

Act Two Podcast
Tasha Huo & Josh Hallman
Behind-the-Scenes of the Business and Craft of professional Screenwriting.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 19, 2024 • 50min
Journey from Pitch to (Not) Getting the Job
Fresh from being told she *didn't* get the job, host Tasha Huo talks about the process of putting together a series pitch for one of her favorite IPs, what her process was, and what it was like to be told you didn't get the job.
Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com
Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

Feb 12, 2024 • 49min
Fireside Chat: Manager-Writer Conflict and the Problem of the Stubborn Writer
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman take you through a Fireside Chat of real-life stories of working Screenwriters, including real hurdles, obstacles and situations that professional Screenwriters have come up against and what to do in those situations.
TWIW: Are you too old to start your Screenwriting career? / Why you shouldn't copyright your scripts. / Tasha & Josh finished breaking their spec, what next? / Is the Apple Vision Pro going to change Screenwriting? / The value of traditional weekly-released TV shows. / What is the tone of the new Mr. & Mrs. Smith TV show?
Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com
Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

Feb 5, 2024 • 46min
How to Cut Pages
It is the bane of any Screenwriter's existence when they turn in their perfect screenplay only to be told they need to cut 10 pages. Whether it's for the read or for production, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss their step-by-step process for cutting pages when you absolutely don't want to, but HAVE to.
Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com
Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

Jan 29, 2024 • 45min
Taking an Idea to Outline
Where ideas come from and then how to turn that into an actual movie or TV show is THE hardest part of being a writer, and one of the most-asked questions between writers: "How did you come up with that?" So this episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman break down in detail how they went from Idea to Outline for their new Murder Mystery spec.
TWIW: Tasha's unexpected self-sabotage moment / To reference other movies in your action description, or not to? / Some new thoughts on pitch language
Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com
Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

Jan 23, 2024 • 35min
Getting Comfortable with Feeling Uncomfortable
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss all the ways a Screenwriter feels uncomfortable in their day to day working lives, and how they tackle those feelings when they come up, whether it be a Pitch, a General Meeting, or discussing difficult ideas in their scripts.
TWIW: How Act Two's first Patreon Live Q&A went, Tasha's Screenwriting nightmare, Short Form content and how difficult it is to crack.
Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com
Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

Jan 15, 2024 • 53min
How to Combat (and Defeat) Imposter Syndrome
We all feel it. That voice in our head telling us we are Imposters and someone will finally figure out we don't know how to write, pitch or create stories. Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss what their own Imposter Syndrome looks like and how they have managed to not only combat it, but in some cases, completely defeat it.
TWIW: Is Barbie an "adapted" or "original" screenplay? / Tasha is watching Pokemon! / How to get over rambling and apologizing while pitching / Where ideas come from can be so surprising!
Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com
Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

Jan 8, 2024 • 49min
How to Nail a General or Rep Meeting
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss what a General Meeting is and how to impress once you're in one. They also discuss why reps are key, but not imperative, to a Screenwriting career, and how to meet with reps if you are taking meetings with Agents and Managers.
TWIW: 22 Jump Street's surprising improv scene, The importance and beauty of listening to others on set, and Josh & Tasha list their Top 5 favorite movies of 2023 (which may surprise you).
Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com
Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

Jan 1, 2024 • 55min
New Year. New Goals. 2024!
Happy 2024! Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss goals in the new year. Get ready. It's an exciting time.
Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

Dec 18, 2023 • 43min
’Tis the Season: Why Christmas Movies Work
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss their Top 3 Christmas movies, why they work, and what they would do if they wrote a Christmas movie.
TWIW: The Oscars are now honoring "fan favorite" films / How NFL has cornered the market on character-driven storytelling / and the pain in the ass that is living with a writer.
Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com
Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

Dec 11, 2023 • 45min
Filmmaking Tips from James Mangold (LOGAN)
Hosts Tasha Huo & Josh Hallman discuss filmmaking tips we can learn from writer-director James Mangold (LOGAN, INDIANA JONES & THE DIAL OF DESTINY).
TWIW: Is Harry Potter just a magical Mission Impossible movie? And how do you combat "spec boredom" so you can finish your script instead of move on to a new idea?
Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com
Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist


