In a craft-centered episode, Liz Elverenl ( Grown-ish; Dollface; I Am Not Okay with This ) discusses comedic dialogue. THE WRITERS PANEL IS A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION. Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben Blacker's newsletter, Re:Writing , where you'll also get weekly advice from the thousands of writers he's interviewed over the years, as well as access to exclusive live Q&As, meet-ups, and more: benblacker.substack.com Join Ben's advanced "Draft Intensive" class and g...
Sep 12, 2023•42 min
In this craft-centered conversation, Riki Lindhome (co-creator, Another Period ; Garfunkel and Oates) discusses keeping a schedule and the discipline to write. THE WRITERS PANEL IS A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION. Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben Blacker's newsletter, Re:Writing, where you'll also get weekly advice from the thousands of writers he's interviewed over the years, as well as access to exclusive live Q&As, meet-ups, and more: benblacker.substack.com Join Ben'...
Aug 29, 2023•51 min
In this craft-centered conversation, Tom Vaughan ( Haunting of the Queen Mary; Winchester ) discusses second acts in feature scripts. PLUS: Learn how to participate in the "secret workshop" Ben is teaching in September! THE WRITERS PANEL IS A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION. Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben Blacker's newsletter, Re:Writing, where you'll also get weekly advice from the thousands of writers he's interviewed over the years, as well as access to exclusive live Q&a...
Aug 22, 2023•38 min
In a craft-centered episode, Joseph Dougherty ( Pretty Little Liars ; thirtysomething ) discusses dialogue. THE WRITERS PANEL IS A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION. Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben Blacker's newsletter, Re:Writing, where you'll also get weekly advice from the thousands of writers he's interviewed over the years, as well as access to exclusive live Q&As, meet-ups, and more: benblacker.substack.com SOCIALS: Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/benblacker.bsky.social Twi...
Aug 08, 2023•43 min
Rodney Barnes ( Winning Time; American Gods; Runaways ) on the patience to rewrite. PLUS: WGA negotiating committee member Yahlin Chang ( The Handmaid's Tale; Supergirl ) on the union's proposals around episodic television. THE WRITERS PANEL IS A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION. Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben Blacker's newsletter, Re:Writing, where you'll also get weekly advice from the thousands of writers he's interviewed over the years, as well as access to exclusive live...
Jul 25, 2023•54 min
In this craft-centered episode, Matt Williams (co-creator of Home Improvement , Roseanne , and more) discusses collaborating with non-writers. PLUS: Shoshana Sachi ( Doom Patrol ; Dead Boy Detectives ) talks about trying to do creative work while on strike. THE WRITERS PANEL IS A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION. Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben Blacker's newsletter, Re:Writing, where you'll also get weekly advice from the thousands of writers he's interviewed over the years, a...
Jul 11, 2023•54 min
In this craft-centered episode, Karen Graci ( Hailey's On It!, Tuca and Bertie, The Harper House ) talks about point-of-view. Plus: "Bitter Script Reader" Adam Mallinger ( Superman & Lois ) with do's and don'ts for networking on the picket line. THE WRITERS PANEL IS A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION. Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben Blacker's newsletter, Re:Writing , where you'll also get weekly advice from the thousands of writers he's interviewed over the years, as well ...
Jun 27, 2023•58 min
In a craft-centered episode, Marc Bernardin (Treadstone ; Star Trek: Picard) discusses world building. THE WRITERS PANEL IS A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION. Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben Blacker's newsletter, where you'll also get weekly advice from the thousands of writers he's interviewed over the years, as well as access to exclusive live Q&As, meet-ups, and more: benblacker.substack.com SOCIALS: https://twitter.com/BENBLACKER https://www.facebook.com/TVWritersPane...
Jun 13, 2023•35 min
X-Men , X2 , and Watchmen screenwriter David Hayter discusses thinking in pictures, how he came to write X-Men , structure, writing fight scenes, and screenwriting's toll on your brain. PLUS: WGA strike captain Gabriel Garza ( The Flash ; The Winchesters ) with tales from the picket line! THE WRITERS PANEL IS A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION. Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben Blacker's newsletter, Re:Writing , where you'll also get weekly advice from the thousands of writers h...
Jun 06, 2023•1 hr 4 min
Author Mallory O'Meara ( The Lady From The Black Lagoon ) returns to talk about her new book, Girls Make Movies , why she wrote a guide for young people interested in film, its many, many iterations, being an "author" and being a "writer," and why the draft is not the book. PLUS: Tze Chun (EP/showrunner of Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai and EP/co-showrunner with Boots Riley of I'm a Virgo ) on what to wear on the picket line, why he's so well-dressed, and the vibe of his writers' rooms. Girls M...
May 23, 2023•1 hr 5 min
A special episode today, as Ben Blacker chats with the creators of Cheers: Glen Charles, Les Charles, and James Burrows. They discuss the TV comedy landscape in 1982 and now, who at NBC didn't get the show, Taxi, Phyllis , discovering the cast's special talents, the pressure following Shelley Long's departure, and lots more. Before that interview, though, an excerpt from Ted Danson and His Friends From Work , a live streaming special that Blacker produced in 2020. The show featured cast reunions...
May 16, 2023•1 hr 58 min
The WGA is on strike. In today's episode, WGA Board Member and showrunner/creator John Rogers ( Leverage; The Librarians ) talks about why, what's at stake, how negotiations broke down, and how long this might last. Plus: new WGA member and former Teamster Danielle Nicki has some heartfelt words of encouragement. THE WRITERS PANEL IS NOW A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION. Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben Blacker's newsletter, where you'll also get weekly advice from the thousa...
May 09, 2023•39 min
Andor creator Tony Gilroy ( Rogue One ; the Bourne movies; Armageddon ) discusses on getting hot on a project, writing vivid scenes, the incremental building of a series, his early resume including The Cutting Edge and Dolores Claiborne , and his disparate influences. But first: the WGA is on strike. In the first of many conversations with working writers on strike, Ben Blacker chats with M3gan writer Akela Cooper ( Star Trek: Brave New Worlds ; Luke Cage ) about her hopes, fears, and why we're ...
May 02, 2023•57 min
Mrs. Davis co-creator and showrunner Tara Hernandez ( Big Bang Theory; Young Sheldon ) discusses learning as an assistant, backing into sci-fi, how she and Damon Lindelof pitched the show, and how many Popes is too many Popes. THE WRITERS PANEL IS NOW A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION. Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben Blacker's newsletter, where you'll also get weekly advice from the thousands of writers he's interviewed over the years, as well as access to exclusive live Q&am...
Apr 25, 2023•1 hr
Perry Mason co-showrunner Michael Begler ( co-creator of The Knick ) discusses switching gears in his career, working with Team Downey, the fun of noir, working with a room, and what makes Perry Mason Perry Mason. THE WRITERS PANEL IS NOW A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION. Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben Blacker's newsletter, where you'll also get weekly advice from the thousands of writers he's interviewed over the years, as well as access to exclusive live Q&As, meet-up...
Apr 18, 2023•51 min
Hello Tomorrow! creators Amit Bhalla and Lucas Jansen discuss selling original ideas, taking big swings and throwing things away, and what they learned working for David Milch. THE WRITERS PANEL IS NOW A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION. Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben Blacker's newsletter, where you'll also get weekly advice from the thousands of writers he's interviewed over the years, as well as access to exclusive live Q&As, meet-ups, and more: benblacker.substack.com ...
Apr 11, 2023•56 min
Dear Evan Hansen writer Steven Levenson, whose new show is Up Here on Hulu, discusses the building blocks of musicals, finding an angle on existing material, his previous work on Masters of Sex and Fosse/Verdon , collaboration, and more. THE WRITERS PANEL IS NOW A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION. Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben Blacker's newsletter, where you'll also get weekly advice from the thousands of writers he's interviewed over the years, as well as access to exclusiv...
Apr 04, 2023•48 min
Chang Can Dunk writer/director Jingyi Shao discusses getting the Disney+ film off the ground, turning a "feel-good sports movie" into a personal story, taking on a studio feature as his first directing gig, the psychology of storytelling, and lots more. THE WRITERS PANEL IS NOW A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION. Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben Blacker's newsletter, where you'll also get weekly advice from the thousands of writers he's interviewed over the years, as well as ac...
Mar 28, 2023•50 min
Scott Neustadter (creator, Daisy Jones & the Six ), Liz Tigelaar (creator, Tiny Beautiful Things ), and John Enbom (co-creator, Party Down) discuss things you can't control, pushing at the edges of your work, trusting your story choices, and whether or not streamers even needs to make TV anymore. The new season of Party Down is on Starz now! Daisy Jones & the Six is on Amazon now! Tiny Beautiful Things premieres on Hulu on April 7. CONNECT W/ BEN BLACKER & THE WRITER'S PANEL ON SOCIA...
Mar 14, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 545
Jay Faerber (Supergirl; Zoo) and Ali Vingiano (The Morning Show) go deep on how we present ourselves in our work, outlining, group writing, how-to books, and why they like writing. Be sure to check out Ali's terrific Substack newsletter Little Things at aliv.substack.com and pick up Jay's new comic Area 510 from Oni Press! CONNECT W/ BEN BLACKER & THE WRITER'S PANEL ON SOCIAL MEDIA https://twitter.com/BENBLACKER https://www.facebook.com/TVWritersPanel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy f...
Feb 28, 2023•59 min•Ep. 544
Anna Fricke (creator, Walker, Walker: Independence, Being Human ) and Leah Fong (creator, The Midnight Club; The Haunting of Bly Manor) discuss new interests and habits as writers, Zoom showrunning practices, lifting up lower level writers, and vampire trash. CONNECT W/ BEN BLACKER & THE WRITER'S PANEL ON SOCIAL MEDIA https://twitter.com/BENBLACKER https://www.facebook.com/TVWritersPanel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Feb 14, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 533
Benji Samit and Dan Hernandez (creators, Koala Man, Ultra-Violet and Black Scorpion ), Steve Loter (Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur; Kim Possible), and Felicia Pride (Grey's Anatomy; Queen Sugar) discuss juggling multiple projects, conveying passion for material, training people how to treat you, and knowing your worth. CONNECT W/ BEN BLACKER & THE WRITER'S PANEL ON SOCIAL MEDIA benblacker.substack.com https://twitter.com/BENBLACKER https://www.facebook.com/TVWritersPanel Hosted on Aca...
Jan 24, 2023•56 min•Ep. 532
Sterlin Harjo (creator, Reservation Dogs ) talks about getting the show made, his struggles in indie film, breaking story with the writers room, and Free Fallin' . CONNECT W/ BEN BLACKER & THE WRITER'S PANEL ON SOCIAL MEDIA benblacker.substack.com https://twitter.com/BENBLACKER https://www.facebook.com/TVWritersPanel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jan 10, 2023•51 min•Ep. 531
Looking back and looking ahead. 2022 in review, 2023 in preview. With some returning favorites: Angela Kang (creator/showrunner, Silk ; showrunner, The Walking Dead ); Mickey Fisher (creator, Extant and Reverie ); Carlos Foglia ( Wolf Pack; Aeon Flux; The Lost Symbol ); J. Holtham ( The Handmaid's Tale; Supergirl ); Gina Ippolito ( Regular Show; The Unicorn ) CONNECT W/ BEN BLACKER & THE WRITER'S PANEL ON SOCIAL MEDIA benblacker.substack.com https://twitter.com/BENBLACKER https://www.faceboo...
Dec 27, 2022•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 530
Marion Dayre (Better Call Saul; Shantaram; Marvel's Echo); Rebecca Addelman (creator, Guilty Party; New Girl); Ami Boghani (The Name Game; The Reluctant Fundamentalist); Abdi Nazemian (Ordinary Joe; Almost Family) discuss breaking in, finding reps, managing your agents, and more. CONNECT W/ BEN BLACKER & THE WRITER'S PANEL ON SOCIAL MEDIA benblacker.substack.com https://twitter.com/BENBLACKER https://www.facebook.com/TVWritersPanel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Dec 13, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 529
Brigitte Muñoz-Liebowitz ( Gordita Chronicles; One Day at a Time; Love Life; Diary of a Future President; Brooklyn 99 ) answers questions from DePaul University writing students as part of a class on TV showrunning. This Q&A is specifically about showrunners as writer/producers. CONNECT W/ BEN BLACKER & THE WRITER'S PANEL ON SOCIAL MEDIA benblacker.substack.com https://twitter.com/BENBLACKER https://www.facebook.com/TVWritersPanel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informati...
Nov 22, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 528
Erica Saleh (creator/showrunner, One of Us Is Lying ) and Yulin Kuang (creator, I Ship It ; upcoming: People We Meet On Vacation ) battle technical difficulties and interruptions to bring some great advice about pitching and what general meetings are good for. PLUS: the C. Robert Cargill (The Black Phone; Dr Strange) was the first guest in the paid-subscriber-exclusive Q&A on Ben Blacker's substack. Hear selections from that fun, intimate session. To hear the entire Q&A, as well as one w...
Nov 08, 2022•44 min•Ep. 527
First, actor/writer John Ross Bowie (Big Bang Theory; Speechless) on his new memoir, No Job For a Man. Then, author Chuck Wendig ( Wanderers; The Book of Accidents; Star Wars: Aftermath ) on his new novel Wayward . CONNECT W/ BEN BLACKER & THE WRITER'S PANEL ON SOCIAL MEDIA benblacker.substack.com https://twitter.com/BENBLACKER https://www.facebook.com/TVWritersPanel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Nov 01, 2022•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 526
Julie Plec (creator/showrunner, Vampire Academy, Vampire Diaries, Legacies), Steve Lightfoot (creator/showrunner, Shantaram, The Punisher), Laura Kittrell (co-showrunner, High School; Insecure), and Dana Ledoux Miller (showrunner, Thai Cave Rescue ) discuss their personal connections to their current projects, how it never gets easier, how it's always a joy. PLUS: Julia Yorks (1UP; Strawberry Shortcake) has a new podcast called The Baby Writers Podcast in which she chats with TV and feature writ...
Oct 25, 2022•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 525
Do Revenge director/co-writer Jennifer Kaytin Robinson ( Thor: Love and Thunder ) and co-writer Celeste Ballard ( Space Jam: A New Legacy; Wrecked ) discuss striking a specific tone, being the Alpha and Beta in friendship and working relationships, how the movie was written three times, how working on Thor: Love and Thunder changed Jenn's approach to directing, and more. PLUS a chat with writer/director Greg Mottola ( Confess, Fletch; Adventureland; The Dangerous Book For Boys ). CONNECT W/ BEN ...
Oct 11, 2022•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 524
