Act Two Podcast

Hosts Tasha Huo & Josh Hallman talk about their hot takes on this Summer's blockbusters and how this massive Summer for theatrical releases is actually a lesson in writing originals. Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

In honor of the recent announcement about Christopher Yost showrunning Dungeon Crawler Carl, we're sharing this great interview with him! Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman sit down with one of the great adaptation writers in our business, Christopher Yost (THOR: RAGNAROK, COWBOY BEBOP), about how he approaches adaptation, how it differs from original writing, and how the tough choices of writing an adaptation are unique. He also discusses his path to writing some of the biggest movies in our industry, and how his latest original movie SECRET HEADQUARTERS (playing now on Paramount+) came to be. Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414beg

After last week's episode where Kevin Shabel mentioned networking as key to building your career, we’re reposting an episode about that very topic! The favorite thing a screenwriter can do is to Network! Not really. Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman dive into all things networking and what that means for a screenwriter. We discuss the dos and don'ts when you're forced out of your comfort zone and find yourself trying to make new connections. Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com -- Edited by Paul Lundquist

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman talk with Kevin Shabel, Tasha's Showrunner's Assistant on Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft (Netflix) and the Writer's Assistant for The Mighty Nein (Amazon). He talks about how he got the job, how he excelled, the challenges of the job, and how he leveraged it into co-writing an episode in Season Two. Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss the top screenplay hacks according to NoFilmSchool.com , with examples of how and when they use those hacks in their own professional writing, and also when to leave a hack on the cutting room floor. Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

Lists on how to write a "great" screenplay are practically useless when sitting down before a blank page. But hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss how to use lists and tips in the REWRITE process to help hone your decent script into a great one. Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist Music by 414beg

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman break down Structure for a feature-length story to its basics. What are each of the turning points, when should they fall in your movie, why are they important, and what effect should they have on your story. Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman share five concrete tips for nailing your TV writers' room interview - how to read the room's energy, why having an opinion on the material matters, and the resume detail that helped Tasha land her first staffing job. Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman sit down with Portal A producer, Jacob Motz, to talk about the business of quality filmmaker-driven short form content, and how it's an exciting outlet for all Screenwriters and aspiring Writer-Directors, regardless of level or representation. Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

There are many ways to stay proactive in your writing life. If you're sitting on a script you're passionate about, there are (creative) ways to get it into the world. Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman talk about the different outlets screenwriters have and ways to be an advocate for yourself. Edited by the great Paul Lundquist Music by 414beg. Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman field Listener questions. Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

Screenwriters Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman share their wild stories about how they got their first Manager and Agent, and talk through the many ways you can get representation. Everyone tells you to get repped, but why do you even need a rep, and what the heck do they do anyway? This is the Act Two Podcast, where hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman demystify what it means to be an everyday working Screenwriter. Questions/Comments: Tasha.Huo@acttwowriters.com Music by 414beg .

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss the many different ways screenwriters revise a script - from tackling major problems after a first draft to handling vague notes, character issues, comedy passes, production rewrites, and someone else’s pages. They break down their personal revision processes, why certain notes require going back to the cards, and how knowing what kind of rewrite a script needs can keep you from getting overwhelmed. Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman discuss the 2026 Summer Blockbuster line-up, what's worth seeing, what are some surprises, and ask the age-old post-pandemic question are "movies back?!" Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman sit down with writer-directors Ryan Polly and Matt Black to talk about their wild story of theft and impersonation that led to them making their first Hollywood feature film, and about what it's like to find Hollywood success while living and working in Texas. Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman answer listener questions about what to do when you see a trailer for an upcoming movie... that looks a lot like the script you've just worked so hard writing. How dead is your idea really? Also, what do Studios and Producers expect when it comes to formatting your scripts when you submit them? TWIW: Tasha saw The Sheep Detectives and Remarkably Bright Creatures / Tasha got a good reminder on how to develop ideas from Christopher Nolan & Rian Johnson Questions/Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

Hosts Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman sit down with producer & development consultant, Emmeline Yang Hankins, to discuss what she's learned over the years about perfecting a pitch, and how she teaches pitching as a powerful tool at any stage of development. Her signature class for scripted TV, Kickstart My Pitch, has new dates coming up in June! Act Two listeners can get an exclusive discount to Emmeline's pitching class at http://talktoemm.com/acttwo Questions / Comments: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist

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: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com 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: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com 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: ActTwoWriters@gmail.com Edited by the GREAT Paul Lundquist