Act Two Podcast

Ghostwriting -- The Best Kept Secret in Screenwriting

Chances are, the Screenwriters of your favorite movies have hired a Ghostwriter to do everything from joke punch-ups to full on writing of your favorite scenes and set-pieces. Ghostwriting is one of the best kept secrets in Hollywood Screenwriting. In this episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman go full investigative journalist and bring to light real stories from real working Ghostwriters in Hollywood who have ghost written everything from TV shows to studio franchise movies. These Ghostwriters dish (anonymously) on what it’s like to have big writers ask you to do their work for them. The stories that came up may shock you.

 

Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com -- Edited by Paul Lundquist -- Music by 414beg 

 

 

The Walt Disney Television Writing Program: Interview with 2020 alums, Adrian Viña & Allyson Philobos

The Walt Disney Television Writing Program is one of the most sought-after programs for up-and-coming writers because of its extremely high success rate in transitioning its program participants into working staff writers on Disney/ABC TV shows. In this interview with 2020 alums Adrian Viña and Allyson Philobos, we break down how the program works and why it's so successful. We discuss everything from the grueling interview process, the fantastic education in real-life skills to help develop you as both a writer and a professional, and how the program goes about connecting its participants to staff writing jobs. 

 

Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com -- Edited by Paul Lundquist -- Music by 414beg 

Secret to the Spec Sale: Interview with Daniel Kunka

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman talk with spec master Daniel Kunka to discuss his latest script: LIFT. Kunka’s spec created a frenzy that resulted in him teaming up with Netflix, Simon Kinberg, and Matt Reeves. The Act Two Podcast loves (LOVES) specs, and it was great to have Kunka offer inspiration while sharing his insight. 

 

Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com -- Edited by Paul Lundquist -- Music by 414beg 

Fireside Chat

Fireside Chats are where hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman pose real situations from real-life working Screenwriters, and ask "What would you do?" In this chat, they discuss everything from What would you do if an exec fell asleep in your pitch to How would you gracefully fire your manager?

 

Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com -- Edited by Paul Lundquist -- Music by 414beg 

How to Have a "Voice"

"That writer has a great voice," is a comment often uttered by producers and reps when talking about writers they love. And it's what buyers and producers look for in hiring the best writer for the job. Using examples from masters of voice in the industry (JJ Abrams, Shane Black, Mike Flanagan, and others), hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman break down what the hell "voice" even means, why your voice is so important as a Screenwriter, and how to find your unique voice in your own writing.

 

 

Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com -- Edited by Paul Lundquist -- Music by 414beg 

Snyder Cut & Mythology

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman watch the 4-hour Snyder Cut of JUSTICE LEAGUE and both rant and rave about it, while also bringing it back to writing -- How do you write good mythology, and what are some of the pitfalls to avoid if you are creating your own mythology in a script?

 

Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com -- Edited by Paul Lundquist -- Music by 414beg 

ANNOUNCING: Act Two Mentorship Program with Coverfly (with special guest, Tom Dever, Head of Writer Success at Coverfly)

Screenwriting is an isolating career by its very nature, but in Act Two, we believe that it doesn't have to be. If we support one another, we are all supported. For that reason, Act Two has partnered with Coverfly to connect up-and-coming writers with professional Screenwriters in the Act Two community for a 6-month career & industry mentorship program where new Mentees will be chosen every month to join a unique Mentorship opportunity with one of Act Two's incredible working writers.

Mentorship is incredibly important in a writer's career, whether they are just starting out or are showrunning their own show. To find out more about this unique opportunity, whether you're looking to be a Mentee or a Mentor, join hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman as they chat with Tom Dever, Head of Writer Success (what a title!) at Coverfly about how this Mentorship was conceived and why it's so important in the life of a Screenwriter.

 

Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com -- Edited by Paul Lundquist -- Music by 414beg 

The Breakdown: TED LASSO Pilot -- Character Intros

TED LASSO deserves all the awards (all the things!), so say hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman. In this Breakdown episode, they break down how writers Jason Sudeikis and Bill Lawrence introduced the now iconic characters in the Pilot of their hit show on Apple TV, how they created "villains" in a feel-good dramedy, and how they flip expectations to keep you leaning in. *SPOILERS AHEAD* (but also, you really need to watch TED LASSO).

 

Questions/comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com - the Act Two Podcast is edited by Paul Lundquist and music is by 414beg.

 

Questions/comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com - the Act Two Podcast is edited by Paul Lundquist and music is by 414beg.

Documents Writers Write (that aren't the script)

Being a professional Screenwriter doesn't mean you're just good at writing scripts. You must become a master/mistress of a slew of other document types, from Format Documents to Scriptments and Bibles, all of which have different definitions depending on who you ask. In this practical-use episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman wade through the minefield and break down the definitive WGA definitions of each non-script document you'll be asked to write as a professional Screenwriter, what they're for, why they're important, and how much you should be getting paid for them.

 

Questions/comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com - the Act Two Podcast is edited by Paul Lundquist and music is by 414beg.

Process: Getting the Job - Tomb Raider and Red Sonja

It's a big month in the news for co-host Tasha Huo, who has been hired to create and executive produce the animated series TOMB RAIDER for Netflix, and to adapt the comic RED SONJA for Millennium. So in this episode, Josh Hallman forces Tasha to finally talk about herself and discuss the process behind getting both those jobs, and what comes next.

 

Questions/comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com - the Act Two Podcast is edited by Paul Lundquist and music is by 414beg.