PODCAST · tv
Act Two Podcast
by Tasha Huo & Josh Hallman
Welcome to the Act Two Podcast where screenwriters Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman demystify what it means to be an everyday working Screenwriter. A podcast for Screenwriters, by Screenwriters.
Episodes
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The World-Building Series for Screenwriters: How to Write Scene Description That Builds Your World
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman kick off their new World-Building Series by discussing how to build your world within scenes. Whether writing high fantasy or just building tension, how you introduce or describe a scene and how your characters approach that scene can have a trickle down effect…
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What Jurassic Park's Act Two Teaches Screenwriters || Tension, Turning Points & Setups and Payoffs
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss the Act Two of Steven Spielberg & David Koepp's Jurassic Park. What can a perfect Act Two teach us about tension, transitions, creating setups and building to better payoffs, and how to craft turning points that propel your movie forward in seamless and...
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How to Break the Cliches in Action Sequences || The Screenwriting Craft
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss their favorite tips on how to build more unique action sequences that feel essential, tell story and character, and make your screenplay standout. Whether you write in the action genre or not, these storytelling do's apply to all Screenwriters who…
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Note Behind the Note Series || Decoding "What's Your Series?" and "You Should Start Your Story Later"
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss two real-life notes given to a TV writer: "After reading your pilot, I don't know what your series is about" and "You should start your story later". What do those notes actually mean and how do you address them? Questions/Comments: [email protected]...
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10 Things Every Screenwriter Should Know
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman break down and go in-depth on screenwriter Tom Vaughan's viral post about the 10 random things he learned about having a Screenwriting career after 29 years of writing movies. Questions/Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist
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How Summer 2026 Blockbusters Are Inspiring Us to Write Original Screenplays
Hosts Tasha Huo & Josh Hallman talk about their hot takes on this Summer's blockbusters and how this massive Summer for theatrical releases is actually a lesson in writing originals. Questions/Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist
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REPOST - The Art of Adaptation: Interview w/ Christopher Yost (THOR: RAGNAROK, COWBOY BEPOP)
In honor of the recent announcement about Christopher Yost showrunning Dungeon Crawler Carl, we're sharing this great interview with him! Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman sit down with one of the great adaptation writers in our business, Christopher Yost (THOR: RAGNAROK, COWBOY BEBOP), about how…
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REPOST - Networking and Making Connections
After last week's episode where Kevin Shabel mentioned networking as key to building your career, we’re reposting an episode about that very topic! The favorite thing a screenwriter can do is to Network! Not really. Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman dive into all things networking and what that...
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How to Become a Writer's Assistant | What the Job Really Is & How to Get It
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman talk with Kevin Shabel, Tasha's Showrunner's Assistant on Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft (Netflix) and the Writer's Assistant for The Mighty Nein (Amazon). He talks about how he got the job, how he excelled, the challenges of the job, and how he leveraged…
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5 Hacks for a Must-Read Screenplay
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss the top screenplay hacks according to NoFilmSchool.com, with examples of how and when they use those hacks in their own professional writing, and also when to leave a hack on the cutting room floor. Questions/Comments: [email protected] Edited by the...
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REPOST - 10 Signs of a Great Screenplay
Lists on how to write a "great" screenplay are practically useless when sitting down before a blank page. But hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss how to use lists and tips in the REWRITE process to help hone your decent script into a great one. Questions / Comments: [email protected]...
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Screenplay Structure 101 | Every Major Turning Point, When It Happens & Why It Matters
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman break down Structure for a feature-length story to its basics. What are each of the turning points, when should they fall in your movie, why are they important, and what effect should they have on your story. Questions/Comments: [email protected] Edited by…
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5 Tips for Nailing Your TV Writers' Room Interview
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman share five concrete tips for nailing your TV writers' room interview - how to read the room's energy, why having an opinion on the material matters, and the resume detail that helped Tasha land her first staffing job. Questions/Comments: [email protected]...
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How Portal A is Changing the Game for Screenwriters & Directors | Producer Jacob Motz Interview
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman sit down with Portal A producer, Jacob Motz, to talk about the business of quality filmmaker-driven short form content, and how it's an exciting outlet for all Screenwriters and aspiring Writer-Directors, regardless of level or representation. Questions/Comments:...
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REPOST - Staying Proactive And Being An Advocate For Yourself.
There are many ways to stay proactive in your writing life. If you're sitting on a script you're passionate about, there are (creative) ways to get it into the world. Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman talk about the different outlets screenwriters have and ways to be an advocate for yourself.…
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Listener Q&A: Screenwriting from Abroad, Writing Around a Day Job & Why AI Won't Teach You to Write
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman field Listener questions. Questions/Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist
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REPOST — Getting Repped — All the Ways to Get a Manager or Agent
Screenwriters Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman share their wild stories about how they got their first Manager and Agent, and talk through the many ways you can get representation. Everyone tells you to get repped, but why do you even need a rep, and what the heck do they do anyway? This is the Act Two...
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How to Rewrite Your Screenplay
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss the many different ways screenwriters revise a script - from tackling major problems after a first draft to handling vague notes, character issues, comedy passes, production rewrites, and someone else’s pages. They break down their personal revision...
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What to See This Summer | 2026 Movie Picks
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss the 2026 Summer Blockbuster line-up, what's worth seeing, what are some surprises, and ask the age-old post-pandemic question are "movies back?!" Questions/Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist
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How Their Stolen Short Film Led to a Hollywood Feature Deal | Interview: Ryan Polly & Matt Black
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman sit down with writer-directors Ryan Polly and Matt Black to talk about their wild story of theft and impersonation that led to them making their first Hollywood feature film, and about what it's like to find Hollywood success while living and working in Texas....
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Listener Q&A: When a Movie Kills Your Script & Script Submission Rules Hollywood Expects You to Know
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman answer listener questions about what to do when you see a trailer for an upcoming movie... that looks a lot like the script you've just worked so hard writing. How dead is your idea really? Also, what do Studios and Producers expect when it comes to formatting…
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How to Pitch a Screenplay | Producer & Pitch Coach Emmeline Yang Hankins on What Actually Works
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman sit down with producer & development consultant, Emmeline Yang Hankins, to discuss what she's learned over the years about perfecting a pitch, and how she teaches pitching as a powerful tool at any stage of development. Her signature class for scripted TV…
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Go Forth and Write Your Spec
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman check in on their current specs, break down their process for starting a new idea, and talk about why uninterrupted writing time is nearly impossible to protect. Also, TWIW! Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist
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The Agent Series with Mark Hartogsohn: What is a Lit Agent and How to Get One? (REPOST)
Host Tasha Huo brings on her Gersh agent, Mark Hartogsohn, for the first in a series designed to help Screenwriters navigate what it means to get an Agent and maximize your working relationship once you have an Agent. In this introductory installment, Tasha and Josh discuss how Mark became a...
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Rewriting for Yourself vs. Rewriting as a Professional Writer
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman break down the mindset shift between rewriting for yourself and rewriting for a job, and what it really means to rewrite like a professional writer. Also, in TWIW... Josh drives Jason Blum's golf cart, and Tasha takes a retreat! Questions / Comments:...
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The Art of the Cheer Moment | How to Write Scenes That Excite Audiences
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman mourn the shuttering of JJ Abrams' Bad Robot by talking about one of their most valuable lessons from JJ... "Cheer Moments". They discuss examples in Film & TV and how to craft an iconic cheer moment in your own script. Questions / Comments…
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Good Writing Isn't Enough | The "Other" Skills Every Screenwriter Needs to Succeed
Just being a great writer doesn't mean you can make it as a professional Screenwriter. Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss what other qualities professional Screenwriters possess that help make them undeniable hires with career longevity. Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited…
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Don't Send That Script Yet: Rewrites, Feedback & Knowing When Your Screenplay is Ready
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman field a listener question about Rewrites. Do you really need to rewrite your drafts before sending them to managers and agents? Will that slow momentum? How many scripts should you revise before you can start querying reps? Do you need a portfolio of scripts, or...
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Is the Screenwriting Life Worth It? Yes - Here's Why (Part 2)
In Part Two of a series about the Screenwriter's lifestyle, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman dig into all the ways being a professional Screenwriter is exactly the dream you imagine it to be, and more. If you think you can't handle the Ugly Truths of the previous episode, maybe this will change...
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Is the Screenwriting Life Worth It? The Ugly Truth (Part 1 of 2)
Being a Screenwriter is a worthy dream that is attainable. But the dream is much different than we imagine. In this Part One of a series, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss the realities of a professional Screenwriter's lifestyle, the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. TWIW: What to do when a…
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We Read Our Old Script Coverage (and It's Brutal) | 2025 Oscar Nominee Reactions
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman read real studio script coverage of their old specs, and it's... painful. Plus, they discuss some of this year's Oscar nominees, their predictions, their reactions, and why! TWIW: Josh has a breakthrough by writing an Act One with no plan / Tasha wrote a movie...
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What TV Execs Wish You Knew: Pitching, Development & Breaking In With Legendary's Anna Halligan
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman sit with Executive Director of Scripted Series at Legendary, Anna Halligan, to get a behind-the-scenes look at her day-to-day as a TV executive, including how she works with writers and what she wishes writers knew. Anna shares her insights on everything from...
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Screenwriting Q&A: Free Work, Producer Conflicts & February: Are You Excited?
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman field listener questions on free work, working on spec with a producer on your own original idea, and how to approach a producer when you don't like their ideas. Also included: Are You Excited?!: February Edition TWIW: Tasha is inspired to take karate after…
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Inside Studio Coverage: How Story Analysts Evaluate Scripts at Major Studios
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman sit down with long-time Universal Pictures Story Analyst, Ray Kolasa, to chat about the process a script goes through when it's sent to a studio, from submission, development to production. What do studios look for, what scripts work and don't work, and what…
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Selling Out Isn't Wrong -- It's a Strategy
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss Franklin Leonard's much-debated post: The Moral Case for Selling Out and whether "selling out" is the key to having a Screenwriting career in Hollywood. TWIW: Sam Raimi's SEND HELP is quite the theater experience / Is Marvel's WONDER MAN the most accurate...
