Scriptnotes Podcast 685 - Page and Stage with Leslye Headland
27 snips
May 6, 2025 Leslye Headland, writer and director known for "Russian Doll" and "The Acolyte," dives into the intricacies of adapting stage plays to film. She shares her journey from theater enthusiast to successful auteur. The conversation unpacks the challenges of scene descriptions, dialogue nuances, and character dynamics. Leslye discusses how family tensions and validation play out in her storytelling. They also tackle listener questions about maintaining engagement between the two mediums and the role of music in elevating narratives.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Leslye's Early Writing Journey
- Leslye Headland started writing by imitating Judy Blume and American Girl books in composition notebooks.
- She discovered musical theater through a documentary about Stephen Sondheim, which deeply inspired her artistic vision.
Use Early Readings With Actors
- Get readings with actors early to hear your work aloud and identify uninteresting or bad scenes.
- Avoid writing in isolation; actors reveal issues in dialogue and story that you can't see alone.
Transitioning to Directing
- Leslye didn't plan to direct "Bachelorette" but accepted when producers suggested she should.
- Her directing background helped her work well with actors since she knew the characters best.
