Act Two Podcast

How to Actually Hit Your 2026 Screenwriting Goals

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman talk 2026 Screenwriting goals and how to achieve them realistically. They discuss breaking screenwriting goals down into actionable steps, scheduling yourself, and other useful tips to stay on track this year.

 

TWIW: Tasha visited the Academy Museum over break / Tasha loved The Anaconda / Watching The Housemaid in a full theater made a big difference / A Spielberg book that could change your life!

 

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

Wins, Misses and Takeaways: Our 2025 Goal Wrap-Up

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss how many of their 2025 Goals they achieved (spoiler alert: Josh beat Tasha), and what they can learn from their successes and failures going into 2026. 

 

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

How to Plan Your Screenwriting Year for Success: A Month-by-Month Guide

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss Final Draft blog by Ken Miyamoto, How to Plan Your Entire Screenwriting Year: A Month-by-Month Guide. They break down tasks for each month, discuss practical solutions to achieving those tasks, and why thinking about your year in these terms sets you up for success (and they maybe fangirl over Ken a little bit). 

 

TWIW: Tasha got very different notes on a script from her manager and her writer's group, what should she do? / A studio exec with very interesting insight into writers vs. actors that we should learn from / Josh's pitch to an actress / Tasha's pitch to an author / Rob Reiner as an integral part of our Screenwriting education, RIP. 

 

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

The Writing Behind Tomb Raider: the Legend of Lara Croft Season 2

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman chat about Tasha's newest season of Tomb Raider: the Legend of Lara Croft now on Netflix, how the idea for the season came together, and behind-the-scenes writing stories. 

 

TWIW: The Blacklist 2025: Who's Who and trends Josh is seeing / Tasha went to a BAFTA Games Mixer and sweated profusely / If you can spot the reference to Tasha & Josh's favorite movies in S1 of The Mighty Nein on Amazon Prime, you win a prize! Hint: there are 2 references.

 

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

5 Tips on Telling a Compelling Story

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman talk through Final Draft's 5 Pieces of Advice to Tell a Compelling Tale and offer their own specifics on why and how these pieces of advice work in your writing.

 

TWIW: This month's Running Man Q&A Patreon Zoom / Netflix buying WB? / Tasha's show The Mighty Nein is #1 in the US, Canada & Europe! / Vince Gilligan is so damn good at creating character-driven concepts

 

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

Living Outside LA, Pitching Update, Mighty Nein - Plus: Are You Excited?

This week, Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman talk about living outside LA, where Tasha’s pitch stands, and an overdue double-dose of “Are You Excited?” - covering both November and December.

 

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

How to Get Unstuck in Your Writing: Screenwriting Tips that Actually Work

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman field a listener question and discuss the tips & tricks they use to get unstuck in their writing.

 

TWIW: Is The Hunger Games a perfect movie? / Returning to "the big paper" for a video game adaptation pitch.

 

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

Writing THE MIGHTY NEIN: Interview with Showrunner Tasha Huo

Showrunner and co-host Tasha Huo's show premieres November 19 on Amazon Prime Video, and Josh makes her talk about it! Tasha reveals how she got the job adapting the Critical Role live D&D campaign, what the writing process was like to adapt something so massive and beloved, and what it was like working with the "nerdy ass voice actors" of Critical Role.

 

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

Holiday Gifts -- What to get Reps and Producers (REPOST)

We have a repost this week:
Holidays are here, and it’s time to panic about what to get your reps. Freak out no more! Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman give some great gift ideas, and share some insider info from reps themselves on what gifts they are actually looking for this year.

 

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

Staying Relevant: How to Have a Long Career as a Screenwriter

Hollywood moves fast, and even the best careers can fade. Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman share ways to stay relevant as a screenwriter and keep your career thriving. Plus... TWIW!

 

Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist