Act Two Podcast

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss the MARIO movie, 3 different kinds of note-taking writer personalities, the hopeful future of movie theaters, and Josh's first visit to a David H. Steinberg Writer Meet-Up.   Questions / Comments:  ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414Beg

Back by popular demand... In part two of a series, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss Hollywood phrases that producers, studio execs, and reps say to writers. They discuss what they mean, where they're coming from, and how to address them as a writer.    Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414Beg

Hollywood has its own language that writers must learn to speak in order to succeed. In this Part One of a series, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss some of the most-used phrases that producers, studio execs and reps say to writers. They discuss what they mean, where they're coming from, and how to address them as a writer.   Questions / Comments:  ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREA...

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman have been in the same Writer's Group together since 2009. They discuss how their group started, how they function from week to week, and the Do's and Don'ts that have kept their group running smoothly.   Questions / Comments:  ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414Beg

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss how they go about writing heists. Having written a few heists between them, both for film and TV, Tasha and Josh break down the first steps they take to organize and plot their heist before going to script.   Questions / Comments:  ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414Beg

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and how you can apply it to your Screenwriting career.   Questions / Comments:  ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414Beg

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman break down what it means to "hustle" as a Screenwriter. TWIW: What writers can learn from actors on pitching, How pitching a movie requires multiple skills as a writer so get good at all of them, and the writer term "Is it a bug or a feature?"   Questions / Comments:  ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414Beg

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman talk about what we can learn about how actors look at writing, discuss whether specs are necessary for a successful Screenwriting career, how to sell a script in animation and more This Weeks in Writing!   Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the great Paul Lundquist Music by 414beg

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman talk with screenwriter Nicole Ramberg about her script CRAIGSHAVEN which landed on the 2022 Black List. We also talk about her career path, working in Hollywood, and her love for Amblin-esque movies.    Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the great Paul Lundquist Music by 414beg

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman sit down with Screenwriter Paul Bae, creator of the hit podcast series BLACK TAPES, and talk about how he turned his screenplay into a podcast to jump start his Screenwriting career, how he got his agents, how Twitter has helped his career, and how he has managed to make it in Hollywood as a Canadian still living in Canada.   Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gma...

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss their This Week in Writing, including AMC's debacle with seat sales, the newly-released TED LASSO teaser, how to give and receive targeted notes to help a writer write the script they want to write (not you), and a look into what a typical pro Screenwriter's career actually looks like and why some call it the "Screenwriting Wilderness".   Questions / Commen...

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss... pacing and action sequences! We love action and the pacing is so important to your screenplay. We also discuss general meetings and the length of specs.    Questions / Comments:  ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

Lists on how to write a "great" screenplay are practically useless when sitting down before a blank page. But hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss how to use lists and tips in the REWRITE process to help hone your decent script into a great one.   Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414beg

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss what skills professional Screenwriters need that aren't writing. Turns out there are a lot of skills Screenwriters need to practice and hone in order to have a successful career.   Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414beg

Screenwriter Steve Desmond and his co-writer Michael Sherman have made a career of securing IP and adapting it via pitches and spec sales. Their scripts have landed them on the Black List multiple times, and their latest feature, KNOCK AT THE CABIN, releases in theaters February 3, 2023 with M. Night Shyamalan directing. And it all started with a little-known IP.   Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman...

This Week in Writing, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss the PUSS IN BOOTS franchise, WEDNESDAY, a fantastic book on writing by George Saunders, a schedule of how the industry functions, and reading between the lines when an Exec tells you to send work "at any stage".   Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414beg

Happy 2023! Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss goals in the new year... how to set them, approach them, tackle them... The new year is here. Let's start strong! Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414beg

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss the responsibilities of a writer when tackling IP...  Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414beg

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss the latest Christmas movie SPIRITED (Ryan Reynolds, Will Farrell) and Christmas movies in general from the perspective of a Screenwriter. What should you consider while writing a Christmas movie, how should you approach it, and what are must-haves and must-nots?    Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414...

Winding down for the holidays, what should writers do? What should you be writing, how should you start preparing for your career in the new year, and what holiday gifts are appropriate for your reps? Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss all things End of Year for Screenwriters.   Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414beg

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss how to hone your ear for dialogue and how to translate unique characters onto the page through the words they say. Hint: eavesdropping on real people is key!   Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414beg

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman take questions... your questions! We cover some of Tasha's favorite subjects: Intellectual Property and Pitching.    Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414beg

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman debate the merits of a "likable protagonist" -- a popular note from producers and execs -- and discuss ways to answer the note in your own writing.   Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414beg

In This Week in Writing, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss when stealing from other movies and shows makes sense, what the difference is between "stealing" and plagiarism, and how Tasha and Josh are currently rewriting their Act Twos.    Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414beg

In This Week in Writing, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss what it means to be Hip-Pocketed by an agent or manager, hot topics in Screenwriting news, and what are the qualities that make a good Showrunner or a monstrous one.   Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414beg