The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna

By Meg LeFauve & Lorien McKenna

What's The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna about?

Welcome to The Screenwriting Life, a podcast where Oscar-nominated writer Meg LeFauve and Emmy-nominated writer Lorien McKenna discuss not only the craft and business of Screenwriting, but also the emotional life: the ups and downs of being a creative, to remind you that you are not alone and to keep writing.

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The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna episodes:

05.02.2024
191 | Writing Visually On The Page (And Connecting To Your Theme) ft. Linda Seger
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...
04.25.2024
190 | Getting Candid About The Business of Hollywood (ft. Navid McIlhargey)
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,...
04.18.2024
189 | Create Your Hollywood Game Plan w/ Carole Kirschner
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...
04.11.2024
188 | Playwriting (and some BTS Behind the Making of Coco) ft. Octavio Solis
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...
04.04.2024
187 | Writing For Multi-Cam Sitcoms (w/ Lopez vs Lopez Showrunner Debby Wolfe)
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...
03.28.2024
186 | A Crash Course For Showrunners (And Their Staff Writers) ft. Jeff Melvoin
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....
03.21.2024
185 | Why Tone and Genre ≠ Plot (ft. Cole Haddon)
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...
03.14.2024
184 | What Does A Hollywood Studio Reader Do? (TSL Listener Spotlight)
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...
03.08.2024
183 | How The Animated Film Industry Is Changing (And Why That Matters Creatively): WAR IS OVER Chat, Part 2
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...
03.07.2024
182 | What Goes Into Creating an Oscar-nominated Animated Short?: WAR IS OVER Chat, Part 1
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...
02.29.2024
181 | Nimona Co-Writer Lloyd Taylor On The World Of Animated Feature Films
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...
02.22.2024
180 | Award Winning "Wingspan" Game Designer Compares Writing To Game Design (ft. Elizabeth Hargrave)
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...
02.15.2024
179 | Feature Film Story Engine Checklist: 8 Elements To Turn A Situation Into A MOVIE
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...
02.08.2024
178 | The Holdovers Writer David Hemingson On Finding Humanity In Our Characters
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"...
02.01.2024
177 | Past Lives Writer/Director Celine Song: Standing In Your Authority As a Writer and Artist
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...
01.25.2024
176 | Michael Arndt on Balancing Plot & Emotional Storytelling
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...
01.18.2024
175 | American Fiction Writer/Director Cord Jefferson's Advice For Adaptating Material
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...
01.15.2024
BONUS: 174 | Jodie Foster on Building Truthful Characters (REBROADCAST)
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,...
01.11.2024
173 | Adam Grant On Practical Ways To Unlock Our Creative Potential
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...
01.04.2024
172 | The Money Episode (Don’t Panic!) ft. Paco de Leon
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...
12.28.2023
171 | Permission To Dream
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...
12.21.2023
170 | REBROADCAST: How To Write A Christmas or Holiday Movie (w/ Eirene Tran Donohue)
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,...
12.14.2023
169 | Oscar Winner Tom McCarthy (Spotlight, Alaska Daily) On Writing For & Working With Actors
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...
12.07.2023
168 | WGA Inclusion & Equity Committee Members Discuss Representation and Authenticity In our Writing
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...
11.30.2023
167 | Writing For Production On A Microbudget (ft. Jeffrey Crane Graham, aka Producer Jeff!)
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,...
11.23.2023
166 | A Happy Thanksgiving Throwback To Our First Episode
Happy Thanksgiving TSLers! Enjoy this throwback to our very first episode.
11.16.2023
165 | Michael Arndt's Act 1 Masterclass (REBROADCAST)
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....
11.09.2023
164 | The Morning Show Showrunner On Incorporating Real World Events Into Our Writing (ft. Charlotte Stoudt)
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...
11.06.2023
163 | Screenwriting: Joy, Pain, Legacy (2023 Guest Supercut Pt. 2)
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...
11.02.2023
162 | Screenwriting: Joy, Pain, Legacy (2023 Guest Supercut Pt. 1)
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...
10.26.2023
161 | LIVE Stephen's College Story Workshop + Writing Exercises for Act 2
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
10.19.2023
160 | Documentary Filmmaking (And Writing) w/ Monique N. Matthews and Linda Goldstein Knowlton
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
10.12.2023
159 | Writing For Video Games & Interactive Screenwriting w/ Shanon M. Ingles and Stephan Bugaj
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)...
10.05.2023
158 | Mail Bag
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...
09.28.2023
157 | (REBROADCAST) The Definitive Lava Episode
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...
09.21.2023
156 | SPECIAL: The Elevator Pitch + Austin Film Festival Prep Workshop
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...
09.14.2023
155 | 6 Essential Strategies To Tackle a Rewrite
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. JOIN OUR PATREON: www.patreon.com/thescreenwritinglife
09.07.2023
154 | How To Prioritize Multiple Projects As A Writer (ft. Ted Hope)
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...
08.31.2023
153 | Is My Script Ready To Send To Producers? (ft. Ted Hope)
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...
08.24.2023
152 | The Movies That Made Us Writers
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. JOIN OUR PATREON:...
08.17.2023
151 | Rethinking Screenplay Structure w/ The Nutshell Technique (ft. Jill Chamberlain)
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...
08.10.2023
150 | How To Say Yes To Yourself as a Writer (ft. Showrunners Kat Likkel and John Hoberg)
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),...
08.03.2023
149 | Moving On and the Wisdom of Stephen Sondheim
**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...
07.27.2023
148 | Jodie Foster on Building Truthful Characters
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,...
07.20.2023
147 | Elemental Co-Writer Brenda Hsueh On Balancing Comedy and Drama In Our Writing
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...
07.13.2023
146 | Screenwriting/Storytelling Archetypes: Using and Subverting Them (ft. Jessica Bendinger)
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...
07.06.2023
145 | Our Biggest Lessons From Being On Set (Pt. 2)
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...
06.29.2023
144 | Where To Begin As A Screenwriter (Pt. 3)
We bring our "beginning" miniseries to a close with this instant TSL classic, wherein Meg gives many pep talks. JOIN OUR PATREON: www.patreon.com/TheScreenwritingLife
06.22.2023
143 | Where To Begin As A Screenwriter (Pt. 2)
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
06.21.2023
142 | Where To Begin As A Screenwriter
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.

What's The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna episodes:

191 | Writing Visually On The Page (And Connecting To Your Theme) ft. Linda Seger

190 | Getting Candid About The Business of Hollywood (ft. Navid McIlhargey)

189 | Create Your Hollywood Game Plan w/ Carole Kirschner

188 | Playwriting (and some BTS Behind the Making of Coco) ft. Octavio Solis

187 | Writing For Multi-Cam Sitcoms (w/ Lopez vs Lopez Showrunner Debby Wolfe)

186 | A Crash Course For Showrunners (And Their Staff Writers) ft. Jeff Melvoin

185 | Why Tone and Genre ≠ Plot (ft. Cole Haddon)

184 | What Does A Hollywood Studio Reader Do? (TSL Listener Spotlight)

183 | How The Animated Film Industry Is Changing (And Why That Matters Creatively): WAR IS OVER Chat, Part 2

182 | What Goes Into Creating an Oscar-nominated Animated Short?: WAR IS OVER Chat, Part 1

181 | Nimona Co-Writer Lloyd Taylor On The World Of Animated Feature Films

180 | Award Winning "Wingspan" Game Designer Compares Writing To Game Design (ft. Elizabeth Hargrave)

179 | Feature Film Story Engine Checklist: 8 Elements To Turn A Situation Into A MOVIE

178 | The Holdovers Writer David Hemingson On Finding Humanity In Our Characters

177 | Past Lives Writer/Director Celine Song: Standing In Your Authority As a Writer and Artist

176 | Michael Arndt on Balancing Plot & Emotional Storytelling

175 | American Fiction Writer/Director Cord Jefferson's Advice For Adaptating Material

BONUS: 174 | Jodie Foster on Building Truthful Characters (REBROADCAST)

173 | Adam Grant On Practical Ways To Unlock Our Creative Potential

172 | The Money Episode (Don’t Panic!) ft. Paco de Leon

171 | Permission To Dream

170 | REBROADCAST: How To Write A Christmas or Holiday Movie (w/ Eirene Tran Donohue)

169 | Oscar Winner Tom McCarthy (Spotlight, Alaska Daily) On Writing For & Working With Actors

168 | WGA Inclusion & Equity Committee Members Discuss Representation and Authenticity In our Writing

167 | Writing For Production On A Microbudget (ft. Jeffrey Crane Graham, aka Producer Jeff!)

166 | A Happy Thanksgiving Throwback To Our First Episode

165 | Michael Arndt's Act 1 Masterclass (REBROADCAST)

164 | The Morning Show Showrunner On Incorporating Real World Events Into Our Writing (ft. Charlotte Stoudt)

163 | Screenwriting: Joy, Pain, Legacy (2023 Guest Supercut Pt. 2)

162 | Screenwriting: Joy, Pain, Legacy (2023 Guest Supercut Pt. 1)

161 | LIVE Stephen's College Story Workshop + Writing Exercises for Act 2

160 | Documentary Filmmaking (And Writing) w/ Monique N. Matthews and Linda Goldstein Knowlton

159 | Writing For Video Games & Interactive Screenwriting w/ Shanon M. Ingles and Stephan Bugaj

158 | Mail Bag

157 | (REBROADCAST) The Definitive Lava Episode

156 | SPECIAL: The Elevator Pitch + Austin Film Festival Prep Workshop

155 | 6 Essential Strategies To Tackle a Rewrite

154 | How To Prioritize Multiple Projects As A Writer (ft. Ted Hope)

153 | Is My Script Ready To Send To Producers? (ft. Ted Hope)

152 | The Movies That Made Us Writers

151 | Rethinking Screenplay Structure w/ The Nutshell Technique (ft. Jill Chamberlain)

150 | How To Say Yes To Yourself as a Writer (ft. Showrunners Kat Likkel and John Hoberg)

149 | Moving On and the Wisdom of Stephen Sondheim

148 | Jodie Foster on Building Truthful Characters

147 | Elemental Co-Writer Brenda Hsueh On Balancing Comedy and Drama In Our Writing

146 | Screenwriting/Storytelling Archetypes: Using and Subverting Them (ft. Jessica Bendinger)

145 | Our Biggest Lessons From Being On Set (Pt. 2)

144 | Where To Begin As A Screenwriter (Pt. 3)

143 | Where To Begin As A Screenwriter (Pt. 2)

142 | Where To Begin As A Screenwriter