The ISA Podcast

Episode 284

This week on the podcast I talk with Director Elle Callahan about her background working in the sound department and how that helped her get into a position to direct her first feature film, Head Count.

Episode 283

In this episode of the podcast I talk with writers Justin Kelly and Savannah Knoop about how they took Knoop's autobiographical book and turned it into a feature film, and then how they got that screenplay produced.

SYS Episode 282

This week on the SYS Podcast I talk with Irish writer/director Liam O Mochain. Liam has written/directed/produced numerous short films and he shot his latest feature like a short film, shooting several small stories and then weaving them together in post-production.

Today on the show we have the legendary Linda Segar. Linda was one of my first ever interviews back when I launched Indie Film Hustle and her episode is by far one of the most popular ever. Here’s some info on our lovely guest.

In 1981, Linda Seger created and defined the career of Script Consultant. She based her business on a method for analyzing scripts that she had developed for her doctoral dissertation project. Since then, she has consulted on over 2,000 scripts including over 50 produced feature films and over 35 produced television projects. Linda was the consultant for Peter Jackson’s breakthrough film, Brain Dead and for Roland Emmerich’s breakthrough film, Universal Soldier.

She was the script consultant on Pasttime and Picture Bride–both winners of the Audience Favorite Award at the Sundance Film Festival–as well as for the films The Long Walk Home, The Neverending Story II, Luther, Romero, and television movies and mini-series including The Bridge, the Danish-Swedish mini-series (now playing in the US).

Other clients include Ray Bradbury who said, “Linda’s technique is a light to see by,” William Kelley, Linda Lavin, and production companies, film studios, producers, directors, and writers from over 33 countries.

Having authored nine books on scriptwriting, including the best selling Making A Good Script Great, Linda is one of the most prolific writers in her field. 

Here new book The Collaborative Art of Filmmaking: From Script to Screen explores what goes into the making of Hollywood’s greatest motion pictures. Join veteran script consultant Linda Seger as she examines contemporary and classic screenplays on their perilous journey from script to screen. This fully revised and updated edition includes interviews with over 80 well-known artists in their fields including writers, producers, directors, actors, editors, composers, and production designers.

Their discussions about the art and craft of filmmaking – including how and why they make their decisions – provides filmmaking and screenwriting students and professionals with the ultimate guide to creating the best possible “blueprint” for a film and to also fully understand the artistic and technical decisions being made by all those involved in the process.

On this episode, we have 17-year-old scriptwriter and filmmaker Jonathan Perry who directed a large budget short film titled SUBNIVEAN which will debut on Amazon Prime June 12, 2019, making Perry the youngest director on any streaming service. I know, it’s crazy.

After filming SUBNIVEAN in December of 2018, Perry and his team of producers wrote a nine-page appeal which was submitted to Amazon. Amazon accepted Perry’s appeal and formed a partnership with Perry. Perry’s partnership with Amazon includes the release of SUBNIVEAN on the Amazon Prime streaming platform, as well as coverage of select advertising costs. Additionally, Perry partnered with EDM band ODESZA for promotional sound mixing.

Once offered a large sum of money for his script titled SUBNIVEAN, Perry decided SUBNIVEAN may be his golden ticket into directing his first large budget feature film. Perry, still hard at work on SUBNIVEAN, doesn’t plan on taking any breaks after the Amazon release. Recently, Perry has signed with a Hollywood director and union members for his upcoming 2020 film with a starting budget of 1.5 million.

Director Jonathan Perry is from Sandusky, Ohio and began his early career in the film industry four years ago when he began writing scripts online for other filmmakers by selling the copyright to his work. Now, this is the part that blew me away, after writing nearly 40 scripts over the course of two years, Perry made a total of nearly $10,000. We go deep in how he did this and you will be surprised at his journey.

The film SUBNIVEAN introduces the viewer to two young brothers and their troubled relationship. Perry states in a film synopsis,

“After a vicious chase home from gathering firewood, an innocent boy unknowingly leads his brother to fall through an isolated pond. The boy has to accept and use his twisted hallucinations of hatred as his only hope to break the ice and save his brother in time or die trying.”

Need they say more than the title? The fine folks at Film Inquiry bring another episode of their podcast, all about one of the best directors of our time, Darren Aronofsky.

It's one of the top shows on Netflix, and if you haven't watched it...and you happen to like murder mysteries with serious emotion and serious laughs, dive in. It's worth every second. In this episode of Wine Wednesday, Max and Felicity discuss what they love about the show and why the show works (in their own humble opinion).

It's a question we all wonder; how can I get paid for what I do, and how much for what project and when and from whom? Yeah...it's a lot, and sadly it's all completely relative. Thankfully the WGA is there for writers to help regulate what writers should get paid, but not every writer is union, etc etc. Alongside how and when producers get paid, this is what Felicity and Max discuss on episode 64 of the ISA's Wine Wednesday broadcast. A huge thanks to our sponsors, YourScriptProduced.com and Steele Wines. Tune in and join one of the most informative broadcasts yet.

Remember, Felicity Wren and Max Timm always have open Q&A during every Facebook Live broadcast, so you should tune in when they broadcast their next live chat. Even though most broadcasts focus on a particular subject, every writer is welcome to ask anything they like at any time. Felicity and Max will do their best to give you a straight and honest answer.

This is a podcast recording of the ISA's Facebook Live broadcast of Wine Wednesdays. Please note that some promotions offered during the live broadcast are no longer available. We can, however, assist you if you wish to find out more information regarding ISA events, contests, or consulting offers. Just reach out to [email protected] and we will be happy to help.

You can reach out to Max regarding any type of query: [email protected] If you have particular interest in working with him on a one-on-one coaching and development basis, email him at [email protected]. His Story Farm development and coaching service is quickly becoming the best in the business! Felicity can also be reached at [email protected]. She, too, can work with you one-on-one, so don't hesitate to inquire. We can't wait to support you.

Subjects and themes for the broadcasts change from week to week, so stay tuned on most Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm Los Angeles time. For a specific schedule and set of announcements, "Like" the ISA Facebook page and keep up to date.

Whether you loved or hated the series finale of Game of Thrones (or you're somewhere in the middle like Max and Felicity), this episode of Wine Wednesday should be a fun one. Feel free to agree, disagree, argue, or praise - it's the whole point of a dissection of a TV show. Max and Felicity don't quite get into the educational approach to screenwriting in this episode (though it's tough for Max not to go there), and instead they dive into their basic fandom and share thoughts and comments with the ISA's Facebook Live viewers. It's a fun one, and yes there are major spoilers if you haven't yet watched the end - so, you have been forewarned. Enjoy.

Remember, Felicity Wren and Max Timm always have open Q&A during every Facebook Live broadcast, so you should tune in when they broadcast their next live chat. Even though most broadcasts focus on a particular subject, every writer is welcome to ask anything they like at any time. Felicity and Max will do their best to give you a straight and honest answer.

This is a podcast recording of the ISA's Facebook Live broadcast of Wine Wednesdays. Please note that some promotions offered during the live broadcast are no longer available. We can, however, assist you if you wish to find out more information regarding ISA events, contests, or consulting offers. Just reach out to [email protected] and we will be happy to help.

You can reach out to Max regarding any type of query: [email protected] If you have particular interest in working with him on a one-on-one coaching and development basis, email him at [email protected]. His Story Farm development and coaching service is quickly becoming the best in the business! Felicity can also be reached at [email protected]. She, too, can work with you one-on-one, so don't hesitate to inquire. We can't wait to support you.

Subjects and themes for the broadcasts change from week to week, so stay tuned on most Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm Los Angeles time. For a specific schedule and set of announcements, "Like" the ISA Facebook page and keep up to date.

Got advice? Need some? In this conversation with the ISA's Dir of Education, Story Farm Consultant, and writer/producer, Max Timm, we offer up so many juicy pieces of advice and wisdom, the interview is a can't miss.

Randall Jahnson has delivered scripts for both large and small screens; in both studio and independent realms; in genres ranging from horror to historical. He’s worked with such diverse filmmaking talent as Steven Spielberg, Penelope Spheeris, Spike Lee, Alec Baldwin, Brad Pitt, and the late Jonathan Demme. Among his produced credits are the punk rock western Dudes, The Doors, The Mask of Zorro, Sunset Strip, the Norwegian indie, Dryads - Girls Don’t Cry, and episodes of the HBO cable series, Tales from the Crypt.

Dive in and get your learning on! If you'd like to learn more about Max and his consulting services, go to www.TheStoryFarm.org and find out how he can help and what you can do to up your game.

Episode 281

This week on the SYS Podcast Writer/Director Tony Germinario comes on the show to talk about his crime drama feature, The Price For Silence. We also talk through his writing process and how he was able to get the screenplay produced.