It turns out there is a crucial moment after you pitch -- the ten-minute window when the pitch is finished. In part four of this multi-episode series hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss this moment and how it can make or break your pitch. It's important and pitching is the greatest/worst!!! Edited by the great Paul Lundquist Music by 414beg. Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com
May 31, 2021•42 min•Season 2Ep. 21
To have a sustainable Screenwriting career, you need to know more than just how to write a brilliant screenplay. Eventually, every Screenwriter is asked to revise. But taking notes and executing them effectively is a whole other part of the brain and a different skillset than simply writing a genius spec. For that reason, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman kick off their Notes Series with the “10 COMMANDMENTS FOR NOTE TAKERS”, a handy how-to-guide for Screenwriters on how to think about notes like...
May 24, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 20
In this inaugural edition of WHY MOVIES WORK, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss three recently-released movies — NOBODY, MORTAL KOMBAT and THE MITCHELLS VS. THE MACHINES — and, more specifically, why these movies work on a screenwriting level. *Do be warned — SPOILERS AHEAD* Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com -- Edited by Paul Lundquist -- Music by 414beg
May 17, 2021•58 min•Season 2Ep. 19
Development Hell is part of every Screenwriter’s career, great and small. In this first in an ongoing series about real-life development stories, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman kick things off with a break down of just how a writer gets caught in Development Hell, what exactly that means, and even tell a few epic stories of how some hellish development stories have produced movies we all know and love. Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com -- Edited by Paul Lundquist -- Music by 414beg...
May 10, 2021•55 min•Season 2Ep. 18
Chances are, the Screenwriters of your favorite movies have hired a Ghostwriter to do everything from joke punch-ups to full on writing of your favorite scenes and set-pieces. Ghostwriting is one of the best kept secrets in Hollywood Screenwriting. In this episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman go full investigative journalist and bring to light real stories from real working Ghostwriters in Hollywood who have ghost written everything from TV shows to studio franchise movies. These Ghostwrite...
May 03, 2021•59 min•Season 2Ep. 17
The Walt Disney Television Writing Program is one of the most sought-after programs for up-and-coming writers because of its extremely high success rate in transitioning its program participants into working staff writers on Disney/ABC TV shows. In this interview with 2020 alums Adrian Viña and Allyson Philobos, we break down how the program works and why it's so successful. We discuss everything from the grueling interview process, the fantastic education in real-life skills to help develop you...
Apr 25, 2021•57 min•Season 2Ep. 16
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman talk with spec master Daniel Kunka to discuss his latest script: LIFT. Kunka’s spec created a frenzy that resulted in him teaming up with Netflix, Simon Kinberg, and Matt Reeves. The Act Two Podcast loves (LOVES) specs, and it was great to have Kunka offer inspiration while sharing his insight. Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com -- Edited by Paul Lundquist -- Music by 414beg
Apr 19, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Season 2Ep. 15
Fireside Chats are where hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman pose real situations from real-life working Screenwriters, and ask "What would you do?" In this chat, they discuss everything from What would you do if an exec fell asleep in your pitch to How would you gracefully fire your manager? Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com -- Edited by Paul Lundquist -- Music by 414beg
Apr 12, 2021•38 min•Season 2Ep. 14
"That writer has a great voice," is a comment often uttered by producers and reps when talking about writers they love. And it's what buyers and producers look for in hiring the best writer for the job. Using examples from masters of voice in the industry (JJ Abrams, Shane Black, Mike Flanagan, and others), hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman break down what the hell "voice" even means, why your voice is so important as a Screenwriter, and how to find your unique voice in your own writing. Question...
Apr 04, 2021•44 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman watch the 4-hour Snyder Cut of JUSTICE LEAGUE and both rant and rave about it, while also bringing it back to writing -- How do you write good mythology, and what are some of the pitfalls to avoid if you are creating your own mythology in a script? Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com -- Edited by Paul Lundquist -- Music by 414beg
Mar 29, 2021•54 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Screenwriting is an isolating career by its very nature, but in Act Two, we believe that it doesn't have to be. If we support one another, we are all supported. For that reason, Act Two has partnered with Coverfly to connect up-and-coming writers with professional Screenwriters in the Act Two community for a 6-month career & industry mentorship program where new Mentees will be chosen every month to join a unique Mentorship opportunity with one of Act Two's incredible working writers. Mentor...
Mar 22, 2021•48 min•Season 2Ep. 11
TED LASSO deserves all the awards (all the things!), so say hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman. In this Breakdown episode, they break down how writers Jason Sudeikis and Bill Lawrence introduced the now iconic characters in the Pilot of their hit show on Apple TV, how they created "villains" in a feel-good dramedy, and how they flip expectations to keep you leaning in. *SPOILERS AHEAD* (but also, you really need to watch TED LASSO). Questions/comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com - the Act Two Podcast...
Mar 22, 2021•43 min•Season 2Ep. 11
Being a professional Screenwriter doesn't mean you're just good at writing scripts. You must become a master/mistress of a slew of other document types, from Format Documents to Scriptments and Bibles, all of which have different definitions depending on who you ask. In this practical-use episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman wade through the minefield and break down the definitive WGA definitions of each non-script document you'll be asked to write as a professional Screenwriter, what they'...
Mar 08, 2021•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 10
It's a big month in the news for co-host Tasha Huo, who has been hired to create and executive produce the animated series TOMB RAIDER for Netflix, and to adapt the comic RED SONJA for Millennium. So in this episode, Josh Hallman forces Tasha to finally talk about herself and discuss the process behind getting both those jobs, and what comes next. Questions/comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com - the Act Two Podcast is edited by Paul Lundquist and music is by 414beg....
Mar 01, 2021•42 min•Season 2Ep. 9
In this Fireside Chat, join hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman in discussing three real-life stories from Screenwriters this week -- A new writer who has sent loglines to a studio executive and hasn't heard back, a mid-level writer who is struggling with endless free rewrites, and an advanced writer who failed to deliver a solid draft and left his producer in a bind. Questions/comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com - the Act Two Podcast is edited by Paul Lundquist and music is by 414beg....
Feb 22, 2021•43 min•Season 2Ep. 8
A Hufflepuff and a Slytherin examine the first act that started it all: HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE! Harry Potter is one of the greatest and most influential film franchises of all time. It effortlessly brought us into a magical world that felt grounded and introduced an unsung hero. If you're world-building, write fantasy, or have that unassuming hero... grab your butterbeer and get ready. Questions/comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com - the Act Two Podcast is edited by Paul Lundquist an...
Feb 14, 2021•51 min•Season 2Ep. 7
You have to learn the rules before you can break them. In this episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss why Three Act Structure is important and they break down some of the most popular structure guidelines out there, including Blake Snyder's "Save the Cat" model. They also discuss how to avoid becoming a slave to structure guidelines, and how to instead use them as a valuable tool in your writing tool chest. Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by Paul Lundquist Music by ...
Feb 08, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 6
"Hope is like the sun. If you only believe it when you see it, you'll never make it through the night." - General Laia, Star Wars: The Last Jedi . Hope is what every Screenwriter's dreams are built on, and it is also the hardest thing to sustain during the dark nights of your career. In this unique episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman illustrate the importance of hope in the Screenwriting journey through the inspirational origin stories of two now famous Screenwriters who lost all hope righ...
Feb 01, 2021•46 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Becoming a member of the Writer's Guild of America is an important milestone for every Screenwriter, and a significant hurdle in accessing a consistent and successful career. In this episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman sit down with Screenwriter and WGA Captain Ben Shiffrin to discuss the basics of WGA membership, the pitfalls of a non-WGA deal and how to combat them, and the myriad of helpful resources available to Screenwriters that few even know exist (whether you're a member or not!). ...
Jan 25, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Pixar storytellers are some of the best in the history of our business. In this episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman walk through a viral Twitter feed where former Pixar storyboard artist Emma Coates posted Pixar's 22 Rules of Storytelling, and they talk about how those rules can be applied to your screenwriting in very real and practical ways. You can find the original post here -- https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-22-rules-of-storytelling-according-to-pixar-5916970 Questions/Comments: ActTwoWri...
