The ISA Podcast

Have a love for cartoons? Sit down with Felicity and Max in this pre-holiday broadcast of the ISA's Wine Wednesdays, and enjoy the laughs and insights into the animation world.

Remember, Felicity and Max 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.

What scares audiences and why? How do you create the most thrills, scares, and frights in your horror/thriller? Felicity Wren and Max Timm discuss all things spooky and suspenseful in this post-Halloween episode of Wine Wednesday with the ISA.

Remember, Felicity and Max 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.

“Solo: A Star Wars Story” is well told, but is this trip really necessary?

Ron Howard does a bang-up job helming “Solo: A Star Wars Story”, directing the stand-alone space opera with precision, energy, and engaging performances. Still, as entertaining as it all it, it begs the question whether this trip is truly necessary. After all, audiences already know how Han Solo’s story ends in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”, so how vital can his backstory be? This one struggles to be pertinent, as does star Alden Ehrenreich to live up to his predecessor, the legendary Harrison Ford. Despite a sharp script by Lawrence Kasdan and his son Jonathan, this trip to a galaxy far, far away lacks oomph. Sadly, the Force isn’t so strong with this one.

Creativity is both simple and confusing. It comes and goes, and usually when we least expect. As writers and creators, we rely on that inspiration to help churn those brain gears, and to keep us motivated. In this episode of Wine Wednesdays, Felicity Wren and Max Timm go into how they keep up their inspiration so that it's churning on all cylinders as often as possible. Join in on the fun, and we hope this episode inspires you to keep going.

Remember, Felicity and Max 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.

“Deadpool 2” pushes the sentimentality but not the humor far enough.

Who’d have thought that the sequel to the raunchy and satirical “Deadpool” movie would end up being so sentimental? You’d think given the 2016 box office records and critical hosannas, the filmmakers would’ve simply dialed up the profanity and over-the-top visual gags even more in this 2018 follow-up. Sure, there’s a lot of outrageousness on display, and great laughs too, but not nearly enough. Instead, Ryan Reynolds et al. spend a lot of time mourning a departed character and acting maudlin about parenting. That seems out of character, as well as a tonal shift from the snarky intellectual property that was anything by sentimental.

HBO’s “Barry” takes aim at role-playing and the desire for fame.

Can a hit man go straight and find happiness in Hollywood? That’s the question that the wickedly witty new HBO dramedy “Barry” asks. Created by Alec Berg and star Bill Hader, the dark comedy follows contract assassin Barry as he flies to Los Angeles to off an actor and ends up getting bitten by the acting bug. The show is all about role-playing with everyone wanting to be something they’re not. It lampoons both the underworld and the world of actors, with especially pointed jabs at the shallow pursuits of fame. (Henry Winkler is a supporting standout as Barry’s egotistical acting coach.) It’s a killer comedy, in both the literal and figurative sense.

“Homeland” ends its seventh season as relevant and edgy as ever.

Seven seasons in, Showtime’s “Homeland” series is still smart, unpredictable, and edge-of-your-seat television. How do they do it? They start with characters, like lead Carrie Mathison (the invaluable Claire Danes), that create audience empathy because they are flawed and relatable human beings. Next, the story’s stakes are the safety and security of the nation, and often, the world. And, perhaps most importantly, it’s difficult to anticipate just where the show is going, from season to season, let alone episode to episode. In fact, this year saw the troubled President Keane (Elizabeth Marvel) battling Congress, Russia, and fake news in ways so startling, it seemed like art was imitating life. Or vice versa. Either way, it made for a high-water mark season.