Writers Group Therapy

Writer/Director Jeffrey Crane Graham discusses his new award-winning, John Hughesian coming of age dramedy “Always Lola” that is premiering for rent/purchase on most streaming platforms including Amazon Prime, YouTube and AppleTV. Jeffrey also teaches screenwriting and produces and cohosts the podcast “The Screen Writing Life.”

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In this session we discuss the state of Hollywood post WGA strike while the SAG-AFTRA strike continues, as wells our own personal writing updates.

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Richie Billing is a UK-based author, podcaster and writing instructor whose debut novel, “Pariah’s Lament” was published in March 2021 by Of Metal and Magic Publishing. We discuss his writing, teaching and more. 

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Richie Billing bio

Richie Billing writes all kinds of stories, but mostly fantasy fiction. His tales often explore real-world issues, zooming in on the characters and their troubles.

Richie also hosts the podcast The Fantasy Writers’ Toolshed, a venture inspired by the requests of readers of his acclaimed craft book, A Fantasy Writers’ Handbook.

Jane L. Rosen is an author, screenwriter, and former Huffington Post contributor. Jane often takes inspiration from real-life stories and interviews to craft her novels. Her first novel “Nine Women, One Dress” was translated into ten languages. Her second novel “Eliza Starts a Rumor” has been optioned by NBC. “A Shoe Story” and “On Fire Island” are out now.

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Dusk Wave Arts CEO, Vision Holder and Lead Writer Paul Graham brings attention to neurodiverse issues through digital audio comics and games. We discuss the development of his company and his stories.

Show Notes:

Instagram: @duskwavearts

FB: www.facebook.com/dwavearts

Dusk Wave Arts Website:  https://duskwavearts.com

"The Glove": https://theglove.comicswithaudio.com

"Criminal King":  https://criminalking.comicswithaudio.com

We’re back from our Summer break, starting off our 7th year of Writers Group Therapy, but the WGA, and now SAG-AFTRA, are still on strike. We catch up on all the latest and look towards a fall with no premieres. 

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NOTE: This episode was recorded prior to the WGA going on strike.

From their unusual start from a Twitter feed that became “S**t my dad says,” show runners Patrick Schumacker and Justin Halpern are celebrating the success of their shows “Abbott Elementary” and “Harley Quinn.” We discuss their unique start, juggling show running duties on two shows and what the future holds.

SHOW NOTES:

Justin Halpern on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3824767

Patrick Schumacker on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3824575

Justin on Twitter: https://twitter.com/justin_halpern

Patrick on Twitter (https://twitter.com/PMSchumacker) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/PMSchumacker/)

Abbott Elementary: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14218830

Harley Quinn: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7658402

Bios

Justin Halpern & Patrick Schumacker are Emmy-nominated creators, showrunners and executive producers through their company Delicious Non-Sequitur Productions whose overall deal is at Warner Bros. Television. Series include HBO Max’s animated hit HARLEY QUINN for WBTV and DC Entertainment which is now in its 4th season and its spin-off NOONAN'S which was recently ordered to series for HBO MAX. Justin and Patrick’s newest series, ABBOTT ELEMENTARY with Quinta Brunson, is a hit series that garnered multiple Emmy wins and nominations including a nomination for best comedy series where they serve as executive producers and showrunners.

Previously, Halpern and Schumacker were the showrunners and Executive Producers of NBC’s POWERLESS for WBTV and DC Entertainment. Prior to that, Halpern and Schumacker co-created Fox’s SURVIVING JACK as well as CBS’s S#*! MY DAD SAYS. S#*! MY DAD SAYS was adapted for television based on Halpern’s New York Times bestselling book, Shit My Dad Says. Justin and Patrick have also been involved with such popular series as iZOMBIE, COUGAR TOWN, and HOW TO BE A GENTLEMAN. 

Justin & Patrick recently finished writing the feature BIRTHRIGHT based on the graphic novel by Joshua Williamson for Universal Pictures with Ruben Fleischer and Skybound producing. 

We wrap up the 6th year of Writers Group Therapy (Can you believe it's been 6 YEARS!) with a discussion of Rachanee’s recently published third novel in the Kingdom Legacy Series: “Heir of Memory & Shadow,” a look at the first week of the writers strike, and our summer plans.

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Does your script need some TLC? Maybe a script doctor can help. Shannon Massey Smith shares the ins and outs of being, and working with, a script doctor.

SHOW NOTES:

Girls to The Front Productions: girlstothefrontproductions.com

Shannon on IG: @ShannonMasseySmith

Discord: S_Massey

“Blindspotting” creator/writer/producer/director/actor Rafael Casal (Miles) talks about how touring with his music and poetry transformed into telling stories about his community in Oakland, CA in the award-winning Starz series.

Show Notes:

Rafael Casal on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2592137/

Blindspotting: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7242142/

Season 2 Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tWaD6jLE04

Follow Blindspotting on Social 

Twitter: @blindspottingtv  

Instagram: @blindspottingstarz