Writers Group Therapy

In this session, we get in the game with David Stassen, Showrunner of Netflix’s hit sports themed comedy “Running Point” that stars Kate Hudson as the President of the LA Waves basketball team. David brings a history of sports television producing to the show, having worked as a producer on ESPN’s “Around the Horn” and “Rome is Burning”. David expanded his narrative experience joining “The Mindy P...

We talk with award-winning playwright, screenwriter and author David Scott Hay about writing experimental speculative fiction and horror. From futuristic ("NSFW") to literally biblical (the upcoming " The Butcher of Nazareth"), David has a unique perspective on the genre and writing. As a screenwriter, David wrote the screenplay for the 2006 film “Hard Scrambled” that won Best...

We talk with prolific Fantasy Romance author Nicolette Andrews about her writer’s journey, her inspirations, self publishing, marketing and live events. Nicolette is best known for twisty-turny romantic fantasy and angsty plots. When she’s not torturing her creations, she enjoys cooking, camping, and cozy videos games. SHOW NOTES Nicolette on Goodreads Nicolette’s website: nicoletteandrews.com (&l...

In this session, we talk about what we’re working on, and how we got those writing gigs, and what to look out for when looking for and taking gigs.  SHOW NOTES: Screen Writing Staffing: https://www.screenwritingstaffing.com InkTip: https://www.inktip.com ISA – International Screenwriters Association Get It Made – download the app and use PROMO CODE: WGT50 for 50% off the 30-day Trial

On this session, we have Randee Dawn, an author whose books and stories reflect her work as a journalist covering the music and entertainment industries. Her first novel was a pop-culture fantasy titled “Tune in Tomorrow” published in 2022 called a “wild ride” and “funny as hell” as it takes readers into a world of alternate reality TV. Her latest book “The Only Song Worth Singing” comes out in Ap...

Hollywood has always had gatekeepers, the people who say what films and shows get made. They have traditionally been the agents, talent/lit agencies and managers.  Today, the go-it-alone filmmakers, streaming networks and social media content creator world have changed that dynamic. How do these changes manifested and what do they mean for writers? SHOW NOTES: None this episode

We look at the latest trends in the industry and what we think 2025 holds for writers. SHOW NOTES This episode was recorded prior to the Los Angeles fires breaking out. We will address this disaster in a future episode when appropriate. 

On this session of writers group therapy, we have Summer Shelton, many multi-hyphenate of the new drama film “You & I,” that she wrote, produced, edited and starred in. It is also her directorial debut. Summer has won many awards for her films and shorts and is the recipient of five fellowships including the Cannes Producing Fellowship and the Sundance Institutes Bingham ray Creative Producing...

Ask a dozen writers how to write and you’ll get twelve different takes. Language and style are not set in stone. Words change meaning, conventions get overwritten by conventional wisdom. How do you stay current with proper style and formatting guidelines? We discuss! SHOW NOTES: Alex Temblador on “Writing An Identity Not Your Own” Is This the Weirdest Script I’ve Ever Read? A Quiet Place

Our 200th Episode! (And we totally forgot to say anything about it!?) Writing your spec script is usually a solitary task and the notes you get, you can take or leave, but what is it like to write for someone else, with their own vision, style and story requirements? We discuss the ins & outs, pros and cons, and what are some tips to help when writing for someone else. STORY NOTES: Session #69...

This session we talk with Cyndi Brec, author of the YA Fantasy/Romance series “The Therans” on the upcoming launch of her first book “Secrets Beneath Scars.” SHOW NOTES: Cyndi’s website Legends, Myths & Lies Newsletter On Facebook On X On Instagram

Evan Ari Kelman’s latest film, the elevated kidnapping thriller “Barron’s Cove,” premiered recently at the Hampton International Film Festival. The script was a semifinalist for the Academy’s Nicholl Fellowships and appeared on the Black List in 2021. Evan is also the CEO of ScriptGen, an AI company that creates tools for writers, designers, and producers to accelerate production and eliminate ine...

On this session of Writers Group Therapy we have with us New Zealand writer/director Christine Jeffs to talk about her new medical drama “A Mistake” starring Elizabeth Banks. Previously Christine directed Amy Adams and Emily Blunt in “Sunshine Cleaning,” and Gwyneth Paltrow in “Sylvia.”  SHOW NOTES: "A Mistake" on IMDB Christine Jeffs on IMDB

On Writers Group Therapy, I am joined by the Award-winning author and journalist Alex Temblador to talk about her recently release ground-breaking book “Writing an Identity Not Your Own: A Guide for Creative Writers.”  Alex received her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Central Oklahoma and has taught creative writing seminars, workshops and classes with the Women’s Fiction Associatio...

