Act Two Podcast

Screenwriting is an isolating career by its very nature, but in Act Two, we believe that it doesn't have to be. If we support one another, we are all supported. For that reason, Act Two has partnered with Coverfly to connect up-and-coming writers with professional Screenwriters in the Act Two community for a 6-month career & industry mentorship program where new Mentees will be chosen every month to join a unique Mentorship opportunity with one of Act Two's incredible working writers.

Mentorship is incredibly important in a writer's career, whether they are just starting out or are showrunning their own show. To find out more about this unique opportunity, whether you're looking to be a Mentee or a Mentor, join hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman as they chat with Tom Dever, Head of Writer Success (what a title!) at Coverfly about how this Mentorship was conceived and why it's so important in the life of a Screenwriter.

Questions/Comments: [email protected] -- Edited by Paul Lundquist -- Music by 414beg 

TED LASSO deserves all the awards (all the things!), so say hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman. In this Breakdown episode, they break down how writers Jason Sudeikis and Bill Lawrence introduced the now iconic characters in the Pilot of their hit show on Apple TV, how they created "villains" in a feel-good dramedy, and how they flip expectations to keep you leaning in. *SPOILERS AHEAD* (but also, you really need to watch TED LASSO).

Questions/comments: [email protected] - the Act Two Podcast is edited by Paul Lundquist and music is by 414beg.

Questions/comments: [email protected] - the Act Two Podcast is edited by Paul Lundquist and music is by 414beg.

Being a professional Screenwriter doesn't mean you're just good at writing scripts. You must become a master/mistress of a slew of other document types, from Format Documents to Scriptments and Bibles, all of which have different definitions depending on who you ask. In this practical-use episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman wade through the minefield and break down the definitive WGA definitions of each non-script document you'll be asked to write as a professional Screenwriter, what they're for, why they're important, and how much you should be getting paid for them.

Questions/comments: [email protected] - the Act Two Podcast is edited by Paul Lundquist and music is by 414beg.

It's a big month in the news for co-host Tasha Huo, who has been hired to create and executive produce the animated series TOMB RAIDER for Netflix, and to adapt the comic RED SONJA for Millennium. So in this episode, Josh Hallman forces Tasha to finally talk about herself and discuss the process behind getting both those jobs, and what comes next.

Questions/comments: [email protected] - the Act Two Podcast is edited by Paul Lundquist and music is by 414beg.

In this Fireside Chat, join hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman in discussing three real-life stories from Screenwriters this week -- A new writer who has sent loglines to a studio executive and hasn't heard back, a mid-level writer who is struggling with endless free rewrites, and an advanced writer who failed to deliver a solid draft and left his producer in a bind. 

Questions/comments: [email protected] - the Act Two Podcast is edited by Paul Lundquist and music is by 414beg.

A Hufflepuff and a Slytherin examine the first act that started it all: HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE! Harry Potter is one of the greatest and most influential film franchises of all time. It effortlessly brought us into a magical world that felt grounded and introduced an unsung hero. If you're world-building, write fantasy, or have that unassuming hero... grab your butterbeer and get ready. Questions/comments: [email protected] - the Act Two Podcast is edited by Paul Lundquist and music is by 414beg.

You have to learn the rules before you can break them. In this episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss why Three Act Structure is important and they break down some of the most popular structure guidelines out there, including Blake Snyder's "Save the Cat" model. They also discuss how to avoid becoming a slave to structure guidelines, and how to instead use them as a valuable tool in your writing tool chest.

Questions/Comments: [email protected]

Edited by Paul Lundquist

Music by 414beg

"Hope is like the sun. If you only believe it when you see it, you'll never make it through the night." - General Laia, Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Hope is what every Screenwriter's dreams are built on, and it is also the hardest thing to sustain during the dark nights of your career. In this unique episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman illustrate the importance of hope in the Screenwriting journey through the inspirational origin stories of two now famous Screenwriters who lost all hope right before they achieved massive success -- Sylvester Stallone and George Lucas.

Questions/Comments: [email protected]

Edited by Paul Lundquist

Music by 414beg

Becoming a member of the Writer's Guild of America is an important milestone for every Screenwriter, and a significant hurdle in accessing a consistent and successful career. In this episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman sit down with Screenwriter and WGA Captain Ben Shiffrin to discuss the basics of WGA membership, the pitfalls of a non-WGA deal and how to combat them, and the myriad of helpful resources available to Screenwriters that few even know exist (whether you're a member or not!). 

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Questions/Comments: [email protected]

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Edited by Paul Lundquist

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Music by 414beg

Pixar storytellers are some of the best in the history of our business. In this episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman walk through a viral Twitter feed where former Pixar storyboard artist Emma Coates posted Pixar's 22 Rules of Storytelling, and they talk about how those rules can be applied to your screenwriting in very real and practical ways.

You can find the original post here -- https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-22-rules-of-storytelling-according-to-pixar-5916970

Questions/Comments: [email protected]

Edited by Paul Lundquist

Music by 414beg