

On The Page
Pilar Alessandra
ON THE PAGE: Join professional script consultant Pilar Alessandra as she demystifies screenwriting and answers your questions about script craft and story.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 27, 2025 • 44min
942. Truffle Hunting
From development funds to film markets, Frederik Ehrhardt talks about what it’s like to write and produce in the United States and Europe.

Jun 20, 2025 • 1h 6min
941. The Fab Five
The five writers selected for the 2025 CBS/Paramount Writers Mentoring Program talk about the craft and career lessons they’ve learned from the program and each other.

Jun 13, 2025 • 39min
940. Young Storytellers
Bill Thompson, President of Young Storytellers, shares insights into nurturing creativity among youth through screenwriting. He discusses their new report, Growing Pains, focusing on the unique experiences of Generation Alpha, digital natives shaped by technology. The conversation dives into shifting storytelling themes post-pandemic, emphasizing the rise of escapism and social justice in young narratives. Thompson highlights the organization’s efforts to expand beyond Los Angeles and the vital role of mentorship in empowering young voices.

9 snips
Jun 6, 2025 • 55min
939. “What’s the Most Interesting Version of This?”
David Loong, a talented writer known for 'The Hunting Party' and a USC MFA graduate, dives into the art of storytelling. He shares insights on finding creative angles in narrative structures, particularly in TV shows versus films. Mentorship's role in shaping his writing journey takes center stage, alongside discussions of the evolving Hollywood landscape influenced by technology and audience expectations. The conversation also teases the excitement around an upcoming season two and highlights the value of educational resources for aspiring writers.

May 30, 2025 • 56min
938. The Perfect Song
Pilar hijacks the Rock Solid Podcast listeners to curate a list of perfect songs from iconic movies.

May 23, 2025 • 42min
937. Scripts with a Conscience
Writer Troy Mann combines his Texas roots with his world travel and years of teaching experience to create genre scripts that are also intense morality tales.

May 16, 2025 • 42min
936. The Happiest Killer
Writer/director Josh Stolberg (Saw X, Spiral and Jigsaw) returns to talk about the July release of his next indi-horror movie Skillhouse.

May 9, 2025 • 41min
935. Finding Story from Family
Narrative and documentary filmmaker Oanh-Nhi Nguyen makes movies about her family, their past and the intergenerational experience. Here she talks about what she’s learned as a writer-director and how she makes sure that networking is a regular part of her process.

May 2, 2025 • 49min
934. Disaster is My Muse
Award-winning documentary director Molly Bernstein discusses the process and narrative approach that went into researching, developing and directing her documentaries about Maus creator Art Spiegelman and magician Ricky Jay.

Apr 25, 2025 • 46min
933. Baseball Stories
Screenwriter and major league baseball scout J.D. Elliby talks about the authenticity, character arcs, obstacles, and emotional moments that help create a great on-screen baseball story.