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

40:05

Pitching is Terrible: The Series (Part 7 - Idea to...

Act Two Podcast ·

2022/10/03

Pitching is terrible. But, it is a necessary evil. All pitches start from the mere seed of an idea and must be built into a pitch script that can dazzle and impress executives enough to pay you money (or, more likely, pay you their boss's money, risking their own jobs if you fail). So, in this episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman do an impromptu brainstorming session on a surprise logline to illustrate how they build a pitch off of a small one-sentence idea. Questions / Comments:

52:53

Fireside Chat: How to Break into the Industry

Act Two Podcast ·

2022/09/26

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman bring back the Fireside Chat by answering specific questions from a college student on ways to break into the industry, and from a listener on the differences between a pitch for a rewrite job and an original. TWIW: Is Jurassic World: Dominion over-complicated?, how feature writers are treated poorly, and does the movie True Lies' convenient plot device work or feel campy? Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by

38:41

8 Sequence Story Structure

Act Two Podcast ·

2022/09/19

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman go through their own Three Act exposure therapy adventure as they talk through a popular structure tool for Screenwriters - The 8 Sequence Story Structure - that at once excites them, aggravates them, then inspires them. Script Structure is something all Screenwriters have to learn and think about to have successful careers. In TV, structure is often as precise as knowing when your turning points are going to be down to the minute. In features, knowing what page

43:01

This Week in Writing

Act Two Podcast ·

2022/09/12

This Week in Writing, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss the Emmys, what makes a script unique, Don't Worry Darling, how Tasha broke through a new original spec, and how to juggle multiple projects for a more successful career. Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414beg

44:36

This Week in Writing

Act Two Podcast ·

2022/09/05

In This Week in Writing, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss Only Murders in the Building and why episode hooks are important, the ending of Nope and how/if it works, one of Josh's projects that has come back years later, and how Minority Report is a master class in world-building exposition. Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414beg

45:36

Self-Advocating: How and Why?

Act Two Podcast ·

2022/08/29

"Working hard" as a professional Screenwriter means more than just writing. It also means building your network and promoting your brand. But the way we Self-Advocate as writers is different than in many other businesses. In this episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss what Self-Advocating means as a Screenwriter, and how to do it at any stage of your career. Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414beg

59:02

The Art of Adaptation: Interview w/ Christopher Yost...

Act Two Podcast ·

2022/08/22

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman sit down with one of the great adaptation writers in our business, Christopher Yost (THOR: RAGNAROK, COWBOY BEBOP), about how he approaches adaptation, how it differs from original writing, and how the tough choices of writing an adaptation are unique. He also discusses his path to writing some of the biggest movies in our industry, and how his latest original movie SECRET HEADQUARTERS (playing now on Paramount+) came to be. Questions / Comments:

45:35

Unhealthy Writer Thoughts

Act Two Podcast ·

2022/08/14

From Jealousy and Self-Loathing to Depression and Spite, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss all the unhealthy writer thoughts that come up in their own heads and in their conversations with other writers, why they come up, and how to deal with them in a healthy way. Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414beg

57:30

Meet Cutes: Pride & Prejudice to Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Act Two Podcast ·

2022/08/08

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman break down the Meet Cute device used in some of their favorite romantic comedies and discuss how the writing makes you root for the heroes and their romance. Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414beg

41:26

TWIW: Imposter Syndrome, Pitching with Intention and...

Act Two Podcast ·

2022/08/01

In this episode of This Week in Writing, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss everything from taking your shot with your favorite actors, to how Imposter Syndrome can easily spiral out of control, and new lessons learned this week about pitching. Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414beg

51:48

What is Showrunning?: Interview with BEL-AIR...

Act Two Podcast ·

2022/07/25

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman sit down with Rasheed Newsom, co-showrunner of BEL-AIR on Paramount+ and author of the upcoming historical novel, MY GOVERNMENT MEANS TO KILL ME. They discuss Rasheed's rise from production assistant to showrunner, how being a showrunner is actually just being a middle manager disguised as a boss, lessons he's learned from writers rooms that have imploded, and why the #2 job in a writers room should be the most coveted job in Hollywood. Questions / Comments:

40:02

Taika Waititi’s 10 Screenwriting Tips

Act Two Podcast ·

2022/07/18

Taika Waititi is considered one of the busiest filmmakers in Hollywood right now, working on some of the biggest franchises in history while also finding time to write, produce, direct, and act in other passion projects. So hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss Taika Waititi's 10 Pieces of Screenwriting Wisdom from Taika Waititi to see what can be learned and applied to everyday Screenwriting careers. Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by

48:51

First Day in a Writers Room

Act Two Podcast ·

2022/07/11

The first day in a Writers Room for both a Writer and Showrunner are full of anxiety and uncertainty. In this episode, Josh Hallman talks with his co-host, Showrunner Tasha Huo, on what the first day of a room usually looks like to help allay fears and best prepare. TWIW: How Screenwriters Get Paid in Percentages (that force us to get other jobs to survive), How to Get & Give Targeted Notes in late-stage writing, THE BEAR is Awesome, and Writing on Vacation. Questions / Comments:

48:11

Live Mock Notes Session

Act Two Podcast ·

2022/07/03

The tone in which you give notes matters. Your note can be technically correct, but you may deliver it in a way that offends the writer or makes them combative, which can ruin your relationship with the writer and make their revision experience feel painful rather than inspiring. To illustrate how to give notes in a respectful tone, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman share the Opening Setup of scripts they've never shared with each other before, and give each other notes in a live Mock Notes

40:59

This Week in Writing

Act Two Podcast ·

2022/06/26

From how Tasha reads samples as a Showrunner and how this has influenced her writing - to - Writer's Block, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss their This Week in Writing. Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414beg

01:11:16

Transitioning from Writer to Showrunner & Director:...

Act Two Podcast ·

2022/06/20

On this 100th Episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman chat with Steven DeKnight -- Showrunner-Writer-Producer-Director of such shows as DAREDEVIL, SPARTACUS, and BUFFY -- about his experiences transitioning from Writer to Showrunner, and then Writer to Director. They get into what the real difference is between simply being a Writer and being a Showrunner, and how to acquire the skills necessary to be a Showrunner or Director if your background has always been writing Questions / Comments:

42:31

What’s the Theme? -- Top Gun: Maverick

Act Two Podcast ·

2022/06/13

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman start their new series -- "What's the Theme?" -- with TOP GUN: MAVERICK. They break down what worked and didn't about the Theme in this epic thrill ride breaking box office records. Beware: lots of SPOILERS! Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414beg

56:47

Writing With A Partner: Ben Lustig & Jake Thornton

Act Two Podcast ·

2022/06/08

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman talk with Ben Lustig and Jake Thornton about being writing partners: their process, schedule, how they met, their first sale, and a ton more... Also, Ben and Jake discuss their (incredible) upcoming movie, THE PRINCESS. Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the great Paul Lundquist Music by 414beg

50:39

Taking an Idea to Script

Act Two Podcast ·

2022/05/30

You have a great idea, now what? The distance between an idea and a finished script can feel vast and wrought with disappointment. Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss how they go from having an Idea to molding a Script out of that idea. TWIW: Are TV specs as samples back in vogue? How learning to be a producer is key to a writing career. Tom Cruise is awesome. How Mark Duplass advocates for sharing and workshopping your ideas with your writing community. Questions/Comments:

44:20

5 Must-Haves for Writing Action Sequences

Act Two Podcast ·

2022/05/23

Screenwriters Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss Screencraft's 5 Must-Haves for Writing Action Sequences and how to apply these must-haves to your own writing in a practical way, as well as how to avoid common missteps in action writing. TWIW: Tasha's life gets turned upside down in the best way by their previous Work/Life Balance episode, and a real-life action sequence issue that came up for Tasha in TOMB RAIDER. Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the great Paul

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