The ISA Podcast

To write "Gold", duo Patrick Massett & John Zinman drew from their background in acting to develop practical scenes. They also looked to "Amadeus" for inspiration on "peeling back layers" and "turning over the final card".

Writer, actor, director Taika Waititi tells us about creating a new comedy scene in New Zealand and how to keep people feeling like they're a part of your story. He also let slip the inspirations for his "What We Do in the Shadows" character Viago: His mother combined with C-3PO.

John Zaozirny, principal at Bellevue Productions, takes time out of his busy schedule to talk with us about selling scripts, scripts that top the Black List and what it means when a script is "set up".

SYS Episode 163 

Writer/Producer/Actor Christina Moore

Christina Talks About Her New Film, Running Wild Starring Sharon Stone

SYS Episode 162

Writer/Director/Producer Erin R. Dooley

Erin Talks About Producing Short Films and Her Recent Documentary

SYS Episode 161

Screenwriter Jack Sekowski

Jack Talks About His Recent Writing Assignment For The Hallmark Channel

"Get Out" is a horror movie that couldn't be more timely or terrific.

Sometimes movies are so of the moment, they seem prescient. Such is the case with "Get Out", a new horror film from writer/director Jordan Peele of "Key & Peele" fame. It's a story about racism, rights, and caste systems in theaters at a time when such issues are at the top of our politic discourse. But as timely as Peele's themes are, it's his film's clever choices that counter the worst clichés of the genre that make this so right, right now.

Peele turns one egregious horror cliché after another on its ear. He doesn't rush his scares, his characters are three-dimensional, and the sense of slow-building dread is more palpable than any big set pieces you'd find in most modern frighteners. It's shrewd entertainment, imbued with empathy, intelligence and plenty of dark comedy. It's only March, but 2017 already has one of the year's best films in "Get Out."

In this podcast interview, Max Timm jumps on the line with Noah Griffith and Daniel Stewart to discuss organizing your approach to the writing process, the Inside the Writers Room Workshop, which everyone needs to check out (one of the more creative and progressive TV writing workshops in town - www.insidetheroomworkshops.com) and in general, all things inspirational for up and coming writers.

Here's a little more about the guests:

Both natives of Minnesota, Noah, a former composer, and Daniel, a former mathematician, met at film school at Columbia College Chicago. Once in Los Angeles, they partnered up to write a feature project and have been writing together ever since.

In 2016, they wrote for Stephen King's "The Mist" for the Weinstein Company and Spike. Additionally, their fantasy epic "Rise Atlantis" was selected to Tracking Board's The Hit List. They have developed projects with Scott Free, Automatik, Skybound, and Atomic Monster. Most recently, they have completed "A Dark Matter", an hour-long pilot which David Goyer is attached to executive produce through his Phantom Four shingle.

Max Timm of the ISA had the fun opportunity to interview author, screenwriter, and director, Betsy Franco. It's rare to bring on a novelist to the Curious About Screenwriting podcast, but because of Betsy's connection to the industry as a screenwriter and director, it was a perfect fit. And yes, her last name does ring a bell due to her talented sons James, Dave, and Tom. Below is a breakdown of just how talented and prolific Betsy is, but take a listen to her podcast. It was a blast diving in to process and the overall creative approach to bringing a project to life.

Betsy Franco has over eighty published titles to her credit, including her YA novel, Metamorphosis, Junior Year (Candlewick) which was the basis for a sold-out play. Betsy is also the author of Parenting Magazine Book Pick Birdsongs; the Children's Book of the Month Club selection Mathematickles!; and You Hear Me? poems and writings by teenage boys, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. She has received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal. Her latest novel Naked, a YA crossover, has been optioned by Todd Traina Productions/Red Rover Films.

...I had planned this week to talk about La La Land. But with the new Executive Order barring refugees, immigrants and green card holders from our country, I want to use this podcast for something much more important.

As filmmakers, writers, actors, directors, producers, executives, we have a sacred responsibility to our audience. Our films and TV shows shape the narrative of this country, and the belief systems of the hundreds of millions of people who see them.

In many ways, the most powerful political movies and TV shows are often the ones that are not overtly political. Because it's these shows that shape our worldview from the inside, sneaking past our defenses of what we think we believe, and slowly changing the way we view the world.

Which is why I want to implore you, as writers, as directors, as producers, as actors, as artists, as filmmakers, to recognize the power of mainstream Hollywood movies and TV shows.

These movies are not just popcorn movies. These TV shows are not just mind numbing entertainment. These movies and shows are the mythologies that shape our world. Working on us, through subtle repetition, to shape our view of the world. Powerful because they don't appear political, because they don't trigger our intellectual defenses. 

For years, we've dismissed crappy reality programming like The Apprentice as mindless entertainment, not as the storytelling that shapes the worldview of America. 

But in the wake of this election, we can now see the political power of even the silliest reality show, to shape the worldview of millions of people...