TV Writer Podcast - Audio

Conventional wisdom says you need to write many scripts before you'll write a good one, and you'll never sell your spec pilot. Mickey Fisher proves both wrong! Mickey Fisher biography: Mickey Fisher is the creator of the CBS television series "Extant," executive produced by Steven Spielberg and Amblin Television, starring Halle Berry, and the NBC series "Reverie," Ex- ecutive Produced by Amblin Television, starring Sarah Shahi. He has also worked on "The Strain" (FX), "Mars" (NatGeo), and "Jack Ryan" (Amazon). In 2018, his play "Replica" received its world premiere at Stages Repertory Theatre in Houston. He attended the College Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati for Musical Theater and worked as an actor in Chicago, New York, and regional theaters all over the country before moving to Los Angeles. Follow Mickey on Twitter: @MickeyFisher73 Migrating to Hive Social? Follow @GrayJones. Visit new primary sponsor The BlueCat Screenplay Competition on the web: bluecatscreenplay.com Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.

This week, Gray Jones interviews Emmy and Golden Globe winner Kira Snyder, who has written and produced "The Handmaid's Tale", "The 100," "Eureka," and the feature film "Pacific Rim: Uprising." Kira Snyder Biography: Kira Snyder most recently was Executive Producer and Co-Showrunner of "Demimonde," J.J. Abrams’ sci-fi drama for HBO, where she currently has an overall deal for television. Previously Kira was a writer and producer on "The Handmaid’s Tale" for Hulu, for which she has won an Emmy, a Golden Globe, a PGA Award, and two WGA Awards. Kira also received nominations for the Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series Emmy and the USC Scripter Award for her Season 2 episode of "The Handmaid’s Tale," “Holly,” and an Episodic Drama WGA Award nomination for her Season 4 episode “Testimony.” Her other film and television work includes the blockbuster feature film "Pacific Rim: Uprising," pilot scripts for Hulu, FX, and Amazon, "The 100" on the CW, "Incursion" for Starz, Syfy’s "Eureka" and "Alphas," and the CBS vampire cult hit "Moonlight." "The Parish Mail" ebooks, Kira’s interactive Young Adult supernatural mystery series, are available for Kindle. Formerly a computer game designer, Kira has created games for Microsoft, the MIT Press textbook Rules Of Play, and Electronic Arts, including the seminal, award-winning alternate reality game "Majestic." Kira grew up in a Navy family and is a longtime mentor with the Veterans Writing Project at the Writers’ Guild Foundation. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their two black cats. Follow Kira on Twitter: @sugarjonze Migrating to Hive Social? Follow @GrayJones. Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.

This week, Gray Jones interviews TV writer J. Holtham, known for Marvel's Cloak & Dagger, Marvel's Jessica Jones, Supergirl and The Handmaid's Tale. J. Holtham Biography: J. Holtham is a screenwriter, playwright, comic book writer and blogger. TV credits include "Pitch" (Fox), "Marvel's Cloak & Dagger" (Freeform), Marvel's Jessica Jones (Netflix), "Supergirl" (CW) and "The Handmaid's Tale" (Hulu). Theatre credits include Ensemble Studio Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Second Stage Theater, Bespoke Plays. Essays and reporting include American Theatre, Thrillist, Slate. He has written for such comics as Star Trek: The Mirror War (IDW), Marvel Voices: Legacy (2022) (Marvel Comics), and Spider- verse Unlimited (Marvel Unlimited). Podcasts include Marvel’s Wastelanders: Hawkeye. J. is a board member on The 24 Hour Plays and Ojai Playwrights Conference. He is a proud product of public education. Follow J. on Instagram: @jholtham Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.

