Screenwriting: From the Trenches

Kay is out of town this week, so Melissa Turkington , columnist, story analyst, screenwriter and director, joins us as a guest co-host to discuss our marquee topic. We also delve into the recent controversy where Melissa was harassed by another screenwriter and discuss what steps women (and others) can take to unmask these predators and bring them into the light. Our Weekly Resource: The Story Eng...

This week we are discussing burnout. Dear God we are so burned out. Our Weekly Resource: The Breaking Out of Breaking In Podcast . Their latest episode features a former guest and Kay’s co-writer on her feature film, `` The MisEducation of Bindu ”, Prarthana Mohan , so that’s awesome. And no matter if you’re a screenwriter, indie filmmaker, or whatever flavor of storyteller you find yourself to be...

Rob and Kay discuss the tips/tricks/devices that will keep you writing! Our Weekly Resource: The StoryClock Workbook , from Seth Worley . A cool kind of all-encompassing little thing to help facilitate your writing. Has a story clock, obviously, and also a place for notes, developments, research, ideas, etc. It’s like carrying around your story brain in a notebook, which, can be extremely helpful....

Rob and Kay welcome Rod Blackhurst ( Here Alone , Amanda Knox ) to the podcast to talk about one of the primary jobs of screenwriters -- at least in feature films -- working with directors. Our Weekly Resource: It’s us! This is the last week we are running our screenwriting program contest where you can win a copy of Fade in or WriterDuet . All you have to do is listen to this episode, or episode...

Rob & Kay are reunited and talk about all the reasons that screenwriters should occasionally (or regularly) get out of their words and into the business of making them real...for the sake of their words🤔 Our Weekly Resource: Film Riot . If you take our advice and begin to make things, you’ll need a guide and Film Riot, in their over 10 year presence online, has an episode for damn near just a...

Since Rob (as longtime listeners know), is no fan of contests, Kay grabbed Julia this week to this episode to put the Executive of Script Pipeline , Matt Misetch in the hot seat. Our Weekly Resource: Script Pipeline ’s new Symposium series . It’s free and covers all sorts of writing topics. Can’t make a scheduled Symposium? They are recorded and download for free for all writers! Notes From the Ep...

This episode we are putting our favorite screenwriting programs, Fade in and WriterDuet , together, for a little tet-a-tet. Our Weekly Resource:  Giveaway! Our first giveaway comes from the proprietors of the screenwriting programs discussed in this episode giving us a free copy of each program to bequeath to our listeners, so, if you are able to see in your podcast app the question posed to...

Welcome to Thunderdome! In our independent film umbrage episode, Kay and Rob discuss Eric Kohn 's indiewire article as a backdrop to a heap of gripes about the state of independent film, such as it is in 2022. Among the topics discussed, the machine that is Sundance, the meritocracy lies of Hollywood, and how studios have sucked the life out of indie film with a business model riddled with mi...

This episode we sports a guest co-host (while Rob is off for his birthday), Julia White , who is also Kay Tuxford’s writing and producing partner, to the show. They talk tales from set – things Julia and Kay both learned as writers on set when their work was being filmed. Our Weekly Resource: The US Copyright Office - register your script or treatment for 30 years! Take that WGA registration! It c...

Rob & Kay talk to Nathan Graham Davis ,  Professional (repped) screenwriter, YouTuber, and made man to discuss the realities of working a day job while writing, professionally. Along the way they discuss Twitter drama, addictive games, relationships with managers/reps, type 2 fun, and Stephen King's " The Dark Tower ". Our Weekly Resource: Nate's YouTube Channel Notes From the Episod...

Rob and Kay salute 2021 on the last day of the year by discussing some of the questions that have been sent to them by loyal listeners (like you) as well and having all the tangential conversations on " Don't Look Up! ",  that such an endeavor would ultimately inspire. Right in the middle, our duo get the news of Betty White's passing and pay tribute to her legend, as well. Our Weekly Resourc...

This episode we brings a guest, Julia White , who happens to be Kay Tuxford’s writing and producing partner, to the show. We discuss Writing Partnerships: how Kay and Julia met (and how to woo Kay), how they manage writing duties (in and out of Covid scenarios) and what both a good AND bad writing partnership looks like. Our Weekly Resource: Plotdash.com -- a free online virtual corkboard. Use the...

Kay is back for our last live episode of the year, and this week our guest is Robin Rose Singer , former actress turned writer, producer, director (and teacher), who joins us to discuss the topic of "Being Who We Are". We discuss how the industry can often attempt to push us in directions we don't want to go, gatekeepers, writing for our own mental health and, of course, craft, craft, craft. ...

From the Bespectacled Mofo channel's Pandemic archives comes an interview with YouTube giant Darious J. Britt whose channel is a must for any budding filmmaker into today's indiefilm landscape. Rob and Darious discuss the various excuses that people give themselves not to make films, as well as the other (painful side) of doing everything yourself. This interview was one of the best from this year...

Kay is still in New York this week, so we have another guest host Paige Feldman , author, writer, director, and most recently, YouTuber , as she documents her journey to make her first feature film, Kaleidoscope. But as a guest host Paige is here to help with today’s topic/interview “ How to Decrease Budget Without Decreasing Story (Part Two)” with our other guest, filmmaker Josh Caldwell . Our We...

Kay is in New York this week and the next, so we will have guest hosts in her place, and this week’s guest host is Jeremy LaLonde , filmmaker, podcaster (Canadian). But as a guest host Jeremy is here to help with today’s topic/interview of sorts “ How to Decrease Budget Without Decreasing Story” with our other guest, Aleem Hossain , the writer/director/filmmaker behind the $30K sci-fi indie featur...

Kay & Rob interview Jamie Nash about his book, the latest in the StC series, and talk writer's rooms, pitching, staffing, specs, broken compasses, and why the StC formula doesn't always fit the structure of a pilot. Our Weekly Resources: Jamie's Book -- Save the Cat Writes for TV Jamie's Podcast -- Writers/Blockbusters Notes From the Episode: Aleem Hossain's No Film School Article Wild Life Tr...

From the Bespectacled Mofo channel's Pandemic archives comes an interview with Nicol Paone, writer/director of Friendsgiving (now on Netflix!) just in time for Thanksgiving! Nicol talks about how she came to embrace her artistry after denying that she was a director, her writing process, dealing with big actors/personalities, understanding what goes into the writing of a joke, and her love of indi...

Kay interviews Prarthana Mohan , co-writer (and director) of their debut feature, The Miseducation of Bindu , and discusses their history, both shared and formative,  pitching, being a woman in the industry and, what "real" indie film is in 2021. Our Weekly Resource: Shot Designer     Notes From the Episode: Bindu on Twitter Bindu Trailer Rob's YouTube Channel How to Make a Movie fo...

This week Kay and Rob discuss tips and tricks for two different but related topics if you're out there pursuing the craft (and business) of screenwriting in the COVID hellscape that is 'Merica. Our Weekly Resource: Twitter -- If you're not on there, you should be!   Notes From the Episode: Jim Cummings Interview The Beta Test Trailer Cathy Scorsese Interview The Screenwriting Life Podcast Rob...

Rob & Kay sit down with award winning director Jordan Miller of the Camp Nightmare podcast to talk writing, Stephen King, Twitter drama, Jordan's latest (award winning) script, METH GATORS (along with who Nicholas Cage should play in the movie), and, of course, LOW-BUDGET HORROR for our very own #SpookySeason episode. Jordan and Rob are old friends (and frequent collaborators) and invite Kay i...

TITLE FIGHT: OUTLINING vs PANTSING! With the Twitter Drama out of the way, Rob and Kay get down to business and discuss their writing habits and make a startling discovering. Afterward, Our Hosts discuss what they're watching this week, the Dave Chappelle controversy and give their resource of the week.  Our Weekly Resource: The Popped App   Notes from the Episode: Kay's Bindu Articles:...

This Week Rob and Kay get into Outlining vs Pantsing, BUT, there were also various Twitter dramas that needed dealt with so got down into the digital mud.  Things from the episode: IATSE Stories Needle in a Timestack Trailer Rob's Nemesis on Twitter Rob's YouTube Channel How to Make a Movie for $1000 Kay's  Twitter Rob's Twitter Email us(!)

From the Bespectacled Mofo channel's Pandemic archives comes an interview with Jenna St. John. Jenna and I used to be part of a writing group when she lived on the east coast, but has since moved to LA LA Land to get into the trenches of professional TV/FILM writing. She and her husband have co-created a tv show, SEXPECTATIONS, that was done on a fraction of the budget for most streaming shows wit...

This week Kay and Rob discuss the benefits and advantages of writing the first draft of your screenplay by hand, as well as getting into umbrage about artist thievery, Shia LaBeouf, Squid Game, and Stephen King. It's an embarrassment of riches, really. Our Weekly Resource: The Vomit draft(s) -- P.E. Robinson Screenplify Vomit Draft Screenplify Writing Notebook Notes from the Episode: Bad Art Frien...