Writers Group Therapy

In today's session, we interview podcast writer Ashley Quach from the "Deck the Halls (with Matrimony)" podcast.  SHOW NOTES: Sassquach Website:  http://www.sassquach.com/ Deck The Halls (with Matrimony) Podcast on iTunes:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deck-the-halls-with-matrimony/id1187670279 Sassquach Radio on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/sassquachradio

The past few months in Hollywood have been CRAZY! In today's session, we discuss what's going on between the WGA (Writers Guild of America) and the ATA (Association of Talents Agents), the college admissions scandal and the stars caught up in the sting, the dumping on Netflix by the Academy, actors and directors, and Disney's takeover of 20th Century Fox. SHOW NOTES: Hollywood Reporter: As Academy...

Wonder Con, produced in the Spring in Anaheim, California by the same company that produces San Diego Comic Con (i.e. the mothership of all comic cons), provides opportunities for writers to network and learn, as well as have a lot of fun. Tom shares his experiences from his trip to Wonder Con 2019 in this week's session. SHOW NOTES: Wonder Con Website: https://www.comic-con.org/wca

Are you stuck in a genre rut? We're often told, as writers, to focus on one genre. If you're going to write horror, then write horror, Got an idea for a rom-com? Forget it! Does being in a rut, in what we write and watch, make us less well rounded as writers? What can you do to get out of a rut? SHOW NOTES: Netflix Category Code Full List:  https://netflix-codes.com/

Living the dream in Hollywood - it's a marathon, not a sprint. How do you survive the ups and (frequent) downs? What keeps you going? We help Tom with his latest freak-out and give you some ideas to make your journey an enjoyable, or at least more bearable, one. SHOW NOTES: None this episode

"Mary Poppins Returns," "The Force Awakens," "Star Trek," "Fast & The Furious"...are these sequels, remakes, reboots or just rehashes? Why, besides money, does Hollywood seem to reinvent the wheel with franchises? SPOILERS! SHOW NOTES: None this episode

How do you build relationships like a pro in the industry? Do you send holiday gifts? Birthday cards? Friend on Facebook? Why professional relationships are important and how to maintain them in this week's session. SHOW NOTES: None this episode

How did they get away with using all those companies in "Ralph Breaks The Internet"? (May contain SPOILERS!) In today's session we discuss Fair Use. Note: We are NOT lawyers. Consult an actual attorney before you make your multi-million dollar, pop-culture-themed movie.  SHOW NOTES: Hollywood Reporter: Making of "Ralph Breaks the Internet: How Disney Turned eBay and Amazon Into Cartoons Gamespot.c...

This week's session is an interview with Gustavo Sampaio, the Founder and Director of the NoHo Cinefest in North Hollywood, now in its sixth year. He is also a writer, producer, director and editor. We discuss the upcoming festival and his film "GAIA." SHOW NOTES: NoHo Cinefest: https://www.nohocinefest.com Gustavo on IMDb: https://www.imdb.me/gustavosampaio Gustavo on Twitter: https://twitter.com...

Getting a writing gig or selling your script is awesome! That is, until your read the fine print. What happens to your work once you hand it over? Who owns the characters, worlds and stories you create? This session looks into what is a "work for hire," and what it means to your creative future. SHOW NOTES: None this episode

IMDB, or the Internet Movie Database, is an indispensible resource for writers who want to research films and TV shows, network with producers, managers, agents and talent, as well as showcase their credits and awards. But we writers are not always the best at marketing ourselves. In this week's session, we talk with Kari Nissena, an actor, producer and transformation coach on how to improve our i...

It’s a blockbuster (not the failed movie rental chain) showdown in today’s session as we compare two sense-based horror films from a writer’s perspective. It’s Bird Box vs. A Quiet Place. **SPOILER ALERT!** SHOW NOTES: Bird Box on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/watch/80196789 Bird Box on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2737304 A Quiet Place Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR7cc5t7tv8...

We welcome Steve Spalding to our group session this week. Steve is a writer and producer from Florida whose TV pilot, "The Many Lives of Ann Winters," was one of five winning pilots in the Playstation Emerging Filmmaker Program that were produced by Playstation and Ideas United. Steve discusses he experience producing his pilot and his other writing endeavors. SHOW NOTES: Watch "The Many Lives of...

I think most writers will agree, scripts are never finished. Up until the editing is finished, the story is still malleable. As a writer though, at some point, we have to put "THE END" on our writing process before we share it with agents, managers, producers, etc. So, when is your script finished? SHOW NOTES: None this episode

Truth is, sometimes, you just have to do it yourself. In Session #70, we interview Stephen Kogon, who wrote, produced and director the feature film "Dance Baby Dance" to learn how he made his project a reality. SHOW NOTES:  Dance Baby Dance: http://www.dancebabydancemovie.com Sketch for Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance: https://youtu.be/vq5AR2BU0yk Twitter:  https://twitter.com/DBDTheMovie

Getting notes on your projects can be a harrowing experience. How you give them is just as important. In today's session, we discuss how to deal with notes from both sides. SHOW NOTES: None this episode

You've dashed your parents' hopes and decided you want to be a screenwriter. We often get asked questions from people who, not too far in the distant past, we were: The Newbie Screenwriter. So, for our listeners who are bravely embarking on this great adventure, this session is dedicated to you. To help you get over those first few speed bumps, we've outlined the very basics you need to grasp and...

We will undoubtedly receive a mountain of "no's" and "passes" before, if ever, we get our first "YES!" How you handle rejection can make or break you in the business of screenwriting, or books, magazines, blocks, advertising, etc. We discuss ways we barrel through the "It's not your script. It's my mandate, " entire pint of Häagen-Dazs moments we face on a regular basis. What's your best advice to...

In this session, Tom struggles with Hollywood films' lack of moral fiber. Is there a moral to the story? Do movies still teach morals? Or we just stuffing our faces with popcorn while stuff explodes on screen? SHOW NOTES: Movies with Important Life Lessons for Us to Learn: https://personalexcellence.co/blog/inspirational-movies IMDB's List of Movies with Life Lessons: https://www.imdb.com/list/ls0...

In this week's session, we chat with Michael Coulombe, a screenwriter and script supervisor about his projects and what a script supervisor does.  SHOW NOTES: Horror House Media on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YpFKi1RQlc MichaelCoulombe.com : http://MichaelCoulombe.com

In today's session, we share with you some of the podcasts and YouTube channels we listen to and watch, and recommend, as writers to navigate our careers and improve our skills.  SHOW NOTES: Happier In Hollywood: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/happier-in-hollywood/id1236845161?mt=2 StarTalk Radio: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/startalk-radio/id325404506?mt=2 Paper Team: https://www.tv-c...

Wait! When did that become a thing? You just got Retconned! In this week's session, we discuss the use and abuse of Retroactive Continuity in movies and films. SHOW NOTES: None this episode

In today's session, we interview animation writer Steven Darancette, who has written on shows such as Ozzy & Drix, Tumble Leaf, Lalaloopsy and Bob the Builder.  SHOW NOTES: Steven on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SDarancette Steven on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0200922

We're all in this together! Here's some of the best advice we've heard from writers who've "made it" on how they got there.

Come with us to Los Angeles to meet the team behind the hilarious web series "Transplants." We interview the creators; Sara Baum, Brittney Bertier and Trip Langley about the first season, available on YouTube and The On Channel, and about the upcoming season 2 coming this Fall. SHOW NOTES: YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/transplantsweb The On Channel: https://www.theonchannel.com/en/transplants2 I...