On The Page

Writer Antwone Fisher talks about what went into writing and selling the classic movie about his real life and the importance of letting yourself be embarrassed by the truth.

Comedian Wayne Federman, author of "The History of Stand-Up," talks about the way that technology and the times have changed stand-up from Mark Twain to Dave Chapelle.

Writer/director Sonya Ballantyne talks about her experiences as a "creative native" and about her scripted work focusing on Indigenous women and girls in non-traditional film genres. 

Writer Savannah Ward loves to be "devastated" by a good story. They discuss the multiple timelines highlighted on  Cruel Summer  and, as a non-binary writer, give their personal take about trans characters on screen.

Alicia Carroll, staff writer for  Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist,  talks about the show's unique structure and approach to story and music. 

Award-winning playwright Dezi Gallegos is now a creative executive at Proximity Media ( Judas and the Black Messiah ). Here he talks about the company's desire to develop original movies with a unique perspective. 

Jennifer Paz talks about her take on script and story as an actor and writer and about the need for more Asian-American content and characters on screen.

Rob Buchta, producer of  Running Wild  and creator of  You vs. Wild  on Netflix, talks about the challenges of a choose-your-own-adventure experience and the marriage of action and emotion needed for a factual adventure show.

Deborah Patz's book,  Write! Shoot! Edit!  was intended for teenagers but it's the perfect primer for anyone who's ever wanted to film something but was too afraid to start. 

Pilar and her friends Brian Pope, Mike Musa and Alex Troxler get together for their annual discussion about the best screenplay and best adapted screenplay Oscar nominees.

Writer Michelle Denise Jackson talks about what she's learned as she advanced from Writer's PA on  Grey's Anatomy , to Writers Assistant on  Mrs. America , to Staff Writer on two Netflix series and now as Co-Producer on  Queen Sugar ! 

Writer/Producer Evette Vargas discusses the content and applications needed to create successful pitch decks and sizzle reels.

Pilar Alessandra talks about ways to give and get script notes at the submission stage, the development stage and the production stage.

Rebecca Phelps talks about her approach to writing the Watty Award-winning novel  Down World  and its similarities, in process, to writing a screenplay.

Screenwriter and executive producer Jessica Goldberg talks about  Cherry , the   feature film she co-wrote starring Tom Holland, as well as her experiences creating the Hulu series  The Path  and acting as showrunner for the Netflix series  Away .

Tom McCafferty, Vice Chairman of  Veterans in Media and Entertainment,  talks about the creative possibilities and unique challenges of writing movie and TV shows that focus on military events and characters. 

When should you incorporate? How can you take a home office deduction? How can you get financially organized? Entertainment accountant Trina Rozen explains it all to you.

Actor/Writer Finnerty Steeves discusses the courage and "1001 favors" it took to write, produce and star in her independent film,  Before/During/After  being released by Gravitas Pictures.

Andrew Robinson, senior writer for  Blizzard Entertainment talks about how he helps craft narrative and world-building for  World of Warcraft ,  StarCraft,   Heroes of the Storm ,  Hearthstone and Overwatch  with animated cinematics, short stories, comics and songs. 

Johanna Stein, show-runner of  Madagascar A Little Wild,  breaks down the animation process from story board to "lip flap ."

After years of hard work and hustle, writer Crosby Selander defied the odds and sold his script in a major bidding war to Legendary Pictures. Hear how he did it and cleared that "final hurdle!"

Award-winning Brazilian writer Rosane Svartman talks about the story work that goes into writing 155 episodes of one season of a prime-time telenovela.

Hunter Doohan discusses what he's learned as an actor and as a writer from portraying the role of Adam opposite Bryan Cranston on the Showtime series  Your Honor.

Mitch Lusas, Head of Product fo r Coverfly , talks about his company's approach to finding talent and helping writers.   

JaNeika and JaSheika James, co-executive producers of  Gossip Girl , talk about the life and career experiences that went into their inspiring memoir,  Living Double .