763. Oscar Talk 2022
Pilar and her friends Brian Pope, Mike Musa and Alex Troxler get together for their annual discussion about the best screenplay and best adapted screenplay Oscar nominees.

Pilar and her friends Brian Pope, Mike Musa and Alex Troxler get together for their annual discussion about the best screenplay and best adapted screenplay Oscar nominees.
York Walker, staff writer on FBI, talks about his personal path from actor to playwright to television writer.
How can writers truly observe their world and society and write honestly about them? Dr. Teruko Vida Mitsuhara, a linguistic anthropologist and script writer, is here to tell you.
Joshua Berman found himself in the middle of a movement, reached for a camera and never stopped filming. Director Amy Goldstein took it from there, crafting the story that became The Unmaking of a College , a documentary about the 2019 student-led, 75-day sit-in at Hampshire College – the longest in American college history
A passion for the true story and years of “crawling through broken glass” helped writer David Kessler get his movie Minamata produced, starring Johnny Depp and directed by Andrew Levitas.
For 30 years Charlie Vignola has had a hand in developing some of the world’s most successful movie franchises for Jerry Bruckheimer Films. Here he shares what he learned about acquiring, developing and “creative problem solving,” for the Pirates of the Caribbean saga, the National Treasure films, the Bad Boys series and others.
Barbara Ward Thall's script Geriosity sparks a discussion about how our views on aging create bias in the hiring process and prevent accurate depictions on screen.
Sydney Baloue (CW’s Tom Swift ) talks about how his experiences in the world of queer culture and ballroom contribute to his super power as a storyteller and television writer.
Allard Cantor, co-founder of the literary management company Epicenter, shares about finding talent, developing material and getting his clients work in the film and TV industry.
Doug Passon and Randy Olson talk about the “And, But, Therefore” template they use to help lawyers, scientists and screenwriters tell effective stories.
From love interests to courtroom scenes, Pilar offers writing tips to kickstart the writing year. Writer Sam Benjamin joins her to discuss!
Career coach Lee Jessup returns to discuss the writing trends popular in 2021 and shares what’s ahead for the new year.
Writer Scotty Mullen returns to to talk about his newest movie, A Christmas Village Romance , his love of all things Christmas and why the entertainment industry is a "buffet of bonkerness.”
Pilar gives a logline lesson built off of listener submissions, then Pilar and Aadip pick their favorites!
Development executive Zsófia Szemerédy talks about the the importance of sustainable practices in filmmaking and discusses ways to implement them on set and on the page.
Writer-director Nathalie Biancheri discusses the preparation, script-work and directorial vision that went into creating her new psychological drama, Wolf .
'Tis the season for the annual On the Page logline competition! Pilar explains the rules and gives the deadline.
Emerson film student Kat Poole’s passion is to rediscover and celebrate female film pioneers. Here, she educates us about three of them: filmmaker Alice-Guy Blache screenwriter Jeanie MacPherson and editor Margaret Booth.
George Stevens Jr. the founder of the American Film Institute, talks about the passion for film that inspired him to preserve and archive great movies, establish the Kennedy Center Honors and serve as a voice for the arts in Washington DC. as Co-chair of the Presidential Committee on the Arts & Humanities.
Director Philip Barantini shot his independent feature film Boiling Point in one take and lived to tell the tale. Hear how he kept the camera moving while also telling a rich story of an intense night in a restaurant.
Writer Celia Finkelstein talks about the projects she has in development, her pitch style on Zoom and how her acting experience has taught her not to judge a character.
Canadian writer Lindsay Gossling reveals the work and effort that went into writing and directing her disaster movie Thirteen Minutes . She also talks about the challenges of making her film Un Traductor which went on to become Cuba’s submission for the Academy Awards.
Sean S. Cunningham, director and producer of the original Friday the 13th movie, talks about the film's humble beginnings, Jason’s evolvement as an “anti-hero” and the need for great story above all.
What makes us afraid and how do we write that on the page? Writer Neal Marshall Stevens provides answers as he gives a preview of his book, A Sense of Dread: Getting Under the Skin of Horror Writing .
Shelley Dennis grew up loving the TV show Roseanne and now she has a staff writing position on The Conners! Hear how hard work, attention to story and a little mindfulness paid off.
Veteran producer and creative executive Kelly Edwards worked with every major studio in Hollywood and is now pursuing her dream of being a television writer on the Fox Drama Our Kind of People . Here she talks openly about her career pivot and also offers nuggets from her new book The Executive Chair: A Writer’s Guide To TV Series Development.
Writer Jo Rochelle was just about to call it quits when her writing career caught fire. Hear how she got the attention of a manager, became staffed on her favorite show Good Troubl e, and filmed her own independent movie - all while continuing to “ride the rollercoaster."
Actor/writer Danielle Pinnock had a crazy year full of ups and downs but she kept writing, found inspiration in her underwear drawer and set up her animated series Unmentionables with Taraji P. Henson!
Michael-Leon Wooley’s search for depth in his singing and performing has informed his writing as well, leading to major attention on his very first feature-film script! Hear how he did it and why “fine is not enough."
Pilar Alessandra’s teaching and consulting business On the Page celebrates a 20 year anniversary! Alex Troxler interviews Pilar about her program, its humble beginnings and the way her teachings and the industry have changed.