVE KITTERIDGE, which won multiple Emmys, including two for Jane. 

ANNE LAMOTT EPISODE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/33-anne-lamott-make-your-writing-fears-work-for-you/id1501641442?i=1000510993110

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John Lee Hancock is an award-winning writer/director whose extensive career includes writing and directing The Blind Side, directing Saving Mr. Banks, and most recently writing and directing Mr. Harrigan's Phone for Netflix. Across nearly three decades of his career, John has worked as a producer, writer, and director in multiple genres including stirring sports biopics, high concept genre movies, and even teen horror. On today's show, we discuss the beginning of his career, adaptation, and directing/writing with kindness. 

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Every writer should experience set life at least once in their life, whether they're directing their own work, supervising production on their episode, or even just helping out as a PA. Every set has it's own rules and universe, so today, we wanted to unpack those with our own stories and advice!

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CALL US WITH YOUR PITCHING HORROR STORIES: 440.305.0690 Kelly Edwards' multi-faceted career has multiple phases: she has worked in development, platforming shows like LIVING SINGLE, GIRLFRIENDS, and MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE. She has also worked as a diversity executive for studios like HBO and NBC Universal, ushering in diverse creative talent for NBC, USA, Syfy, Bravo, and Telemundo. Now Kelly has taken her decades of producing experience to do the very thing we talk about on our show: write. Kelly has sold multiple scripts and was recently staffed on a scripted show. Having worked as both an exec and a writer, Kelly has a rare understanding of our business from both sides, which is the main focus of her recent book: The Executive Chair, which you can buy here!: https://www.amazon.com/Executive-Chair-Writers-Guide-Development/dp/1615933301 You can also join our patreon, here: https://www.patreon.com/TheScreenwritingLife

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It's a TSL first as we explore a crossover episode with Matt Enlow and Oren Kaplan of the popular JUST SHOOT IT PODCAST to discuss pitching, free work, social media, and what directors are really looking for when it comes to the page.

TO SUBSCRIBE TO JUST SHOOT IT: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-shoot-it-a-podcast-about-filmmaking/id995859414

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All of us have goals in our career, but how do build the steps to actually get there? Or perhaps more importantly, how do we be intentional about budling the steps to get there? Not only is scaffolding an essential part of career-building, but also in our work.

JOIN OUR PATREON: www.patreon.com/thescreenwritinglife

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Joe Robert Cole, known for marathon writing sessions, has a simple litmus test to assess his own work: how does this make me feel? He calls it "Method Writing," and it's an essential part of his process.

Joe Robert Cole is an award-winning writer/director of both television and features. He has co-written two Oscar-nominated movies with Ryan Coogler for Marvel, BLACK PANTHER and last year's BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER. On the TV Side, Cole worked as a co-producer on Murphy's widely-acclaimed People v. OJ miniseries, earning an Emmy nomination for writing the episode "The Race Card." He has also directed two features, including ALL DAY AND A NIGHT.

JOIN OUR PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/TheScreenwritingLife

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Though Dana Stevens wrote one of 2022's buzziest and most exciting movies, The Woman King, she has decades of experience in both film and television. On today's show, we discuss how Dana got involved in The Woman King, how she approached the film's extraordinary action set pieces on the page, and what she learned while showrunning.

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Jeremy Doner is a co-writer on one of 2022's most exciting movies: EVLIS, directed by Baz Luhrmann. For his work on the script, Jeremy is nominated for an Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award. Before Elvis, he was staffed on two critically acclaimed TV crime dramas: DAMAGES and THE KILLING, writing multiple episodes and scoring WGA-award nominations for both shows.

On today's show, he discusses how he got involved with Elvis, why he connected with the story, and his "take" - one of the most important components of pitching a biopic.

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Dustin Lance Black is an Oscar-winning writer/director, known for writing the films like Milk and J. Edgar, in addition to creating the award-winning 2022 crime miniseries Under the Banner of Heaven, starring Andrew Garfield. Black is a fierce LGBTQ rights advocate, serving as a founding board member of the American Foundation for Equal Rights, and writing 8, a courtroom drama reenacting the overturn of Prop 8 in California. On today's show, we discuss the common pitfalls of writing biopics, how Lance uses his own life to inform his work, and the research and work it takes to avoid cliches in our writing. 

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Allison Tolman's first major television role made waves in the industry, even scoring her a Critics Choice Award for her portrayal of Molly in FX's acclaimed debut season of Fargo. She has worked in Network TV on shows like Brooklyn 99 and Good Girls, Streaming TV, starring in Marc Cherry's Why Women Kill, and Premium Cable Fare, recently guest starring in Starz' Gaslit across Julia Roberts.

Alison, a writer herself, is joining us today to discuss what she looks for when vetting material, how she collaborates with writers during productions, and to share wisdom on her experience in the industry, both on and off set.

ROOM TONE INSTAGRAM: @weareroomtone

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Constanza and Doménica Castro are the founders of 271 Films, which tells stories that bring meaningful perspectives to an audience, that connect them to their humanity and their emotional intelligence. Today we discuss what they look for as they vet work, and how they found the courage to tell their OWN stories. WE ARE HERE: https://271films.com/we-are-here-fyc 271 WEBSITE: https://271films.com/ RISING VOICES: https://tribecafilm.com/films/indeed-presents-rising-voices-2021

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271 Films Founders Constanza and Doménica Castro coming to you this FRIDAY! Thanks for your patience - it’s worth the wait!

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There are some lessons that can only be learned through experience, time, and let's be honest - failure. Today, tons of professional writers anonymously share their ups and downs in the business by sharing what they wish they knew early in their career. It's a must-listen!

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Why is it that the New Year so often invites trepidation, fear, and panic as we consider our achievements as artists? We consider that question today, while rethinking new years resolutions as a concept to feel more generous, achievable, and thoughtful as we approach the new year.

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We’re closing out 2022 with a LIVE panel from our time at the Austin Film Festival. Thanks to Joe Forte for joining!

TO JOIN OUR PATREON: www.patreon.com/thescreenwritinglife

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It's that time of year when hundreds of Holiday Movies air on screens all over the world. Whether its Hallmark, Lifetime, Disney+, Netflix, or Apple, or even Theaters, it's one of the hottest markets around for emerging and professional writers, and for Holiday screenwriting Queen Eirene Tran Donohue, one of the best ways to break in. Listen to her break down why!

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Diving back into your work after a round of notes can feel overwhelming, especially when we get thoughtful notes that can feel contradictory. How can we possibly incorporate every suggestion into our next draft? Spoiler alert: you can't. Instead, focusing on one ELEMENT of your rewrite can be the ticket to moving forward. Keep it simple; pick a pony. 

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It's becoming and increasingly common (and important) question: are we allowed to tell stories about characters whose lives don't reflect our own? On today's show, UCLA psychologist Dr. Yalda T. Uhls answers this question, in addition to addressing questions around TV programming for kids and adolescent viewers, and unconcious bias in our writing.

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One of Netflix's most celebrated animated movies of the year comes from our very own Meg LeFauve, whose beautiful script for "My Father's Dragon" was brought to life by Nora Twomey, one of our industry's most celebrated animated directors. Nora and Meg discuss how the movie came to fruition, what the development process looked like, and why precision and attention to detail in our storytelling is the key to finding success in our work. Thanks Nora! 

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We have all been very busy so our new episodes for the next two weeks will be dropping on Mondays. Thanks for your patience!

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There are few jobs more mentally strenuous than that of a writer. Rejection. Writers block. Notes. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

But today, bestselling author and thought leader Dr. Kristin Neff - renowned for her decades of research - is here to teach us about the beauty and the POWER of self-compassion. It will fundamentally shift the way you see you execute your creative life!

PURCHASE KRISTIN'S BOOKS: https://self-compassion.org/store/

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Patrick Osborne may have won an Oscar for his short film feast, but finding the conviction to stick to his creative "North Star" while writing is still a journey. Find out how he does it on today's episode.

Patrick Osborne - is An Oscar, Emmy, and Peabody winning (and even Grammy Nominated) Writer/Director and animator. Patrick animated on a bunch of Feature films like Surf's Up, I am Legend, Bolt, Tangled.. Wreck it Ralph before getting a shot at Writing and Directing with his 2014 Disney short film FEAST. Since then he has traced a less than conventional path in the entertainment business, that includes creating a live-action Sitcom (Imaginary Mary) - and even directing concert film for one of the world's biggest pop stars, Billie Eilish.

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Tone is consistently one of the most challenging things that Screenwriters face. What is it and how do we capture it on the page? We're thrilled to be joined by super-producer and friend-of-the-show Sheila Hanahan Taylor to unpack ALL of that today. Buckle up!

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Thanks for your patience! Editing now, and new episode drops tomorrow.

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Today, we take more questions from our brilliant listeners about: script readability, pilot v. feature format, and how to (as always) mine more emotionality from our characters.

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Meg and Lorien are BACK from their labs (Africa and Italy respectively - casual), and they have LOTS of thoughts. We discuss how to be great mentors, and of course, for our listeners, great mentees. This is your ultimate writing lab guidebook.

SEE MEG AND LORIEN IN AUSTIN

MEG + Joe's Workshop

Saturday October 29, 2022 9:00am - 10:15am CDT

St. David's Episcopal Church, Eden's Center 301 E 8th St, Austin, TX 78701

TSL MEETUP

Saturday October 29, 2022 8pm CDT @ Stephen's F Bar

701 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701

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Matthew Gentile has wanted to be a filmmaker since seeing Dog Day Afternoon as a 12-year-old. After graduating from AFI and winning an Emmy for his short FRONTMAN, Matthew's debut feature is about to drop theatrically This Friday. How does a first time feature filmmaker snag Tom Pelphrey, Jacki Weaver, Idina Menzel, and Ryan Phillippe for his cast? He gets into all of that today.

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Lorien is still living her best life in Italy, so Jeff and Meg hit the mic to take YOUR questions, wherin we discuss main relationships, subtext with your lava, and widow words!

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Do you have a pen and paper? Might want to grab them now...

Andrew Stanton wrote and directed Finding Nemo, Finding Dory, and Wall-E, all of which consistently rank among the best films of this century, and best animated films ever made. In live action storytelling, he's become a critically acclaimed director, working on shows like Stranger Things and Better Call Saul.

Andrew is considered one of the finest storytellers working in our industry. Andrew has given lectures for TED and Google, and he's joining us today to help us in our own understanding of story.

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How did one writers group produce 3 Nicholl winners in 6 years? Hard work, dedication, and a highly conscientious and regimented approach to getting shit done. Today, Nicholl winners Alisha Brophy and Scott Miles get into ALL of the details of their notoriously successful writers group, and how you can succeed too.

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What is the Metaverse, and why does it matter? Ask Ben Grosmann...

In 2013, he was nominated for an Academy Award for the film Star Trek Into Darkness. In 2012, he won an Academy Award for the film Hugo. In 2006, he won an Emmy for Outstanding Special Visual Effects for the Scifi Miniseries The Triangle.

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Whether it's the logistics of procuring rights, the challenging of changing an ending, or the fear of meeting that author who originated the story you're telling, adaptation invites a LOT of questions. Today, we discuss them!

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Jen Grisanti thought she had her dream job as a studio exec at Paramount/CBS, but when her contract wasn't renewed AND she was working through a very public divorce, she realized she was given the greatest gift she could have a storyteller: wounds and a potential to heal those wounds. This new philosophy has helped Jen create a new approach to writing, which she has been teaching writers all around the world for the last 15 years. To hire Jen or read or books, go to www.jengrisanti.com

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Dan O'Shannon has worked on some of American television's most iconic shows in history, but for him, every new project is a refreshed exercise in humility and starting again. Dan talks about what makes something funny, how to draw UNIQUE comedic characters, and what it really takes to succeed in our business in writer.

DAN'S BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/What-Are-You-Laughing-Comprehensive/dp/1441162933 

SEE JEFF'S MOVIE (Sat, Sep 10 @ 7:30pm in Hollywood - Block M): https://www.siliconbeachfilmfestival.com/tickets

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Yes. That's right. Today we're bringing you ONE HUNDRED lessons we've learned about writing, in honor of...yes, that's right, our 100th episode!!! Enjoy!

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We wanted to give our listeners a preview of our PATREON, so you'll hearing three bite-sized samples for some of our workshops. 

If you're interested in joining the Patreon, you can sign up here: www.patreon.com/TheScreenwritingLife

For questions/sign up info: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHnbm7i9udM

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There may be no topic we discuss more on this show than Lava, so we decided to put an episode together unpacking the entire volcano.

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We're BACK. After vacations, appointments, film festivals, and, oh yeah, writing, Meg, Lorien and Jeff check back in to discuss what they've been learning about their writing and themsleves in the last 6 weeks. 

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Thanks to our intern BORIS for cutting together another great BEST OF episode. Today we feature clips from the following episodes:

88 | Alex Kurtzman & Jenny Lumet: Why Destabilization Is Essential For Your Writing

86 | Dr. Strange 2 Writer Michael Waldron On Emotionally Authentic Writing

90 | Finding The Thematic “Thesis Statement” Of Your Script w/ Maggie Cohn

78 | Character Poles: A Simple but POWERFUL Way To Shape Your Characters

85 | Getting To The Heart Of Your Story w/ Pat Verducci

76 | How To GIVE Great Notes On Writing

75 | Finding Your Brand as a Writer w/ Manager Alison Mann

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Enjoy our final panel coverage from our time at the SLO film festival!

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Many writer/directors have gotten their starts with short films. Today we discuss what makes a great short, and how they can help (and not help) advance your career as a writer!

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Another WONDERFUL story workshop from Meg + Lorien. 

To see Jeff's film in CLEVELAND on 7/6 @ 7:30pm, buy tickets here: https://omniwebticketing6.com/cleveland/cedarlee/?schdate=2022-07-06&perfix=131376

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David F.M. Vaughn, award-winning actor, director, composer, and writer, is obsessed with getting detailed about the behind-the-scenes aspects of this sometimes very mysterious business. Having just come off of his first staffing gig, David has TONS of insight about what a writers room REALLY looks, and how we can prepare for them. 

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Writing can feel like a never ending grind, but we of course need to find the space to take a vacation. Today we talk about how and WHY it's essential to our process.

TO LEAVE AN APPLE PODCAST REVIEW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAG8mgrVQys

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Maggie Cohn and her co-showrunner Antonio Campos knew that in adapting one of the most popular documentaries of all time (The Staircase), they had to have their own fresh take. And in finding this, Maggie discovered that she uncovered a unifying “thesis statement” to keep her story and emotional thematic on rails as they wrote. It’s a fascinating conversation, and we hope you enjoy it!

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For Joey Tucccio, the founder of Roadmap Writers, "you're a human first, and a writer second." Excelling at your craft has as much to do with your understanding of yourself as it does with your writing, and Joey goes DEEP on all of that, today!

FOR MORE ON ROADMAP WRITERS: https://www.roadmapwriters.com/

TO SEE JEFF'S MOVIE: Click the link below and look for Block EEEE (The movie is called, ALWAYS, LOLA)

https://marinadelreyfilmfestival.ticketspice.com/2022-marina-del-rey-film-festival

DATE: Wednesday, June 22, 7:30PM – 9:00PM PDT

ADDRESS: Cinemark 18 and XD 

6081 Center Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90045

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Both Jenny Lumet and Alex Kurtzman are giants in our industry, and yet, they’re the FIRST to admit that every project is a brand new journey filled with excitement, fear, beauty, panic, and a profound sense of mystery. Find out how and why their new show The Man Who Fell To Earth was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of their career in today’s show!

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Despite having written for multiple scripted series, SNL, and now Showrunning her own animated series, the essence of good writing remains simple for Anna Drezen: "Write about what you're obsessed with."

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Whether it's a gritty wrestling drama like Heels, an animated satire like Rick and Morty, or a blockbuster romp through multi universes like Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Michael Waldron knows that emotionally honest storytelling is always central to a successful story. Today we unpack how to zero in on the emotional truth of your story. 

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Pat Verducci is a celebrated writing coach, story analyst, and produced writer/director, but at her most basic, Pat wants to help every writer planet earth getting closer to the story their heart wants to tell. Today, she walks through how YOU can do the same thing, and become your own writing coach as you unpack your story.

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Thinking is an essential part of the creative process, but at a certain point, we just have to WRITE. Have you been over thinking? How to leave a review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_xz5XbWQTg Come see us in San Luis Obispo: https://slofilmfest.org/ The Goddess of Brokenness: http://www.sutrajournal.com/akhilandeshwari-the-power-of-brokenness-by-laura-amazzone Join Our Patreon: www.patreon.com/thescreenwritinglife

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Today we are ENORMOUSLY lucky to be joined by the insanely accomplished writer, director, fellowship export Lisanne Sartor, who in some ways, is the godmother of our podcast. She breaks down EVERYTHING we need to know about the process - the good, the bad, and the ugly, and how you can use opportunities to best propel YOUR career.

Interested in an internship? Email us at: [email protected]

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Actress, playwright, professor, intern, story manager, showrunner. Despite Lorien's multifaceted career, one theme has unified every role she's taken on: storytelling. What did Lorien do when her MFA professor she didn't have what it takes? She doubled down. More on that in the show...

Follow Quincey's Diabetes Journey Here!: https://www.youtube.com/c/Diabetes101

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What is the most common note writers get? It almost ALWAYS relates to character "wants." Today, Meg and Lorien breakdown why character wants matter more than almost anything, how to incorporate them into your work, and why they'll help propel your story all to fade out. 

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Hey TSL Family! Lorien is BACK, and as you can imagine, our team had a lot to catch up on. As our conversation evolved, it seems the writing Gods were all pointing us toward the same thing: how to take care our writer selves when we're feeling overwhelmed. I (and so many in the Facebook group) feel grateful that Lorien has let us into the struggles of a brand new chapter in her life - more on that in the show - but truthfully, all three of us have been dealing with some serious lava lately. But within those discussions, we already realized that we have been discovering ways to work through it. Those methods have been helpful for us, and we hope they're helpful for you too.

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In today's very special episode, we interview one of Hollywood's most interesting, dynamic, and all around WONDERFUL industry veterans...Meg LeFauve!! And a VERY special guest joins in the fun...

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We've mentioned it many times on the show, so it's time we finally dive in; what exactly are character poles? Today is a masterclass from Meg, who dives into what she means when she says "character poles," how we can identify the concept using classics examples in staple films, and how we can apply it to our own work.

Also, Jeff went on an unhealthy tear about his Olympics obsession. To see the photos he referenced:

Nick Baumgartner and Omar Visintin:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u4YJjZlRplIObHub1dTysmWqEzWQNQHU/view?usp=sharing

Beijing's Big Air Hill: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hsK1vxqOsHYvlUDMndRlA_w9PxUVLorb/view?usp=sharing

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Writers always have tons of questions when it comes to representation - and who better to answer them than...Meg's manager! Charlie Gogolak has thrived in this business for decades, both as a manager and producer, and today, we ask the questions that both emerging and professional writers are dying to know.

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Being a successful creative is all about give and take, and ANYONE who’s gotten feedback knows that paying it forward is an essential part of finding success in this business. But HOW do we give great notes? We dive into it today!

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Whether or not we want to admit it, being seen and getting staffed is easier if we can tell others WHO we are as writers. Industry powerhouse Alison Mann believes this so strongly that she has her clients create "brand decks" when she pitches them for jobs. And for Alison, it's just as much for their potential partners as it is for her clients themselves.

After a long and impressive career working as a studio executive in animation, Alison Mann now works as the Talent Manager and Co-President of Fourth Wall Animation at Fourth Wall Management

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There are few jobs more mentally strenuous than that of a writer. Rejection. Writers block. Notes. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. 

But today, bestselling author and thought leader Dr. Kristin Neff - renowned for her decades of research - is here to teach us about the beauty and the POWER of self-compassion. It will fundamentally shift the way you see you execute your creative life!

PURCHASE KRISTIN'S BOOKS: https://self-compassion.org/store/

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Hi All! We're BACK with another greatest hits episode featuring some of our industry's best television writers. Today, you'll hear from:

TSL TV Writers - best of

Javier Grillo-Marxuach (ep 46)

Sam Bain (ep 62)

Marti Noxon (ep 40)

Shantira Jackson and Dewayne Perkins (ep 69)

Sean Presant (ep 61)

Stacy Rukeyser (ep 60)

THANK YOU to Jess Fisher who put this episode together.

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Happy Holidays TSL Fam!!!

In this greatest hits episode, we provide insight from some of our sharpest guests to help YOU create the most interesting, compelling, and ACTIVE characters you can. Today's show features insights from:

• Mike Jones
• Ed Solomon
• Sheila Hanahan Taylor
• Javier Grillo-Marxuach
• Stacy Rukeyser
• Nicole Perlman
• Sam Bain

Enjoy!

As always, thank you to Jess Fisher who put this episode together!

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Today we feature of two of Hollywood’s most exciting up-and-comers, Caitlin Vukorpa and Zoe Cheng, who both have experience in writer’s rooms and agencies to answer all of the questions you’ve ever wondered about that path. Is it possible to do both? Will the experience help you in your career? Stay tuned to find out!

