Two Words with Taku

Today's two words are: Access Granted and in this episode I'm answering your question, "How do I find the money to write my story?"

More at https://taku.com.au/access-granted/

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Today’s two words are: Canon Eyes and in this episode I ponder, “Where do we want our stories to sit amongst others like them?”

More at https://taku.com.au/canon-eyes.

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Today’s two words are: Same Same and in this episode we explore, “How do we know when a story’s dead and it’s time to write a new one?”

More at https://taku.com.au/same-same/.

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Today’s two words are: About Face and in this episode I ask, “What do we want the world to know about us?”

More at https://taku.com.au/about-face/.

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So, you call yourself a writer, huh?

Where’ve you been published? Can we watch your films? What’s on your IMDB profile? Oh... you’ve self-published… on your blog? Oh, you’re just, sort of starting out? Oh, so are you even a real writer?

Ignore all that. You are a writer. You love words. You find them delicious and eat them for breakfast. You love putting them together and tearing them apart. You love testing and teasing them. You. Love. Words.

Except sometimes your own words terrify you. What do you actually do with them?

This might be you. Seeing those other writers, crowding your timelines with their awards and ...and... joy, because they’ve finished something and shared it with the world. The whole world. Now you’re looking at your writing, thinking, “Screw it! It’s too hard to get these words out to the whole world!”

You’re right. It is hard.

Hi, I’m Taku Mbudzi, a writer like you. If I have to describe this podcast in two words, I’d say PIT STOP. Two Words with Taku is a show about writing, but unlike other shows about writing, only we are the pit stop for writers you’ve never heard of, giving them rest when they’re about to give up on their words and extra fuel for when they’re ready to keep writing.

And why?

The doors are slowly starting to open for unknown writers like you and me. Competitions, writer call outs, guest spots, magazine submissions — OMG so many new places to throw our words. But now we’re overwhelmed by how to write, package or present our writing in the best way, especially if we haven’t studied the industry, inherited legacy within the industry or just gone ‘viral’ around the world.

I say come and rest your mind. It’s okay. The truth is our writing will need good time to make it good. We’re going to write a lot of shitty first drafts, but we’ll keep writing. We’re going to pitch here, and pitch there and hear back from nowhere, but we’ll keep writing. We’re even going to get tired of our own unfinished stories, but I don’t know about you, mine sit on my heart till they’re out. They come out eventually and the best feeling is when I can put my pen down.

But beyond ‘keep writing’ is more work until you can finally put your pen down. What that looks like and who you collaborate with will look different – for me that’s TV producers, film directors and my book publisher. My stories are taking time. Your stories are going to take time. And that’s perfectly fine.

Every word you write means something to you and you know it’s good not just for yourself but for the people in your world. Yes, in your world, not the whole world.

And that changes everything. Now imagine writing from that perspective.

Of course, you’re going to shout, “Screw it — I’ll keep writing!” because you’re just excited to write for your people.

And that’s what this show is about.

I’m a writer and I’ve got some other writers here with me. We see you, we hear you and we’re in this together.

For more stories, subscribe to Two Words with Taku in your fave podcast app or visit https://taku.com.au.

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Episode 100! I finally took to Instagram LIVE to answer your burning questions about podcasting. Watch the whole video, complete with show-and-tell of my recording gear at https://www.instagram.com/takumbudzi.

Thank you for listening and supporting Two Words with Taku since 2017 — here's to 100 more episodes!

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I've finally made it to Episode 99 of this podcast! Here's a quick update on what's happening with my TV stuff and what I'm planning for my 100th podcast episode. Thanks for listening and stay safe! x

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"Pitching is a verbal way of selling your story, and I like to leave something visual so they remember my pitch." — Sher-Li Tan

I thought I was the Queen of Pitch Preparation until I met producer and filmmaker Sher-Li Tan. We first met at YouTube conference VidCon and she blew me away with how passionately she spruiked her projects. In this episode we talk about how she prepares for pitching her shows — everything from the documents she creates to how she researches her audience and the people she's pitching to.

We also discuss how pitching can be a way to test the market for your ideas, and different ways to measure the success of your pitches. Sher-Li's full of great insights and stresses the importance of nurturing relationships with the people you pitch to along the way. 

Podcast Guest Profile

Sher-Li Tan is an early-career producer with an interest in storytelling and production excellence. She strongly believes in the power of the film to connect and engage.

Raised in both Mauritius and Singapore, she aspires to use her exposure to different cultures and backgrounds to inform her filmmaking. She is also a trained speech pathologist and hence a vocal advocate for communities from various under-represented populations.

Time Stamps

0:53 | How I've approached pitching my TV ideas

5:45 | Interview with Sher-Li Tan

Interesting Links

• Sher-Li's website https://www.passport-productions.com/
• Sher-Li's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherlitan/
• VidCon Australia https://vidconaustralia.com/
• Screen Forever Conference https://www.screenforever.org.au/

Say Hello!

I'm at taku.com.au, Instagram/Twitter: @takuspeaks or Facebook: @TakuTV.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Children's television is wonderful for people starting out in the industry because there tends to be more opportunity for people who don't have a long list of credits." — Wendy Gray

I've fast-tracked a few skills after discovering the short courses offered by the Australian Film Television Radio School (AFTRS). In this episode, I chat to Wendy Gray from AFTRS about their courses and who they're designed for. We also chat about Wendy's career in the screen industry, including her extensive experience working in children's television. 

Friendly manners: this is not a paid endorsement.

Podcast Guest Profile

Wendy Gray currently runs the short course and industry certificate programs at the Australian Film Television Radio School (AFTRS). Over the last seven years she has been Head of the Open Program, Head of the TV Unit and began life at AFTRS as the Industry Program Manager. In her current role she liaises with Industry through the Industry Advisory Panels, runs industry-related events and oversees the development and delivery of industry short courses and industry certificates.

Wendy started her career in the media at ABC TV, where she worked for twelve years in a wide variety of production roles, across all genres. Her final years at the ABC saw her devising, producing and directing a number of children’s television series including AFI-award winning series The Ferals and forty episodes of Play School.

Subsequently as a freelance producer Wendy worked on a wide range of television productions, including documentary series Greatest Cities of the World with Griff Rhys-Jones, and The Upside Down Show, an award-winning children’s series with The Umbilical Brothers, Nickelodeon US and the Children’s Television Workshop. She returned to the ABC joining the (then) New Media Division to work on the launch of ABC2, designing and executing channel branding and program development and production.

Wendy has also worked on a number of online projects including working as Online Content Producer in the marketing department for Southern Cross and as a senior website producer for Gadfly Media, supervising website content for clients such as SOCOG and NRMA.
She also worked for the Australian Film Commission (now Screen Australia) on a major online content project Australian Screen Online and taught production at SAE Byron Bay.

She has a BA (Communications) from Macquarie University and a Grad Dip in Interactive Multimedia from UTS.

Time Stamps

0:53 | Why I've been doing short courses through AFTRS

8:01 | Interview with Wendy Gray

Interesting Links

• Australian Film Television Radio School https://www.aftrs.edu.au/; Telephone (Australia): 1300065 281
• Australian Writers' Guild https://www.awg.com.au/
• Film Victoria https://www.film.vic.gov.au/

Say Hello!

I'm at taku.com.au, Instagram/Twitter: @takuspeaks or Facebook: @TakuTV.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"…without the proper documentation proving the ownership of the work, there’s no protection from legal action."

The world of television is full of great ideas and magic...and contracts and legal agreements that underpin how all that magic comes together. In this episode, lawyer Dee Mbugua explains what 'chain of title' means and why it's so important in the media industry. She also gives useful tips for seeking legal advice, especially when it comes to the fineprint. If in doubt, don't make a wild guess and definitely don't sign anything!

Podcast Guest Profile

Dee Mbugua is the Deputy Director, Industrial, Advice and Advocacy at Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance. She’s an experienced lawyer and writer with a demonstrated history of working in the alternative dispute resolution industry. Dee enjoys sharing her stories via social media, radio broadcasting, digital media, public speaking, and writing.

Time Stamps

0:53 | Why I needed to find a lawyer

3:07 | Interview with Dee Mbugua

Interesting Links

• Dee's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thingsdeesays/
• Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance https://www.meaa.org/
• Arts Law Centre of Australia https://www.artslaw.com.au/

Say Hello!

I'm at taku.com.au, Instagram/Twitter: @takuspeaks or Facebook: @TakuTV.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.