Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman talk with writer-director Joe Russo about his latest horror film, THE INHERITANCE, which nearly became a victim of the latest wave of studio tax write-offs. Joe talks about how the idea for the script originally came together in 2018, about the process of writing an ensemble horror movie, producing the film during COVID, and the consequent difficulties of getting it to the public. 

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss the oft used (and incorrect) advice to writers of "Write what you know." Instead, they argue you should write anything you f***ing want! But if you do, make sure it is believable and well-researched, and Tasha and Josh give some examples from their own jobs where research has both served and hindered their writing. They address questions like How much research is too much? At what point in the process should you research? And how do you research effectively?

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

You just got notes and you want to curl into a ball and cry. Please don't do that. Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss what happens after you get notes. It can be intimidating. What's the process? Where to begin? Each scenario is different, and it's important to have a clear idea when you jump back into your writing. 

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

This Week in Writing, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss the Emmys, what makes a script unique, Don't Worry Darling, how Tasha broke through a new original spec, and how to juggle multiple projects for a more successful career.

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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In This Week in Writing, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss Only Murders in the Building and why episode hooks are important, the ending of Nope and how/if it works, one of Josh's projects that has come back years later, and how Minority Report is a master class in world-building exposition.

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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"Working hard" as a professional Screenwriter means more than just writing. It also means building your network and promoting your brand. But the way we Self-Advocate as writers is different than in many other businesses. In this episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss what Self-Advocating means as a Screenwriter, and how to do it at any stage of your career.

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman sit down with one of the great adaptation writers in our business, Christopher Yost (THOR: RAGNAROK, COWBOY BEBOP), about how he approaches adaptation, how it differs from original writing, and how the tough choices of writing an adaptation are unique. He also discusses his path to writing some of the biggest movies in our industry, and how his latest original movie SECRET HEADQUARTERS (playing now on Paramount+) came to be.

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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From Jealousy and Self-Loathing to Depression and Spite, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss all the unhealthy writer thoughts that come up in their own heads and in their conversations with other writers, why they come up, and how to deal with them in a healthy way. 

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman break down the Meet Cute device used in some of their favorite romantic comedies and discuss how the writing makes you root for the heroes and their romance.

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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In this episode of This Week in Writing, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss everything from taking your shot with your favorite actors, to how Imposter Syndrome can easily spiral out of control, and new lessons learned this week about pitching.

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman sit down with Rasheed Newsom, co-showrunner of BEL-AIR on Paramount+ and author of the upcoming historical novel, MY GOVERNMENT MEANS TO KILL ME. 

They discuss Rasheed's rise from production assistant to showrunner, how being a showrunner is actually just being a middle manager disguised as a boss, lessons he's learned from writers rooms that have imploded, and why the #2 job in a writers room should be the most coveted job in Hollywood.

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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Taika Waititi is considered one of the busiest filmmakers in Hollywood right now, working on some of the biggest franchises in history while also finding time to write, produce, direct, and act in other passion projects. So hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss Taika Waititi's 10 Pieces of Screenwriting Wisdom from Taika Waititi to see what can be learned and applied to everyday Screenwriting careers.

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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The first day in a Writers Room for both a Writer and Showrunner are full of anxiety and uncertainty. In this episode, Josh Hallman talks with his co-host, Showrunner Tasha Huo, on what the first day of a room usually looks like to help allay fears and best prepare.

TWIW: How Screenwriters Get Paid in Percentages (that force us to get other jobs to survive), How to Get & Give Targeted Notes in late-stage writing, THE BEAR is Awesome, and Writing on Vacation.

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman have a great conversation with Matt Misetich from Script Pipeline. We discuss how Script Pipeline is an asset for writers, contests, Brag Bars, and dive into the state of the industry, 

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

The tone in which you give notes matters. Your note can be technically correct, but you may deliver it in a way that offends the writer or makes them combative, which can ruin your relationship with the writer and make their revision experience feel painful rather than inspiring.

To illustrate how to give notes in a respectful tone, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman share the Opening Setup of scripts they've never shared with each other before, and give each other notes in a live Mock Notes Session. 

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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From how Tasha reads samples as a Showrunner and how this has influenced her writing - to - Writer's Block, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss their This Week in Writing. 

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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On this 100th Episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman chat with Steven DeKnight -- Showrunner-Writer-Producer-Director of such shows as DAREDEVIL, SPARTACUS, and BUFFY -- about his experiences transitioning from Writer to Showrunner, and then Writer to Director. They get into what the real difference is between simply being a Writer and being a Showrunner, and how to acquire the skills necessary to be a Showrunner or Director if your background has always been writing

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman start their new series -- "What's the Theme?" -- with TOP GUN: MAVERICK. They break down what worked and didn't about the Theme in this epic thrill ride breaking box office records. Beware: lots of SPOILERS!

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman talk with Ben Lustig and Jake Thornton about being writing partners: their process, schedule, how they met, their first sale, and a ton more... Also, Ben and Jake discuss their (incredible) upcoming movie, THE PRINCESS. 

Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the great Paul Lundquist

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You have a great idea, now what? The distance between an idea and a finished script can feel vast and wrought with disappointment. Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss how they go from having an Idea to molding a Script out of that idea. 

TWIW: Are TV specs as samples back in vogue? How learning to be a producer is key to a writing career. Tom Cruise is awesome. How Mark Duplass advocates for sharing and workshopping your ideas with your writing community.

Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com 

Edited by the great Paul Lundquist

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Screenwriters Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss Screencraft's 5 Must-Haves for Writing Action Sequences and how to apply these must-haves to your own writing in a practical way, as well as how to avoid common missteps in action writing.

TWIW: Tasha's life gets turned upside down in the best way by their previous Work/Life Balance episode, and a real-life action sequence issue that came up for Tasha in TOMB RAIDER.

Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com 

Edited by the great Paul Lundquist

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Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman talk with screenwriter Alex Convery about being on the Blacklist multiple times, the influence that has had on his career, and about the story of how his most recent Blacklist script, AIR JORDAN, got Ben Affleck attached to direct and co-star with Matt Damon.

Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com 

Edited by the great Paul Lundquist

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Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman often stress out and over-caffeinate to get their work done. To learn how to do things differently, they sit down with veteran screenwriter, David H. Steinberg (American Pie 2, The Simpsons, No Good Nick), and make him get detailed about how he manages multiple projects at once, what his daily schedule looks like, and how he successfully maintains a Work/Life Balance as well as a successful screenwriting career. Let's talk time management!

Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com 

Edited by the great Paul Lundquist

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Hosts Tasha Huo & Josh Hallman discuss the 4 most common big-picture notes they receive (and are currently addressing in their own scripts), and how to approach revisions effectively.

TWIW: How to choose what IP to adapt. 

Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com 

Edited by the great Paul Lundquist

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Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman sit down again with Act Two writer and Screenwriter of AIR, Alex Convery, to discuss how his screenwriting career and craft has changed since AIR was released in April 2023, and how the flurry of accolades during award season changed his career. With AIR being an original spec, Alex also talks about where the power of a Screenwriter lays, and how to combat the stalemate that often accompanies a Screenwriting career.

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

Host Tasha Huo (Red Sonja, Tomb Raider: The Animated Series) talks about how she starts her adaptation projects, from the moment she picks up the IP to pitching it to execs; and host Josh Hallman tries to poke holes in her process.

TWIW: (SPOILER ALERT!) The Batman, and how to look at consulting producing as a "side hustle for writers".

Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com 

Edited by the great Paul Lundquist

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Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss the BAFTA lecture series from Tony Gilroy (ROGUE ONE, BOURNE Trilogy, MICHAEL CLAYTON), where he discusses his 7 Steps on how he writes an original screenplay. They break down each step, what it means, and how to use it practically in your own writing. 

TWIW: Actors who don't want to be vulnerable, Josh's life-changing encounter with a waiter/screenwriter, Using babies to create tension in your writing.

Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com 

Edited by the great Paul Lundquist

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Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman take on Screenwriting Twitter's topics of the week -- Being Rewritten by Your Showrunner and Can Animation be Elevated? -- and discuss their Top 5 Pixar movies, with a breakdown of why those five earn such distinction.

Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com 

Edited by Paul Lundquist

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In this episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss in detail how they start creating characters for their stories, as well as a This Week in Writing about a new way Tasha has learned to write action description, and Josh's thoughts on the structure of the action classic, SPEED.

Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com 

Edited by Paul Lundquist

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Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss some things... like nepotism, your voice, and certain frustrations...

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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... from your spec. Your manager. Your scene. Your agent. Your producer. If you're writing long enough, you will come up against this question -- "When should I move on from this?"

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss different kinds of moments in their own Screenwriting careers when they wanted to give up or move on,  and discuss how to spot the signs to keep going, and the signs to put the pencil down.

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss the different scenarios where etiquette comes into play...

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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Steve Jobs was possibly one of the greatest presenters of our time. Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss his 6-step pitch-prepping method and how it applies to writers. 

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman bring the Act Two Script Club to the podcast for the first time, breaking down what we can learn from Kevin Sullivan's writing in his action rom-com, ENDING THINGS. Join us for a discussion about writing mechanics, what works in original specs and why. 

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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Host Josh Hallman finally gets to put his own manager, John Zaozirny, on the hot seat and gets to ask him all the pressing questions about why managers reject their writer's ideas, what makes for a bad manager and what to do about it, what does a manager do in their daily life anyway, top questions from Screenwriting Twitter, and more!

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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One of the most exciting things about Screenwriting is that everyone finds a different path to becoming a professional. Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman sit down with Keely Macdonald (AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER, SLEEPY HOLLOW) to discuss her path to discovering a career in Screenwriting through her fan fiction, one big fat coincidence, and the Fox Writers Incubator program.

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

When we get our first opportunities and jobs as Screenwriters, we are so grateful to finally be doing this for a living that many of us naturally slip into a "people-pleasing" role. We want to please our reps and our producers, and this can often shift the power dynamic in our business relationships in a way that starts to work against us as creators and career-builders. It is easy, as a Screenwriter, to feel like a child in a room of adults in suits. In this episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss why setting the tone in your meetings is important to your long-term career goals, and how to start setting the tone in your own meetings. Their big reminder: This is not about ego, it's simply about setting yourself up for a successful career as a powerful creative voice.

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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So, you finished a draft of your script. Congratufreakinglations! First, go celebrate! Then, come back and listen to this episode before you start revising, as hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman are here to take you through different ways to approach your revisions. From outlines to "Game Plans", they talk about all the ways you can dive into revisions and what's worked best for them over the years.

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman each choose one favorite movie hero and one villain then discuss how they are setup and developed across the movie, and why they are effective. There is much to learn from the genius of others.

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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Pitching is terrible. Pitching for a rewrite job is particularly tricky and terrible. In this episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss the Do's and Don'ts of pitching rewrites, and also the red flags to be aware of before you spend your precious time engaging on a rewrite opportunity.

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss all things MacGuffins! One of Josh's absolute favorite things, but they're sometimes looked at as a cheat in Screenplays -- What are they? When should you use them? Are they cheating? When don't they work? Did we mention that Josh loves MacGuffins?

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman talk with Screenwriter Mickey Fisher - creator of TV series EXTANT (CBS), REVERIE (NBC). He also worked on MARS (NatGeo), THE STRAIN (FX), and JACK RYAN (Amazon).

We discuss how Mickey broke in, process, and creativity. He's a great person, and it's a great conversation...  

Subscribe to Mickey's newsletter: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/mickeyfisher73

Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the Great Paul Lundquist

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Season 3 is here! Welcome to 2022. Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman talk about setting writing goals and how to manage them.

The beginning of the year is a great time to map out how you want things to go, it's easy (and good) to get overly ambitious with your goals. We talk about the practical ways you can approach everything. 

Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the great Paul Lundquist

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It's the final episode of 2021! Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman wonder if writers should take a break from writing over the holidays. Should we recharge or power through? Sit back, relax, and enjoy the end of season 2...

Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the great Paul Lundquist

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Home Alone has a perfect setup, and Home Sweet Home Alone is probably a lot better than you think. Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman dive into the beginnings of both movies to discuss character, plot, and how small moments turn to big things. 

Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the great Paul Lundquist

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Which DIE HARD movie is your favorite? Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman will go to their graves believing DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE is the best in the series, but here they go up against Special Guest David Levinson who goes to the mat for The OG DIE HARD. Who’s right, who’s wrong? Watch the movie then follow along as they break down the three acts of DIE HARD 3 to find out what its secrets are, how its crafted, and if it really does transcend the original.

The Act Two Breakdown Series takes an in-depth look at the writing of some of the most influential stories of our time, including the behind-the-scenes of how these scripts came together, and how they function onscreen. Sit back, grab a drink, and let’s see what we can all learn!

Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com 

Edited by Paul Lundquist

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Thank you all for an awesome mixer! Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman tell stories from their 2nd Act Two Podcast Mixer in Los Angeles and, since writers groups were created on the night, they discuss what makes a successful writer's group and what has made their group run strong for 15 years.

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

One of the most difficult things for a Screenwriter is figuring out how to work with your Execs. They pay you, so are they your boss? They can veto your choices (because they're paying you), so should you just do what they say? What should the dynamic between a Writer and a Producer look like? Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman speak with a Producer about real-life Writer/Producer scenarios that haven't worked, and discuss why and what lessons Screenwriters can learn from those experiences.

Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com 

Edited by Paul Lundquist

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This Week in Writing wherein host Josh Hallman has a breakthrough in how to break story, reveals part of his process that makes him look like a crazy man, and takes notes from a lawyer about the “art of persuasion”; and wherein host Tasha Huo has to pitch someone who doesn’t react and handles it by over-compensating, and learns about a very hidden “note behind the note” in her latest studio notes document.

Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com 

Edited by Paul Lundquist

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Holidays are here, and it’s time to panic about what to get your reps. Freak out no more! Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman give some great gift ideas, and share some insider info from reps themselves on what gifts they are actually looking for this year.

Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com 

Edited by Paul Lundquist

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