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Stephen Karam is the Tony Award-winning author of The Humans, Sons of the Prophet and Speech & Debate. For his work he’s received two Drama Critics Circle Awards, an OBIE Award and is a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist. Stephen recently directed his first feature film, a rethought version of The Humans for A24 films, to be released in 2021. He wrote a film adaptation of Chekhov’s The Seagull starring Annette Bening, which was released by Sony Picture Classics. His adaptation of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard premiered on Broadway as part of Roundabout’s 2016 season. Recent honors include the inaugural Horton Foote Playwriting Award, the inaugural Sam Norkin Drama Desk Award, two Outer Critics Circle Awards, a Lucille Lortel Award, Drama League Award, and Hull-Warriner Award. 

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Emmy-nominated writers Shantira Jackson and Dewayne Perkins are some of comedy's most exciting rising voices, but their journey hasn't been a short one. From sketch shows in the middle of Idaho to writing for the WGA awards, Shantira and Dewayne break down their journey and offer incredible advice. 

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Beyond craft, one of the most important aspects of building your career is developing emotional agility to really excel through the rejection and feedback that accompanies the creative journey. Today we hear from some of our amazing guests to hear how THEY have navigated through the process. Enjoy!

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Putting a project in the desk drawer to start something new can feel like a betrayal, but sometimes it's the right step. How can we elegantly move on, but still stay loyal to our beautiful calling? We discuss it today!

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Monique N. Matthews is many things - a producer, a respected screenwriting professor, a social justice advocate, but mostly, she's a brilliant writer. Dive down the rabbit hole with Monique today, AND make sure to catch her feature "A Holiday In Harlem" TODAY (Sun, Nov 14) on Hallmark!!

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One of the most frequent discussions in our business is the discussion around achieving a work/life balance. Things get personal as Meg, Lorien, and Jeff share their own complicated relationships with this conversation, and how can we stay MINDFUL of the big picture as we pursue our work.

OUR FIRST PATREON WORKSHOP IS WED, NOV 17! Sign up here!: https://www.patreon.com/thescreenwritinglife 

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Among many astounding achievements, Nicole Perlman wrote the first Guardians Of The Galaxy film, which many culture critics (and fans) consider to be one of the best franchises in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That film is lauded for it's uniquely irreverent tone and engaging characters, and Nicole offers MANY strategies to get our own writing there.

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WE DID IT.

Join Meg and Lorien, and their wonderful audience, as they workshop with three very brave and brilliant writers to get to the core of their story in from the Historic Sanctuary of St. David's Episcopal Church at the 2021 Austin Film Festival for our very first live, in-person show.

TO JOIN OUR PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/TheScreenwritingLife

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Sam Bain is one of our industry’s premiere comedy writers, having co-created multiple beloved sitcoms including the UK’s cult hit Peep Show. But today Sam reveals that the most important ingredients for comedy are truth and pain. Buckle up!

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Longtime TV vet Sean Presant has an eclectic resume includes features, shorts, and TV in ALL genres from multi-cam sitcoms, to reality competition, to prestige crime shows. So how has Sean managed such an impressively wide variety of work? Is it really possible for us to "pull that off?" Sean talks about the signature themes in our work, how they inform our voice, and how we can discover it ourselves!

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If anyone knows her way around a writer's room, it's producer Stacy Rukeyser, who has worked at every level from staff writer, to creator/showrunner. Stacy has a fascinating perspective on how the culture of a TV writer's room has both remained steady and changed wildly in her nearly 25 years in the business. Buckle up!

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Every writer inevitably faces this painful question somewhere along their journey: "why the hell am I doing this?" Today, we answer that question.

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Enjoy the LIVE conversation from the MCX Screenmaker's Conference! 

For its seventh edition, the national MCX Screenmakers Conference program of panel sessions, case studies, in focus presentations and insightful conversations will be held online over two jam-packed days on 10 and 11 September, making it accessible to delegates from across the country.

The impressive line-up of national and international industry speakers and presenters include LA based screenwriters and producers Lorien McKenna and Meg Lefauve from The Screenwriting Life podcast, a trip through storytelling and activism with Benjamin Law and Michelle Law, and we’re especially thrilled to host an in-conversation with the co-founders of Hoodlum Entertainment, tracing their journey from producing online show Fat Cow Motel in 1999, to being one of Australia’s most successful production companies producing content for the global marketplace to having an office at the Walt Disney studios in Hollywood.

Program highlights include creative sessions such as the exploration of the ‘dark art of development’, craft sessions on narrative writing for games, a case study of the ABC hit TV series Aftertaste with the team from Closer Productions, and business sessions including how to maximise the monetisation of your intellectual property.

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All great works of art start with ideas, and ideas STILL reign supreme in Hollywood. In today's conversation w/ celebrated writer Matt Lieberman we discuss how to generate high concept ideas, come up with ideas, embrace the importance of a good idea, and even sell feature specs. 

Once again, we want to say thanks to our fabulous intern Jess Fisher for helping us put this episode together!

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We've had some AMAZING guests on this show, but the truth is, one of our greatest secret weapons is Meg herself! Today, she dives into some of the MANY lingering questions that you all have been posing on the Facebook, and we get into it! If your question wasn't answered today, don't worry, Meg WILL be getting into soon.

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Most of us assume that once a writer sells that spec or books that job or secures representation, they've "made it." Now all they need to do is ride into the sunset and remember to thank their agent when their inevitable Oscar shows up. But of course, much like writer, it's much more complicated than that. Today, Meg and Lorien walk us through THEIR biggest "a-ha" moments after their breaks, what we should lean into, and what we should avoid. Once again, we'd like to thank JESS FISHER who produced this episode while Jeff is getting his feet back on the ground!

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We're back! Meg, Lorien, and Jeff have all been traveling, producing, and on set, and oh, do we have UPDATES. Lorien - who is now entering post on the project she SHOWRAN - answers all of your questions from what kinds of writers she's looking for in the room, and what her expectations for them are once they arrive. 

THANK YOU to our intern Jess Fisher for producing and cutting this episode! You've been a rock for us in some of our busiest times. 

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FOR MORE CREATE OUT LOUD: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/create-out-loud-with-jennifer-louden/id1559415253

What would it take for you to turn down an offer from JJ Abrams (you know the guy who created Lost among other block-busters)? Ask Meg LeFavue, the Oscar-nominated writer of Inside Out, who had to do just that after committing to her creative calling to become a screenwriter. Meg LeFauve and her frequent writing partner and podcast co-host Lorien McKenna get extremely candid about the challenges and essential importance of committing to your artistic path and sticking with it.

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Writing isn't just about craft and science. It's about translating the highs and lows of being a human being into art, and that journey can be a roller coaster, whether you're an emerging writer or a seasoned pro.

Speaking of seasoned pros, today, we ask them those tricky questions: what brings you the most joy about writing, what pisses you off about writing, and what scene do you want to be remembered by. 

