The Writers Panel

Shane Black (writer/director, Play Dirty , The Nice Guys , Kiss Kiss Bang Bang; writer, Lethal Weapon,The Last Boy Scout ) returns to discuss his connection to Donald Westlake, the writer on whose work Play Dirty is based, what he and his co-writers each bring to a script, how he pushes through imposter syndrome, respectful but playful actors, how production is just "shopping for ingredients," and...

Nnamdi Asomugha (director/co-writer, The Knife ) discusses going from playing in the NFL to becoming an actor and now writer and producer, embracing new skills, imposter syndrome, teamwork, and just how hard it really is to get a movie out into the world. The Thrilling Adventure Hour celebrates its 20th anniversary with shows in NY and London! Come see Paul F. Tompkins, Paget Brewster, Busy Philip...

Niya Palmer (co-creator, Miss Governor; Run the World ) discusses working with Tyler Perry, being quiet on set, getting inspired by D.A.R.Y.L., how growing up sparring prepared her for some very bad writers' rooms, driving in the wake of an ambulance, and more. LIVE STUFF! A live Dead Pilots Society in LA (or available to stream on demand) on Sunday 9/14 2-4pm at the Elysian Theater. With scripts...

Writer/director Macon Blair ( The Toxic Avenger ; I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore ) discusses managing a bigger production for his second feature, "handmade" films, balancing tones, writing a movie that's not "accidentally stupid," and lots more. LIVE STUFF! A live Dead Pilots Society in LA (or available to stream on demand) on Sunday 9/14 2-4pm at the Elysian Theater. With scripts by L...

A double-header today! First, Jen Statsky (co-creator, Hacks ) returns to discuss maintaining the high quality of the show four seasons in, staying honest while staying funny, season 4's big emotional moments, Carol Burnett, being raised by television, and more. Then, Severance creator Dan Erickson discusses the challenges of season 2, finding "things you can only do on this show," early comedy in...

Michael Seitzman (creator, The Rainmaker , Intelligence ) discusses selling his John Grisham adaptation three times, shooting Dublin for Charleston (for Memphis), his approach to adaptation, storybreaking a conspiracy, hiring a writers room of Finders, Minders, and Grinders, and more. THE WRITERS PANEL IS A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION. Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben Blacke...

Nicholas Stoller (writer and/or director, Forgetting Sarah Marshall , The Muppets , Neighbors ) and novelist Francesca Delbanco created and run Apple TV+'s Platonic . Ahead of the new season on August 6, they discuss writing a show called "Platonic" as a married couple, the importance of set experience for writers, not taking their work home, balancing character and plot, Nick's resistance to writ...

The Naked Gun writers Dan Gregor and Doug Mand ( Chip n' Dale: Rescue Rangers ) discuss the real stakes of a very silly movie, comedy fight scenes, not being referential, why Liam Neeson is integral to remaking The Naked Gun , having on hand an ungodly number of alt jokes, and more. THE WRITERS PANEL IS A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION. Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben Blacker'...

I Know What You Did Last Summer writer/director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson ( Do Revenge ; Someone Great ) returns along with co-writer Sam Lansky to discuss their continuation of the 1997 horror film, modernizing a morality tale, playing plot Jenga, "trauma but make it popcorn," and justifying THAT TWIST. THE WRITERS PANEL IS A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION. Follow and support the show by subscr...

James DeMonaco (writer/director, The Home , The Purge ) discusses co-writing during lockdown, collaborating with Pete Davidson, the movie he passed on that got The Home made, advice from Francis Ford Coppola, and news of maybe a new Purge movie! THE WRITERS PANEL IS A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION. Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben Blacker's newsletter, Re:Writing , where you'l...

Stefanie Leder ( Faking It ; Boo Bitch ) discusses her debut novel, Love, Coffee, and Revolution , a coming-of-age/political adventure/rom com. the long road of writing the book, setting reasonable daily goals, the most important thing to getting published, why "TV is Jewish," and lots more. THE WRITERS PANEL IS A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION. Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben...

Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz (creators, Murderbot ; American Pie ; About a Boy ) discuss working with actors and what Alexander Skarsgård brought to the titular role of Murderbot, who your audience is, writing and directing together after a two-decade break, and lots more. THE WRITERS PANEL IS A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION. Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben Blacker's newsletter...

David Joseph Craig & Brian Crano (writers/directors of I Don't Understand You ) discuss the personal story behind the movie, writing the truth vs writing honestly, scenes you need, who your competition is, why knowing actors is a good thing, poking the turkey, and more. THE WRITERS PANEL IS A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION. Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben Blacker's newslet...

Leon Chills ( Shadow Force ) discusses writing his way out of a low point, working things out in the first draft, his approach to action scenes, when to ask someone to read your script, and more. 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 wri...

Mike Drucker ( The Tonight Show; Full Frontal with Samantha Bee ) discusses his new memoir, Good Game, No Rematch , writing his life through the lens of video games, how prose is different from stand up comedy, how his family responded to stories about them, discovering his emotional vulnerabilities, and more. Check out a live DEAD PILOTS SOCIETY this Sunday in LA, or stream on demand from anywher...

Sascha Penn (creator/showrunner, Power Book III ) discusses the value of non-industry experience to showrunning, the truth about reps, the storytelling muscle, advice for entering the business at this moment, and more. 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 fr...

Jonathan Tropper (creator, Your Friends and Neighbors, Banshee, Warrior ) discusses writing a TV show closer in sensibility to his novels, the role of luck in a writing career, writing a non-action show, one key piece of advice about craft, and more. THE WRITERS PANEL IS A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION. Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben Blacker's newsletter, Re:Writing , where...

Veronica West (creator of Surface , High Fidelity ; Dexter: New Blood ; Chicago Fire ) discusses why she wrote Surface on spec, the elaborate pitch, working with actors, learning on the job, and more. 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 o...

Abdullah Saeed (creator, Deli Boys ) discusses diligence versus talent, his favorite part of the television-making process, the most important part of your sample script, embracing chaos, and more. 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 w...

Drew Hancock (writer/director, Companion ) discusses being put in a box, tricks for directing on the page, writing from the perspective of a robot, why second drafts always suck, and lots more. 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 write...

Katie O'Brien (creator, The Z Suite ; co-creator, Teachers ; The Santa Clauses ) discusses improv and showrunning, her post- Teachers struggle, optimism in the face of rejection, the bananas sample script she had to write, and more. 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 we...

Adam Rudman ( Carl the Collector ; Nature Cat ; Sesame Street ) discusses pitching and selling pre-school series, the throughline in his shows, carrying on the traditions of Buster Keaton and Spongebob, and more. 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...

Michelle Nader (showrunner of Shifting Gears and Deli Boys ) discusses relationships with actors, including her "avatar" Kat Dennings, writing yourself out of your low points, how growing up in the mob prepared her for a career in television, and more. THE WRITERS PANEL IS A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION. Follow and support the show by subscribing to Ben Blacker's newsletter, Re:Writing , wher...

In our last episode of the year, journalists Joanna Robinson and Dave Gonzales , the authors of MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios , discuss making a living as a "pop culture pundit," mapping the story of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the missing "DC vs Marvel" chapter, lessons the MCU might take from recent successes like Deadpool & Wolverine and Agatha All Along , what other franchises might...

Heath Corson ( Animal Kingdom ; Batman: Assault on Arkham ) discussing his new 4-issue comic, The Brood . Set in the “Minor Threats” universe, The Brood is a story about family, the patriarch of which happens to be a criminal mastermind. Heath Corson talks about writing from a personal place, how good and evil don't apply to family dynamics, human moments in a comic book world, and more. And after...