Act One Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Act One Podcast - Episode 50 - Special Episode featuring a panel discussion on the topic of "How to Give Notes to Screenwriters" with producer/creative executive Owen Shiflett, screenwriter Clare Sera, and screenwriter/producer Quinton Peeples. Great storytelling thrives on great feedback. This class explores how to give notes that inspire, not deflate—how to challenge writers without crushing their voice. We’ll break down what makes notes useful, how to communicate them effectively, and how to turn criticism into creativity. This panel discussion was recorded on Tuesday, October 28th, 2025, as part of our Act One Producing and Entertainment Executive Program. About our panelists: OWEN SHIFLETT has been the SVP of Production and Development at both Blue Monday Productions and Content Superba. Prior to that, Owen held positions as VP of Development at Shudder and Sundance Now, where he oversaw the creation of original content for both platforms. Owen also served as the Head of Television at Parkes MacDonald and Director of Development at AMC Networks. CLARE SERA has written in the family film genre for nearly every studio in Hollywood, including writing BLENDED, the Sandler/Barrymore family rom-com and SMALLFOOT, the animated family film. She has contributed to dozens of films, both animated and live action in this genre. She has written a screen adaptation of The Shadowmaker (by author Ron Hansen) for Goodman Pictures and is developing a feature take on the Nativity story for Southland Studios. QUINTON PEEPLES has written multiple features for all the major networks and studios including Fox, NBC, ABC, Disney, Lionsgate and many others. He found his way to directing in 1995 when he shot his original screenplay “JOYRIDE” starring Tobey Maguire and Benicio DelToro. Quinton has worked on multiple shows as varied as “FLASHFORWARD,” “UNFORGETTABLE,” “THE LAST SHIP,” “11/22/63,” and Marvel’s “RUNAWAYS.” Most recently he ran the limited series “ECHOES” for Netflix. The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Act One Podcast - Episode 49 - Special Episode featuring a case study from the 2025 Producing and Entertainment Executive Program on the new Lionsgate/MGM+ show, ROBIN HOOD, now streaming. During the Act One Producing and Entertainment Executive Program, we occasionally offer case studies of projects for the students to watch and discuss with the filmmakers. Recorded on Saturday, November 8th, 2025, this interview with Showrunner John Glenn offers a fascinating look "behind the curtain” of the making of the new Lionsgate/MGM+ series, ROBIN HOOD. John Glenn is an American screenwriter, producer, director, and showrunner with over 25 years of experience creating film and television at the highest level. He launched his career in 1999 when he sold his speculative screenplay Red World to Jerry Bruckheimer and Walt Disney Pictures. Since then, Glenn has written, sold, and produced original films and series for every major studio and network in Hollywood - including Warner Bros., Paramount, Universal, Fox, Sony, DreamWorks, and Disney, as well as ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX on the television side. His work also extends to MGM+, Lionsgate, and many more. His series Robin Hood for Lionsgate and MGM+, starring Sean Bean and Connie Nielson, premiered Nov. 2 and is currently streaming. Throughout his career, Glenn has developed and sold dozens of high-concept projects, working closely with A-list directors, producers, and actors across both film and television. Known for his ability to craft character-driven stories within commercial genres, Glenn continues to serve as a trusted creative force in the industry, bridging the worlds of studio filmmaking and premium television. The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Act One Podcast - Episode 48 - Interview with Directors Phil Cunningham and Brent Dawes of the new film, DAVID . From the songs of his mother’s heart to the whispers of a faithful God, David’s story begins in quiet devotion. When the giant Goliath rises to terrorize a nation, a young shepherd armed with only a sling, a few stones, and unshakable faith steps forward. Pursued by power and driven by purpose, his journey tests the limits of loyalty, love, and courage—culminating in a battle not just for a crown, but for the soul of a kingdom. Released by Angel Studios, DAVID is in theaters everywhere beginning December 19th, 2025. Phil Cunningham’s passion for storytelling was ignited and fueled as a young boy growing up in the wild frontier of Zimbabwe, where day-to-day life was often interspersed with larger-than-life characters and fantastic stories. Phil was struck by the incredible power of stories to impact society and in particular the power of animation to cross race, culture, age and gender barriers better than any other medium. Over the last 25 years, Phil together with Jacqui, has built Sunrise Animation Studios in Cape Town, South Africa. The studio’s mission statement is “Inspire Through Story". Brent Dawes has spent over two decades as the Creative Lead at Sunrise Animation Studios, where (among many other projects) he created the Jungle Beat series and directed Jungle Beat: The Movie, which Netflix acquired in 2021, where it ranked in the Top 10 movies across all genres in its first 3 weeks. Dawes is the writer and co director of the Young David Shorts and the David animated feature film. Sunrise Animation Studios is a full-service animation studio based in Cape Town, South Africa. Founded by Phil and Jacqui Cunningham, Sunrise has a passion for quality storytelling, and a belief that film and TV are the most powerful mediums for story in the modern era. The company’s mission is to inspire, entertain and enchant audiences worldwide, providing the finest in family entertainment. Sunrise is the production partner for Jungle Beat, a series of high-quality animated short episodes that have become immensely popular worldwide, having been broadcast in over 180 countries and across a range of media platforms including TV, cinema and in-flight entertainment. The brand’s YouTube channel has over 11 Million subscribers and 5 Billion views. Sunrise were also the production provider for the hit animated feature Jungle Beat: The Movie, and the Jungle Beat 2 The Past sequel, released in 2024. Sunrise is also a world leader in sports mascot creation and branding, and partners here include The Welsh Rugby Union, Juventus Football Club, The English Rugby Football Union, and current world champions, South African Rugby. "Story" and "people" remain at the heart of everything the studio does. The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Act One Podcast - Episode 47 - Interview with Director and Screenwriter, Spencer Folmar. Spencer Folmar is the co-writer and co-director of the new film, SAINT NICK OF BETHLEHEM , starring Daniel Roebuck. Based on a true story about Allen Smith's life, this inspiring story follows a man who, after the heartbreaking loss of his son, transforms his grief into a beacon of hope for others by embodying the spirit of Santa Claus. The film is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Angel Studios. Spencer Folmar is a passionate filmmaker, producer, and storyteller known for creating bold, authentic films that inspire and challenge audiences. As the founder of Hard Faith Films, Spencer has committed his career to crafting stories that delve into real-world struggles while offering hope and redemption. His work stands out in the faith-based film space for its raw honesty, tackling themes often avoided in traditional Christian cinema. Spencer’s filmography includes Generational Sins in 2017, a powerful drama exploring forgiveness and generational brokenness, and Shooting Heroin in 2020, a film about a small town taking justice into their own hands to stop the spread of drugs by whatever means possible. Beyond directing and producing, Spencer champions independent filmmakers through the Hard Faith Film Festival , providing a platform for fresh, faith-centered voices. Spencer’s motto, “Telling Stories That Liberate,” reflects his dedication to creating cinema that resonates deeply with viewers, sparking conversations that lead to spiritual and personal growth. His unique approach has garnered recognition as a filmmaker unafraid to explore the messiness of life while pointing to the hope found in redemption. The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Act One Podcast - Episode 46 - Interview with Producer, John Shepherd. John Shepherd is a 30-year veteran of indie & studio film. As a producer, John’s known for such films as Emanuel (2019), The Stoning of Soraya M. (2008), Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius (2004) and The Ultimate Gift (2006). His latest film is Sarah’s Oil which is inspired by the remarkable true story of Sarah Rector, an African American girl born in Oklahoma Indian Territory in the early 1900s, who believes there is oil beneath the barren land she’s allotted and whose faith is proven right. The film opens in theaters everywhere on November 7th. The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Act One Podcast - Episode 45 - Interview with Screenwriters Jacob Roman and Kenny Ryan of the new film, ELEVATION . After meeting in college, KENNY RYAN and JACOB ROMAN teamed up to sell their first script, DAVID VS GOLIATH (a 300-style take on the Biblical epic) to Sony Pictures. Since then they’ve sold multiple feature projects around town, most recently ELEVATION , which they wrote and co-produced with Brad Fuller and John Glenn. Starring Anthony Mackie & Morena Baccarin and directed by George Nolfi, the film will be released theatrically by Vertical on November 8th. Their latest feature is SLEEPING BEAUTY, a high-concept action thriller they’re producing alongside Scott Free, with Madelaine Petsch attached in the lead role. On the TV side, they spent three seasons as writer/producers on the CBS network primetime hit SEAL TEAM starring David Boreanaz and Max Thieriot. They’re currently Co-Executive Producers on the Lionsgate/MGM+ show ROBIN HOOD, premiering fall 2025. Kenny and Jacob have developed a reputation as hyper-collaborative and highly generative writers, with an ability to breathe emotional life into conceptually muscular stories that appeal to a broad audience. The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Act One Podcast - Episode 44 - Interview with Director and Screenwriter, Christine Swanson. Christine Swanson is the writer/director of the new film, ALBANY ROAD, starring Renée Elise Goldsberry and Lynn Whitfield. The film is about a New York executive who is forced to share a rental car with her ex-fiancé's mother, only to discover that the mother is hiding a major secret. The film is being released in theaters on November 15th. A visionary storyteller from Detroit, multiple award-winning director Christine Swanson earned her MFA in Film from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, one of the nation’s top-ranked graduate film programs. Recognized early as a talented filmmaker, Christine was selected by NYU faculty as the Willard T.C. Johnson Fellow, the most prestigious fellowship given to the student who has achieved high standards in his or her work. CNN identified Christine as one of the most promising filmmakers to emerge from NYU’s graduate film program since Martin Scorsese, Ang Lee, Oliver Stone and Spike Lee (Christine’s NYU directing teacher). Christine earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame, double majoring in Film Theory and Japanese. She was chosen by the Notre Dame Alumni Association as The Rev. Arthur S. Harvey Award recipient, acknowledging her achievements in the arts. Christine has developed, written and/or directed entertainment projects for HBO Films, Lionsgate, Universal Television, Warner Bros. Television, CBS Television Studios, TV One, A&E Networks, BET Films, Starz and Faith Filmworks. Christine’s movie directing credits include the network and cable television records breaking The Clark Sisters: The First Ladies of Gospel, starring Academy Award nominee Aunjanue Ellis. The film won “Best TV Movie” from the African American Film Critics Association and the Satellite TV Award for “Best Television Movie.” The film was nominated for five NAACP Image Awards including “Outstanding Directing in a Television Motion Picture” for Christine and a Critics’ Choice Awards Nomination for “Best Television Movie.” Christine also directed Aunjanue Ellis in their powerful short film, Fannie, about the ground-breaking testimony of human, voting and civil rights icon, Fannie Lou Hamer, in front of the Democratic National Convention’s Credentials Committee in 1964. Fannie earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for “Outstanding Short Form Film" and won two awards at the Bronzelens Film Festival (best acting and best short). Christine has also directed All About You, All About Us, To Hell and Back, Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story (which broke network ratings as the most watched original movie in the network’s history) and For the Love of Ruth, for which Christine earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for “Outstanding Directing in a Television Motion Picture.” In addition to writing the above movies, Christine was a screenwriter for Woman Thou Art Loosed. Christine recently completed her award- winning feature film, Albany Road which stars Hamilton star Renee Elise Goldsberry and the legendary Lynn Whitfield. Some of Christine’s television directing credits include episodes of Chicago P.D., P- Valley, FBI, All American, All American: Homecoming, Found, MacGyver, Sweet Magnolias, Bel-Air, BMF and Roswell, New Mexico. Her