198 episodes
The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna Meg LeFauve & Lorien McKenna
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- TV & Film
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4.9 • 876 Ratings
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Welcome to The Screenwriting Life, a podcast where Oscar-nominated writer Meg LeFauve and Emmy-nominated writer Lorien McKenna discuss not only the craft and business of Screenwriting, but also the emotional life: the ups and downs of being a creative, to remind you that you are not alone and to keep writing.
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192 | Ten Common Traps That Will Kill Your Script (Pt. 1)
Whether you're a pro or a beginner, there are certain traps as screenwriters that will almost ALWAYS kill our writing. On today's show, we cover the first five...(stay tuned for the rest!)
JOIN OUR PATREON: www.patreon.com/thescreenwritinglife -
191 | Writing Visually On The Page (And Connecting To Your Theme) ft. Linda Seger
Linda Seger basically created the job of independent script consultant. After years of exploring, she discovered that her gifts lie in making a good script great, which is the name of her first book: "Making A Good Script Great." Since then, Linda has become one of Hollywood's most sought after and celebrated consultants, because her ability to distill down what is needed on the page.
For Linda's Books: https://lindaseger.com/screenwriting-books/
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190 | Getting Candid About The Business of Hollywood (ft. Navid McIlhargey)
Navid Mcllhargey has been a studio executive and producer for over 20 years, and over the course of his impressive career, he has seen the business change dramatically. Today, we get an inside look into the life of a studio-exec-turned-producer, and more importantly, what it looks like for a producer to puzzle together a movie in today's dramatically different Hollywood.
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189 | Create Your Hollywood Game Plan w/ Carole Kirschner
Carole Kirschner, the director of the CBS Diversity Writers Program & WGA Showrunner Training Program, is passionate about helping creative professionals build thriving Hollywood careers. Whether you're an emerging writer of a pro, Carole will offer you PRACTICAL advice as to how to approach this ever-changing business.
FOR CAROLE'S BOOK: https://www.carolekirschner.com/book
FOR CAROLE'S BOOTCAMP: http://ckbootcamp.com/
TO JOIN OUR PATREON: www.patreon.com/thescreenwritinglife -
188 | Playwriting (and some BTS Behind the Making of Coco) ft. Octavio Solis
Octavio Solis is among the most celebrated playwrights discussing the Latin American experience, but he wasn't always a writer. Octavio began his artistic journey as an actor-turned-writing-teacher. But when his students started succeeding, he felt an emerging feeling; a need to take his own advice and get to the page.
Since then, Solis has written dozens of celebrated plays, in addition to culturally consulting on Pixar's COCO, which we discuss today.
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187 | Writing For Multi-Cam Sitcoms (w/ Lopez vs Lopez Showrunner Debby Wolfe)
Even though Debby Wolfe began her career writing "edgy, brooding feminist shorts" (her words), but really found her lane as a writer when she wrote a Modern Family spec that launched her career. Since then, she's written on a number of multi-cams, eventually arriving on Lopez vs. Lopez, which she's currently showrunning. Today, Debby discusses how she manages to produce at the pace Network TV requires, how she staffs, and the importance of character-driven comedy.
Watch Season 2 of Lopez vs Lopez starting on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 with back-to-back episodes at 8/7c and 8:30/7:30c on NBC. New episodes air next day on Peacock. It will continue in those time slots going forward — which means, yes, you'll be getting two new episodes of the show per week!
JOIN OUR PATREON: www.patreon.com/thescreenwritinglife
Customer Reviews
The Topics and Content are Therapy
Since I can remember, I have had stories forming in my mind that play out from beginning to end, 24/7, that I either keep to myself or share aloud. Unless I am distracted by company/family conversations, television and the like, it just doesn’t stop. I love that I share this trait (perhaps some people have a better “stopper” than I do) with so many people. And they make a living doing it. Since finding this podcast, I have learned more about myself as a human being. I love that you, and your guests, all talk about the business. But it is the personal challenges and successes, the self care and the slip ups everyone shares, that help me see the value in my own stories. My voice. I have worked on screenplays, stage plays, poems, lyrics, etc… forever. But recently, I have worked on them with others, and solo, with the idea of selling or producing them. Now I feel I belong to a tribe. Our tribe of creatives. I have a better sense of direction. A better life. Thank you.
I found my holy grail of writing wisdom
I wish you can hear the sound effects I’m making. Ironically, it’s hard to put into words what this podcast means to me and how to describe these sounds - sentimental? Relief? I’m new to screenwriting so I am very glad I found this podcast. I work in healthcare and for more than a decade of helping others, I took my own wants and needs off the stove, not even on the back burner! After a personal crisis (talk about lava), I finally decided to do something for myself again and that was opening my laptop to write something other than medical notes. This podcast is my companion in my screenwriting journey and a validating friend when I go into my doom spirals of imposter syndrome, analysis paralysis, anxiety, and other fun brain drama. Thank you so much Meg, Lorien, and Jeff. I’m happy to have found you to keep me company as I drive from patient to patient or when I curl into fetal position when I have a “I’m not going to write but still want to be writer productive” day.
Not Alone
I used to think writing was a lonely artform. Isolating, private, secret. I hated it, despite feeling compelled to do it. I made it my goal last year to change that narrative and find my community. And there's been no community more welcoming, more inspirational, and more empowering than The Screenwriting Life. The way Meg, Lorien, and Jeff bare their souls on the podcast as they explore their craft, careers, and personal growth has been invaluable. The way their leadership has brought together this many writers to share their triumphs, mourn their losses, and ask questions together has made me not only a better writer, but a less lonely one as well. Thank you. I am not alone. I will keep writing.