When Isabel Met Aviva

In this episode, we are joined on the pod by director Alicia McDonald who shares her journey into filmmaking, the creative process behind her rom-com Finding Emily, and insights into making authentic, relatable stories that challenge genre stereotypes. We got so many great insights from Alicia about her directing experience for Finding Emily and loved chatting with her about what makes a rom com rewatchable and the future of love stories on screen!

Follow Alicia:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/not_aleesha/

Feel free to email us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram & Threads: @whenisabelmetaviva

Follow Isabel on Instagram & Threads @adventuringisabel

Follow Aviva on Instagram & Threads: @avivapeltin

In this episode, we explore the world of editing! From film school to working on blockbuster trailers and scripted TV shows, this episode features a guest and friend, Catherine Cloutier! Cat shares her insights into the technical and creative aspects of editing, the challenges of trailer production, and how collaboration shapes the final cut. We really loved hearing her thoughts about the art of editing rom coms too! Follow Cat:IMDBInstagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/catclootFeel free to email us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram & Threads: @whenisabelmetavivaFollow Isabel on Instagram & Threads @adventuringisabelFollow Aviva on Instagram & Threads: @avivapeltin

Welcome back to another episode of the pod! This week, we got to chat with local LA Director, Candace Williamson! She shares her journey from USC to Cannes, her experiences at USC, and her innovative projects including a PBS documentary and a short film about black farmers and the history of the banjo! We also have some chit chat about the challenges of getting scripts made, our favorite rom-coms and tropes, and other insights about making your own film.

Follow Candace:

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11584088/

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/heycandacemae

Watch Boil That Cabbage Down on PBS: https://www.pbs.org/video/boil-that-cabbage-down-swrllj/

Feel free to email us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram & Threads: @whenisabelmetaviva

Follow Isabel on Instagram & Threads @adventuringisabel

Follow Aviva on Instagram & Threads: @avivapeltin

We're back! In this episode, we chat with local Seattle filmmaker Gracen Bayer about her journey in the film industry, her projects, and her insights on directing, genre preferences, and industry challenges. FYI she is the director of the romcom (or romdram???) that Aviva wrote and in this episode...they reveal the *new* title of the film!!

Follow Gracen:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gbayermedia/

Feel free to email us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram & Threads: @whenisabelmetaviva

Follow Isabel on Instagram & Threads @adventuringisabel

Follow Aviva on Instagram & Threads: @avivapeltin

Another Wednesday, another episode of the pod!! In this episode, we explore the journey of being an emerging writer and filmmaker navigating the industry. Our friend and a listener of the pod, Kalee Quiñones, joins us to share her insights on screenwriting, networking, and personal growth! We ended up having a pretty fun and candid conversation about the realities of making it in LA, and Kalee shares her journey of crowdfunding $12k for her short film 'Blood Moon!'

Follow Kalee:

Website: https://kaleequinones.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaleequinones/

Seed & Spark Fundraiser: https://seedandspark.com/fund/blood-moon-short-film#story

Donate to Blood Moon:https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VUKA8VDW5QMVS

Blood Moon Website: https://www.bloodmoonfilm.com/

Feel free to email us: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

Instagram & Threads: @whenisabelmetaviva

Follow Isabel on Instagram & Threads @adventuringisabel

Follow Aviva on Instagram & Threads: @avivapeltin

In this episode of the pod, we are joined by our writing group friend and fellow romcom writer, Becky Jerams! Becky is a UK-based novelist and joins us to share her journey from songwriting to novel writing. We chat about the challenges of the teen and adult romance markets, and explore the differences between screenwriting and novel writing. Spoiler alert: Isabel talks about wanting to try novel writing for one of her script ideas! We then yap forever as we debate recent romcoms that have been released, such as You, Me, And Tuscany, and give hot takes about The Devil Wears Prada 2!

Follow Becky:

Website: https://www.beckyjerams.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beckyjerams

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@beckyjerams

Feel free to email us: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

Instagram & Threads: @whenisabelmetaviva

Follow Isabel on Instagram & Threads @adventuringisabel

Follow Aviva on Instagram & Threads: @avivapeltin

We're bacccccck! And we are kicking off season 7 with amazing news to share and celebrate: Aviva optioned her first script!!!!! How freaking cool is that?! Listen to this episode of the pod to hear all the deets that Aviva can *legally* share! Aviva's inspiring sale led us into a discussion about how we're like, actually on the path to becoming full-time writers!?

Feel free to email us: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Instagram & Threads: @whenisabelmetaviva

Follow Isabel on Instagram & Threads @adventuringisabel

Follow Aviva on Instagram & Threads: @avivapeltin

Aviva's Referral Link for Brick: https://www.getbrick.com/AVIVA83644

Welcome to the second table read on the pod! This episode features a unique table read format. We are joined by six professional actors who read for the characters in Aviva’s Mary-Kate and Ashley-inspired romcom fan fiction script, TWINSIES.

Logline: After their grandfather dies, two Millennial twins travel to his farm in Austria and find themselves transported to an alternate dimension — a tween movie set in 2002.

MC LORIO: Nova 

https://www.instagram.com/mclorio/

MONALISA LABRADOR: Leora

https://www.instagram.com/monalisaaaaaaa/

KOLBY KING: Friedrich, Alexander 

https://www.instagram.com/kolby_jacko/

NICK WRAY: Wolfgang, Frank, Hans, Jürgen, Edward, Mayor, Austrian Man 1, Security Guard 1, French Boys, Creepy Man, Man in an Apron, Last Man, Hippie, Crowd Member #1, Guest 4

https://www.instagram.com/nickalicious_cherub/

SUSANNAH STENGEL: Gertrude, Niko, Linda Park, Policewoman, Guest 1, Operator, Thief

https://www.instagram.com/supsteng/

AVRA FRIEDMAN: Emilia, Chloe, Flower Seller, Mother, Nurse, Model 1, Guest 2, Airline Attendant, Hair Stylist, Cashier, Tween Girl, Owner, Little Boy, Event Organizer, Developer, Jailer, Butcher

https://www.instagram.com/avrafriedman/

ISABEL: Megan-Ann, Tourist, Austrian Man 2, Security Guard 2, Guest 3, Model 2

Instagram & Threads: @whenisabelmetaviva

Follow Isabel on Instagram & Threads: @adventuringisabel

Follow Aviva on Instagram & Threads: @avivapeltin

A special episode of the pod is releasing on 6/13/26, which happens to be Mary-Kate and Ashley’s birthday!

Isabel & Aviva are joined by six actors for a table read of Aviva’s Mary-Kate and Ashley-inspired romcom fan fiction script, TWINSIES (the same script Isabel read when they first connected on Twitter).

Logline: After their grandfather dies, two Millennial twins travel to his farm in Austria and find themselves transported to an alternate dimension — a tween movie set in 2002.

Subscribe to be notified when the episode releases on Saturday!

Instagram & Threads: @whenisabelmetaviva

Follow Isabel on Instagram & Threads: @adventuringisabel

Follow Aviva on Instagram & Threads: @avivapeltin

It's the last episode of Season 6 already!? We think it was Worth The Wait for this chat with Maggie Hartmans, a screenwriter who turned her passion into a career and sold her first movie to Tubi, a free streaming platform! Maggie joins us on the pod to tell us how she made her first movie, a rom-com, 'Worth the Wait' for Tubi!! Maggie shares her journey in screenwriting, the impact of the pandemic on her career, and her creative process.

Watch Worth The Wait on Tubi for Free here: https://tubitv.com/movies/100039535/worth-the-wait

Maggie’s Website: https://maggiehartmans.com/

Follow Maggie on Instagram: @maggiehartmans

Feel free to email us: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Instagram & Threads: @whenisabelmetaviva

Follow Isabel on Instagram & Threads @adventuringisabel

Follow Aviva on Instagram & Threads: @avivapeltin