Act Two Podcast

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 

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 Hollywood agent, what it means to be a Lit Agent for Screen and TV Writers, and how he goes about finding new clients.   Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

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: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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 by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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 just one solid script?   Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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 your mind.   TWIW: Tasha had to brainstorm horror movie ideas from scratch; where did she start? Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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 studio wants to make a movie from a terrible book?    Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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 treatment in a single day and has never felt so alive / We watched & discussed ET for February's Patreon Zoom Q&A and learned so much! / Tasha re-read a script she just submitted to her agents and is now questioning everything   Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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 generals, pitching, developing scripts at the studio level, and her unique journey to finding TV development.   Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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 watching this Oscar movie / Josh has an AI scare Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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 writing lessons are there to learn from someone whose read thousands of scripts at the studio level?   Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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 depiction of life as an actor in Hollywood? / A listener demands to know why Tasha did not like Oscar-nominated Frankenstein   Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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 yourself against endless unpaid drafts, and what's realistic about Free Work and our careers as Screenwriters.   Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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? / Josh battles a coyote, and gets a new story idea / Has Tasha seen all the Oscar movies yet? / Tasha's new mantra: Just Do It!   Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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 potential of the short story market for writers in any stage of their career.   Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414Beg

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 / Tasha loved The Anaconda / Watching The Housemaid in a full theater made a big difference / A Spielberg book that could change your life!   Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

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 

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 for success (and they maybe fangirl over Ken a little bit).    TWIW: Tasha got very different notes on a script from her manager and her writer's group, what should she do? / A studio exec with very interesting insight into writers vs. actors that we should learn from / Josh's pitch to an actress / Tasha's pitch to an author / Rob Reiner as an integral part of our Screenwriting education, RIP.    Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

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 Mixer and sweated profusely / If you can spot the reference to Tasha & Josh's favorite movies in S1 of The Mighty Nein on Amazon Prime, you win a prize! Hint: there are 2 references.   Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

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 #1 in the US, Canada & Europe! / Vince Gilligan is so damn good at creating character-driven concepts   Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

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 

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 the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

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 working with the "nerdy ass voice actors" of Critical Role.   Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

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 / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

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 

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, Josh and Dave dressing up as for Halloween??   Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss a listener question -- When do you know your script is ready?    TWIW: Good Boy, the horror movie from the POV of a dog and how Tasha hated it and finally learned to feel / Tasha & Josh are donating a 30-minute notes session for charity at Cause for Entertainment, a charity to support Breast Cancer Research and those affected by breast cancer.    Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

It’s Austin Film Festival time! Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman tackle the art of networking - a word that makes most writers shiver. They share how to approach it authentically, spark conversations, and avoid the common pitfalls that kill a good impression. Plus, a new round of Are You Excited? - where they dig into the month’s releases.   Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss Tasha's dialogue hack to quickly improve your dialogue and trim pages.    TWIW: What does it mean when a manager or agent "hip-pockets" you? / Tasha had a MIGHTY NEIN screening at SCAD and now she wants to go to there / The difference in approach between being a fan of an IP and just taking an IP job. / Storytelling lessons learned from our September Patreon RUNNING MAN Q&A    Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman sit down with Francisco Angones, the creator of DUCK TALES (2017) and Co-EP on THE LEGEND OF VOX MACHINA (S4, S5) to discuss what a Screenwriting career in animation can look like, share stories on its challenges and how to manage them, and share his day-to-day as an animation writer/creator.    Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman talk about all the different types of careers for a Screenwriter and which may be right for you, depending on your personality.    TWIW: How to navigate the Austin Film Festival successfully, even if you're shy / Tasha's newest "big page" / Josh finds writing in the dark is a new hack / the Anaconda trailer is whack / Tasha & Josh's spec is moving on to the next phase.   Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss the movies coming to your eyeballs in September, and about the things on their mind this week in the world of Screenwriting.   Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman sit down with Derek Kolstad, writer and creator of the JOHN WICK and NOBODY franchises, to discuss everything from crafting character-driven action movies to the reality of the grind behind being a successful working Screenwriter.   Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman sit down with Josh's agent, David Boxerbaum, a partner at Verve, to discuss how successful writers work with their agents, the recent boom in short story sales and what that means for Screenwriters, and why some specs sale and others don't.   Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

Life gets crazy and overwhelming. Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman break down how screenwriters multitask - balancing multiple projects, writing more than one script at a time, and staying productive along the way. Plus... TWIW!   Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman sit down with Screenwriter and Tennis Pro, Michael Basha, to discuss how the psychology of professional athletes can be a useful road map for professional screenwriters, and other ways pro sports mirrors the screenwriting industry.   Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

Host Tasha Huo talks candidly about her writing journey on her first produced film, RED SONJA, from her first pitch to getting rewritten to final credits determination. RED SONJA releases in theaters on August 13th, and streaming on August 29th.   TWIW: Josh's old script idea is now a Brendan Fraser movie, but not how Josh expected / Tasha used a placeholder for a scene when she got stuck, but how does that work?   Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

Host Tasha Huo went to San Diego Comic-Con this year and has thoughts on why it's a great con for Screenwriters. Plus, Are You Excited about what's coming out in theaters in August?    TWIW: How to get unstuck in your writing / Jurassic World: Rebirth / Happy Gilmore 2 made Tasha cry   Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman talk about which July Summer movies they're excited about, and give some interesting behind-the-scenes Screenwriting tidbits about how some of these movies got made. TWIW: Tasha is having an IP crisis / Do you need a feature sample to meet at feature companies? / Josh's run-in with a Hollywood icon   Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

This week, we chat with screenwriters Nic Curcio and Kristin Tepper about branding, social media, and what it means to create content as a writer in today’s industry. We dive into how writers can approach their digital footprint, whether you need to be on social media, how to build an authentic brand, the blacklist, and a ton more...   Nic Curcio: @Nicolascurcio Kristen Tepper: @KristenTepper The Hollywood Hang Podcast: @TheHollywoodHang   Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

Inspired by a post from Screenwriter Zack Stentz, hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss whether it's a smarter career move to work on IP or to put your head down and write your own spec. They discuss the realities of what it means to work on IP vs. Specs, their own experiences working in both markets, and the consequences (both good & bad) of working on both.    TWIW: What Tasha's manager actually meant when she gave that "boring" note. / First RED SONJA trailer is out! Tasha's first produced movie comes out in theaters AUG 15th! / For those going to San Diego Comic-Con, check out The Critical Role on Prime Video: The Mighty Nein and Legend of Vox Machina Cast panel to see some first-looks of Tasha's new show    Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist   

It’s a mailbag episode! Tasha and Josh tackle listener questions - from writer’s groups to pitching and more. Plus, This Week in Writing… Tasha is not a boring writer.   Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist   

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss the live action adaptation of HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, breaking down, from a writer's perspective, what made it successful and, in these podcasters opinions, unsuccessful as an adaptation.   TWIW: Voice in screenwriting is about pacing, and here's why.   Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss the live action adaptation of LILO & STITCH, breaking down writer and director choices that helped launch it into massive numbers at the box office and that, in these podcasters opinions, makes it the most successful live action Disney adaptation yet!    TWIW: Josh thinks he can be a detective after writing one, and Tasha gets notes that she's a boring writer.   Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman have just been side-lined by sicknesses and Tasha is recently back from a month on the road. It's time to talk about how to keep writing during unexpected obstacles. Inertia in the right direction is important, but Life can get in the way. Let's talk practical, real ways to keep going during tough times.   Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

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: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414Beg

Summer movies are out! And it's time to see if you're excited about what Hollywood has to offer in June! Some surprises, and some long-awaited blockbusters. What will you be seeing this June?   Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist 

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discover a list of top tips for aspiring Screenwriters, according to the New York Film Academy. They disagree fundamentally with some tips, and expound on the practicality of others in the real world. There is advice for up & coming Screenwriters everywhere. Tasha and Josh help translate that advice into real-life scenarios and uses.   TWIW: Outlining as a surprising tool for a writer who doesn't outline   Questions / Comments: [email protected] Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist