The Writers Hangout

Hello Writers, come hang out with Sandy and Terry as they discuss how a short story from a dime store magazine turned into one of the most discussed films produced in Hollywood and the fifth-grossing film of 1954.  The film REAR WINDOW, starring Jimmy Stewart, Grace Kelly, Raymond Burr, and Thelma Ritter, was written by John Michael Hayes and directed by Alfred Hitchock.   👍 If you enjoy the show...

Tèlman kontan ou isit la! We’re talking with Haitian-born writer and showrunner  Mike Gauyo , one of Hollywood’s top emerging creatives best known for his writing roles on HBO’s hit series INSECURE and Netflix’s GINNY & GEORGIA,  about his new series SEND HELP, a coming-of-age dark comedy, premiering August 11th on AMC'S ALLBLK  network. 👍 If you enjoy the show, please remember to follow...

I was thinking about how screenwriters spend a lot of time coming up with a backstory for their characters, so I thought it would be fun to turn the tables and delve into the backstory of a screenwriter.  Bruce Joel Rubin is an American screenwriter, meditation teacher, and photographer. His films often explore themes of life and death with metaphysical and science fiction elements. Jacob's L...

Hang out with us as we dive into the Mamet Memo. In 2005, playwright, film director, screenwriter, and producer David Mamet wrote a memo to the writing staff of his CBS show The Unit. The memo surfaced online after the series was canceled and has been passed around writers’ room ever since.  This doc is filled with wisdom that works for both television and film.  👍 If you enjoy the show please re...

 I was going to tell you the remarkable story of the unjustly overlooked screenwriter, but I had a strange week and needed to share it with you.  👍 If you enjoy the show please remember to follow us and leave a review where you listen to podcasts.  📸 Check out our IG for photos @thewritershangoutpodcast 💙 If you have an idea for the podcast or would like to make a comment please contact us @the...

As a writer, you will have to deal with rejection.  First, do not beat yourself up emotionally.  Second, hit play and hang out with us as we talk about hit movies and television shows rejected by Hollywood's best. Including BACK TO THE FUTURE, PULP FICTION, and STRANGER THINGS.   👍 If you enjoy the show please remember to follow us and leave a review where you listen to podcasts.  📸 Check o...

In this episode, we have Kristin Overn the Founder and Executive Director of the PAGE International Screenwriting Awards competition.  She began her film career as a producer's assistant and script reader at companies like Davis Entertainment, Bonneville Worldwide, and 20th Century Fox, and since that time, she has consulted, collaborated, and developed screenplays with dozens of writers, pro...

We continue our conversation on how PAGE Awards Judges evaluate your screenplay with Karen Craig and Scott Barkan.  Next week to wrap up this four-part series we’ll be talking to Kristin Overn, the Founder and Executive Director of the PAGE International Screenwriting Awards.     Karen Craig is a professional screenwriter and script doctor whose credits include such films as AMERICAN PSYCHO II, st...

Two more PAGE Awards Judges, David Portlock, and John Evans continue our conversation on how they evaluate your screenplay. These two Judges drop a lot of helpful info in this interview.  ✰ David Portlock has worked as a script reader for United Talent Agency and currently works for Bassett Vance Productions. Over the past 15 years, David has consulted and assisted dozens of writers in the develop...

 Two more PAGE Awards Judges, Dwayne Smith, and Mike Kuciak continue the conversation on how they evaluate your screenplay. Mike Kuciak has two movies coming out in 2022; he’s the writer-director and writer-producer of the other. He’s a producer on a third film scheduled to begin production in late 2022. He has served as a producer and executive producer on several independent films. He was the se...

Two PAGE Awards Judges, Victoria Lucas and Laurie Ashbourne , talk about how they evaluate your screenplays, whether you're just starting or have a script in the competition. You do not want to miss this inside talk. ⭐️ Laurie Ashbourne began her film career in Disney animation, and over the past 20 years, she has worked as a story consultant, writer, and producer for Disney, Amazon, and man...

British screenwriter,  Ian Mackintosh’s plane went missing on July 7, 1979,  nineteen days before his thirty-ninth birthday, over the Gulf of Alaska.  What happened still remains a mystery. Join us as we tell the story of Lieutenant Commander Hamish Ian Mackintosh, a British Royal Navy officer, a writer of thriller novels, and a screenwriter for British television. Ian’s series, THE SANDBAGGERS wa...

Our guest is writer extraordinaire Seth Cohen .  Seth and his partner, Amu Pocha are known for the NBC sitcom Undateable, Netflix's animated Paradise PD, and The Head of the Class reboot for HBO Max. Seth is currently a consulting producer on FARZAR, an upcoming Netflix animated series.  👍 If you enjoy the show please remember to follow us and leave a review where you listen to podcasts.  💙...

In part two, we continue the story based on the Vanity Fair article on television writer, Elisabeth Finch who wrote many of the emotional scripts for GREY'S ANATOMY exploring cancer, abortion, and sexual abuse using her own life experience.   👍 If you enjoy the show, please follow us and leave a review so we can keep hanging out. 💙 If you have an idea for the podcast or would like to make a...

In part one, rising star and television writer, Elizabeth Finch wrote many of the emotional scripts for GREY'S ANATOMY exploring cancer, abortion, and sexual abuse using her own life experience.  But when an email arrived at Shonda Rhimes’ production company, Shondaland, as well as ABC’s parent company, Disney, that Elizabeth wasn't telling the truth.  Elizabeth has been put on a leave o...

Join us as we celebrate Mother's Day with actor, writer, and voice-over artist Claudette Wells as we discuss how moms influence our creativity.  Plus, Claudette shares a story about Bill Murray, hanging out with Anne Beatts, and being a founding member of Dead Mother's Day.  I promise you it isn't as terrible as it sounds! 👍 If you enjoy the show, please follow us and leave a revie...

Sandy and Terry explore the difference between the movie and the true story.  First up is 1979’s Amityville Horror, starring Josh Brolin, Margot Kidder, and Rod Steiger.  Amityville Horror is about a family terrorized by supernatural forces after moving into a murder house in Amityville, Long Island, New York.   👍 If you enjoy the show, please follow us and leave a review so we can keep hanging o...

On Christmas Eve 2000, Susan Berman, a journalist, screenwriter, and author was murdered in her home at 1527 Benedict Canyon Drive in Beverly Hills.   Susan, the only daughter of a mobster and former dancer, grew up as mob royalty, where Elvis and Liberace entertained on her birthdays.  Her tragic death shocked her friends but did Susan know her killer? 👍 If you enjoy the show please remember to...

Today's guest is television writer Amy Pocha .  Amy and her partner, Seth Cohen , are known for the NBC sitcom Undateable, Netflix's animated Paradise PD, and The Head of the Class reboot for HBO Max. Amy is currently a consulting producer on FARZAR, an upcoming Netflix animated series.  Amy talks about writing for television and how she walked away from one of her first jobs in the ente...

We have a very special guest today, Judy TrueCrime, a friend of the Pod here to discuss Episode 3 of The Writers’ Hangout, The Mysterious Death of the Hollywood Screenwriter.   👍 If you enjoy the show please leave us a review where you listen to podcasts.  💙 If you have an idea for the podcast or would like to make a comment please write us at  thewritershangoutpodcast@gmail.com  The PAGE Intern...

On The Writers' Hangout, we talk with Victoria Lucas , an independent producer who has developed scripts for projects starring Antonio Banderas, Scarlett Johansson, Wesley Snipes, and Hilary Swank. Among her favorite projects is the highly acclaimed coming-of-age film, The Island on Bird Street, awarded the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. Victoria is also a Judge for th...

Today we tell the story of the screenwriter and mastermind behind ANIMAL HOUSE, CADDYSHACK, and co-founder of NATIONAL LAMPOON, Doug Kenney . Friends and co-workers remember him as a “genius,” Kenney, who died at 33 when he fell off a cliff in Hawaii. If you enjoy the show please leave us a review.   💙 If you have an idea for the podcast please write us at  thewritershangoutpodcast@gmail.com  We...

What's the sitch? We're celebrating the 25th anniversary of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER with Steve La Rue.  Steve is an internationally recognized leader in film and television development. Steve has 20+ years working independently and for Paramount Pictures Corp., NBC/Universal, and 20th Century Fox, where he championed such series as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The X-Files, The Simpsons, Ki...

Host Sandy Adomaitis and screenwriter Michael Hitchcock discuss the first film he wrote, WHERE THE DAY TAKES YOU, what it is like to direct an episode of GLEE and how he balances being a true Hollywood hyphenate.  Michael has not only written on some of your favorite television shows, he can also be seen on the big screen in BARB AND STAR GO TO VISTA DEL MAR, Christopher Guest’s BEST IN SHOW, and...

In today's episode, we share the fascinating story of screenwriter-director Paul Bern . Paul Bern, known throughout the movie business as "Hollywood's Father Confessor," earned a reputation for being a loyal and supportive friend and becoming one of MGM's most respected and creative screenwriter-directors. Paul married Jean Harlow, an American actress. Known for her portra...