The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna

Sam Bain is one of our industry’s premiere comedy writers, having co-created multiple beloved sitcoms including the UK’s cult hit Peep Show. But today Sam reveals that the most important ingredients for comedy are truth and pain. Buckle up! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Longtime TV vet Sean Presant has an eclectic resume includes features, shorts, and TV in ALL genres from multi-cam sitcoms, to reality competition, to prestige crime shows. So how has Sean managed such an impressively wide variety of work? Is it really possible for us to "pull that off?" Sean talks about the signature themes in our work, how they inform our voice, and how we can discover it ourselves! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If anyone knows her way around a writer's room, it's producer Stacy Rukeyser, who has worked at every level from staff writer, to creator/showrunner. Stacy has a fascinating perspective on how the culture of a TV writer's room has both remained steady and changed wildly in her nearly 25 years in the business. Buckle up! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every writer inevitably faces this painful question somewhere along their journey: "why the hell am I doing this?" Today, we answer that question. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Enjoy the LIVE conversation from the MCX Screenmaker's Conference! For its seventh edition, the national MCX Screenmakers Conference program of panel sessions, case studies, in focus presentations and insightful conversations will be held online over two jam-packed days on 10 and 11 September, making it accessible to delegates from across the country.The impressive line-up of national and international industry speakers and presenters include LA based screenwriters and producers Lorien McKenna and Meg Lefauve from The Screenwriting Life podcast, a trip through storytelling and activism with Benjamin Law and Michelle Law, and we’re especially thrilled to host an in-conversation with the co-founders of Hoodlum Entertainment, tracing their journey from producing online show Fat Cow Motel in 1999, to being one of Australia’s most successful production companies producing content for the global marketplace to having an office at the Walt Disney studios in Hollywood.Program highlights include creative sessions such as the exploration of the ‘dark art of development’, craft sessions on narrative writing for games, a case study of the ABC hit TV series Aftertaste with the team from Closer Productions, and business sessions including how to maximise the monetisation of your intellectual property. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All great works of art start with ideas, and ideas STILL reign supreme in Hollywood. In today's conversation w/ celebrated writer Matt Lieberman we discuss how to generate high concept ideas, come up with ideas, embrace the importance of a good idea, and even sell feature specs. Once again, we want to say thanks to our fabulous intern Jess Fisher for helping us put this episode together! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've had some AMAZING guests on this show, but the truth is, one of our greatest secret weapons is Meg herself! Today, she dives into some of the MANY lingering questions that you all have been posing on the Facebook, and we get into it! If your question wasn't answered today, don't worry, Meg WILL be getting into soon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most of us assume that once a writer sells that spec or books that job or secures representation, they've "made it." Now all they need to do is ride into the sunset and remember to thank their agent when their inevitable Oscar shows up. But of course, much like writer, it's much more complicated than that. Today, Meg and Lorien walk us through THEIR biggest "a-ha" moments after their breaks, what we should lean into, and what we should avoid. Once again, we'd like to thank JESS FISHER who produced this episode while Jeff is getting his feet back on the ground! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're back! Meg, Lorien, and Jeff have all been traveling, producing, and on set, and oh, do we have UPDATES. Lorien - who is now entering post on the project she SHOWRAN - answers all of your questions from what kinds of writers she's looking for in the room, and what her expectations for them are once they arrive. THANK YOU to our intern Jess Fisher for producing and cutting this episode! You've been a rock for us in some of our busiest times.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FOR MORE CREATE OUT LOUD: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/create-out-loud-with-jennifer-louden/id1559415253What would it take for you to turn down an offer from JJ Abrams (you know the guy who created Lost among other block-busters)? Ask Meg LeFavue, the Oscar-nominated writer of Inside Out, who had to do just that after committing to her creative calling to become a screenwriter. Meg LeFauve and her frequent writing partner and podcast co-host Lorien McKenna get extremely candid about the challenges and essential importance of committing to your artistic path and sticking with it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices