On The Page

Story analysts Mark Chandley (HBO), Holly Sklar (Warner Bros.) and Daniel Livnat (UTA) discuss their approach to reading and covering scripts and books for production companies, studios and agencies.

Writer / director Meredith Danluck discusses the thought and effort that went into her independent thriller State Like Sleep and her four-screen narrative film North of South, West of East.

Stop working so hard! In a quick tutorial, Pilar guides you through some lazy ways to brainstorm, outline and write your screenplay.

Jade Branion and Darren O'Hare made some fascinating life choices that influenced and energized their writing.

Kristin Overn, Executive Director of the PAGE International Screenwriting Awards, talks about the world of writing competitions and provides insight into the ways judges read and evaluate scripts.

David Rabinowitz's first feature-length script got the attention of Jordan Peele and was directed by Spike Lee. He discusses the writing and pitching process and what he's learned along the way.

Pilar and Aadip evaluate log lines sent in by listeners. Who will win ... and who will end up on the "But List?"

One sold a movie. One was nominated for a Webby. And one decided to just focus on being happy. Denise Cruz-Castino, Aydrea Walden and Mike Martin update.

The creative team at the video game company BioWare shares their insight into writing characters, story lines and action moments.

Career coach Lee Jessup returns to discuss the writing trends popular in 2018 and shares what's ahead for the new year.

Writer/editor Kyle Dodson discusses what he's learned from being in the world of short-form content at the digital production company AOK. He also shares tips for new creatives moving to Los Angeles.

Writer/Actor Taryn O'Neill discusses the ways that stories about science can entertain and change the world.

With the help of writer Elena Zaretsky, Pilar explains the meaning of the mysterious red pen marks she makes on her students' scripts.

Writers Carlton Allen and Michael Monteiro Wise love the Harry Potter movies. Here they explain why the book-to-screen adaptations work so well and why Harry Potter fans may end up saving the world.

Suzanne Keilly has had such a successful two years writing on Dallas and Robo, creating two horror movies for SyFy and being staffed on the upcoming Netflix show Warrior Nun, that we made her return to the show to tell us about it!

Literary manager Jeff Portnoy talks about his role giving notes to writers, setting them up with agents, getting them ready for staffing and even producing movies.

Film ratings consultant Barry Freeman discusses rating elements such as sex, violence and language on screen and explains why this knowledge is important for screenwriters.

John Stimpson has happily made a living and achieved success writing, producing and directing movies without moving to Los Angeles!

Writers Chuck McCue and Jules Vincent thought like producers when writing their horror movie "Alive." Now it's screening at Austin.

In anticipation of his new book, writer Erik Bork discusses the seven elements of a viable story for screen, stage or fiction.

Will Plyler, owner of Done Deal Pro, shares his thoughts about the thousands of film and TV deals made in Hollywood and archived daily on his website.

Greta Heinemann raised herself at an early age, learned English by watching Baywatch, came to the United States determined to be a writer and is now a producer on NCIS New Orleans!

Kerry Carroll discusses the ways that market research is used to test scripts, films and TV shows.

Producer Kelli Joan Bennett and writer Monica Zepeda talk about how they turned a simple idea and one location into "Collusions," a festival-winning movie starring Tom Everett Scott.

Writer Alex Cramer returns to talk about his latest spec sale and what he's learned from ten years of writing assignments and pitch meetings.

Karen Campbell's hard work and love of the writers' room has earned her writing and producing credits on everything from Dexter to Outlander.

Writer/producer Anthony Sparks talks about writing "what is and what could be" in his career and on the television drama Queen Sugar.

Writer/ producer Matthew Claybrooks has written for both Chris Rock and Kevin Hart. Here he talks about how he honors the comic's personality and the ways he turns jokes into story.

Outlander, Battlestar Galactica, Grey's Anatomy, Roswell … and the list goes on! Producer / writer Toni Graphia reveals her process and talks about the writers' room from a show-runner's perspective.

Directing teacher Robert Bailey discusses ways that writer/directors can work with actors to bring out the intention and emotion of the page.

Writers Ilana Pena (Crazy Ex-Girlriend) and Madeline Hendricks (Jane the Virgin) discuss story brainstorming and joke writing in the writers' room.

Thomas Barron, author of the new novel "Bocas," shares the screenwriting-friendly techniques he uses to keep readers turning the page.

Drawing from his book "Crowdsourcing for Filmmakers," Richard (RB) Botto discusses the power of creating networks of friends and fans before, during and after the screenwriting and filmmaking process.

After rising from intern to junior agent to development executive, On the Page's own Nick Oleksiw is starting his own company, "Mischief Films." He talks about what he's learned about networking, story telling and script development and what he's looking for with new material.

These six female writer/directors aren't afraid to "go into the basement" when it comes to genre. Emily Dell, Etta Devine, Sarah Ivy, Barbara Stepansky, Hannah MacPherson and April Wright talk about the tools and team building needed to be a working director.

Writer, teacher and author Neil Landau gives tips for writing in the current market and discusses his new book TV Writing on Demand: Creating Great Content in the Digital Era.

Writer/ director Marcus and Karrie Cox share their experiences as producers on movies like Tangerine and Adult Beginners and discuss their process for acquiring and developing material they truly believe in.

Jessica Orcsik, Manager & Program Director for Focus on Ability Film Festival discusses storytelling opportunities in writing about characters with disabilities.

Three writers, Chris Derrick, Michael Zannettis and Amanda Torigiani, talk about their favorite Star Wars movies. 'Nuff said.

Writer/Director Vaughn Stein talks about the lessons he learned as an assistant director that helped him write and direct his movie, "Terminal," starring Margot Robbie and Simon Pegg.

The work of writer/director Brad Silberling spans mediums and genres. Jane the Virgin, A Series of Unfortunate Events and Moonlight Mile are just a few of the projects he's been involved in. Here he discusses his approach to editing and dialogue and reveals his inspiration for his latest movie An Ordinary Man.

Writer Russ McGarry returns to the podcast to talk about a career as a freelance writer and his latest job writing a three minute show with a compelling season arc.

West Anthony, host of the Musical Notation Podcast, talks about his favorite scores and soundtracks and how they enhance the story on the screen.

Executive producer John Yorke (Wolf Hall, Casualty, Shameless) talks about writing and selling television in the UK.

Marc Warzecha of the Second City Comedy Theater talks about the "game" of the sketch and ways that the principles of sketch writing work for TV writing.

Writer Jim Rash (The Descendants, The Way Way Back) talks about his co-writing process, his take on character and dialogue and how winning an Oscar doesn't mean you don't get writer's block.

Writer, Actor and longtime listener Paul A. Rose, Jr. sits in to ask questions and give information pertaining to previous episodes of the On the Page Podcast.

When you choose a "frame" for your story, you control the story that's told. Writers Michael Zannettis and Chelsea O'Connor, hosts of the "We Can Talk About Podcast" discuss the "Strict Father / Nurturing Parent" frame used by many movies and TV Shows.

Curiosity and lots of research helped Andrew Logan and Taylor Allen write the movie "Chappaquiddick," a dramatization of the car accident and cover-up involving Senator Ted Kennedy.

Filmmaker Ben Zolno talks about what he's learned from making the improvised dialogue movie, "Status Pending."