Act Two Podcast

Back by popular demand, Screenwriter Dan Kunka (12 ROUNDS) talks with hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman about his journey through arbitration for his latest film, LIFT, based on his spec, and why more writers need to learn that being rewritten is simply part of the job.    Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414Beg

Screenwriters have been inspired for a long time by JJ Abrams's "Mystery Box" TED Talk from 2007. It gave a glimpse into JJ's genius as a writer whose movies and shows were irresistible and impossibly engaging. In this episode, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman walk through JJ's TED Talk and how and why the "Mystery Box" could make you a better writer.   TWIW: SAG-AFTRA has joined the WGA on strike, "Elemental", breaking in through temp agencies, and an Act Two Patreon?   Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414Beg

As huge genre fans, hosts Tasha Huo & Josh Hallman discuss their thoughts on FLASH and INDIANA JONES: DIAL OF DESTINY. *Spoilers definitely ahead, beware!*   TWIW: Quiet Writers vs. Loud Writers in a TV Writer's Room, that time Josh saw INCEPTION with Christopher Nolan, and NO HARD FEELINGS (with Jennifer Lawrence)   Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414Beg

It's a blockbuster Summer like we haven't seen in years. Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss the Summer 2023 line-up and what are the must-sees in theater.    TWIW: the unlikely origin story of a Fast & Furious cast member, and different structures writers use to write.   Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414Beg

This Week in Writing includes wildly different reviews of Spiderverse by hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman, Hollywood books that have made it on their reading lists, the DGA agreement and AI, and the State of the (Screenwriter) Union.   Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414Beg

What are the main tenets when writing a short film? Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss what you should be thinking about as you embark on writing your short film in terms of story, character and structure. TWIW: ChatGPT writes "Black Mirror" episodes and BURN IT DOWN by Maureen Ryan and toxicity in writers rooms.   Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414Beg

What is Arbitration, how does it work, and what does a Screenwriter have to do when it happens to them? Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss Tasha's recent (and first!) arbitration experience trying to retain credit on one of her features, breaking the process down from start to finish.   Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414Beg

After a day of picketing, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman chat about what it's like to picket and how WGA writers they talked to are currently feeling about the strike.    Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414Beg

Hosts Tasha Huo & Josh Hallman discuss a blog post by Final Draft about 5 Ways to stretch your Screenwriting muscles every day so you never lose writing momentum, even on days you don't feel like writing.   Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414Beg

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss how Screen and TV writers get paid, and why the pay system can make it difficult to grow your Screenwriting career.   Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414Beg