The ISA Podcast

What happens when a screenwriter stops waiting for permission and makes the film herself? In this in-depth conversation, writer, filmmaker, and actress Clarissa Jacobson shares her remarkable journey from acting to screenwriting, and how creating her short film Lunch Ladies changed everything. From self-funding her first short to navigating festivals, building confidence, and finding her creative voice, Clarissa offers hard-earned wisdom for writers at every stage.

Clarissa talks candidly about:

• Choosing screenwriting over acting and letting go of sunk costs
• Why making a short film can transform a writing career
• The brutal (and rewarding) realities of self-funding your work
• Lessons learned from eight years of promoting "Lunch Ladies"
• Comedy horror, collaboration, and trusting your intuition
• Finding the right creative partners & why writing together works
• Why writers gain more respect when they make something real

This episode is a must-watch for screenwriters, indie filmmakers, and storytellers who feel stuck waiting for a break and are ready to bet on themselves instead.

🎬 Lunch Ladies went on to screen at festivals worldwide, air on American Airlines, and open doors Clarissa never imagined all because she made the leap from page to screen.

Clarissa Jacobson is a screenwriter, filmmaker, and co-founder of the team Rebel Minx. She is the creator of the acclaimed short film Lunch Ladies and the author of "I Made a Short Film, Now WTF Do I Do with it?," a practical guide to film festivals, promotion, and survival for filmmakers.

What does it really take to direct your first feature film? A real look at the filmmaking process for "Bight" In this episode of How Movies Get Made, presented by the International Screenwriters' Association, filmmaker Maiara Walsh breaks down the six-year journey of writing, directing, producing, and starring in her debut feature film, "Bight."

Maiara shares the realities of true microbudget filmmaking—from writing a script during lockdown, finding financing, pulling favors, and surviving post-production, to navigating festivals, distributors, and release strategy. This conversation is packed with practical advice for screenwriters and filmmakers who want to understand how movies actually get made outside the studio system.

Topics include: - Writing with production limitations in mind - Collaborating with actors as a writer-director - Financing an indie feature with personal funds - Why post-production takes longer than you think - Finding distribution without major festival premieres - What first-time filmmakers wish they knew sooner

"Bight" released February 10 on major streaming platforms, including Amazon Prime

In this episode of Take 10 with Craig, International Screenwriters' Association founder Craig James explores how meditation, presence, and letting go of control can unlock deeper, more authentic storytelling.

After spending decades pursuing spirituality alongside his creative work, Craig shares how quieting the mind has transformed the way he writes scenes, dialogue, and characters. Instead of forcing story beats or "perfect lines," he explains how surrendering to the moment allows characters to speak for themselves, often leading to the most memorable and emotionally honest writing.

Drawing from a meditative screenwriting exercise he experienced at a writing retreat in Costa Rica, Craig breaks down how writers can access creative flow, reduce overthinking, and find their true voice on the page. He also discusses why forced writing often feels false, how mental noise blocks creativity, and why presence is the source of great storytelling across all art forms, from screenwriting to music.

If you're struggling with writer's block, overwriting, or feeling disconnected from your characters, this episode offers a calming, practical perspective on how to reconnect with your creativity and let the story come to you.

Award-winning screenwriter Sari Earl joins us to discuss her Grand Prize win at Table Read My Screenplay Hollywood with her deeply personal and heartfelt screenplay The Do Over.

In this conversation, Sari shares the 10+ year journey of developing The Do Over, a comedy-drama inspired by her relationship with her father, who lived with ALS for over two decades. She opens up about adapting real-life experiences into compelling fiction, finding the right tonal balance between humor and heartbreak, and how a professional table read at AFM helped elevate the script to a new level.

We also dive into: How The Do Over evolved across genres before landing as a comedy Why table reads are a crucial development tool for writers Collaborating with director Drew and an exceptional cast, including Rob Morrow What happened after winning the contest: meetings with investors, producers, agents, and studios Why writers must become the driving force behind their own projects Learning to trust your creative voice

This is an inspiring, practical conversation for screenwriters, filmmakers, and storytellers looking to move their work from the page toward production.

Recorded at the American Film Market (AFM) in November 2025

An estranged father and daughter embark on a road trip — each hiding secret motives — but as unexpected detours and the dad's quirky caretaker draw them closer, they rediscover what it means to be a family.

Sari Earl - Writer Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Sari was a tax attorney who worked for Delta Air Lines before a passion for writing inspired her to shift careers. She is a published author of ten books, seven under the pen name Sari Robins and three under her own name. She also wrote and helped create a documentary short. Now Sari is focused on her most personal story yet, making a film inspired by her father who lived with ALS for over twenty years. The screenplay, Do Over, is a comedy that reflects her dad's indomitable spirit, his humor, and his love of family. Do Over is the Grand Prize Winner of the Table Read My Screenplay Competition Hollywood 2025 and won Best Comedy Screenplay at the Atlanta Women's Film Festival 2025, among others. Motivated by her father's ALS, Sari helped create and co-chairs the accessibility and inclusivity committee at her Temple where she also served as Vice President of Community, led the leadership program and served on the board. Sari also served as President of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, the largest Jewish film festival in the world, and is a founding board member. Sari served as Vice President of Film, and Vice President of Leadership at American Jewish Committee, Atlanta, where she continues to serve on the board and is part of the Black-Jewish Coalition and community engagement efforts. Sari served on the board of a mental health non-profit and on the advisory board for an interfaith disability organization. Check out www.sariearl.com

Drew Ann Rosenberg - Director Drew began her career in the arts, working in off-Broadway theatre in New York City and as a classically trained singer. She was Assistant Director on 6 Academy Award-winning films and has worked alongside such acclaimed directors as Sidney Lumet, Arthur Penn, Woody Allen, Paul Newman, Jonathan Demme, Rob Reiner, and Abel Ferrara. She's also First ADed 7 movies for HBO and multiple TV series and limited series. Drew's directorial debut, SEX AND A GIRL, aired on Showtime and Lifetime Networks. FOLLOW THE PROPHET was released theatrically. She directed second unit on THE RETURNED, STARKID, and NOW AND THEN. Drew wrote and directed the short film DAYBREAK, which received an LA Emmy. Her short film, AMY'S GIFT, won 5 awards at festivals. DADDY'S EYES, her latest short, won Best in Fest and Best Narrative Short at The Lake Placid Film Festival and the Rome Film Festival. Drew co-produced the feature NINE BULLETS, for Writer/Director Gigi Gaston, starring Lena Headey, Sam Worthington, and Barbara Hershey. Recently, Drew stepped up to direct on the limited series, American Sports Story, Gladiator for FX networks. She's currently in development on two independent features, KINGS ROAD and OUR CLASS, as well as a series derived from her short, DADDY'S EYES. www.drewrosenberg.com

Cast: Rob Morrow - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001555/ Tu Morrow - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2358754/ RJ Hatanaka - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4082552/ Siena Goines - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0324788/ Dean Cameron - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0131541/ Maiara Walsh - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2118666/ Oliver Blank - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14028470/ Eric Keitel - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3318078/ JK Anderson - Narrator

In this episode of Take 10 with Craig, International Screenwriters' Association founder Craig James breaks down how to use screenwriting contests the smart way, not just as entries, but as tools for growth, feedback, and industry awareness.

Craig explains how ISA Connect's free contest waivers work, why deadlines can actually help you finish stronger drafts, and how contest results reveal whether your script is truly connecting with its first audience: the industry. Quarterfinals, semifinals, notes, rewrites—every outcome tells you something valuable if you know how to read the signals.

Drawing from his own experience submitting under a pen name for years, Craig shares why rewriting is the real work of screenwriting, how to evaluate feedback without losing your voice, and what it takes to push a script toward that elusive goal: becoming undeniable.

If you're a writer trying to understand where your work stands—and how to move it forward—this episode offers practical guidance, encouragement, and an honest look at the long game of storytelling.

What does it mean to "level up" as a screenwriter? Grounded sci-fi writer Jack Cusick breaks down the realities of building a screenwriting career, from mastering craft, to finding community, to finally stepping into real industry conversations.

Jack shares how he fell in love with storytelling, why the structure of screenwriting sharpened his writing, and how he thinks about grounded sci-fi as character-first storytelling rather than spectacle. He also opens up about "quarterfinalist syndrome," rewriting without losing your sanity, and why progress in this business often feels like a video game with invisible levels. We also talk about:

• The three stages of a screenwriter's career
• Why writing is always a little uncomfortable (and why that's a good sign)
• Using contests and fellowships to practice industry meetings
• How building real relationships matters more than pitching in your first meeting
• Why success is either a win… or a learning opportunity
• Finding your "lightning in a bottle" and staying ready when it strikes

Whether you're early in your screenwriting journey or navigating the gap between craft and career, Jack's perspective is grounded, practical, and refreshingly honest.

Join the ISA for an honest conversation about what agents & producers want & what you need to do to become the writer they're searching for. They're not just looking for potential.

They're looking for proof.

In this roundtable, we'll cover:

• What makes agents say yes (& what makes them pass immediately)
• The truth about what your script needs to be ready & how to get it there
• How to build the professional foundation that gets you noticed
• Strategic paths to industry visibility
• The ISA resources that help you Get Great → Get Noticed → Get Repped

Featuring: Craig James (CEO & Founder), Molly Kasch (COO), Felicity Wren (VP of Dev), Shayna Weber (Creative Exec), Jeffrey Morales (Story Exec), Scott Markus (Dir of Content), Thada Catalon (Digital Marketing Dir) & Ilana Grollman (Submissions Asst)

This isn't about shortcuts. It's about the real work & how ISA helps you do it.

Writer–director–actor Molly Ratermann shares the wild, deeply personal, and inspiring story behind her debut feature film, "Making a Bridesmaid."

A general meeting isn't about pitching your project. It's about building relationships, establishing trust, and showing executives, producers, and collaborators who you are as a person and storyteller.