Screaming into the Hollywood Abyss

We talk to the dynamic duo of Scott Beck and Bryan Woods about gimmicks in scripts, a yes after multiple nos and what happened to their directing dreams. They talk with incredible candor about their Quiet Place journey, what happened, what they learned and how they coped with a complex career conundrum. We talk difficult decisions, celebrating and commiserating and putting things in perspective. A...

We talk to novelist and showrunner Dari Polatin. She talks about getting her book written at 4am and during lunchbreaks, the rarity of being allowed to adapt a novel and the struggles of a junior female writer in  a room full of men. She talks about writing plays, struggling to pay bills and her pride in showrunning her own show. Daria talks about social media, fan feedback and the vulnerability o...

We talk to the amazing Andy Siara. He tells us the story behind the time loop in Palm Springs, his fear of never working again and gives the most extraordinary piece of advice about hope. He talks the difficult of showrunning, explains what he does well and what went wrong for him when he lost control of his story and why he loves co-showrunners. We cover starting a family, touring rock bands and...

We talk to development executive Alex Hedlund. We talk at length about Matt Damon movie The Great Wall, why it failed, how he was involved and when he realised it was going wrong. He tells us what he learned from working on it, how it impacted his career and how it killed a genre. Alex talks about giving and taking notes, how he now chooses his projects and working on sensitive documentary topics....

We talk to the extraordinary John Cameron Mitchell. We talk failure in writing, directing and actor, the risks of coming out and how they decide which projects to work on. John talks Hedwig, passion projects and discrimination. They tell a remarkable OnlyFans story, explain the fightback against stereotypes and makes very clear their view on content houses. JCM also talks about every failure leadi...

We (by which we actually mean just Dan) talk to writer and director Peter Kosminsky. He tells us about his early firings (of which there were many including lasting only a day as a researcher because they didn't like his ideas around tampon tax) as well as how he went from Chemistry student to lighting expert. He discusses his shortcomings as a director, his strengths and how they work on bot...

We talk to the magnificent Amy Berg. She tells us her journey through Hollywood - taking a step down to be an assistant, her first big break on North Shore and her start with a writing partner (and then his moment of grace and nobility that ended that partnership). She talks openly about being bullied to the point of physical illness, what happened after that boss was cancelled and what she learne...

In our first episode in the second half of the season, we talk to dynamic duo Rasheed and TJ about their journey to the top. How to decide the credits, how to share victories/commiserate losses and instances of when outside forces have tried to pull them apart are all covered in this fun and insightful episode. We discuss bad rooms, bad jobs and bad people. But also rewarding shows, great colleagu...

We talk to amazing British showrunner Joe Barton. He tells us about being fired from Batman, what a British showrunner does and standing in the snow waiting to be rejected. We cover writing about a foreign culture, critical versus commercial success and a bit more about being fired from Batman. He tells us about his creative process, British interest in America and the importance of grammar when l...

We talk to Toby Gorman, president of Universal Television Alternative Studio. He tells us about his dream of being an airline pilot, falling into this career by accident and becoming a showrunner in his 20s. Toby tells us about killing projects, giving notes and part of the American Idol set nearly falling on him. We talk nepotism, the role of a studio president and the transatlantic cultural diff...

We talk to Emmy-nominated showrunner Josh Silberman. We talk eating rats, nearly freezing to death and creating compelling TV. He tells us about his journey to the top, stolen show ideas and how to treat junior staff. Josh also talks Gene Wilder, working for Disney and constant seasickness. A fascinating insight into unscripted television by one of the best.

We talk to the effervescent Meredith Scardino. She tells us about the transition from late night to episodic, handling rejection of both instant and slow ideas and how her upbringing prepared her for a life of pitching ideas. We discuss warm rooms, mean rooms and no asshole policies and what sort of leader she is. Meredith talks about the issues with virtual rooms, the joy of writing comedy and th...

We speak to the showrunner and creator Anthony Q Farrell. He talks about working in an office, then The Office, and then back to Macy's. We talk about the uncertainty of starting out and knowing when it is safe to give up the day job, his animated show that he is desperate to share and 'work as therapy'. Anthony tells us about his leadership style. the 'sick cyclical journey of...

We talk to the extraordinary Michael Starrbury. He tells us about his treasured film script that he just can't get made, his decision to not move to Los Angeles and his determination to run his career the way he wants. He talks about turning down jobs to stick to his path, ignoring the warnings of others and only moving forward with projects he believes in. Michael talks about drive, commitme...

We speak to the fascinating James Roland. He talks about working long hours on terrible film sets, his journey into directing and rates his abilities as a showrunner. We talk diversity, the importance of treating people well and what he learned from bad bosses that helped his leadership. James talks about endangering Harry Belafonte, literally falling asleep at the wheel and giving every one in th...

We talk to showrunner Beth Schwartz. She talks about her painfully long journey from assistant, how she now treats those in that position and what she learned along the way. She happily shares her tale of her slow start, nearly flying home and giving up and how she got her big break. Beth talks about respect in a room, the dangers of comparisons with other peoples' careers and finding your ow...

We talk to the amazing Tze Chun. He talks us through his mathematical approach to creativity and goal-setting - a short every six months, 100 episodes of television! - his transitions from film to tv and back again and talks us through his first big break. Tze explains how his stubbornness ensured he would never give up, he explains his strengths and weaknesses and how he leads. A insightful and t...

We talk to the incredible Jan Nash. She tells us about her long and storied career in Hollywood, the importance of compassionate leadership and her time as a studio executive. She tells us what she learned as an investment banker, the importance of telling your own story and the privilege of working in a career you love and putting it all into perspective. We discuss leadership styles, the benefit...

We talk to the extraordinary writer, showrunner and producer Liz Hannah. She talks about working with Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep in her breakout script, getting tattoos after project successes and not buying her husband gifts. We discuss the pressure of following up a big success, having two hits out at once and the anxiety of working in entertainment and the feeling of relief when getting an over...

In an episode with two British voices, it was a pleasure to have writer and director Nida Manzoor join us on the podcast. She tells us about the excitement and nerves of directing for British institution Doctor Who, turning down a chance to work on a Marvel show and bringing her show We Are Lady Parts to life. She talks us through the process of both writing and directing, how she chooses her next...

We talk to NCIS legend Christopher Silber. He talks about his first time working on the franchise, the difficult work environment at the time and getting fired. But then also his return to the franchise, his continued love for the work and the creation of the Hawaiian iteration of the show. Christopher discusses the pressure to succeed, the difficulties of being a showrunner - and why he shares th...

Studio president Beatrice Springborn joins the podcast to give the view from 'upstairs'. She talks about her journey through journalism, start-ups and Pixar with some Film School thrown in. We discuss her leadership style , her empathy when rejecting projects and whether she wants commercial success or awards. Beatrice talks about completing a writing course and what she learned about re...

We talk to director Tessa Blake about her rise through the world of episodic TV. She talks about the balance between craft and leadership skills, what she learned as a cocktail waitress and the importance of learning people's names. Tessa tells us about early rejections, insinuations that women couldn't succeed in this part of the industry and her attempts at writing. She explains how sh...

We talk to TV writer, WGA Board Member and co-founder of Pay Up Hollywood Liz Alper.  We chat with Liz about the challenges she’s faced this year looking for work as well as what the industry is facing as a whole in the middle of what feels like an industry-wide slowdown.  She discusses what the guild is doing to help writers sustain their careers as well as the impetus for Pay Up Hollywood, a pro...

We talk to comedian, writer and showrunner Mike Royce. He talks us through his life as a comedian, compares bombing on stage to bad pitching in a room and the joy of regular Emmy nominations. And then trying to find success post-Raymond, failing at one show yet getting into the showrunners' club and being given another chance with the next one. We discuss why showrunning is hard, what he lear...