The guests, in order of appearance: 

• John August - Episode 35
• Andrew Stanton - Episode 39
• Marti Noxon - Episode 40
• Sheila Hanahan-Taylor - Episode 43
• Javier Grillo-Marxuach - Episode 46
• Michael Arndt - Episode 49
• Vanessa Taylor - Episode 51

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Not only is Oscar-nominated writer Vanessa Taylor's resume impressive, it's beautifully varied. Vanessa has written on serialized network TV shows, high-concept prestige premium cable dramas (GOT anybody??), a YA novel adaptation, and even a creature feature love story w/ celebrated filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro (yes, we are talking about The Shape of Water.) But Vanessa sees powerful themes that tie her work together like a commitment to propulsive story engines driven by high-agency characters who tell us WHO they are, through their behavior. Vanessa offers us BEAUTIFUL advice in today's episode, and we can't wait for you to hear it!

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50 Episodes! How did we get here? Hard work EVERY DAY.

Today, we're focusing on the day-to-day, minute-by-minute process of writing. How to we title our documents? How do we comb through our material? How do we edit. All of that gets answered today!

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Little Miss Sunshine's script, penned by our guest Michael Arndt, won almost every major industry award, and for good reason. Its warmth, humor, and surefooted commitment to its themes makes it one of the finest scripts written this century. And SO many of those themes show up in Act 1. Michael has become a bit "obsessed" with act 1's lately, because it's our chance to maximize the "rooting interest" around our hero so that our audience has no choice but to keep watching. FOR MICHAEL'S (AMAZING) WEBSITE: https://www.pandemoniuminc.com/

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To enter contests, or NOT to enter contests? Do I need to live in LA? What if I'm not your run-of-the mill white dude writer? What if I'm OLDER than my competition? All of these questions are answers, no-holds-barred, in today's episode where we take YOUR questions.

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It's a GREATEST HITS Episode. We've had such amazing guests, that we wanted to curate some of their best moments. Enjoy!

1:20 - John August on Important Rules For Worldbuildling (Ep 35)

6:09 - Marti Noxon on Writing Samples That Will Get You Staffed (Ep 40)

9:05 - Sheila Hanahan Taylor On Rookie Mistakes (Ep 42/43)

17:33 - Kemp Powers on When To “Break The Rules” in Your Writing (Ep 36)

20:15 - Andrew Stanton On The Differences Between Storytelling and Writing (Ep 39)

25:31 - Ed Solomon On The Essential Value Of Rewriting (Ep 32)

31:12 - Mike Jones On Overcoming Stage Fright During Pitches (Ep 25)

34:24 - Kemp Powers On Dealing With Bigotry and Racism in Hollywood (Ep 36)

41:12 - Bonnie Curtis and Julie Lynn On What Makes Great Writing (Ep 23)

Thank you to Jess Fisher for putting this episode together!

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Though best known as one of the Emmy Award-winning writer/producers of Lost, Javier Grillo-Marxuach is a prolific writer of television shows, comic books, movies, and the occasional critical essay. He's a master-storyteller, with a deep understanding of character, no matter how "otherworldly" the project. Today we're going to deep dive on longform character development and Javier's philosophies on "operational theme." And of course, we'll be answering your questions!

Check Out Javi's Website: http://okbjgm.weebly.com/

Follow Him On Social: @OKBJGM

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Find yourself asking the question 'Why bother” when it comes to your writing? Creative people are asking that question now more than ever, but bestselling author and world-renowned creativity expert Jen Louden wants you to go deeper and really ask the question, really think about it. On today's show, she walks us through why it's important for us to bother about what really matters, and how asking that question and approaching our writing with "self-compassionate grit" can help us get back on the page. For Meg And Lorien’s Episode of “Create Out Loud”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/create-out-loud-with-jennifer-louden/id1559415253

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Even though pop culture often draws artists as free-spirited goofballs that "go-with-the-flow" true artistry lies in the art of self-discipline, self-esteem, and BOUNDARIES. The truth of getting work done means being willing to draw boundaries in your own life, around your work, and around your ART. How will you draw boundaries this week?

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This topic comes up ALL the time on our Facebook group, and finally, we have definitive answers, and LOTS of them. How long should my pitch be, what should it look like, what should it actually include. WTF actually is a DECK??? How can avoid nerves for a meeting, what is my responsibility during a general. 

A-List producer Sheila Hanahan Taylor has EVERYTHING you need to know!

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After decades working with writers in this business, Sheila Hanahan Taylor - A-List producer behind many beloved edge-of-your seat genre films like the Final Destination films - has brilliantly assembled a list of common mistakes she sees "rookies" make.

And speaking of genre, Sheila brilliantly counters some of those condescending perspectives with her own experiences as to why genre may be the secret to getting your emerging work of the ground. She will FOREVER re-think the way you think about genre.

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Feeling blocked, stuck, uninspired, or just BLAH? We're here to save the day!

We were initially going to run an episode on boundaries (don't worry, we still will!) but a NUMBER of hurdles interfered with our ability to make that happen, so our intern Jess pitched a great idea to cut together a greatest hits "emergency" toolkit compilation to get you though this week! If you LOVE a highlight and want to listen to the full episode, here are the past episodes we compiled from:

• Episode 9 - How to overcome writer’s block
• Episode 14 - Outlining/Chunking In Your Writing
• Episode 20 - Importance of play
• Episode 21 - Overcome Excuses
• Episode 24 - Perfectionism kills your writing
• Episode 29 - The Long Road For Writers

Thank you to Jess Fisher for assembling this episode!

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Marti Noxon is a force in our business. Known for her sharp voice, social commentary, and darkly funny writing, all of which is tied together by a knack for complicated and richly drawn female characters, she's on TV's most important voices.

She's worked on everything from beloved genre projects like BUFFY to prestige crime dramas like SHARP OBJECTS, and she's here today to help us get a full and detailed look at the current landscape for writing in television.

Learn what we REALLY mean when we say story engine, what makes Marti quit reading a sample while staffing, and whether we should pitch with a bible, treatment, or one page when we take a show out. 

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Do you have a pen and paper? Might want to grab them now... Andrew Stanton wrote and directed Finding Nemo, Finding Dory, and Wall-E, all of which consistently rank among the best films of this century, and best animated films ever made. In live action storytelling, he's become a critically acclaimed director, working on shows like Stranger Things and Better Call Saul. Andrew is considered one of the finest storytellers working in our industry. Andrew has given lectures for TED and Google, and he's joining us today to help us in our own understanding of story.

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We had SUCH a great tangent on last week's episode, that we wanted to feature this conversation as it's own short MINISODE. Do you have a great character want that doesn't feel URGENT enough in your Act I? We're almost SURE it's because you haven't created a clear enough problem for your character yet. Listen to find out EXACTLY what we need...

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What do Voldemort, Regina George, and Hans Gruber have in common? They're great antagonists, of course! Whether it's an action movie, a comedy, or even a contemplative drama, story needs conflict, and antagonists CREATE conflict, so we're going to discuss what makes a great antagonist today on the show.

For NPR's FULL Coverage Of Die Hard: https://www.npr.org/2021/03/18/978734467/die-hard-welcome-to-the-podcast-pal

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Emotionally rich writing has always been a Hallmark for both Meg and Lorien in their writing, and on today's show, we dig into the meat of what makes it work and why. TSL family member Savannah Morgan hooked us up with the London Screenwriter's Festival, and moderated an AMAZING interview w/ Meg and Lorien where they got into all of it. It's an amazing listen!