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Free Work as Screenwriters: How to Decide, Set Boundaries, and Protect Yourself
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman field a listener question about Free Work, the nemesis of all Screenwriters, and the particular bane of up-and-coming Screenwriters. They talk about their own experiences with Free Work early in their careers and now, how they dealt with them, how best to protect...
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Why You? - The Question Every Screenwriter Needs to Know How to Answer
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss the question we've all gotten from execs -- "Why you?" They discuss why they ask this question, what it means, and how best to answer it, including examples from real-life situations. TWIW: Tasha just finished her spec adaptation of a book! What next? /…
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How Post-Production Can Make You a Better Writer: Insights from an Editor
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman sit down with editor Patrick Tuck (THE LOW DOWN, RESERVATION DOGS, CHAD POWERS) to discuss how writers' stories evolve in the editing room, lessons writers can learn from the post process, how writers can avoid common post pitfalls, and more! Questions / Comments:...
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Interview with Scott Glassgold: Selling Your Short Story (REPOST)
Scott Glassgold, founder of management & production company Ground Control, has recently made waves in Hollywood for finding short stories on Reddit and turning them into high-profile sales for new writers. Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman walk through that process with Scott and discuss the...
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How to Actually Hit Your 2026 Screenwriting Goals
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman talk 2026 Screenwriting goals and how to achieve them realistically. They discuss breaking screenwriting goals down into actionable steps, scheduling yourself, and other useful tips to stay on track this year. TWIW: Tasha visited the Academy Museum over break /...
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Wins, Misses and Takeaways: Our 2025 Goal Wrap-Up
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss how many of their 2025 Goals they achieved (spoiler alert: Josh beat Tasha), and what they can learn from their successes and failures going into 2026. Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist
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How to Plan Your Screenwriting Year for Success: A Month-by-Month Guide
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss Final Draft blog by Ken Miyamoto, How to Plan Your Entire Screenwriting Year: A Month-by-Month Guide. They break down tasks for each month, discuss practical solutions to achieving those tasks, and why thinking about your year in these terms sets you up…
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The Writing Behind Tomb Raider: the Legend of Lara Croft Season 2
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman chat about Tasha's newest season of Tomb Raider: the Legend of Lara Croft now on Netflix, how the idea for the season came together, and behind-the-scenes writing stories. TWIW: The Blacklist 2025: Who's Who and trends Josh is seeing / Tasha went to a BAFTA Games...
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5 Tips on Telling a Compelling Story
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman talk through Final Draft's 5 Pieces of Advice to Tell a Compelling Tale and offer their own specifics on why and how these pieces of advice work in your writing. TWIW: This month's Running Man Q&A Patreon Zoom / Netflix buying WB? / Tasha's show The Mighty Nein is...
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Living Outside LA, Pitching Update, Mighty Nein - Plus: Are You Excited?
This week, Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman talk about living outside LA, where Tasha’s pitch stands, and an overdue double-dose of “Are You Excited?” - covering both November and December. Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist
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How to Get Unstuck in Your Writing: Screenwriting Tips that Actually Work
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman field a listener question and discuss the tips & tricks they use to get unstuck in their writing. TWIW: Is The Hunger Games a perfect movie? / Returning to "the big paper" for a video game adaptation pitch. Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by…
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Writing THE MIGHTY NEIN: Interview with Showrunner Tasha Huo
Showrunner and co-host Tasha Huo's show premieres November 19 on Amazon Prime Video, and Josh makes her talk about it! Tasha reveals how she got the job adapting the Critical Role live D&D campaign, what the writing process was like to adapt something so massive and beloved, and what it was like...
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Holiday Gifts -- What to get Reps and Producers (REPOST)
We have a repost this week: Holidays are here, and it’s time to panic about what to get your reps. Freak out no more! Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman give some great gift ideas, and share some insider info from reps themselves on what gifts they are actually looking for this year. Questions /...
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Staying Relevant: How to Have a Long Career as a Screenwriter
Hollywood moves fast, and even the best careers can fade. Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman share ways to stay relevant as a screenwriter and keep your career thriving. Plus... TWIW! Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist
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How to Write Great Villains | Halloween Special for Screenwriters
Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman chat with horror writer and Friend of the Podcast, David Levinson (Welcome Home), about their favorite movie villains and how they were written to make a lasting impression. TWIW: How do you manage the financial realities of being a spec writer? / What are Tasha,...
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Act Two Podcast have?
Act Two Podcast currently has 314 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Act Two Podcast about?
Welcome to the Act Two Podcast where screenwriters Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman demystify what it means to be an everyday working Screenwriter. A podcast for Screenwriters, by Screenwriters.
How often does Act Two Podcast release new episodes?
Act Two Podcast publishes regularly with 314 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Act Two Podcast?
You can listen to Act Two Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Act Two Podcast?
Act Two Podcast is created and hosted by Tasha Huo & Josh Hallman.
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