The ISA Podcast

Episode 280

This week on the podcast I talk with writer and director Michael K Feinstein about his career, from writing and directing short films, to his current comedy feature film, The Browsing Effect.

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.

It's not just a story you need to pitch. You're the marketing executive, CEO, CFO, CCO, and all of the other CO's you can think of when it comes to promoting you and your overall business. You're a business, and you should treat yourself that way. In this episode, sponsored by HollyShorts Film Festival and our beloved Steele Wines, Felicity and Max dive in to the different kind of pitches, how to approach them, and what to expect from the industry.

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.

It's part of the business, whether you like it or not; networking and self-promotion. In this podcast of the ISA's Facebook Live Wine Wednesday broadcast, Felicity and Max help us see not only the importance of self-promotion, but how to navigate such waters without coming across as a "git" (as Felicity would say). Sponsored by Steele Wine and Max Timm's coaching and development service, The Story Farm, this broadcast will hopefully get your networking brains and personalities revved up and inspired.

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.

As part of Max Timm's ongoing solo podcast, The Craft, this week's recording discusses how to approach submitting to screenplay contests, and what you should know before doing so.

Here is a little snippet from the podcast:

"So you’ve just written your masterpiece, and then rewrote it another 12 times, received notes from your writing group, paid a consultant to work with you, or you had your mom read it and she said that she loved it and you.
 
I hope your mom told you that she loves you, but I also hope you are not ONLY taking your mom’s word for it.
 
Nonetheless, you’ve finished your script, a bunch of people have instructed you to submit it to a screenplay contest. Now what? You do a little search through FilmFreeway.com or a Google search, etc, and now you’re inundated with choices. To which contest do you submit your masterpiece to and why?
 
This is a question that I get all the time and it’s a really good question, not just because of the writer’s obvious thoughtfulness, but we should be questioning such a thing. It’s important to have a plan when submitting to contests, but it’s just as important to have a little bit of self-awareness. “Really?”, you ask. “We’re getting in to some kind of spiritual, self-help thing now?” Not really, no. I’m not Eckhart Tolle or Deepak Chopra, nor am I going to try to be. I’m referencing self-awareness, though, because you have to have an understanding of where you are in not only your career as a screenwriter, but also how far along the script is in its development cycle."

If you're looking for support, feedback, script evaluations, one-on-one notes and brainstorming, you should consider working with Max and The Story Farm. They offer the most comprehensive consulting services you'll find as no one is as hands-on with you and your scripts as Max is. Go to www.TheStoryFarm.org to learn more, or email [email protected] to talk with him directly.

Happy writing.

Episode 278

This week on the podcast writer Jim Mercurio comes on to talk about how we can improve our scene writing. He has a number of concise examples to help us elevate our screenplay scenes. And we talk briefly about his latest book, The Craft Of Scene Writing.

As part of Max Timm's ongoing solo podcast, The Craft, this week's recording is all about being the authority over your work, and that includes being knowledgeable about how much your script might cost, why, and how.

Here is a little snippet from the podcast:

"The best answer to this question is pretty simple, though. Do your research. That is basically telling you that the general answer to your question is, yes. You should have an understanding of what kind of budget your film could receive. You should be aware of what exactly in your script is going to catapult it into a higher budget range. There is a larger issue at hand here, however. And that is? You need to be the authority of your work."

If you're looking for support, feedback, script evaluations, one-on-one notes and brainstorming, you should consider working with Max and The Story Farm. They offer the most comprehensive consulting services you'll find as no one is as hands-on with you and your scripts as Max is. Go to www.TheStoryFarm.org to learn more, or email [email protected] to talk with him directly.

Happy writing.

Captain Marvel made a huge splash not only at the box office, but in the hearts and minds of audiences - and continues to do so. In this episode of Wine Wednesday, sponsored by Stowe Story Labs and Steele Wines, Felicity and Max talk about the effect of film criticism, and the need for much more balance where voice, opinion, and perspective is concerned (using Brie Larson's take and perspective as a strong, positive example).

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.

Episode 277

In this episode of the podcast I talk with Writer/Director Allan Plenderleith about how he broke into interactive media, and how he got his interactive film, The Bunker, produced.