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Kemp Powers is a playwright, screenwriter, and co-director, and this year, he's one of the most talked about writers in our business. Kemp has not one, but TWO highly talked-about films in the 2021’s awards circuit, Pixar’s Soul (which he co-wrote with Pete Docter and past guest Mike Jones, as well as co-directed) and One Night In Miami, which he adapted from his own play, AND which was just nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. As someone who has adapted a feature from previously existing work, AND written for one of our industry’s most coveted IPs (Star Trek), Kemp is the perfect guest to discuss the art of ADAPTATION in screenwriting.

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John August? Yes. THAT John August.

We're thrilled to feature Screenwriting PODfather John August, famous for many things. Among them, award-nominated studio juggernauts like BIG FISH and CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, to his critically acclaimed Screenwriting podcast Scriptnotes, which I'm sure most of you already listen to. 

Today John is answering YOUR questions about Worldbuilding in your writing. How do we balance concision, economy, and "necessary details." Why are so we naturally inclined to write in a master shot rather than up close?

We answer that question, and more, today on the show!

CHECK OUT SCRIPTNOTES: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scriptnotes-podcast/id462495496

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Emily Dickenson's poetry, The Girl w/ The Dragon Tattoo, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, these are all works we ALMOST didn't see because the authors ALMOST hid their work from the masses, and imagine the beautiful art we would've missed out on!

Writing is all about being vulnerable and putting yourself out there...so why are we so afraid to do it? What's at stake if we do, and more importantly, what's at stake if we DON'T? We ask all of these questions and more on today's episode, plus, a great question about dialogue.

Will you put yourself out there?

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Anne Lamott is one of culture's most celebrated voices when it comes to creativity and writing. Her book Bird By Bird is a modern classic (Ed Solomon says it's the best book on writing ever published), but Anne is uniquely positioned as someone who is beloved for BOTH her fiction and her non-fiction. On today's show, we discuss the importance of finding hope to unlock our best creative selves, how we can quiet that inner critic (yes, even 10 times NYT Bestselling Author Anne Lamott gets paralyzed by creative anxiety), and how we can turn our fear into excitement.

TO PRE-ORDER Anne's Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08JKK77V2/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

For SHAPES OF TRUTH: https://www.shapesoftruth.com/neal-allen-bio

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Ed Solomon is one of Hollywood's most recognizable writers, who represents a rare intersection of critical and commercial success. His 16 feature films have grossed over 1.6 Billion Dollars at the Box Office, and he's the creator or co-creator on three of Hollywood's biggest franchises: Bill & Ted, Men in Black, and Now You See Me.

But he'll be the FIRST person to tell you that he's not a "fancy" writer. He bristles at the idea, and argues that ego is one of the quickest ways to tank a career, especially a creative career. Instead, he feels that humility, curiosity, and daring are the keys to success, especially as a writer. Ed is a disarming orator, passionate teacher, and a great dude. So much to learn.

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Maybe your facing the blank page, maybe you're facing the second act, or maybe your facing your millionth rewrite; EVERY writer has hit that wall where there's nothing left in the tank, even though you need to get that car HOME. Where do you find inpsiration?

It's in there, and Meg and Lorien are going to help you get there. Maybe you need some help with plot, or maybe you need to learn how to love your characters again, but WHATEVER it is, we're giving you strategies to get there!

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It's your turn! For this week, we've gathered some of our most frequently asked CRAFT related questions for a deep dive on how to fix, tweak, tinker, and elevate your writing. Tricky questions around note-taking, essential questions about beefing up conflict with things feel flat, and other crucial craft questions get their due today, thanks to our brilliant hosts.

FOR MORE Info About NOTES: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1-getting-notes-on-your-work/id1501641442?i=1000467504323

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As a writer, you're in it for the long haul. And that's NOT a bad thing! It's a beautiful journey, filled with ups, down, highs, and lows, and it's made all the sweeter when you can SET your beacon! Remember, the road may be long, but it's worth it. 

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The details of your writing are a beautiful thing. They provide the nuance, voice, and texture that make your writing special.

But the details can be crippling if they prevent you from seeing your work as it REALLY is. Today we talk about how to see your work from a broad perspective, by Zooming out and getting that all-important "30,000 Foot View" of your writing. It's a game changer!

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Why is it so easy for us to love, trust, and nurture our characters, but so hard for us to do that for ourselves?

Positive self-talk is an essential part of embarking on The Screenwriting Journey, and today, we get talk ALL about it!

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Hope you had and are having an AMAZING Holiday. We're going to be doing something a little different for this week's show. Meg and Lorien are taking some MUCH-deserved time off (we hope you can too), but we had a little chat about content we could possibly run, or re-run to keep you going through the Holiday's.

In 2018, Jeff brought Meg and Lorien on his show "The Unproduced Table Read" for a special interview, and that's the moment they began collaborating professionally. It's a really engaging interview, and it's a fun chance for you all to get to know them even better - their time at Pixar, their work collaborating on a pilot together, and, because it's them, a thoughtful and compelling conversation about emotion, bravery, and the work behind the work. 

Anyways, we hope you enjoy the conversation and we'll see you all in 2021!

LISTEN TO THE UNPRODUCED TABLE READ: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unproduced-table-read/id1197673735

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There are many reasons Pixar Animation is culturally hailed as one of the most profound and emotionally resonant studios working in filmmaking today, but the deep, richly drawn writing is one of them.

Today we answer YOUR questions with SOUL screenwriter Mike Jones about the overcoming the fear that accompanies any journey into writing, how to generate confidence, what the Pixar Brain Trust is really like, and Mike even bravely shares a life-altering "lava" moment that ended up cinching one of Soul's best and most important scenes.

SOUL drops on Disney+ on Christmas. 

Script Consultations w/ Pat!: https://patverducci.com/

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Why are so many writers perfectionists? Maybe it's that need for approval, or that desire to see exactly what's in your head show up on the page, but READ THIS: perfectionism is the death of creativity. As celebrated psychologist Dr. Anne Wilson Schaef offers: “Perfectionism is self-abuse of the highest order."

How do we move PAST perfection? Tune in to find out!

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We answer your BURNING questions from two of Hollywood's top producers in the game, whose production company Mockingbird Pictures has been nominated for Oscars, among many other accolades.

More about our guests: Julie Lynn formed Mockingbird Pictures in 1999, with Bonnie Curtis joining in 2012 after more than 15 years working with Steven Spielberg. Together they are producing film and television across a wide variety of genres, with movie budgets that range from under $1 million to over $100 million. They have produced for brand-new filmmakers, as well as experienced, award-winning directors. They are still thinking about what non-profit work they are going to cook up together after they retire from filmmaking … but they are hopeful that day is still many years away. They are most proud of all the “repeat customers” amongst their collaborators, as well as the fact that they were able to successfully take their families on a joint vacation, because they clearly don’t see enough of each other at work.

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It may feel like it's just you and the page, but as we always say during this show: "you are NOT alone on this journey!"

You need to find your people, but how do you do it? Who are your people? And more importantly, who AREN'T your people?

PLUS, we finally clear up the murky waters around all of the "story" people on film sets (supervisors, managers, producers, etc.) What does it all mean? Tune in to find out!

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Last time, we talked about how to keep your writing fun, but we also KNOW it's not always going to be fun. 

It's easy to make excuses as to why we're not writing, but don't forget, those excuses might be pointing to something deeper like fear, or shame, or those "other voices" that get in our way. The good news? That's your LAVA! Today, we talk about how to overcome those excuses and get INTO your writing!

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/groups/689651718467504/

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Remember when you wanted to be a writer because it was FUN?

It seems like an obvious point, but so many of us have lost our ability to enjoy the FUN of writing, which is why we got into it in the first place! Enter: PLAY. Maybe it's exercises with your characters, maybe it's a no-holds barred workshop with your writer's group, or maybe it's FINALLY signing up for that improv class (or that sculpture class - cough, cough, MEG) that you've been eying for weeks.

Let go, and have some FUN today!

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Last we talked about finding YOUR voice, so naturally, we have to ask, what about all of those OTHER voices?

Unproductive voices may be in our own head, or they may be friends, or even family (read: FAMILY). But, the sociocultural voices that permeate our lives can also sabotage our work. How do we know which outside voices are helpful, and how do we know which ones will inevitably sabotage what makes us our writing special?

Other voices are the main cause of IMPOSTER SYNDROME, which is something we all deal with, which is the focus of our question of the week!

Remember to join our Facebook group, and thanks in advance for those beautiful Apple Podcast reviews! 

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Some of Hollywood's greatest writers are known for their "voice" - Nora Ephron's witty female leads. Aaron Sorkin's talky, moving monologues. Charlie Kaufman's mind-bending, sardonic humor.

But what IS voice? Is voice something that we need to be taught, or is it something that we already have? How do we HONE our voice? Meg and Lorien answer all of these questions and more!

PLUS: Producer Jeff is taking a terrifying leap into his own lava and inviting you all to join. 

On Sun, Oct 25 @ 3p PT, he will be conducting a live, virtual table read of his own script he plans to direct with producers, his DP, a group of great LA-Based actors, and many many people watching. If you'd like to join, please RSVP: [email protected]. By RSVP-ing, you'll be getting a ZOOM link to join the many viewers, and a copy of the pre-pro script in it's current form. As we discussed on the show, notes aren't nessecary, but they are very welcome!

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Questions about the professional life of a screenwriter? WGA questions?

We've got you covered; we're THRILLED to be joined by writer Jonathan Fernandez, who, in addition to writing Rob The Mob starring Ray Romano, is a board member for the WGA.

But first, of course, we give you our adventures in screenwriting, and very important burrito talk.

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You just had a GREAT notes call, and now you're ready and excited to jump back into your script - but, wait a minute - why is this not as easy or exciting as I thought it was going to be? Diving BACK into your material (or even diving into your new idea) can be daunting, but Meg and Lorien are BACK to help you through it. 

PLUS, we answer our listener question from JOHN WIKSTROM about structure and screenwriting "rules": are they a roadmap, a formula, a way to diagnose problems, or something else entirely? Meg and Lorien may surprise you with their answer!

Make sure to SUBSCRIBE and enjoy new episodes of The Screenwriting Life every Sunday @ 6p EST. 

RESOURCES:

Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/thescreenwritinglife

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This can be a heartbreaking industry, but as writers, we have to hold out hope.

@StoryMeg @LorienMcKenna #JeffreyCGraham

- http://youtube.com/popcorntalknetwork

HELPFUL LINKS: Website - http://popcorntalk.com Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/thepopcorntalk Merch - http://shop.spreadshirt.com/PopcornTalk/

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One of the secrets to great storytelling is great outlining, and today we discuss just that!

Elizabeth Gilbert’s Ted Talk On “Genius”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86x-u-tz0MA&t=756s

Michael Arendt’s Views on Structure: http://www.pandemoniuminc.com/ts3-mistakes-made-lessons-learned?fbclid=IwAR3rGuN5m7bVO6QH2ONca7bfaKr9WecD_iSH3yDH33Bhn-LzARNxAF0aJmc

#PopcornTalk #ScreenwritingLife #Outlining We've talked a lot about chunking and outlining on this show, and now, we finally get into the dirty details! Get those index cards ready!

@StoryMeg @LorienMcKenna #JeffreyCGraham

- http://youtube.com/popcorntalknetwork

HELPFUL LINKS: Website - http://popcorntalk.com Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/thepopcorntalk Merch - http://shop.spreadshirt.com/PopcornTalk/

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Producer/Co-Host Jeff Graham gives an update on The Screenwriting Life for this week and moving forward.

Meg, Lorien, Jeff and all of us here at Popcorn Talk so appreciate you and this community as we continue to write, learn, and grow together.

@ThePopcornTalk @StoryMeg @lorienmckenna @JeffreyCGraham 

Make sure to subscribe to Popcorn Talk! - http://youtube.com/popcorntalknetwork 

HELPFUL LINKS: Website - http://popcorntalk.com

Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/thepopcorntalk

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#PopcornTalk #TheScreenwritingLife #Hollywood #InsideOut Whether or not we want to admit, part of making it as a writer in the entertainment industry is understanding the "politics" of Hollywood. How can we play the game strategically to maximize our chances of having our work seen and produced? How important is "networking" if we want to make it? And finally, is having a time-consuming industry job worth it if we aren't actually writing? @StoryMeg @ThePopcornTalk @JeffreyCGraham Make sure to subscribe to Popcorn Talk! - http://youtube.com/popcorntalknetwork HELPFUL LINKS: Website - http://popcorntalk.com Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/thepopcorntalk Merch - http://shop.spreadshirt.com/PopcornTalk/ ABOUT POPCORN TALK: Popcorn Talk Network is the online broadcast network with programming dedicated exclusively to movie discussion, news, interviews and commentary. Popcorn Talk Network is comprised of the leading members and personalities of the film press and community including E!’s Maria Menounos. Current Roster of Shows: -Anatomy of a Movie -Box Office Breakdown -Meet the Movie Press -Guilty Movie Pleasures -Marvel Movie News -DC Movie News -Action Movie Anatomy -Watchalong Series!

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Nothing hampers storytelling more than an inactive protagonist, and on today's show, Meg and Lorien are going to talk through how to create determined protagonists with real wants, and most importantly, AGENCY. Plus we answer some questions that came straight from you! Only, on The Screenwriting Life! Make sure to subscribe to Popcorn Talk! - http://youtube.com/popcorntalknetwork 

HELPFUL LINKS: Website - http://popcorntalk.com Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/thepopcorntalk Merch - http://shop.spreadshirt.com/PopcornTalk/ ABOUT POPCORN TALK: Popcorn Talk Network is the online broadcast network with programming dedicated exclusively to movie discussion, news, interviews and commentary. Popcorn Talk Network is comprised of the leading members and personalities of the film press and community including E!’s Maria Menounos. Current Roster of Shows: -Anatomy of a Movie -Box Office Breakdown -Meet the Movie Press -Guilty Movie Pleasures -Marvel Movie News -DC Movie News -Action Movie Anatomy -Watchalong Series!

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All writers dream of that moment when a producer says, "we want to make your movie," but then comes the nuts and bolts of what that actually means. What if we disagree with the notes? What if we can't deliver on what's being asked? We're going over all of these questions today!

Welcome to The Screenwriting Life. Join us as professional screenwriters, Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna, whose combined credits include writing and production on such films as Inside Out, The Good Dinosaur and Captain Marvel discuss the craft, journey and business of writing for the screen. From dialogue to delivery, Meg and Lorien will guide you through the process, offering inside tips and tricks to help you become the best writer you can be. And now Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna.

@StoryMeg @LorienMcKenna #JeffreyCGraham

- http://youtube.com/popcorntalknetwork

HELPFUL LINKS: Website - http://popcorntalk.com Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/thepopcorntalk Merch - http://shop.spreadshirt.com/PopcornTalk/

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All writers dream of that moment when a producer says, "we want to make your movie," but then comes the nuts and bolts of what that actually means. What if we disagree with the notes? What if we can't deliver on what's being asked? We're going over all of these questions today!

Welcome to The Screenwriting Life. Join us as professional screenwriters, Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna, whose combined credits include writing and production on such films as Inside Out, The Good Dinosaur and Captain Marvel discuss the craft, journey and business of writing for the screen. From dialogue to delivery, Meg and Lorien will guide you through the process, offering inside tips and tricks to help you become the best writer you can be. And now Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna.

@StoryMeg @LorienMcKenna @JeffreyCGraham @thePopcornTalk

- http://youtube.com/popcorntalknetwork

HELPFUL LINKS: Website - http://popcorntalk.com Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/thepopcorntalk Merch - http://shop.spreadshirt.com/PopcornTalk/

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It happens to all of us. That dreaded moment when you sit down to write, and nothing is coming out. Today, Meg and Lorien give you practical tips to overcoming that hurdle, with takeaway. And of course, we answer some of your questions! #TheScreenwritersLife #InsideOut #WritersBlock

- http://youtube.com/popcorntalknetwork

HELPFUL LINKS: Website - http://popcorntalk.com Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/thepopcorntalk Merch - http://shop.spreadshirt.com/PopcornTalk/

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The journey of the entertainment industry is a bumpy one, and today, Meg and Lorien talk you through practical strategies to survive it! PLUS, as always, we answer your incredible questions, here, on The Screenwriting Life podcast! Make sure to subscribe to Popcorn Talk! - http://youtube.com/popcorntalknetwork

Welcome to The Screenwriting Life. Join us as professional screenwriters, Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna, whose combined credits include writing and production on such films as Inside Out, The Good Dinosaur and Captain Marvel discuss the craft, journey and business of writing for the screen. From dialogue to delivery, Meg and Lorien will guide you through the process, offering inside tips and tricks to help you become the best writer you can be. And now Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna.

HELPFUL LINKS: Website - http://popcorntalk.com Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/thepopcorntalk Merch - http://shop.spreadshirt.com/PopcornTalk/

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If you haven't listened to last week's episode, jump back and make sure you're caught up, because this week, we're picking up at the midpoint. PLUS, as always, we answer your incredible questions, here, on The Screenwriting Life podcast! Make sure to subscribe to Popcorn Talk! - http://youtube.com/popcorntalknetwork

Welcome to The Screenwriting Life. Join us as professional screenwriters, Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna, whose combined credits include writing and production on such films as Inside Out, The Good Dinosaur and Captain Marvel discuss the craft, journey and business of writing for the screen. From dialogue to delivery, Meg and Lorien will guide you through the process, offering inside tips and tricks to help you become the best writer you can be. And now Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna.

HELPFUL LINKS: Website - http://popcorntalk.com Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/thepopcorntalk Merch - http://shop.spreadshirt.com/PopcornTalk/

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Writers dread the idea of feeling confined by a structure, but what they don't realize, is that structure is one of the greatest gifts that they can be given as a writer. Structure = story, and the best films ever made know how to "play within the rules." Today, we go over those rules! 

Welcome to The Screenwriting Life. Join us as professional screenwriters, Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna, whose combined credits include writing and production on such films as Inside Out, The Good Dinosaur and Captain Marvel discuss the craft, journey and business of writing for the screen. From dialogue to delivery, Meg and Lorien will guide you through the process, offering inside tips and tricks to help you become the best writer you can be. And now Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna.

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Some of the best movies and the world were written by partners: FARGO, SPLASH, ELECTION, THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS, and PARASITE, for example, were all written by a writing partnerships, and in the best world, choosing a writing partnership may be one of the most creatively inspiring and generative decisions you make as a writer. At the same time, it can be crippling, so today, Meg and Lorien (who do write together!) are going to give you their best practices for writing with a partner!

Welcome to The Screenwriting Life. Join us as professional screenwriters, Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna, whose combined credits include writing and production on such films as Inside Out, The Good Dinosaur and Captain Marvel discuss the craft, journey and business of writing for the screen. From dialogue to delivery, Meg and Lorien will guide you through the process, offering inside tips and tricks to help you become the best writer you can be. And now Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna.

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If you haven't listened to last week's episode, stop this, hop back, and then return. We're picking up RIGHT where we left off to dig into what theme really means in a screenplay!

Welcome to The Screenwriting Life. Join us as professional screenwriters, Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna, whose combined credits include writing and production on such films as Inside Out, The Good Dinosaur and Captain Marvel discuss the craft, journey and business of writing for the screen. From dialogue to delivery, Meg and Lorien will guide you through the process, offering inside tips and tricks to help you become the best writer you can be. And now Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna.

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Theme is the essence of good storytelling, but what does it actually mean, and how does it play into screenwriting? Meg and Lorien deep dive today, and answer your questions, here on The Screenwriting Life!

Welcome to The Screenwriting Life. Join us as professional screenwriters, Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna, whose combined credits include writing and production on such films as Inside Out, The Good Dinosaur and Captain Marvel discuss the craft, journey and business of writing for the screen. From dialogue to delivery, Meg and Lorien will guide you through the process, offering inside tips and tricks to help you become the best writer you can be. And now Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna.

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We all hear it: "I've got this great idea for a movie," or, "they should totally make that into a movie," but why do so few people take the next step and actually write the script? Well, today, Pixar alum Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna answer that question, getting into all the nuts and bolts of "idea to page," and answer YOUR fan questions.

Welcome to Ask Me Anything Screenwriter's Edition. Join us as professional screenwriters, Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna, whose combined credits include writing and production on such films as Inside Out, The Good Dinosaur and Captain Marvel discuss the craft, journey and business of writing for the screen. From dialogue to delivery, Meg and Lorien will guide you through the process, offering inside tips and tricks to help you become the best writer you can be. And now Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna.

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Every writer knows that feeling of getting notes - do I need to take them? What if I don't agree? Who should I ask? We go over ALL of that today, on The Screenwriting Life.

Welcome to The Screenwriting Life. Join us as professional screenwriters, Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna, whose combined credits include writing and production on such films as Inside Out, The Good Dinosaur and Captain Marvel discuss the craft, journey and business of writing for the screen. From dialogue to delivery, Meg and Lorien will guide you through the process, offering inside tips and tricks to help you become the best writer you can be. And now Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna.

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