Jan 18, 2021•58 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Pitching is terrible. But one of the biggest ways to set yourself up for success is by adding visuals to your pitch presentation. So whether you're pitching over Zoom, or you're back in a room with real humans, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss all the different ways to use visuals to great effect in your pitch. In addition, Act Two has a fantastic and talented in-house layout designer to help you with all your lookbook and pitch presentation needs if doing your own visuals just isn't you...
Jan 11, 2021•1 hr 23 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Fellowships have become a formidable way to jumpstart (or restart) your Screenwriting career. In this episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman sit down with bRock Newell, winner of the 2018 Screencraft Fellowship to chat about what exactly the Fellowship entails, why he refused a free hotel stay in LA, and the incredible effects the Fellowship has had on his career. Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by Paul Lundquist Music by 414beg
Jan 04, 2021•42 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Sure, New Year's Resolutions suck and never work. But, what if your writing resolutions DID work? What if by Dec. 31st of next year, your career looked vastly different? It can happen. You (and only you) have the power to progress your career over the next year. In this special End of Year episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman talk in detail about how they make writing goals, their tricks on how to keep them, and how to wield those goals into real actionable, career-changing steps. Next year...
Dec 28, 2020•39 min•Season 1Ep. 22
There is a legend among Screenwriters that Shane Black wrote LETHAL WEAPON right out of college, sold it immediately, and that his first draft was what went into production. Tearing down that myth are hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman, with Special Guest David Levinson, who go behind the scenes of how this holiday action movie really came to be. The truth is nowhere close to mythic, and much closer to the hard reality of what it takes to get a movie made. Hint: Shane Black wasn't the only writer!...
Dec 21, 2020•1 hr 29 min•Season 1Ep. 21
BACK TO THE FUTURE, crafted by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, has one of the most satisfying endings in film. It accomplishes this through building continuous Obstacles and Paying Off all the Setups from Act One. In this last installment of The Breakdown: BTTF Edition, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman break down just how a perfect, satisfying ending is pulled off at the writing level. The Breakdown Series is a special, ongoing series where hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman tear into the Screenwrit...
Dec 14, 2020•49 min•Season 1Ep. 20
BACK TO THE FUTURE, written by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, is a masterclass in how to craft the perfect Act Two. It has a powerful story engine, unexpected twists and turns, emotional ups and downs, and it forces the audience to be an active participant in the adventure. In this second installment of The Breakdown: BTTF Edition, Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman break down just how Zemeckis and Gale pulled all this off to create one of the most perfect films in history -- Hint: Cause & Effect. Th...
Dec 06, 2020•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 19
You've written your first script and you're ready to show it to the world. Where do you share it? Who do you trust with feedback, and what do you do with it? When is your ego getting in the way, and how can you tell? Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman talk about their first scripts and the hard lessons they learned when they were confident film school grads just starting out. Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by Paul Lundquist Music by 414beg...
Nov 30, 2020•51 min•Season 1Ep. 18
BACK TO THE FUTURE, written by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, wasn't always the perfect movie you think it was. The original draft was far from the genius that made it to screen. In this special holiday episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman take a close look at how Zemeckis and Gale handle Act One problems like setups, character intros, theme, dialogue, and suspense in the masterpiece that is BACK TO THE FUTURE, and they compare the rocky, more adult first draft to the finished tour de force ...
Nov 23, 2020•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Competitions are a very effective way to jumpstart your Screenwriting career. In this episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman sit down with Nicole Ramberg, 2020 Winner of the Screencraft Action-Adventure Feature Competition, to discuss how she found Screencraft, the application process, and how winning has affected her writing career. Hint: she now has a manager. Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by Paul Lundquist Music by 414beg...
Nov 16, 2020•39 min•Season 1Ep. 16
There are a million ways to a Screenwriting career. In this episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman sit down with screenwriter Corey Deshon to discuss his epic Twitter thread on the many starts and stops of his writing career, and how "the slog" is part of the job description. Corey started as a Production Assistant and found immediate success in Hollywood as an indie film writer, but never quite saw his career take off despite sales and produced credits. Now a working staff writer in TV and i...
Nov 08, 2020•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 15
