RSVP for the TSL/Roadmap AFF Party Here: https://bit.ly/4cQWUHa 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS FOR FREE: https://tslworkshops.circle.so/ 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sign up today - https://tslworkshops.circle.so Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have all been very busy so our new episodes for the next two weeks will be dropping on Mondays. Thanks for your patience! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thanks for your patience! Editing now, and new episode drops tomorrow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: http://tslworkshops.circle.so 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Enjoy our final panel coverage from our time at the SLO film festival! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: tslworkshops.circle.so 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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: thescreenwritinglife@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thanks for your patience! Our new episode this week will be dropping TOMORROW in your feed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices