On The Page
663 episodes - English - Latest episode: 12 days ago - ★★★★★ - 365 ratingsON THE PAGE: Join professional script consultant Pilar Alessandra as she demystifies screenwriting and answers your questions about script craft and story.
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Episodes
786. The Many Hats of Keena Ferguson
August 26, 2022 12:00 - 34 minutes - 31.5 MBFrom writer to producer to director to actor to parent, Keena Ferguson is always thinking creatively about ways to get her message and stories onto the screen and out to the world.
785. A Couple of Q’s and a Bunch of A’s
August 19, 2022 15:00 - 45 minutes - 41.5 MBAn informal Q&A with two students from Pilar’s class, Laura Weekes and Dale Hildebrand, resulted in an in-depth discussion about the pros and cons of independent filmmaking.
784. Una Meta Movie
August 12, 2022 12:00 - 45 minutes - 41.9 MBWriter/director Jennifer Sharp decided to buck the system, travel to Mexico and make her movie ... which ended up being a story about a writer trying to make her movie while battling the system.
783. The Other Kid in the Hall
August 05, 2022 12:00 - 34 minutes - 31.6 MBWriter Paul Bellini, “the guy in the towel,” talks about what he’s learned from writing with Scott Thompson and the Kids in the Hall for over thirty years.
782. I Love My Dad
July 29, 2022 12:00 - 39 minutes - 36.1 MBWhat do you do when your dad catfishes you? Write a movie about it, of course! James Morosini talks about drawing from the truth and creating empathy for his characters as he wrote, directed and starred in his feature film, I Love My Dad, starring Patton Oswalt.
781. Andy Siara
July 22, 2022 12:00 - 42 minutes - 38.8 MBFrom his critically acclaimed screenplay Palm Springs to his upcoming series The Resort, writer Andy Siara likes to explore the “disappointment of time.”
780. Psychology for Screenwriters
July 15, 2022 14:00 - 50 minutes - 46.1 MBWilliam Indick, author of “Psychology for Screenwriters,” discusses why screenwriters must understand human behavior to make their stories come alive.
779. Inclusive Screenwriting
July 08, 2022 12:00 - 40 minutes - 37 MBAuthor Jess King talks about their new game-changing screenwriting book, Inclusive Screenwriting for Film and Television, which examines and challenges conventional notions of characterization, world building and three act structure.
778. The Summer of Christmas
July 01, 2022 12:00 - 42 minutes - 38.9 MBKeith Giglio and Juliet Aires Giglio share the knowledge of screenwriting and Christmas movies that inspired their new book, “The Summer of Christmas."
777. The Storytelling of D&D
June 24, 2022 12:00 - 1 hour - 55.3 MBPilar’s oldest child Ezra Dodson walks us through the structure and character rules of Dungeons and Dragons, emphasizing the ways in which it can work as a writing and brainstorming tool for non-D&D storytelling.
776. Good Luck and Hard Work
June 17, 2022 12:00 - 52 minutes - 48.8 MBAfter years of assisting and learning on the job, Naomi Brodkin is a working writer with an episode of Little America coming out soon. She discusses what she’s learned from being on set and in the writers’ room and how her hard work led to the good luck of being involved in the Academy Award winning movie Coda.
775. Writing with Pride
June 10, 2022 12:00 - 31 minutes - 28.7 MBWriter Jared Pascoe shares the personal experiences and desire for story that led to his co-founding the Pre-Rainbow Pages aimed at bringing visibility to non-writers guild LGBTQIA+ writers.
774. Phil Rosenthal
June 03, 2022 12:00 - 50 minutes - 46.1 MBPhil Rosenthal, the creator of Everybody Loves Raymond, Somebody Feed Phil and the new podcast Naked Lunch, talks about the ways that specificity contributes to great storytelling.
773. Gigi!
May 27, 2022 12:00 - 43 minutes - 40.2 MBWriter Gigi Rios New discusses writing for The Garcias on HBO Max and for the need for Latin-driven content in TV and film.
772. The Trajectory of Chris Derrick
May 20, 2022 12:00 - 54 minutes - 49.8 MBWriter / director Chris Derrick discusses writing for Star Trek: Picard and how it’s taught him to write to the emotional arc first and bring the cool stuff in later.
771. Impact 50
May 13, 2022 12:00 - 49 minutes - 45.9 MBWhat takes eight years, sixty-seven writers, thirty-six directors and one actual apocalypse? Hear how filmmaker Chris Jones produced the crowd-created feature film, The Impact, connecting 50 short films into one narrative.
770. Storytelling
May 06, 2022 13:00 - 42 minutes - 39.3 MBActor, writer Beverly Mickins, creator of Los Angeles’s longest running storytelling venue Story Salon, talks about the elements that make up a well told, personal story.
769. Supporting Ukrainian Filmmakers
April 29, 2022 12:00 - 42 minutes - 39.3 MBScreenwriter Agnieszka Kruk talks about the ways that her creative community in Poland is helping filmmakers in Ukraine affected by the war, and suggests ways that writers worldwide can support their cause.
768. Yakira Chambers and the Golden Nugget
April 22, 2022 13:00 - 33 minutes - 31.1 MBAfter earning a spot in the prestigious CBS Mentoring Program, Writer Yakira Chambers learned how to create a “personal A story” that contributed to her getting a job as a writer on NCIS Hawaii. She discusses her successful first year, writing three episodes and getting the opportunity to work with LeVar Burton.
767. Sibling Success
April 15, 2022 12:00 - 51 minutes - 47.7 MBOn "Sibling Day” Pilar sits down with her brother Chris Pittas to discuss his decision to pursue screenwriting, his success in competitions, recent representation with Citizen Skull Management … and what he’s learned along the way.
766. The Showrunner of Comic Books
April 08, 2022 12:00 - 42 minutes - 39.2 MBVeteran comic book editor Shelly Bond discusses the similarities and differences between comic book writing and screenwriting.
765. A Director’s Journey
April 01, 2022 12:00 - 52 minutes - 48.3 MBTelevision director and feature writer Pete Chatmon dives into his extensive experience and unique perspective on storytelling and directing, while giving a sneak peak of his new book,"Transitions: A Director's Journey and Motivational Handbook."
764. A Marriage of Art and Commerce
March 25, 2022 12:00 - 44 minutes - 40.5 MBManager Matt Dy talks about the way he discovers and develops material for the management/production company Lit Entertainment.
763. Oscar Talk 2022
March 18, 2022 14:00 - 1 hour - 77.1 MBPilar and her friends Brian Pope, Mike Musa and Alex Troxler get together for their annual discussion about the best screenplay and best adapted screenplay Oscar nominees.
762. Actor to Writer
March 11, 2022 13:00 - 40 minutes - 37.7 MBYork Walker, staff writer on FBI, talks about his personal path from actor to playwright to television writer.
761. Thinking Like an Anthropologist
March 04, 2022 13:00 - 35 minutes - 32.9 MBHow can writers truly observe their world and society and write honestly about them? Dr. Teruko Vida Mitsuhara, a linguistic anthropologist and script writer, is here to tell you.
760. The Making of The Unmaking of a College
February 25, 2022 13:00 - 41 minutes - 37.9 MBJoshua Berman found himself in the middle of a movement, reached for a camera and never stopped filming. Director Amy Goldstein took it from there, crafting the story that became The Unmaking of a College, a documentary about the 2019 student-led, 75-day sit-in at Hampshire College – the longest in American college history
759. Making Minamata
February 18, 2022 13:00 - 45 minutes - 42.1 MBA passion for the true story and years of “crawling through broken glass” helped writer David Kessler get his movie Minamata produced, starring Johnny Depp and directed by Andrew Levitas.
758. Thinking High Concept
February 11, 2022 13:00 - 56 minutes - 51.5 MBFor 30 years Charlie Vignola has had a hand in developing some of the world’s most successful movie franchises for Jerry Bruckheimer Films. Here he shares what he learned about acquiring, developing and “creative problem solving,” for the Pirates of the Caribbean saga, the National Treasure films, the Bad Boys series and others.
757. The Benefits of Age
February 04, 2022 13:00 - 39 minutes - 36.1 MBBarbara Ward Thall's script Geriosity sparks a discussion about how our views on aging create bias in the hiring process and prevent accurate depictions on screen.
756. The Super Power of Sydney Baloue
January 28, 2022 15:00 - 42 minutes - 39.5 MBSydney Baloue (CW’s Tom Swift) talks about how his experiences in the world of queer culture and ballroom contribute to his super power as a storyteller and television writer.
755. Manager Talk
January 21, 2022 13:00 - 55 minutes - 51.3 MBAllard Cantor, co-founder of the literary management company Epicenter, shares about finding talent, developing material and getting his clients work in the film and TV industry.
754. The ABTs of Storytelling
January 14, 2022 09:00 - 39 minutes - 36.9 MBDoug Passon and Randy Olson talk about the “And, But, Therefore” template they use to help lawyers, scientists and screenwriters tell effective stories.
753. Writing Tips
January 07, 2022 13:00 - 47 minutes - 43.4 MBFrom love interests to courtroom scenes, Pilar offers writing tips to kickstart the writing year. Writer Sam Benjamin joins her to discuss!
752. 2021 Writing Trends in Review
December 31, 2021 13:00 - 42 minutes - 39.1 MBCareer coach Lee Jessup returns to discuss the writing trends popular in 2021 and shares what’s ahead for the new year.
751. A Very Scotty Christmas Eve
December 24, 2021 13:00 - 46 minutes - 42.8 MBWriter Scotty Mullen returns to to talk about his newest movie, A Christmas Village Romance, his love of all things Christmas and why the entertainment industry is a "buffet of bonkerness.”
750. Logline Contest 2021
December 17, 2021 13:00 - 1 hour - 101 MBPilar gives a logline lesson built off of listener submissions, then Pilar and Aadip pick their favorites!
749. Sustainable Filmmaking
December 10, 2021 13:00 - 34 minutes - 32.1 MBDevelopment executive Zsófia Szemerédy talks about the the importance of sustainable practices in filmmaking and discusses ways to implement them on set and on the page.
748. Writing Wolf
December 03, 2021 13:00 - 36 minutes - 34.1 MBWriter-director Nathalie Biancheri discusses the preparation, script-work and directorial vision that went into creating her new psychological drama, Wolf.
747. Announcement: 2021 Logline Competition
November 28, 2021 21:10 - 4 minutes - 4.59 MB'Tis the season for the annual On the Page logline competition! Pilar explains the rules and gives the deadline.
746. Film Pioneers
November 26, 2021 13:00 - 42 minutes - 38.8 MBEmerson film student Kat Poole’s passion is to rediscover and celebrate female film pioneers. Here, she educates us about three of them: filmmaker Alice-Guy Blache screenwriter Jeanie MacPherson and editor Margaret Booth.
745. Inside Hollywood and Washington
November 19, 2021 13:00 - 39 minutes - 36.7 MBGeorge Stevens Jr. the founder of the American Film Institute, talks about the passion for film that inspired him to preserve and archive great movies, establish the Kennedy Center Honors and serve as a voice for the arts in Washington DC. as Co-chair of the Presidential Committee on the Arts & Humanities.
744. One Take Wonder
November 12, 2021 13:00 - 41 minutes - 38.4 MBDirector Philip Barantini shot his independent feature film Boiling Point in one take and lived to tell the tale. Hear how he kept the camera moving while also telling a rich story of an intense night in a restaurant.
743. Never Judge a Character
November 05, 2021 12:00 - 41 minutes - 38.4 MBWriter Celia Finkelstein talks about the projects she has in development, her pitch style on Zoom and how her acting experience has taught her not to judge a character.
742. A Tornado of Talent
October 29, 2021 12:00 - 40 minutes - 37.6 MBCanadian writer Lindsay Gossling reveals the work and effort that went into writing and directing her disaster movieThirteen Minutes. She also talks about the challenges of making her film Un Traductor which went on to become Cuba’s submission for the Academy Awards.
741. Creating Friday the 13th
October 22, 2021 14:30 - 40 minutes - 37.4 MBSean S. Cunningham, director and producer of the original Friday the 13th movie, talks about the film's humble beginnings, Jason’s evolvement as an “anti-hero” and the need for great story above all.
740. A Sense of Dread
October 15, 2021 12:00 - 54 minutes - 50.3 MBWhat makes us afraid and how do we write that on the page? Writer Neal Marshall Stevens provides answers as he gives a preview of his book, A Sense of Dread: Getting Under the Skin of Horror Writing.
739. Writing for The Conners
October 08, 2021 12:00 - 37 minutes - 68.9 MBShelley Dennis grew up loving the TV show Roseanne and now she has a staff writing position on The Conners! Hear how hard work, attention to story and a little mindfulness paid off.
738. Executive Chair to Writers’ Room
October 01, 2021 12:00 - 1 hour - 55.4 MBVeteran producer and creative executive Kelly Edwards worked with every major studio in Hollywood and is now pursuing her dream of being a television writer on the Fox Drama Our Kind of People. Here she talks openly about her career pivot and also offers nuggets from her new book The Executive Chair: A Writer’s Guide To TV Series Development.
737. Riding the Rollercoaster
September 24, 2021 12:00 - 36 minutes - 33.3 MBWriter Jo Rochelle was just about to call it quits when her writing career caught fire. Hear how she got the attention of a manager, became staffed on her favorite show Good Trouble, and filmed her own independent movie - all while continuing to “ride the rollercoaster."