Podcasts

From family TV to teaching web series writing Ross Brown wrote for some of the biggest family sitcoms of the eighties and nineties, including creating a show that would be the launching pad for Halle Berry‘s career.

What we'll cover: What producers are REALLY looking for when they buy a script. How to find the hook in any story, and amplify it so producers will salivate. How to stay true to your initial intentions, even as you turn your script into producer candy. (Click here for an archived recording of this podcast.)

What we'll cover: Gary will explain his philosophy on pitching and how to pitch more than just your story. 9 Pitching Hints that Every Screenwriter Should Know. Very honest feedback on pitches and instant ‘pitch repair’ – helping guide participants to create a word for word alternative pitch. (Click here to listen to an archived recording of this conversation.)

What we'll cover: What does an executive / agent / manager look for when reading a script? What is voice and how to write the most commercial version of your voice. Why chasing the marketplace doesn't work. How to pick the right idea. Why it is initially good to brand yourself in one genre. Do you need an agent or a manager to get your script read? (Click here to hear the archived recording of this podcast.)

We'll talk about the 8 myths of comedy. The Comedy Perception Test. And the 8 Hidden Tools of Comedy. And we’ll reserve the last half hour or so to a Q&A session — your chance to have one of your burning questions about writing, directing, or performing comedy answered! (Click here to listen to the archived recording of this podcast.)

John Vorhaus is best known as the author of The Comic Toolbox: How to be Funny Even if You’re Not. This seminal book on writing comedy for television and film is now available in four languages, and continues to be a definitive source of information and inspiration for writers from Santa Monica to Scandinavia.

The doctor is in! This week features none other than the TV Script Doctor herself, Sarah McLaughlin, who also happens to be a successful comedy writer on shows such as ‘That 70′s Show‘ and ‘Drop Dead Diva.’ Produced by TV Writer Podcast.

A 54 minute question and answer conversation with Robert McKee, author of Story and legendary screenplay tutor, hosted by Chris Jones, Creative Director of the London Screenwriter's Festival.

From Robert McKee’s Screenwriting 101 class at USC, to co-developing a successful spinoff of a John Hughes classic, to writing on some of the most well known shows of the last two decades, writer-producer-author-director Alan Cross has a lot of great stories to tell!

Jeff is a producer/director, author, film festival organizer and public speaker. He has been in the film industry since age 12, starting as an actor before doing nearly every job in production (including experience in development, post-production and distribution).Through his production company, Jeff has reviewed over 15,000 project submissions, and has edited, assessed or mentored over 350 projects.

Final Draft, Inc.’s Big Break™ contest judge Michael Kuciak is a literary manager with his own firm, Samurai MK. When he read scripts in 2011 for the contest, known for hooking writers up with industry folks, he found two screenplays that he just couldn’t put down. ScripMag.com sat with Kuciak to hear about how he discovered Paul Gavin and Matthew Gayne, what drew him to their scripts, and what he’s going to do next for their careers.

A conversation with a panel of heavyweights from February of this year at the Universal Studios Backlot featuring David Hayter (X-Men), Mark Fergus (Children of Men), Terry Rossio (Shrek) and Shane Black (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.) Running time is 1 hour, 56 minutes.

Host Gray Jones interviews Phil Klemmer, writer on all five seasons of ‘Chuck,’ and all four seasons of ‘Veronica Mars.’ Phil has also worked with feature film luminaries Michel Gondry and Spike Jonze. It was a spec script Phil penned for "Six Feet Under" that brought him the attention of Veronica Mars Executive Producer/Writer/Director Rob Thomas.

Informative 15 minute interview with writer and script consultant Linda Aronson conducted by correspondent from FilmpoolNord. Aronson is the author of Screenwriting Updated. Her latest book, The 21st Century Screenplay, addresses conventional narrative, non-linear forms like flashback, multiple protagonist and multiple time frames, structures traditionally regarded as ‘too difficult’ or ‘too dangerous’.

Host, Chris Soth
One hour teleseminar from Nov. 10 with Jason Scoggins, creator of "Spec Market Scorecard", an analysis of spec screenplay sales. Jason and host Chris Soth of MillionDollarScreenwriting.com will be discussing script sales numbers for October, a run-down of scripts sold, and more.

Script Magazine
How do you balance comedy and plot? Several comedic voices and big action sequences? Veteran screenwriters Jeff Nathanson (Catch Me If You Can, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, The Terminal, Rush Hour 2) and Ted Griffin (Ocean’s Eleven, Matchstick Men, Killers, Rumor Has It) sat down with Script to talk about their new action comedy, Tower Heist.

WeShootTheWinner.com - Chris Soth
WHETHER IT’S JUST AN IDEA OR A FINISHED SCREENPLAY..... IT CAN BE A DREAM COME TRUE! Learn the 5 Most Common Myths of Independent Filmmaking and the best chance you have to producing your film idea or screenplay.

He was born on the first day of the Great Depression, did competitive ski racing in Europe, and went to spy school to became a special agent. But a passion for writing led Eric Kaldor to Hollywood, and he has many stories to tell about his journey! Click the title link to listen.

Million Dollar Screenwriting/Chris Soth podcast - featuring how eight of our writers are making their own TWO Million-Dollar Movie this year! Click the title link to have a listen.

TV Writer Podcast
Comedy writer Kristin Newman spent almost 10 years writing on very well known comedies, including having her own pilot shot and picked up to series (though not aired). She now brings her talents to a one-hour drama, on NBC’s Chuck. Click the title link to listen.

Known for his strong political views, actor George Clooney had been looking for a political thriller to write with screenwriter Grant Heslov since their collaboration on Good Night, and Good Luck. When they stumbled upon a play of presidential ambition, Farragut North, by Beau Willimon, they knew they found their project. The play became the basis for the film, The Ides of March, about an idealistic young political staffer who discovers just how corrupt the system can be. Click the title link to listen.

TV Writer Podcast
Ever heard of someone who didn’t live in L.A. or New York landing a staff TV writing gig? How about sight unseen, hired from a phone interview? Meet Mike Alber, who sold many pitches to a major network, wrote on a web series, and even landed a staff writing gig while not even living in the same state! Click the title to listen.

Script Magazine
Screenwriter John Gatins calls himself a “failed actor.” He came to Hollywood, like many young actors, hoping to make it big. He was doing alright, but not great. That is, until he got a call from Steven Spielberg. The famed writer-director-producer was looking for the perfect guy to write his passion project about robot boxing. Gatins was that guy. Click the title to listen.

Script Magazine
Show creator Terence (“Terry”) Winter was happy when actor Steve Buscemi signed on to play Nucky in his HBO series, Boardwalk Empire. Theys both from Brooklyn. And theys both know how to hustle (Nucky when in character and Winter when it comes to his Hollywood career). The writer, known for his work on The Sopranos, Brooklyn Rules, and Get Rich or Die Tryin’, came out to Hollywood without knowing a soul. He quickly learned, as anyone with street smarts from one a da boroughs, that in order to make it in this town, you gotta do what it takes to get noticed. Click the title to listen.

Script Magazine
When asked to adapt a script about a man with no name, no backstory, and barely any dialogue, screenwriter Hossein Amini knew he hit the jackpot. That’s what makes it exciting, says Amini, whose credits include The Four Feathers, Jude, and The Wings of the Dove. Amini talks about how much white space he likes to see on the page. Click the title to hear the podcast.

Script Magazine
Ever wonder, when you dip your fingers into a bowl of nuts at the bar or a mint tray at the hostess stand, how many other people have done the same (and where their fingers have been)? Screenwriter Scott Z. Burns (The Bourne Ultimatum) did. He was fascinated by the thought. So much so, he pitched his idea of a fatal disease, that spreads like the common cold, through doorknobs and turnstiles, to director Steven Soderbergh. Burns’ pitch grew into the action-thriller Contagion. Click the title to listen.

Script Magazine
With a series of successful animated films (CARS, CARS 2, TANGLED, and BOLT) and a big-budget comedy (FRED CLAUS) under his belt, Fogelman decided it was time to write something from the heart. He set aside everything he learned about writing commercially, he says, and pounded out this beauty “relatively quickly.” He is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after screenwriters in Hollywood. Click the title to hear a few secrets to his success.

Script Magazine
Do spec pilot scripts sell? What about pilots shot on spec? This week Gray talks to successful author-writer-producer Rob Thomas, creator of Cupid, Veronica Mars, and most recently, Party Down. Rob shares some great stories about how he came up with the idea for the critically acclaimed Veronica Mars, which he wrote on spec, and also how he not only wrote Party Down on spec, but shot the pilot with his own money at his own house! Click the title to listen.

Script Magazine
”Writing the the sequel to The Hangover, the highest grossing R-rated comedy of all time, should be as easy as popping the top on an ice cold brewsky. Booze + hotel room + Zach Galifianakis = wackiness ensues, right? . . . If only it was that easy . . ." Click the title to listen.

UK Scriptwriters
Tim Claque and Danny Stack talk about the UK scriptwriting scene - film, TV and new media. This informative podcast focuses on agents. Do you need an agent? What does an agent do for you? How do you approach an agent? Are you ready? Follow the link to listen.

Script Magazine
"Would you wait nearly two decades to see your passion project get produced? Screenwriter James Solomon did. Solomon spent the majority of his adult life researching, writing and rewriting the story of Mary Surratt, a Southern woman who stood trial for the assassination of Abraham Lincoln." Click the title to hear his story.

TSA - tennscreen.com
Do you REALLY know if your script is of the quality to be sent out to Agents, Managers, Producers? Find out in this mini-podcast.

Script Magazine
Listen to Screenwriter Peter Baynham discuss the challenge of writing an updated version of one of the most beloved romantic comedies of all time.

TSA Spring Seminar
Listen as Victoria Wisdom talks about how to get your query or submission letters read by Producers, Directors, Agents, or Managers. Get the responses you want this time!

Script Magazine
Listen to Co-Writer/Director/and now Actor as well of "Your Highness" and "Pineapple Express" speak about what it takes to write good comedy, fight big studio bosses and stay true to story.

Each week Jeff Goldsmith gives in-depth insight into the creative process of screenwriting through the interviews of major screenwriters including Ben Ripley from Sourcecode, Thomas McCarthy from Win Win, and Leslie Dixon from Limitless.

Script Magazine
Listen to Writer/Director K. Lorrel Manning speak about his beginnings, inspiration, challenges and more in one of the standouts at SXSW this year, the Iraq war drama, Happy New Year, written and directed by Manning. "Happy New Year" follows the story of Sgt. Cole Lewis (Michael Cuomo) who returns from a tour of duty in Iraq/Afghanistan mentally and physically scarred.

Script Magazine
“We wrote the script in six days,” says screenwriter Annie Mumolo of the whirlwind experience she had writing the new Judd Apatow–produced comedy Bridesmaids. The film is about a group of ladies who come together when one of them gets married. Mumolo co–wrote the script with friend and star of the film, SNL star Kristen Wiig.