PODCAST

Act Two Podcast

Tasha Huo & Josh Hallman

Behind-the-Scenes of the Business and Craft of professional Screenwriting.

tv & film film interviews

All Episodes

36:14

Finding Clarity of Concept in Your Pilot

Act Two Podcast ·

2023/11/27

How do you get the heart of your show across in a clear and concise way without overloading the script with too many elements or underwhelming with too few? Tasha and Josh discuss how to bring clarity of concept into your writing using lessons from their recent pilots. TWIW: Lessons from a Mike Flanagan Kickstarter. Why distinctive characters are essential for pitching a network TV show. Thoughts on The Killer’s use of voiceover. Why you should watch Blue Eye Samurai. And what was season 2 of Loki

04:06

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: LA Event & Patreon Launch

Act Two Podcast ·

2023/11/22

The day has finally arrived! On Nov 30th we officially launch the Act Two Podcast Patreon. To celebrate, we’re hosting a Screenwriter Meet & Greet that night in Los Angeles. If you’re in the area, come say “Hello!” We’d love to see you there! Link for Event Info Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

53:57

Breaking Down Pixar’s BRAVE with Producer & Manager,...

Act Two Podcast ·

2023/11/20

Tasha and Josh break down the mother/daughter story in Pixar’s BRAVE with special guest Michele Wolkoff (EP, Pigeon Tunnel and Rook). They discuss what works, what doesn’t (and why), and analyze how a directorial overhaul 18 months prior to release affected the story and underlying themes. Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

39:41

TWIW: Why Relationships Matter, When to Restructure,...

Act Two Podcast ·

2023/11/14

This Week in Writing includes why relationships are key to the Hollywood long game, signs you may need to restructure your spec, and why the simple act of reading a comic can be so creatively refreshing. Plus, Josh breaks through with a new idea to avoid extensive, unpaid rewrites! Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

42:16

Ways to Tackle a 2nd Draft

Act Two Podcast ·

2023/11/06

Writing a first draft is tough. But writing a second draft can be tougher. Tasha and Josh discuss best practices for tackling the deceptively difficult second draft, be it going scene-by-scene, starting anew, or ignoring a note to find the real note lurking underneath. TWIW: Why staying active with programs and competitions keeps you going. Should an agent ask for your resume? Style lessons from the Barbarian screenplay. And a friendly reminder that public domain is a proven place to mine IP

01:19:02

Building Dread: Top 5 Horror Films w/ Special Guest...

Act Two Podcast ·

2023/10/30

What makes a horror film truly terrifying? Tasha and Josh, along with special guest and horror aficionado Dave Levinson, break down their favorite horror films and what makes them so frightening that even decades later just the thought of the film sends a shiver up our spine. TWIW: Josh is shocked by the discrepancies between a pilot script and a finished pilot episode. Tasha gets to the root of the simplistic genius behind Netflix’s Fall of the House of Usher. Questions /

43:17

How to Get Repped

Act Two Podcast ·

2023/10/23

Getting repped may seem impossible, but there are actually many different paths to representation. Tasha and Josh break down what worked for them and what they’ve seen work for others. (Spoiler: the best way is to write a good script!) TWIW: Josh finished a pilot with his wife and celebrated with a bottle of rosé and Taylor Swift. Tasha celebrates an Act Two mentee getting repped! Plus, how long does it take to write a feature screenplay? How Professional Screenwriters Outline:

20:55

Where to Find Inspiration

Act Two Podcast ·

2023/10/16

There’s no wrong way to be inspired, but finding inspiration can oftentimes prove elusive. Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss various techniques they use when they need a burst of creative inspiration, be it in nature, nostalgia, or an engaging museum plaque. TWIW: Josh and Tasha fear AI becoming a creative crutch, but admit that it can be a helpful tool when creating perfect imagery for look books (but shh! don’t tell anybody!!). Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the

27:16

The Importance of Self-Care

Act Two Podcast ·

2023/10/09

Take a break! Eat dinner with your family! Hangout with that friend! We promise you’ll still get your writing done. In this episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss the importance of self-care in a post-strike world, and the various strategies they use to relieve the ever-present pressure of work work work. Step one: acknowledging that you need self-care in the first place! TWIW: Josh experiences notes in real time. Tasha feels pressure to make her next spec definitive while also finishing

54:21

The Essential Steps to Writing a Pilot Outline

Act Two Podcast ·

2023/10/02

Writing a Pilot is one of the more difficult undertakings of a Screenwriter. It must set up an entire series without revealing too much of the series journey, engage the audience with questions, but not leave enough questions to be confusing. A great pilot starts with a great outline. In this episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss how TV Pilots are broken and outlined in a professional writer's room, and how to take those lessons with you to your own personal pilot process. TWIW: the

46:35

Finding Humanity in Your Villain

Act Two Podcast ·

2023/09/25

A great villain is the hero of their own story. Search for their humanity and discover what makes them your hero’s shadow self. Plus, Elemental and the lost art of word of mouth marketing. TWIW: Josh achieves #couplegoals. Tasha struggles to finish her short story, but finds hope in her calendar of all places. Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

38:12

Rethinking How to Adapt IP

Act Two Podcast ·

2023/09/18

Why is IP important? Do you need it to make a sale? Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman break down an article by Steven Hartman, the pros and cons of working with IP, and rethinking how to approach adapting one. TWIW: Goal Buddies keep us on track and motivated to solve Act 1 problems, and why you should sit on notes for a day (even if you agree with them). Link to article: https://screencraft.org/blog/is-this-the-end-of-existing-ip-domination/ Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited

49:34

5 Stages of Spec Writing

Act Two Podcast ·

2023/09/12

There are 5 (Emotional) Stages a Screenwriter goes through in writing their spec. Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman break down the writer brain at each stage, and how to power through to get that spec done. TWIW: pitching safely vs. pitching for the win, being a Machiavellian writer to avoid notes, and would TAKEN be as iconic without *that* scene? Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

45:05

Breakdown of Act One: SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE...

Act Two Podcast ·

2023/09/04

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman break down the structure and writing lessons Screenwriters can learn from Act One of SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE, including how to use blocking and silence to tell your story, how to maximize spare dialogue, and how to use action to advance your story and hide exposition. TWIW: the structure and writing lessons of WAR OF THE WORLDS, and if you were to fire your rep, should you do it during or after the strike? Questions /

58:51

How to Be a Writer on Set

Act Two Podcast ·

2023/08/29

Eliza Clark (Showrunner, Y: THE LAST MAN) wrote a document for her writers on what to do once they were on set to produce their episode of television. The document highlights the incredible importance of a writer on set, and how imperative episodic writers are for Showrunners in production. Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman break down Clark's list of writer duties on set, and further elucidate the important, unique and difficult job that a writer has in production. Questions /

57:41

Interview with Jeff Howard (HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE,...

Act Two Podcast ·

2023/08/21

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman sit down with Screen and TV writer Jeff Howard (HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE, MIDNIGHT MASS, OCULUS, GERALD'S GAME) to talk about his unique story of how he got started (including meeting the Terminator), how he became director Mike Flanagan's writing partner, his own career struggles, and the realities of working in a TV room. Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

46:15

Screenwriting Tips from INDIANA JONES

Act Two Podcast ·

2023/08/14

Jumping off an article posted by NoFilmSchool.com, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss what Screenwriting imperatives one can learn from dissecting INDIANA JONES movies, including everything from how to introduce characters in an impactful way and how to keep your story moving with an active protagonist. TWIW: Josh was told his characters sound like him, so what is voice and how do you find it in a character? Tasha's TMNT reactions. Tasha's takeaway re: simple storytelling vs. complex

37:50

Interview with Alyssa Alvarado: AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL

Act Two Podcast ·

2023/08/08

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman sit down with Alyssa Alvarado, the Screenplay Department Director of the Austin Film Festival, to chat about what makes AFF the best festival in the US for Screenwriters and what writers can expect by both applying and attending the festival, including tips on networking successfully while in Austin. Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

44:39

Summer Blockbusters: Midpoint Check-In

Act Two Podcast ·

2023/07/31

It is the Midpoint of the 2023 Summer Blockbuster season! Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss the Barbenheimer phenomenon and what's been good, bad and ugly so far this Summer at the theaters. TWIW: Act Two's Idea Creation Night, Why studios hire A-list writers when a lower-level writer could do the job for cheaper, Favorite MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE titles and why they do/do not work. Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

56:39

Interview with Dan Kunka: ARBITRATION

Act Two Podcast ·

2023/07/24

Back by popular demand, Screenwriter Dan Kunka (12 ROUNDS) talks with hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman about his journey through arbitration for his latest film, LIFT, based on his spec, and why more writers need to learn that being rewritten is simply part of the job. Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414Beg

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Act Two Podcast

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