Devil in Ohio premiered at #1 on Netflix, and was in the global top 10 for 3 weeks straight. This week, Gray Jones interviews author-creator-showrunner Daria Polatin. Daria Polatin bio: Daria Polatin is an accomplished TV showrunner and executive producer, award-winning playwright and author of Egyptian descent. Daria is the creator, showrunner and executive producer of "Devil in Ohio," a Netflix Limited Series starring Emily Deschanel, which debuted at #1 on Netflix and ran in the Netflix Global Top 10 for three weeks. Daria authored the best-selling thriller novel of the same name, which she adapted into the series. Having worked on twelve seasons of television, Daria was co-executive producer of Stephen King’s "Castle Rock" (Hulu), where her episode “The Laughing Place” was named one of Entertainment Weekly’s Best TV Episodes of 2019. Additional TV credits include "Jack Ryan" (Amazon), "Hunters" (Amazon), Heels (Starz) and Shut Eye (Hulu). In theater, Daria wrote and directed her new play "Palmyra" at Center Theatre Group’s Kirk Douglas Theatre, which ran on CTG’s Digital Stage. Her plays have been produced at The Kennedy Center, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Cherry Lane Theatre, Ensemble Studio Theatre NY, Cape Cod Theater Project, The Wilshire Ebell Theatre, in London and Hong Kong. She has produced and directed theater in New York and Los Angeles, including directing the play "H40 + 1" written by and starring  Nikolaj Coster-Waldau from "Game of Thrones." Daria completed residencies with London’s Royal Court Theatre, Center Theatre Group, The Echo Theater, and earned her B.F.A. from Boston University and M.F.A. from Columbia University. She is a founding member of The Kilroys, the advocacy group for gender parity in the American theater. Daria has always been drawn to telling engaging stories that explore the complexities of the human condition. Under her 1001 Pictures banner, she continues to write and produce propulsive stories that challenge and entertain. Follow Daria on Twitter: @DariaPolatin Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.

  This week, host Gray Jones interviews a fellow York University Screenwriting alumnus, veteran comedy writer Rob Sheridan. Rob Sheridan is an LA-based writer with extensive credits in both the US and Canada. Rob has written on such series as "2 Broke Girls" (WBTV/CBS), "Impastor" (TVLand), "Mad Love" (Sony Television/CBS), "18 To Life" (CBC/CW), "Corner Gas" (CTV), "Little Mosque on the Prairie" (CBC), "Less Than Kind" (HBO Canada), and "The Red Green Show" (CBC), as well as having developed original pilots for ABC Studios and Warner Bros. Television. Additionally, Rob is a frequent contributor to the Just for Laughs comedy festival in Montreal, writing monologue and variety material for a wide range of performers in recent years including Will Forte, Sarah Silverman, Trevor Noah, Jeff Goldblum, Whitney Cummings and Carrie Fisher. He is repped by WME Entertainment in Los Angeles and managed by Meridian Artists in Toronto. Check out Rob's YouTube channel, "Up All Night With Bob." Follow Rob on Twitter: @therobsheridan Visit new primary sponsor The BlueCat Screenplay Competition on the web: bluecatscreenplay.com Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.  

This week, host Gray Jones interviews TV show creator & showrunner Brent Piaskoski. About Brent: Prior to focusing his creative energy on writing, Brent Piaskoski spent over a decade honing his comedic craft on the mean stages of some very cold comedy clubs (i.e. Canada). He went on to write and produce over 160 episodes of TV. Ryan Gosling still thanks Brent for writing his fist on-screen kiss ("Breaker High"). And Dave Foley might still owe Brent money for sneaking him back into Canada to star in CTV’s primetime sitcom "Spun Out." Brent also created the tween sitcom "The Latest Buzz" (Family Channel/STARZ), which launched the career of "Riverdale's" Vanessa Morgan. He’s won some nifty awards including a Gemini and three WGC Awards, was robbed of the Golden Globe and Academy Award, but lives to fight another day (pending an actual nomination). In 2019 he was a WGA TV Writer Access Project honoree. Follow Brent on Twitter: @brentpiaskoski Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.  

After interviewing over 130 TV writers, I can't count how many times I've heard how lost writers felt when they first stepped into a writers' room. Wouldn't it be great if there was a book to help you understand how to succeed in all types of staffs, with all types of personalities, working for all types of showrunners? Well, now there is -- Niceole Levy's comprehensive book "The Writers' Room Survival Guide" is now available! CLICK HERE to order -- I guarantee you will want it on your shelf, and it makes a great gift for the budding TV writer, or anyone who wants to know what life is like for a TV writer from when they clock in to when they clock out. Niceole Levy Bio: Niceole Levy grew up under the bright stars of the Mojave Desert before swapping them for bright lights of Los Angeles. Studying acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts yielded the epiphany that she preferred writing. She worked as a police dispatcher to pay her way through undergraduate USC, and then completed the Master of Professional Writing program, also at USC. An alum of the CBS Writers Mentoring Program, NBC’s Writers on the Verge, and the WGAw Showrunner Training Program, Niceole has written on "Ironside," "Allegiance," "The Mysteries of Laura," "Shades of Blue," "Cloak & Dagger," "Fate: the Winx Saga," and "S.W.A.T." She also co-wrote a feature, "The Banker," with former Allegiance showrunner and director George Nolfi, available on AppleTV+. Niceole is currently a co-executive producer on "The Recruit," which will air on Netflix, and has several TV and feature projects in development. The Writers’ Room Survival Guide is her first book. Follow Niceole on Twitter: @niceolecookies Visit new primary sponsor The BlueCat Screenplay Competition on the web: bluecatscreenplay.com Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.

Supercharge your characters while minimizing the work in creating them! This week host Gray Jones asks authors Christopher and Kathy Riley all about their new book, The Defining Moment. ABOUT THE BOOK: The best storytelling explores character formation and transformation. Sometimes the shaping of characters takes place in slow, smooth, steadily bending arcs, other times in sudden, jagged, cataclysmic moments. Without discovering these moments, it’s impossible for an actor or writer to fully realize their character. In The Defining Moment: How Writers and Actors Build Characters, screenwriters and story gurus Christopher and Kathy Riley share the secret to creating character-defining moments—moments without which the character couldn’t exist, and through which characters transform before our eyes.  ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Christopher Riley is a professional screenwriter who cowrote with his wife Kathy Riley the award-winning German language film "After the Truth." The Rileys have written scripts for Disney’s Touchstone Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Mandalay Television Pictures, Sean Connery’s Fountainbridge Films, and Robert Cort Productions. Christopher produced the action-thriller "Red Line" and executive produced the web series "Bump+." He began his career as a proofreader in the standard-setting script processing department at Warner Bros., a department he eventually rose to manage. He is the former director of the Act One Hollywood Writing Program, the author of the classic screenplay format guide The Hollywood Standard, an instructor of screenwriting at the undergraduate and graduate levels, a founding partner of Story Masters Film Academy, and a longtime member of the Writers Guild of America West.  Kathy Riley cowrote the award-winning feature film "After the Truth." In addition to her work as a writer for Touchstone Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Mandalay Television Pictures, Fountainbridge Films, and Robert Cort Productions, Kathy holds a master’s degree in public health and is a certified health education specialist. She serves as vice president of family support for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and has worked extensively on behalf of families of children diagnosed with brain tumors. She also holds a certification of professional achievement in narrative medicine from Columbia University and is a longtime member of the Writers Guild of America West. Follow Christopher on Twitter: @hwoodstandard Follow Kathy on Instagram: @kathywecan BUY THEIR BOOKS AND SUPPORT THE PODCAST: Click on "The Defining Moment: How Writers and Actors Build Characters" and "The Hollywood Standard" to buy on Amazon. Visit primary sponsor Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.

Want to get to the heart of comedy? Look no further than this week's episode, as host Gray Jones interviews comedy guru Steve Kaplan. Steve Kaplan Bio: For years, Steve Kaplan has been one of the industry's most respected and sought-after expert on comedy. His first book, "The Hidden Tools of Comedy," is a best-seller in its field, and his new book, "The Comic Hero's Journey: Serious Story Structure for Fabulously Funny Films" was recently published. In addition to having taught at UCLA, NYU, Yale and other universities, Steve Kaplan created the HBO Workspace, the HBO New Writers Program and was co-founder and Artistic Director of Manhattan Punch Line Theatre. In addition to development projects for HBO, he has taught workshops at companies such as DreamWorks, Disney Animation, Aardman Animation, NBC's Writers on the Verge, and others. In addition to private coaching and one-on-one consultations, Steve has taught his Comedy Intensive workshops to thousands of students around the world, including--in pre-pandemic times--Los Angeles, New York, Australia and Mumbai. He's presently teaching online via Zoom. You can find out all about it at KaplanComedy.com. Follow Steve on Twitter: @skcomedy. BUY STEVE'S BOOKS AND SUPPORT THE PODCAST: Click on "The Hidden Tools of Comedy" and "The Comic Hero's Journey: Serious Story Structure for Fabulously Funny Films" to buy on Amazon. Visit primary sponsor Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.

Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing" was the spark that ignited the career of film/TV writer-director Amitabh Klemm, instructor at Script Anatomy. An award-winning, biracial filmmaker born amongst the cornfields of Iowa; Amitabh Klemm made his way to Los Angles by way of USC where he completed an MFA in directing. Most recently, he staffed in the writer’s room for “#FBF,” a screen-reality feature film starring Ashley Judd, produced by Timur Bekmambetov. Prior to the pandemic, he broke into TV directing with an episode of the half-hour comedy “All the Way Black,” for BET. After film school, Amitabh directed and produced branded marketing content for clients like the Obama Administration, Sperry Apparel, TOMs Shoes, Focus Features, Complex Magazine, and Leonardo DiCaprio. He is a recipient of the Panavision New Filmmaker Grant and resides in Pasadena, CA with his wife and rescue dog, Skylar. Please Note: Interview recorded on December 2, 2021. Follow Amitabh on Twitter: @AmitabhKlemm Visit primary sponsor Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.

This week, learn about how to break in to both comic writing and TV writing, as host Gray Jones interviews TV & comic writer Jay Faerber. Originally from rural Pennsylvania, Jay Faerber grew up on a steady diet of comic books, detective novels, and cop shows. After writing and drawing his own comics throughout high school, Jay started getting work from Marvel and DC in the late 90s, writing such titles as “Generation X,” “New Warriors,” and “Titans.”  Craving more creative freedom, Jay turned his attention to Image Comics, where he created the superhero soap opera series “Noble Causes,” which ran for over 40 issues. He also co-created numerous other series, including “Dynamo 5,” "Near Death,” “Copperhead,” and “Elsewhere.” In 2010, Jay was accepted into the Warner Bros TV Writers Workshop, and after completing that program, he landed a staff writer job on the CW series, “Ringer,” starring Sarah Michelle Gellar. After “Ringer” was cancelled, Jay was staffed on another CW series, “Star-Crossed.” He then wrote on all three seasons of the CBS summer series, “Zoo," and was most recently a writer/producer on the last two seasons of the CW series “Supergirl.” In a special section at the beginning of the podcast, Jay answers pressing fan questions related to the last season and series finale of "Supergirl," as well as other viewer-submitted questions. Jay lives in Burbank with his wife and son. Follow Jay on Twitter: @JayFaerber  Visit primary sponsor Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.

His Grandfather was in the original Our Gang comedies... This week, host Gray Jones interviews comedy writer and Script Anatomy instructor Aaron Vaccaro. Aaron Vaccaro bio: He grew up in the San Fernando Valley (the non-porny part) and was always enamored by the entertainment industry, inspired by his grandfather, who starred in the original "Our Gang" comedies. After graduating from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in Film Studies, Aaron set out to become a television writer. He scored several Writers’ Assistant stints – on "24," "Ghost Whisperer," "The New Adventures of Old Christine," "Wilfred," and "Mike & Molly." After being chosen as one of the NBC’s Writers on the Verge, Aaron has gone on to write for "Mike & Molly" and "Superior Donuts," both on CBS, "Team Kaylie" on Netflix, and most recently "Drama Club" on Nickelodeon. He has developed projects with Netflix, Disney, Universal Cable Productions, Viola Davis’ production company, and once sold a feature entitled "Sasquatch vs. The Abominable Snowman," which is every bit as insane as it sounds. Aaron now has an M.F.A. in Screenwriting and has taught screenwriting courses at AFI, UCSB, CSUN, LA Valley College and now Script Anatomy. Follow Aaron on Twitter: @HairyPizzaBagel Visit primary sponsor Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.

From Alaska to the CIA to being the funny drama guy... this week host Gray Jones interviews TV writer and Script Anatomy instructor Zach Ayers. Zach Ayers is a versatile TV writer who has found his stride as the funny guy in a drama room. Although before his TV career, Zach spent five years in a deadly-serious job at the Central Intelligence Agency. There he wrote and produced top-secret training films that taught US intelligence officers how to do their job well and survive doing it. He knows all the scary stuff. Which, in retrospect, Zach finds hilarious.  Recently, Zach wrote and produced the bio-series "American Soul" (BET). Other credits include "Siren" (Freeform), "State of Affairs" (NBC) and "A.N.T. Farm" (Disney). He’s also developed and sold several TV projects of his own across genres and formats. Zach's one of those oddball writers who actually loves to pitch.  Zach's an alumnus of the ABC/Disney Writing Fellowship, Second City and Ithaca College. He grew up in rural, working-class Alaska, learning how to drive a forklift before he learned how to drive a car. But now he’s 100% city kid, living with his family and his cat Balki on the eastside of Los Angeles. He still does his own yardwork. Follow Zach on Twitter: @ZachTellsLies Visit primary sponsor Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.

This week, host Gray Jones interviews screen & TV writer career coach Lee Jessup, who recently published the book Getting It Write: An Insider's Guide to a Screenwriting Career. Lee Jessup is a career coach for professional and emerging screenwriters, a twice-published, best-selling author, who has served as consultant for Universal’s Writers Program, NBC International, and Final Draft’s Big Break contest. Lee’s clients include writers who have major spec, pilot and pitch sales under their belts, staffed TV writers, TV writing program fellows, writers named to The Hit List, The Blood List, The Young & Hungry List and The Black List, major contest winners, as well as writers just beginning to chart their professional course. Lee is the author of Breaking In: Tales From The Screenwriting Trenches (Focal Press) And Getting It Write: An Insider’s Guide To A Screenwriting Career (MWP). Just click on the links to buy these excellent books on Amazon! Her professional background includes a stint as a working screenwriter, a development executive, and the director of ScriptShark.com. Lee has appeared in countless screenwriting conferences and panels domestically, abroad, and online, and has been the interview subject of countless podcasts. Never too far from the industry, She resides in Los Angeles with her family. Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeZJessup Visit Lee's website: leejessup.com Visit primary sponsor Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.

Sasha Feiler is the only funny person to ever come out of Siberia, and you’ll have to take her word for it since Siberia is the last place you’d want to visit! This week, host Gray Jones interviews comedy writer, performer & Script Anatomy instructor Sasha Feiler. She fled Siberia and came to New York at nineteen with $40 in her pocket. At some point, after her paperwork got messed up, she became an illegal immigrant. Which was super fun (it wasn’t). She graduated Brooklyn College on a full Presidential Scholarship with an MFA in Television Production and worked as an editor and producer at CNN. She quickly realized there weren’t a lot of laughs at CNN so she quit and moved to Los Angeles where she started performing and writing on improv and sketch teams at UCB, iO West and Second City. A Script Anatomy alum—check out her testimonial video about Structure lab—she has written for "Robot Chicken" (Adult Swim) and was a fellow at The Colony, A3 (formerly Abrams) Agency’s incubator for emerging writers. The execs at The Colony attached themselves as Producers to her pilot "Queen Bitch" about a socially challenged dog trainer. Sasha currently hosts a comedy podcast "Shut Up I Love It," competes in dog agility with her Champion Entlebucher Spoon and makes hospital visits with her therapy other Entlebucher Shark. These days, she rarely visits Siberia, using the lame excuse of “Once it’s below 72 degrees, I’m dead.” She is repped by Bellevue Management, you can find her on IG @shutupiloveit1, or on Twitter at @shutupiloveit1. Visit primary sponsor Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.

He wrote the book on directing great TV... literally! This week, host Gray Jones interviews veteran TV director Dan Attias, who has worked on such hit shows as "The Boys," "The Walking Dead," "Homeland," "House," "Lost," "The Sopranos," and dozens more.  Dan Attias has worked as a director in the film and television industry for 37 years. As a director of series television he has received the Directors Guild of America award for outstanding direction of dramatic television and has been nominated for multiple Emmy awards for his comedy directing. Dan continues to work on some of the most celebrated and critically acclaimed American television shows, including "Homeland," "The Americans," "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," "Billions," and "The Boys." Previously he has directed "The Sopranos," "The Wire," "Six Feet Under," "True Blood," "Entourage," "The Killing," "The Walking Dead," "True Detective," "Ray Donovan," "Bloodline," "Friday Night Lights," "Northern Exposure," "House," "Lost," "Alias," among many others. Dan's first professional directing assignment was the feature film, Stephen King’s "Silver Bullet," produced by Dino DeLaurentiis. He started his career studying acting, then worked as an assistant director on "E.T. The Extraterrestrial," "Airplane!," "One From the Heart" and several other feature films. Dan has taught acting and directing workshops in the United States, and has appeared as a guest speaker at festivals in Italy, Brazil, Greece,  Mexico and Canada. Before working in the film and television industry, Dan was enrolled in a Ph.D. program in English literature at U.C.L.A., then transferred to the Theater Arts Department where he earned an M.F.A. in film production. Gray gives a high recommendation to his new book, Directing Great Television. CLICK HERE to buy it and support the podcast (currently $5 off on Amazon). Visit primary sponsor Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.

What if you get a non-writing job in the industry, and then thrive in that job... how do you break in to the entry level in TV writing? Find out this week, as host Gray Jones interviews Script Anatomy instructor Jim Galasso. Jim Galasso spent his formative years obsessed with writing plays, making short movies and watching Eddie Murphy and the "Rocky" franchise on loop. His love of storytelling led to writing for the local newspaper (The Connecticut Post), and later for a nightly news show, "Up To The Minute" on CBS. After graduating from Northeastern University, Jim moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in screenwriting. He worked in reality and documentaries at World of Wonder Productions, eventually becoming Head of Development, composing an endless stream of show proposals. But his desire was always scripted TV, and eventually Jim landed at Lost (ABC). He started as Writers' PA, was promoted to Writers' Assistant, then bumped to Staff Writer on the Emmy award winning show's final season. Jim has since written for Hawaii Five-0 (CBS) and the sci-fi family series Beyond (Freeform). He has also done uncredited rewrites on pilots and worked on series treatments. Jim writes pilots spanning many genres, from sci-fi to political thrillers, with the special focus on character interaction and sharp dialogue. Look hard enough and you'll even see the Eddie Murphy and Rocky influences. Or at least get a montage with a fresh synthesizer beat. Jim tells us all about the two courses he currently teaches at Script Anatomy - the TV Structure Lab and the TV Pilot Lab (which is coming up February 1st). These fill up fast, so if they interest you, book early! Follow Jim on Twitter: @JGJR22  Visit primary sponsor Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.

No more reverse engineering! Former development exec Kelly Edwards lifts the veil, and tells you exactly how to get the studio to say 'yes' to your pitch in her new book, The Executive Chair. Kelly Edwards Biography Veteran producer and creative executive Kelly Edwards has worked at every major studio in Hollywood. After years as a feature exec on the Sony and Disney lots, Edwards eventually shifted her focus to television, where she served as a development exec at both Fox and UPN. After producing a drama series for Paramount, she moved on to NBCUniversal, where she oversaw diversity for their twenty networks. Edwards spent her final stint as an exec creating HBO’s emerging artists programs.  Edwards holds a B.A. in Theater from Vassar and an MFA in Writing for Film and Television from Emerson College. She has been a Sundance Episodic Lab fellow and was recently staffed on the new Fox drama "Our Kind Of People." Her new book "The Executive Chair: A Writer’s Guide To TV Series Development," was released October 12th. Buy it here to support the podcast: The Executive Chair. Follow Kelly on Twitter: @kellyedwards_co. Visit primary sponsor Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.

We are constantly told to "pick a lane." But what if our creativity is stifled by only doing one thing? Is it possible to make a living as a multi-hyphenate? This week, host Gray Jones interviews Meg Messmer to find out. Meg Messmer grew up in a small town in Michigan, and without knowing anyone in the business, worked her way up with sheer grit and determination, as an actor, working in development, and as a talent manager, earning six figures despite being an active mom. But she found a passion for producing and creating projects that she could act in. That led to co-creating, self-producing and showrunning the intellectual dark comedy web series "Intersection," shot in Atlanta, with a full writers room.  Learn more about Meg at her website, megmessmer.com. Follow her on Instagram at @megmessmer and on Twitter at @MeganMessmer. CLICK HERE to learn more about her Facebook group "The Multi-Hyphenate Creative Community." Photo credit: Jordana Dale. Visit primary sponsor Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.

Jeff Vlaming is 30 year veteran television writer and producer, whose almost uninterrupted string of hit shows has included "Northern Exposure," "The X-Files," SyFy's "Battlestar Galactica," "NCIS," "Numb3rs," "Fringe," "Teen Wolf," "Hannibal," "Outcast," "The 100" and "Debris." How did he have such a long string of success? According to Jeff, he broke every rule, and never stopped writing. Abridged Biography via Wikipedia: Vlaming came to Los Angeles, California from Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he had worked as an advertising art director. In 1992, he sold a freelance script to the CBS series "Northern Exposure" (then in its third season), and joined the writing staff the following season. In 1994, Vlaming moved to the USA series "Weird Science," where he wrote 13 episodes. In Fall 1995, he joined the writing staff for the third season of the FOX drama "The X-Files." From there, he wrote on the last season of ABC's "Lois & Clark," and the WB series "Rescue 77." Vlaming was a writer-producer on the FOX series "Keen Eddie" and CBS's "NCIS," followed by USA's American remake of the English crime drama "Touching Evil." After writing three scripts for SyFy's "Battlestar Galactica," Vlaming joined the CW series "Reaper" as a supervising producer for its two-year stint. In 2009, he joined the second season of the FOX series "Fringe" as a writer and supervising producer.  His freelance episode of "Stargate: Universe," "Human" received a Gemini Award for series star Robert Carlyle. In 2011, Vlaming was on MTV's re-imagining of "Teen Wolf" as a Co-executive producer and writer. After two seasons as a co-executive producer on the NBC series "Hannibal," Vlaming was a co-executive producer on the Cinemax series "Outcast" based on the comic book series by Robert Kirkman (creator of "The Walking Dead.") Jeff Vlaming was a writer and executive producer for the final three seasons of the Jason Rothenberg CW series "The 100" and is currently a writer and executive producer on JH Wyman's NBC series "Debris." Vlaming was also part of the writing/creative team behind Microsoft's Xbox One game "Quantum Break". He maintains, or tries to, a stream of daily doodles, some related to his TV work, on Twitter at @jvlamingwriter. Visit primary sponsor Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft. You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more. Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews. Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.