This summer, AI-related disruptions left the entertainment industry reeling. From video game devs and VO artists strikes over unregulated AI use to protests at Warner Bros. Studios, it's clear that the rapid advancements in AI technology are causing major waves. In this episode, we explore the relationship between AI innovation and human creativity, and ask the question: can these two forces c...

In this session of Writers Group Therapy we discuss Netflix’s visually stunning and narratively compelling“Our Living World” with award winning producer and show runner Ben Roy. Ben has worked across many genres and platforms, creating content for Channel 4, the BBC, PBS and Animal Planet. He has produced adventure and wildlife shows for Discovery, National Geographic and Smithsonian channels.  SH...

In this session of Writers Group Therapy, we have with us Lauren Pomerantz, the writer of the new comedy feature “Am I Okay?" that streams on Max starting June 6th. Lauren has previously written for TV on The Ellen DeGenes Show, Saturday Night Live and Community. She brings her comedy chops to “Am I Okay,” which  debuted at Sundance in 2022 and stars Dokota Johnson and Sonoya Mizuno.  SHOW NO...

In this session, our guest this session is screenwriter and screenwriting teacher Tom Vaughn. Tom teaches screenwriting at The University of Houston, his alma mater, and online, he offers tons of free writing advice online through his daily posts on X and his weekly Story and Plot newsletter, which has nearly 5000 subscribers. SHOW NOTES: Storyandplot.com On IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11293...

In this session of Writers Group Therapy, we are talking with Brett Wagner, the writer and director of The Big Bend, a thriller borne out of an experience he had with his own family in the deep desert of west Texas. His award winning shorts “Chief” and “Care” appeared at Sundance, the LA International Short Film Festival and received a BAFTA award of excellence, and qualified for the Academy Award...

In this session, horror fans will be excited to hear from The First Omen screenwriting team of Arkasha Stevenson and Tim Smith who also directed and produced the film respectively. We discuss their passion for the original that drove their process in creating a terrifying prequel to the Richard Donner classic. Arkasha and Tim are a team who have written and produced projects for AMC, Hulu, Netflix...

We talk with “A Bit of Light” screenwriter Rebecca Callard and Director Stephen Moyer (Bill Compton on “True Blood”) about their touching slice of life film that stars Anna Paquin, Ray Winstone and newcomer Luca Hogan. ***Spoiler note: Contains some spoilers*** SHOW NOTES: Stephen Moyer on X Stephen Moyer on IG A Bit of Light on IMDB:

What happens when writers say and do stuff that comes back to haunt them? We discuss how the industry reacts to the personal actions of writers and what you should be cautious of when posting and vlogging. SHOW NOTES: James Gunn Fired From ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’ Franchise Over Offensive Tweets Star Wars: All 18 Fired & Replaced Directors In the Disney Era Publisher drops author for using fa...

Brooklyn lawyer turned actor and author Steve Schlam discusses is new novel “The Harvesting of Haystacks Kane” that was released by 8th House Publishing. Steve studied under Joseph Heller, the renowned author of “Catch-22” at City University of New York where he earned his Master’s in Creative Writing and English.  SHOW NOTES: Steve's Website:  www.steveschlam.com 8th House Publishing Shop Buy...

On this session, “Barry” co-executive producer and writer Duffy Boudreau talks about writing the award winning Max series as well as his earlier work in comics and journey from Oklahoma to Washington to Los Angeles. Editor Note: The day after recording our interview with Duffy Boudreau, “Barry” was nominated for Best Comedy Series in the WGA Awards. SHOW NOTES: Barry  on IMDB Duffy Boudreau on IMD...

Fashion was the first to get “fast” with “Fast Fashion.” Then saw the rise of “Fast Publishing” and “Fast Music.” Is Hollywood the next creative realm to get to the cheap and trendy treatment? We discuss what is “fast” and how it’s going to come for Hollywood. SHOW NOTES: TikTok Is Turning the Publishing World Into Fast Fashion Fast Fashion an music festivals and concerts Asylum movies and the blo...