The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna

Latest Episodes:

129 | Impressing Industry Executives On The Page and In The Pitch ft. Kelly Edwards Mar 16, 2023

Show notes

CALL US WITH YOUR PITCHING HORROR STORIES: 440.305.0690 Kelly Edwards' multi-faceted career has multiple phases: she has worked in development, platforming shows like LIVING SINGLE, GIRLFRIENDS, and MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE. She has also worked as a diversity executive for studios like HBO and NBC Universal, ushering in diverse creative talent for NBC, USA, Syfy, Bravo, and Telemundo. Now Kelly has taken her decades of producing experience to do the very thing we talk about on our show: write. Kelly has sold multiple scripts and was recently staffed on a scripted show. Having worked as both an exec and a writer, Kelly has a rare understanding of our business from both sides, which is the main focus of her recent book: The Executive Chair, which you can buy here!: https://www.amazon.com/Executive-Chair-Writers-Guide-Development/dp/1615933301 You can also join our patreon, here: https://www.patreon.com/TheScreenwritingLife

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128 | SPECIAL: Writer/Director Roundtable with Just Shoot It Podcast Mar 09, 2023

Show notes

It's a TSL first as we explore a crossover episode with Matt Enlow and Oren Kaplan of the popular JUST SHOOT IT PODCAST to discuss pitching, free work, social media, and what directors are really looking for when it comes to the page.

TO SUBSCRIBE TO JUST SHOOT IT: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-shoot-it-a-podcast-about-filmmaking/id995859414

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127 | Scaffolding: Building Blocks For Your Career and Your Work Mar 03, 2023

Show notes

All of us have goals in our career, but how do build the steps to actually get there? Or perhaps more importantly, how do we be intentional about budling the steps to get there? Not only is scaffolding an essential part of career-building, but also in our work.

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126 | Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Co-Writer Joe Robert Cole: Letting Emotions Guide Our Writing Feb 23, 2023

Show notes

Joe Robert Cole, known for marathon writing sessions, has a simple litmus test to assess his own work: how does this make me feel? He calls it "Method Writing," and it's an essential part of his process.

Joe Robert Cole is an award-winning writer/director of both television and features. He has co-written two Oscar-nominated movies with Ryan Coogler for Marvel, BLACK PANTHER and last year's BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER. On the TV Side, Cole worked as a co-producer on Murphy's widely-acclaimed People v. OJ miniseries, earning an Emmy nomination for writing the episode "The Race Card." He has also directed two features, including ALL DAY AND A NIGHT.

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125 | The Woman King Writer Dana Stevens on How To Write Character-Driven Action Set Pieces Feb 16, 2023

Show notes

Though Dana Stevens wrote one of 2022's buzziest and most exciting movies, The Woman King, she has decades of experience in both film and television. On today's show, we discuss how Dana got involved in The Woman King, how she approached the film's extraordinary action set pieces on the page, and what she learned while showrunning.

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124 | Elvis Screenwriter Jeremy Doner on Writing Biopics (and Avoiding Common Pitfalls) Feb 09, 2023

Show notes

Jeremy Doner is a co-writer on one of 2022's most exciting movies: EVLIS, directed by Baz Luhrmann. For his work on the script, Jeremy is nominated for an Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award. Before Elvis, he was staffed on two critically acclaimed TV crime dramas: DAMAGESand THE KILLING, writing multiple episodes and scoring WGA-award nominations for both shows.

On today's show, he discusses how he got involved with Elvis, why he connected with the story, and his "take" - one of the most important components of pitching a biopic.

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123 | Dustin Lance Black (Milk, Under the Banner of Heaven) On Nuanced Screenwriting and Avoiding Cliches Feb 02, 2023

Show notes

Dustin Lance Black is an Oscar-winning writer/director, known for writing the films like Milk and J. Edgar, in addition to creating the award-winning 2022 crime miniseries Under the Banner of Heaven, starring Andrew Garfield. Black is a fierce LGBTQ rights advocate, serving as a founding board member of the American Foundation for Equal Rights, and writing 8, a courtroom drama reenacting the overturn of Prop 8 in California. On today's show, we discuss the common pitfalls of writing biopics, how Lance uses his own life to inform his work, and the research and work it takes to avoid cliches in our writing.

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122 | What Do Professional Actors Look For In Good Scripts? (ft. Allison Tolman) Jan 26, 2023

Show notes

Allison Tolman's first major television role made waves in the industry, even scoring her a Critics Choice Award for her portrayal of Molly in FX's acclaimed debut season of Fargo. She has worked in Network TV on shows like Brooklyn 99 and Good Girls, Streaming TV, starring in Marc Cherry's Why Women Kill, and Premium Cable Fare, recently guest starring in Starz' Gaslit across Julia Roberts.

Alison, a writer herself, is joining us today to discuss what she looks for when vetting material, how she collaborates with writers during productions, and to share wisdom on her experience in the industry, both on and off set.

ROOM TONE INSTAGRAM: @weareroomtone

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121 | Sundance Producers/Filmmakers On What Makes Good Writing (ft. Constanza and Doménica Castro) Jan 20, 2023

Show notes

Constanza and Doménica Castro are the founders of 271 Films, which tells stories that bring meaningful perspectives to an audience, that connect them to their humanity and their emotional intelligence. Today we discuss what they look for as they vet work, and how they found the courage to tell their OWN stories. WE ARE HERE: https://271films.com/we-are-here-fyc 271 WEBSITE: https://271films.com/ RISING VOICES: https://tribecafilm.com/films/indeed-presents-rising-voices-2021

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New episode drops TOMORROW! Jan 19, 2023

Show notes

271 Films Founders Constanza and Doménica Castro coming to you this FRIDAY! Thanks for your patience - it’s worth the wait!

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