Act Two Podcast

Where ideas come from and then how to turn that into an actual movie or TV show is THE hardest part of being a writer, and one of the most-asked questions between writers: "How did you come up with that?" So this episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman break down in detail how they went from Idea to Outline for their new Murder Mystery spec.   TWIW: Tasha's unexpected self-sabotage moment / To r...

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss all the ways a Screenwriter feels uncomfortable in their day to day working lives, and how they tackle those feelings when they come up, whether it be a Pitch, a General Meeting, or discussing difficult ideas in their scripts.   TWIW: How Act Two's first Patreon Live Q&A went, Tasha's Screenwriting nightmare, Short Form content and how difficult it is t...

We all feel it. That voice in our head telling us we are Imposters and someone will finally figure out we don't know how to write, pitch or create stories. Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss what their own Imposter Syndrome looks like and how they have managed to not only combat it, but in some cases, completely defeat it.    TWIW: Is Barbie an "adapted" or "original" screenplay? / Tasha is...

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss what a General Meeting is and how to impress once you're in one. They also discuss why reps are key, but not imperative, to a Screenwriting career, and how to meet with reps if you are taking meetings with Agents and Managers.   TWIW: 22 Jump Street's surprising improv scene, The importance and beauty of listening to others on set, and Josh & Tasha list...

Happy 2024! Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss goals in the new year. Get ready. It's an exciting time.    Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss their Top 3 Christmas movies, why they work, and what they would do if they wrote a Christmas movie.   TWIW: The Oscars are now honoring "fan favorite" films / How NFL has cornered the market on character-driven storytelling / and the pain in the ass that is living with a writer.   Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundq...

Hosts Tasha Huo & Josh Hallman discuss filmmaking tips we can learn from writer-director James Mangold (LOGAN, INDIANA JONES & THE DIAL OF DESTINY).    TWIW: Is Harry Potter just a magical Mission Impossible movie? And how do you combat "spec boredom" so you can finish your script instead of move on to a new idea?   Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lun...

This Week in Writing includes a recap of our Screenwriter Meet Up, heart vs marketability, when to throw the kitchen sink at your script’s hook, how to work a general to your advantage, do you need to drop your rep if they don’t “get you,” the learned skill of trimming minutes, shredding the “a screenplay is a bland blueprint” opinion, and a reminder of why the first ten pages of your screenplay n...

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...

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

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

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

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...

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...

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...

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 loo...

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 exp...

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...

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

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/...

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...

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 fir...

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 t...

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@gmai...

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...