Claim OwnershipThe Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna
Subscribed: 412Played: 15,604
Subscribe
© Meg LeFauve & Lorien McKenna
Description
Welcome to The Screenwriting Life, a podcast where Oscar-nominated writer Meg LeFauve and Emmy-nominated writer Lorien McKenna discuss not only the craft and business of Screenwriting, but also the emotional life: the ups and downs of being a creative, to remind you that you are not alone and to keep writing.
220 Episodes
Reverse
RSVP for the TSL/Roadmap AFF Party Here: https://bit.ly/4cQWUHa
Years ago, Alex Convery and Tate Hanyok were merely attending the Austin Film Festival as screenplay competition winners, and this year, they're attending as panelists! Find out how they used the festival to meet writers, rep, and most importantly, motivate their career in the right direction.
JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS FOR FREE: https://tslworkshops.circle.so/
Barbara Stepansky’s career is the culmination of years of incredibly hard work. In addition to winning the highly competitive Nicholl Fellowship, Barbara is a WGA-award winner for a TV movie, the head writer on a German-language Netflix show, and a writer/producer on Starz’s Outlander. Today’s conversation is all about how Barbara built her uniquely multi-faceted career.
JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: www.thescreenwritinglife.co/workshops
How does a Chicago-based Indie film team break into Sundance, sell their movie at the fest, debut with a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, and make a Box Office Splash? They make a really, really great movie. Writer/director Kelly O'Sullivan knows a thing or two about Indie Filmmaking; her debut "Saint Frances" won SXSW in 2019. Today she discusses how she writes, casts, and directs outside of the traditional indie ecosystem, and how you can, too.
JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so
Whether it was writing for SNL in the '80s, writing RAT RACE in the 90s, or creating MONK in the 2000s, it's no secret that Andy Breckman has had an incredible career. What does he chalk it up to? Luck (and a whole lot of hard work).
https://tslworkshops.circle.so
When Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky, and Lucia Aniello were first pitching Hacks, they didn't have a precise tonal comp when the network asked. But the trio ultimately knew that they wanted a show that was allowed to be "hard funny," but still make lots of space for rich emotional moments. Today, Paul and Jen discuss HOW they walk that tightrope while writing, and how centering Ava and Deborah's professional and personal relationship serves as their creative North Star helps the process.
JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: www.tslworkshops.circle.so
Animation is a MEDIUM, not a genre. This, among many other important lessons on today's episode, is one of the first things Lorien tells people who are interested in writing animated TV for children. Today we discuss how to break into children's animated TV, how production considerations weigh into the writing process, and what it means to signal a "red alert" in your work (hint: this is a good thing).
JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: www.tslworkshops.circle.so
Let's be frank: sexism and ageism are no joke in Hollywood. That being said, women over forty posses superpowers that the peers may lack - experience and wisdom. For Nitza Wilon & Elizabeth Kaiden, this is part of the juice behind the Writers Lab, the only screenwriting lab solely focused on nurturing women and non-binary folk over 40.
JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS!: https://tslworkshops.circle.so
Today, we’re joined by Jaiver Barrios, Lauren, O’Connor, and Hilary Swett to discuss the INVALUABLE resources that the WGF library provides for writers…FOR FREE.
RESOURCES DISCUSSED:
WGF Blog (Spec Primer Example!): https://www.wgfoundation.org/blog/2023/1/18/formatting-your-spec-script-a-primer-part-22?rq=abbot
WGF Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/WritersGuildFoundation
Today is your last day for a lifetime TSL Workshops Discount! Sign up here: https://tslworkshops.circle.so
Sign up for TSL Workshops!: https://tslworkshops.circle.so
Get Chris' Book!: https://www.amazon.com/Writers-Journey-Mythic-Structure-3rd/dp/193290736X
Though Chris Vogler is generally credited with introducing the FRAMEWORK of The Hero's Journey into modern Hollywood discourse, it almost didn't happen. When someone else plagiarized his memo and trafficked it to Jeffrey Katzenberg trying to take credit for it, Chris faced a crossroads. Find out HOW he managed that, and became an essential creative pillar behind the development of THE LION KING.
Sign up today - https://tslworkshops.circle.so
JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: http://tslworkshops.circle.so
Over the lifespan of our show, you've heard Meg and Lorien interview a ton of incredibly talented writers, but today, we turn the tables, and get to hear from them! (And a bit from producer Jeff too...)
Andrew Zinnes, a screenwriter and teacher himself, helped compile a book of interviews by top-tier screenwriting pros (including Meg), so today, he wanted to enrich the conversation presented by the book by hearing from all of TSL!
TO ORDER ANDREW'S BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Screenwriters-Advice-Popular-Winning-Streaming/dp/1501363271
JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so
On today’s show, we answer your (excellent) questions. Among the topics we discuss are:
How to lean into our best writer selves
How many drafts we “really” need to be taken seriously
How to improve readability in our work
Advice for sharing undeveloped ideas with executives
Deepening our midpoint and act 2b.
JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: tslworkshops.circle.so
Joey's impressive resume in TV includes shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live, Arrested Development, and I'm Sorry, which she show-ran for two seasons next to Andrea Savage. And even so, she's the first to acknowledge her both her strengths and growth areas as a writer, which has been one of the most valuable tools to propel her to the very top of a the writers room.
Thanks for your patience! Our new episode this week will be dropping TOMORROW in your feed.
JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: tslworkshops.circle.so
Todd A Kessler's newest Apple TV+ THE NEW LOOK is one of Meg's favorite of the year. The show, which chronicles the rivalry between infamous fashion designers Coco Chanel and Christian Dior tracks their rapid ascent against the tense backdrop of WWII Europe, and for Meg, the way the show explores art, survival, and the risks we take to be great, speak to that time as much as they speak to today.
TSL WORKSHOPS IS LIVE!: www.tslworkshops.circle.so
Use code "EARLYBIRD" at checkout for $5 off a month for LIFE! (Only lasts until Jul 15).
Meredith Scardino has been many things: a fine artists, an animator, a late night writer, and now, a narrative comedy Creator/Showrunner (the wonderful Girls5Eva), but her focus on providing value wherever she is. Listen to Meredith take us through her twisted path to showrunning a Tina Fey-produced comedy and how she staffs her room.
When Inside Out debuted, it was quickly celebrated as one of Pixar's masterpieces, earning multiple Oscar noms (including one for our HOST Meg LeFauve!) How then, do you approach a sequel to such a beloved classic? This was one of the many questions that weighed on both Kelsey Mann and Meg LeFauve as they reopened Riley's head to jump back in. Jump in with them!
When asked about his first time working in feature animation, Meg's Inside Out 2 co-writer Dave Holstein described the process as: "writing inside a dishwasher while it's running." This is just one of many charming talking points in this lovely conversation between two brilliant minds: Dave, and our very own Meg LeFauve!
TSL WORKSHOPS EMAIL LIST: www.thescreenwritinglife.co/workshops
Friend of the show Dustin Lance Black is back to talk about the central lynchpin of a great film: the protagonist. Lance is known for his complicated heroes (often real people) who draw us in and don't let go. Today, we discuss how to draw a protagonist that will hold an audience's attention, and perhaps more importantly, what to avoid so that same audience won't lose interest.
Top Podcasts
The Best New Comedy Podcast Right Now – June 2024The Best News Podcast Right Now – June 2024The Best New Business Podcast Right Now – June 2024The Best New Sports Podcast Right Now – June 2024The Best New True Crime Podcast Right Now – June 2024The Best New Joe Rogan Experience Podcast Right Now – June 20The Best New Dan Bongino Show Podcast Right Now – June 20The Best New Mark Levin Podcast – June 2024
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States
Awesome ep!
Hi Meg! loved your session on screencraft and so glad you told us about your podcast! will be listening (and I loved good dinosaur so much)