Writer Episodes

We talk to showrunner Joe Henderson about his Hollywood journey. He talks about his formative years as an assistant and how he is grateful for the extended period he spent at this position - but then also about his triple promotion. Joe talks about the complications of Lucifer: the odd premise, the early cancellation the stop-go issues around later series - but also its tremendous success. He explains whether or not he expects people to have watched his shows, the importance of maintaining quali...

We hear the fascinating take of Jeffrey Lieber, the creator of the first version of the Lost pilot. We talk about how he dealt with his relationship with the show as it went in a different direction, the years it took him to process it and his views on the show and how the ending was received. He talks about why he writes, the role therapy has played and how he approaches new roles. He talks about the struggle of writers, what he is hoping to achieve with Charmed and the importance of story, col...

We talk to veteran writer Jose Molina. He talks through the balance between finding a long-running show, finding a show you like and making bold and reckless decision early in your career. He explains why young writers should actually take advice from their mentors, even if they think none of the rules apply to them, why he quit SVU and he tries to define 'success'. Jose talks about worrying less about his next gig and more about his next gig being the right one, the important of working to pay ...

We talk to Marc Bernardin about his different careers and the different types of failure he suffered. He talks about journalism, being fired while on vacation and knowing when to break the rules and reach out to interview subjects for opportunities in writing. He explains the pros and cons of diversity hires in Hollywood, getting fired from TV writing and then his return to journalism. Marc tells us how he got back to screenwriting while working for Playboy, making the most of his opportunities ...

We talk to David Goodman, veteran writer and WGA West President. He talks about the pain of a comedy writer pitching jokes that don’t land, the thin line to tread between comedy and causing offense and knowing you’ll get fired if you can’t make people laugh. He describes some iconic comedy rooms, talks about his animated show that got made but never aired and the responsibility of Guild presidency and standing up for writers everywhere. Extraordinary anecdotes, insight and advice from a veteran ...

We talk to show creator Mickey Fisher. He tells us about how his 'overnight success' wasn't actually overnight, being fired in hotel rooms and having his gate pass for the studio revoked as the first sign his show was getting cancelled. He explains his version of imposter syndrome, getting fired from a role as a three-wheel motorbike ambassador and his first meeting and instant bonding with a very pregnant Halle Berry. He talks honestly about nearly quitting his dream, knowing his limitations an...

We talk to the amazing John Rogers. The veteran writer and showrunner gives his views from 30 years in the industry. He tells the amazing story of the awful Catwoman, how he owned his role in the movie, what went wrong and buying rounds with 'Catwoman money'. John tells us about the transition from stand-up comedian and sitcom actor to Cosby, developing the Jackie Chan animated series and being 'on the list' as a showrunner. He described buying fountain pens as his treat, the multiple failures i...

We talk to the extraordinary Shawn Simmons about his cult hit Wayne. He tells us about the rare occurrence of having his network cancelled under his show, the joy of a show being reborn on Amazon and the 'heat' of having a hit show. But he also explains about the expectation of failure amid the success, the incredible learning of coming up through the development side of the business and working on kids TV. Shawn tells us how close he came to quitting, going two years without a job and the 'dark...

We talk to horror writer Jeff Howard. He tells us about being rejected - with various levels of misfortune - by Nicolas Cage, John Stamos and Sabrina the Teenage Witch. He talks about the kiss of death 'well told', the desire for a quick 'no' and self-sabotaging a meeting by failing to read the room. And Noah tells the story of pitching to a sleeping exec. Jeff tells us about his movie that was sold, then died, then they were asked to re-pitch the same movie - just another way Hollywood can re...

Prodigious writer Robert Hewitt Wolfe joins the podcast. He talks honestly about missing out on his dream Lord of the Rings project, the amount of time spent continuously looking for his next role and his ratio of 8 failures for every success - meaning hundreds of rejections in his long career. He tells us about the relief of working on long-running shows, the excitement of being on Star Trek and the meagre budgets he had to work with Andromeda compared to today's blockbusters. Robert also recou...

We talk to actor and writer Geoffrey Thorne. The actor turned writer tells his extraordinary story of riches to rags and back to riches again. He talks about why he walked away from a successful acting career in In the Heat of Night, the people that doubted him, the desperate times of pretending to be his own manager and being turned for a job drawing Disney-style porno promos. He talks about the struggles to make it as a writer, hanging on to the positive comments of one editor and building a v...

We talk to writer-turned-manager John Zaozirny, President of Bellevue Productions. He talks about his move from writing to management, stories of firing and being fired and why he loves the industry. John talks about being fired even when he has created success for his clients, the slow death of projects and the need to be careful with overnight success. He explains why he tries to help new writers brace for failure, how he does pastoral care for his talent ('more nurse than doctor') and the imp...

We talk to writer and showrunner Matthew Federman. He talks about how he runs a writing room and pro-actively solves problems, the mistakes he made pitching and what he's learned from brilliant bosses. He explains the slightly broken Hollywood hiring process, why he cares about his writers who work for him so much and how he didn't make the most of career opportunities after working on the West Wing. Matt also tells us he came on the podcast to explain that making it in Hollywood is harder than ...

We talk to Maze Runner writer Grant Pierce Myers. He tells us about getting a movie green lit and being fired in a single phone call, the challenge of backing up a hit with a second success and the importance of courtesy among writers when you're brought on for a rewrite. He tells us about reading he has been kicked off a movie in the trades, the importance of savoring wins and having 'Hollywood days' with his wife. An honest analysis of rejection in the entertainment business by a brilliant wri...

We talk to the extraordinary Sheryl J. Anderson, veteran writer and showrunner. She tells us how 'famous, toxic' writers' rooms taught her how to lead her own show the right way, her regrets about not speaking up to protect women writers in her youth and the tremendous influence of her military father. She explains how the best work can be done by a happy team, how the extraordinary success of Sweet Magnolias only inspires her to work harder and her 'law school' moments of sitting on the kitchen...

We talk to screenwriter Dan Hernandez. He tells us about how he handled the pressure of writing fan favorite Detective Pikachu, the big opportunities that got away in his career and going to high school with Josh Gad. He explains the benefits of being part of a writing duo, the importance of finding people around you with good 'taste' and how he handles the anxiety and rejection of a career in Hollywood. Dan tells how every big rejection in his career led back to eventual success, losing a movie...

Screenwriter Zack Stentz gives an honest account of the tough world of Hollywood and what a writer has to go through to make it. He talks about the red carpet highs of Thor and X-Men First Class but then the long periods of struggling to get anything made. In a powerful and candid discussion he talks about dealing with toxic fandom, the emotions of splitting from a long-time writing partner and going it alone as well the transition from film to tv and back again. He talks about his fears of bein...

We talk to Adele Lim, writer on Crazy Rich Asians and the new Disney movie Raya and the Last Dragon. She talks about her journey from TV to film and her struggles along the way. Adele tells us she wrote some of her best work while coping with the anger of pregnancy-related discrimination, the monsters in TV writing rooms and why, as an Asian female, she felt she had to be better and harder working than colleagues around her. She talks about becoming an accidental role model after her very public...