Getting Notes

 In the latest Let's Schmooze video podcast, I talk with screenwriters Karen Stillman and David Bunello about studio and producer notes.

Karen has written pilots for or sold projects to FOX, ABC, CBS, Freeform, Lifetime, NatGeo and USA. David's credits include Disney’s AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, 12 ROUNDS: RELOADED, and HALLOWED GROUND, which he also directed

 

 

Audio only:

Christmas Movies

On this week's podcast, I welcome screenwriters Valerie Alexander (Memories of Christamas) and Amanda Raymond (You Are My Home) to discuss writing Christmas movies.

 

Follow Valerie on Twitter: @SpeakHappiness

 

Follow Amanda on Twitter: @AmandaCRaymond

and Instagram: amanda_raymond

 

Video Podcast 

 

 

 

Audio Podcast 

 

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 The Hollywood Pitching Bible

“ ‘Bible’ is the right word. This is the Truth about pitching. Just do what it says.”
- Gary Goldman (Writer/Producer, "Total Recall," "Minority Report," "Big Trouble in Little China")

 

Underrepresented Screen and TV Writers

 

On this week's video podcast, I welcome Lisa Kors, former co-chair of the PGA Diversity Committee and Marilyn Thomas, former co-chair of the WGA Native American and Indigenous Writers Committee to discuss the status of diversity in screen and television writing.

 

Follow Marilyn on Twitter at: @MonkeyMarilyn

Follow Lisa on Twitter at: @hippiechickflix

 

And check out Lisa’s documentary: Shayna Maidels Orthodox Jewish Teenage Girls

Video Podcast

Audio Podcast

 

--

 The Hollywood Pitching Bible

“ ‘Bible’ is the right word. This is the Truth about pitching. Just do what it says.”
- Gary Goldman (Writer/Producer, "Total Recall," "Minority Report," "Big Trouble in Little China")

 

Writing for Television Animation

In this month's Let's Schmooze podcast, I welcome writers Steven Melching (X-Men: The Animated Series, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Transformers Prime, Star Wars: The Clone Wars) and Shaene Siders (Niko and the Sword of Light, DC Super Hero Girls, Saint Seiya) to discuss writing for television animation. 

 

Video

Audio Podcast

--

 The Hollywood Pitching Bible

“ ‘Bible’ is the right word. This is the Truth about pitching. Just do what it says.”
- Gary Goldman (Writer/Producer, "Total Recall," "Minority Report," "Big Trouble in Little China")

 

Writing the Sample Pilot

 In my latest podcast, I talk with television writers Hollie Overton (Shadowhunters, Tell Me a Story, The Client List) and J. Holtham (Supergirl, Jessica Jones, Cloak & Dagger) about writing your sample television pilot.

Video:

 

Audio Podcast:

 The Hollywood Pitching Bible

“ ‘Bible’ is the right word. This is the Truth about pitching. Just do what it says.”
- Gary Goldman (Writer/Producer, "Total Recall," "Minority Report," "Big Trouble in Little China")

Transitioning from Film School to the Industry

In my latest podcast, I talk with three of my former students, Mae Catt (Transformers: Cyberverse), Matthew Epstein (Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist), and Rebecca Cremona (Simshar). We discuss the process of transitioning from film school to the professional world.

Audio version:

Ten Comic-Con at Home Panels for Screenwriters

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, San Diego Comic-Con has been cancelled this year. But good news! It has gone online. And it is totally free and open to everyone. So, if you’ve ever wanted to experience Comic-Con but have been unable to get a pass or to travel to San Diego, now’s your chance to get a taste little taste.

You can see the whole line-up of online panels at the website. There are over 350 panels. That’s a lot to wade through. So, below are my ten suggestions for panels that will be of particular interest to film and television writers. Some of these I’ve attended in previous cons, some just look intriguing.

Go to the website to see full descriptions. The con begins Wednesday, July 22nd, but many of the panels will be available indefinitely – which is fortunate because there’s some good ones at the same time.


1. Writing for TV - Sunday 7/26, 1 pm

2. The Art of Adapting Comics to the Screen: David S. Goyer – Saturday 7/25, 11 am

3. Writers Journey: Producers Mentality - Sunday 7/26 3 pm

4. Scary Good TV: A Conversation with Horror’s Top Showrunners - Saturday 7/25, 6 pm

5. Collider: Directors on Directing – Thursday 7/23, 2 pm

6. From Idea to Hired: Books, TV, Film, and Comics (a panel of agents) – Friday 7/24, 1 pm

7. Finance for Creatives – Saturday 7/25, 11 am

8. Authors on the Best Advice I Ever Got – Saturday 7/25, 3 pm

9. The Future of Entertainment – Thursday 7/23, 1 pm

10. Artists as Brand, Rise of the Artist Entrepreneur – Thursday 7/23, 3m

And be sure to watch my Let’s Schmooze Vlog about Comic-Con, networking, and writing in various media. My guests were:

Benjamin Raab - TV writer (Arrow, The Flash) and comic book writer (The Phantom, Green Lantern)

Spiro Skentzos, TV writer (Grimm, Arrow) and host of the “Intro to TV Writing” Comic-Con panel

Eugene Son, animation writer (Avengers Assemble, Star Wars Resistance) and comic book writer (Ultimate Spider-Man)



It’s also available as an audio podcast: