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Screenwriting: From the Trenches
By Rob Hagans & Kay TuxfordTV & Film
Screenwriting: From the Trenches episodes
- So You've Broken In?
It's Christmas! (2023) So Rob & Kay have decided to do a little reflection, musing on that thing that all of us are trying to do -- all the time it seems like -- breaking in. And, joining them, is one of their favorite Twitter Brethren, Leah Simmons, aka, Leah From South Dakota, who also talks about her debut feature, Valentine Crush and what she got from making her indie roller derby feature.
This Week’s Resource:
This week we have a TRIO of free resources for you, because this is Christmas and we’re still giving out free ish!
First up is the Circle of Confusion x Anarchists United Writers Discovery Fellowship, which is first because it’s deadline is first at January 5th.
Then we have The Orchard Project Episodic Lab is open till mid January and is free. Get you the free stuff! (Great for all of our East Coasters)
And finally the Fox Entertainment Writer’s Incubator which, while a little intensive, is also free so merry christmas ya filthy animals!
Notes From the Episode:
Zack's Original Instagram video (for our Twitter Drama Bumper)
Jonathan Majors
Ryan Coogler's X-Files
David Zaslav is buying Paramount?
Buy your own Vomit Draft Notebook
Buy your own Plot Fold Screenwriting Map
How to Make a Movie for $1000
Leah's Linktree
Kay's Twitter
Rob's Twitter
Zack's Twitter
Email us(!)
1 hr 14 min - Writing Deep Dive: Die Hard/Hook!
Rob & Kay take on their FINAL holiday deep dive with a Double Feature of their personal holiday favorites Die Hard (for Rob) & Hook (for Kay) directed by John McTiernan & Steven Spielberg, respectively -- with scripts from Jeb Stuart & Steven E. de Souza (of Die Hard) and James V. Hart & Nick Castle (of Hook) while boasting actors Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman & Reginald VelJohnson and Bonnie Bedelia for Die Hard, along with Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, Julia Roberts, & Bob Hoskins for Hook.
This Week’s Resource:
Die Hard is in THEATERS. Go check it. It’s not free, but I think it’s worth seeing our favorite Christmas Blockbuster on the big screen (for $5-$7 on Tuesday). Hook is on streaming – for free – on YouTube, the CW app and on the Roku Channel.Notes From the Episode:
Zack's Original Instagram video (for our Twitter Drama Bumper)
The Blacklist
All of Us Strangers trailer
Civil War trailer
Hollywood Reporter: Post Writer's Strike -- Where are the TV Deals?
Script for Die Hard
Script for Hook
Buy your own Vomit Draft Notebook
Buy your own Plot Fold Screenwriting Map
How to Make a Movie for $1000
Kay's Twitter
Rob's Twitter
Zack's Twitter
Email us(!)
1 hr 21 min - Screenwriting Deep Dive: Elf!
Rob & Kay decided to do their penultimate holiday deep dive on Elf, the timeless Christmas classic that is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The Jon Favreau directed film stars Will Farrell, James Caan, Bob Newhart, Zoey Deschanel, and Mary Steenburgen, and Ed Asner (as Santa)
This Week’s Resource:
Elf! You can find it streaming on Max & Hulu, but because of the 20th anniversary, you can also find it in theaters for a limited a time! So watch it, see what the heck we're talking about, and tell us if you agree!Also we have the Coverfly Pitch Week opt-in. It's free, and y'all know that's how we do! Deadline is the 18th!
And lastly, we have last-call for The Screenwriting Lab's Free Screenplay Contest! Again, FREE! What do you have to lose!
Notes From the Episode:
Zack's Original Instagram video (for our Twitter Drama Bumper)
Lists: Stunt List, Georgia List, Next List, Blacklist
Script for Elf
Michael Clayton Script
WTF Podcast w/Tony Gilroy
Buy your own Vomit Draft Notebook
Buy your own Plot Fold Screenwriting Map
How to Make a Movie for $1000
Kay's Twitter
Rob's Twitter
Zack's Twitter
Email us(!)
1 hr 16 min - Screenwriting Deep Dive: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang!
Rob & Kay kick continue their holiday movie breakdown streak with a shared favorite of theirs, Shane Black's "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" starring Robert Downey Jr, Val Kilmer, and Michelle Monaghan.
This Week’s Resource:
The Long Kiss Goodnight on Pluto! Shane Black has given us another underrated Christmas Classic that we encourage you to watch if you like movies that are good and scripts that are better.Notes From the Episode:
Zack's Original Instagram video (for our Twitter Drama Bumper)
Script for "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang"
Harry Meets Harmony Scene
Buy your own Vomit Draft Notebook
Buy your own Plot Fold Screenwriting Map
How to Make a Movie for $1000
Kay's Twitter
Rob's Twitter
Zack's Twitter
Email us(!)
1 hr 22 min - Screenwriting Deep Dive: The Holiday!
Rob & Kay kick off the holiday season with one of Rob's favorite romantic comedies, "The Holiday", Nancy Myers' Christmas classic two-hander starring Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black and Eli Wallach.
This Week’s Resource:
The Holiday is available on Hulu!Notes From the Episode:
Zack's Original Instagram video (for our Twitter Drama Bumper)
The Script to The Holiday
Buy your own Vomit Draft Notebook
Buy your own Plot Fold Screenwriting Map
How to Make a Movie for $1000
Kay's Twitter
Rob's Twitter
Zack's Twitter
Email us(!)
1 hr 8 min - How to Write Your Way onto Streaming!
THIS WEEK! Rob & Kay talk to author, actor and screenwriter, Nate Golon whose indie tv series, Workshop was the first independently produced TV series to be picked up by Hulu!
This is the 3rd episode in our month-long dive into indiefilm tv!
This Week’s Resource:
Workshop Seasons 1 & 2 are available on YouTube.
Notes From the Episode:
Zack's Original Instagram video (for our Twitter Drama Bumper)
Cyote vs Acme now to be shopped following backlash
An in-depth look on the actor's strike
Series Pilot for Frasier (2023)
Buy your own Vomit Draft Notebook
Buy your own Plot Fold Screenwriting Map
How to Make a Movie for $1000
Nate's Twitter
Kay's Twitter
Rob's Twitter
Zack's Twitter
Email us(!)
1 hr 16 min - How to Write THREE SEASONS of TV! (W/THESPIAN creator Marc Unger)
Rob & Kay invite THESPIAN creator/writer/producer/show-runner/director, Marc Unger, as he speaks on how he's written three seasons of a show with no guarantees. How he writes character arcs and storylines when you don't have access to actors/locations/money to finish them out, but still have to keep the train on the tracks.
This is the 2nd episode in our month-long dive into indiefilm tv!
This Week’s Resource:
Thespian! You can watch the first two seasons on Tubi, for free! The first three episodes from season 3 are up on YouTube, which, we expect, you may want to delve into, after having spent some time with Marc and hearing about the scenes Rob worked on (for later in the season) so now is the time to get caught up!
Notes From the Episode:
Zack's Original Instagram video (for our Twitter Drama Bumper)
Deadline article on Strike Ending
David Zaslav Shelves Cyote Vs Acme for $30M Write-off
Buy your own Vomit Draft Notebook
Buy your own Plot Fold Screenwriting Map
How to Make a Movie for $1000
Thespian Online
Mark's Twitter
Kay's Twitter
Rob's Twitter
Zack's Twitter
Email us(!)
1 hr 14 min - The SEXPECTATIONS of Indie TV Writing!
This week Rob & Kay interview Jenna St. John and (her husband), Kevin Good about the writer's room and process of their independently produced series, SEXPECTATIONS! This includes finding the engine of the show (and how modern tv has the ability to shift/change it each season, a la The Good Place or Atlanta), how they consider Sexpectations to be a comedy, but not a sitcom, and what narrative challenges future seasons might pose.
This is the first episode in our month-long dive into indiefilm tv!
This Week’s Resource:
Two resources again this week. The first is from CinemaStix on YouTube with a video essay on how the comedic writing is so tight in Shaun of the Dead, that even with someone (Rob) who has watched it at least once a year, every year, since the year it came out (our lord of 2004), there are jokes in there that were somehow missed.
Our Second Resource is Sexpectations! You can watch it on Apple or Amazon. Shout out to Paige Feldman, friend of the show, who is no doubt listening to this, Paige, this is your show. For the rest of you out there, this is the example of what we've talking about so many times on this podcast: a show written and directed by people like you, who are in the trenches, grinding this shitty industry, making shit that not only works, but is AWESOME. It’s not free, but buying the whole season is worth your $9.
Notes From the Episode:
Zack's Original Instagram video (for our Twitter Drama Bumper)
Buy your own Vomit Draft Notebook
Buy your own Plot Fold Screenwriting Map
How to Make a Movie for $1000
Kevin's Insta
Jenna's Insta
Kay's Twitter
Rob's Twitter
Zack's Twitter
Email us(!)
1 hr 1 min - The Midpoint! (Our AFF episode)
Kay Tuxford is at Austin! Rob is not! Is he jealous? Maybe -- but that's not going to get in the way of the two of them tackling one of the most important parts of the screenplay, THE MIDPOINT!
This Week’s Resource:
We have two resources this week. The first is from a friend of the podcast, Paige Feldman, who is documenting her journey as she writes -- and prepares to direct -- her first feature film on her YouTube channel. But this week she put out a really great video on what she calls “Cringe Paralysis” and the name sort of speaks for itself. We’re not gonna spoil the video for you, Paige kind of lays out her fears about her screenplay and we think it’s something that you guys might find helpful because we all have had some form of cringe paralysis at one time or another.
Our second resource, like what we did for acts two & three, is a playlist of videos designed to help you identify and craft your midpoint based on the information acquired. And we gotta say, the internet, specifically YouTube, does love its midpoint videos, as these videos are BANGERS. Chock-a-block full of easy-to-digest definitions and recognizable examples, especially the one from lessons from the screenplay on Collateral. It’s legit amazing.
Notes From the Episode:
Zack's Original Instagram video (for our Twitter Drama Bumper)
Variety Article on Fran Drescher's Toy Plushie
Our Podcast on "The Perils of Writing Act Two!"
Meg Lefauve's Screenwriting Life Podcast
Buy your own Vomit Draft Notebook
Buy your own Plot Fold Screenwriting Map
How to Make a Movie for $1000
Kay's Twitter
Rob's Twitter
Zack's Twitter
Email us(!)
1 hr - So... You STILL Want to Write a Screenplay?!
Rob & Kay follow up on their previous episode, which, hopefully got your booty into the chair with your new idea ready to write. This episode focuses on what happens when your butt hits the seat: mentally, physically, and in terms of craft -- all in preparation for the bane of the screenwriter's existence...Page 40 (and how to get past it!).
This Week’s Resource:
While this podcast doesn't really endorse any contest, this year’s free screenwriting contest from TSL is open for submissions and you should, because...why not? Plus, if you want to spend some cash to get notes, it makes this contest a nifty bargain. Up to you, but the main thrust is FREE ENTRY and if it gets your script in front of movers & shakers, even better.
Notes From the Episode:
Zack's Original Instagram video (for our Twitter Drama Bumper)
Maureen Ryan's book, "Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywood"
Coffee Break Screenwriter book
(Rob's Lawyer) Pam's Episode
Buy your own Vomit Draft Notebook
Buy your own Plot Fold Screenwriting Map
How to Make a Movie for $1000
Kay's Twitter
Rob's Twitter
Zack's Twitter
Email us(!)
1 hr 26 min
About Screenwriting: From the Trenches
From the publisher's feed
A podcast about the craft and expression of screenwriting -- in all its forms -- from the perspective of writers just like you.