memorable episode of Chicago P.D., entitled “Black and Blue,” was rated “Best Episode” of Season 6 by Fansided. The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Act One Podcast - Episode 43 - Interview with Screenwriter Andrea Nasfell and Producer Brady Nasfell of the new film, MR. MANHATTAN. Brady Nasfell has produced feature films and television for Netflix, Sony, Lionsgate, Fox Sports, NBC, VH1, Discovery Networks and independent distributors. Recent films include MR. MANHATTAN (starring Alexa and Carlos PenaVega), FOURTH OF JULY (starring Joe List) and STRONG FATHERS, STRONG DAUGHTERS (starring Bart Johnson and Robyn Lively). Brady produced the Grammy Award-winning comedy special SINCERELY LOUIS C.K., as well as KEVIN JAMES: IRREGARDLESS (Spring 2024). Other specials include JOE ROGAN: STRANGE TIMES, TOM SEGURA: BALL HOG, and CHRIS D’ELIA: NO PAIN. His documentary work includes THE LAST DISPATCH, OVERCOMER WITH JUSTIN WREN, UFC ROAD TO THE OCTAGON, UFC ULTIMATE INSIDER, and the UFC EMBEDDED web series, which won the Best MMA Programming award in 2016. Andrea Nasfell is a feature writer with over a dozen produced credits, including the television Christmas movies EVERY OTHER HOLIDAY (Lifetime) and HOLIDAY FOR HEROES (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries). She’s also the writer of theatrical comedies THE RESURRECTION OF GAVIN STONE (Blumhouse) and MOMS' NIGHT OUT (Sony Affirm), which won a Dove award for Inspirational Film of the Year. Andrea is a member of the WGA and teaches screenwriting at USC and Asbury University. She earned an MFA in Creative Writing from Spalding University. The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Act One Podcast - Episode 42 - Interview with Director and Screenwriter, Andrew Hyatt. Andrew Hyatt is the director and co-writer of the new film, SIGHT , starring Greg Kinnear and Terry Chen, which follows the true story of Dr. Ming Wang, a Chinese American who defies all odds to become a world-renowned eye surgeon. Drawing upon the grit and determination he gained from a turbulent uprising in his youth, Dr. Wang sets out to restore the sight of a blind orphan. The film is being released in theaters by Angels Studios on May 24th. Andrew is the award-winning writer/director of the historical drama, Paul, Apostle of Christ, which was released by Sony Pictures and Affirm Films in 2018, starring Jim Caviezel and James Faulkner. Made for a modest budget of $5MM, the film has grossed over $26.5MM in worldwide BO. Hyatt recently co-wrote/directed The Blind, the true story of the Robertson family long before their Duck Dynasty fame, which was released in 2023 by Fathom Events, marking its strongest theatrical release and grossed 17.3MM in worldwide BO. Hyatt has been credited with paving the way towards a new genre of films termed “sacred art house.” Hyatt was awarded a 'Lifetime Achievement Award' from the National Catholic Museum of Art in Washington, DC and the film was nominated for 'Most Inspirational Film' at the 2018 GMA Dove Awards and 'Most Inspiring Film' at the 2019 MovieGuide Awards. Hyatt also received a prestigious Christopher Award in the Feature Film category at the 70th Annual Christopher Awards in 2019. Hyatt's passion is in the creation of content that is deeply personal, seeking to tell stories that delve deeper into the drama of the human condition. Exploring good and evil, truth and beauty. Hyatt's film Full of Grace is the first film in history to focus on the final days of Mary of Nazareth. Released by Cinedigm in January of 2016, the film has been screened all around the world and praised for its unique insight into the humanity of often generically portrayed historical figures. It was the winner of 'Best Screenplay' at the 2015 John Paul II International Film Festival, and the winner of 'Best Film' at the 2016 Gabriel Awards. Hyatt is an alum of Loyola Marymount University. He is represented by Heroes and Villains Entertainment. The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Act One Podcast - Episode 41 - Interview with Director, Screenwriter and Musician, Adam Anders. Adam is the director and co-writer of the new film, JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM , a musical adventure about the birth of Christ which is being released exclusively in theaters by Sony Pictures on November 10th. Adam is a four-time Grammy® nominee and two-time People's Choice Award winner. For many years, he served as the executive music producer of GLEE and recently re-teamed with GLEE co-creator Ryan Murphy to produce Netflix's feature film, THE PROM. His company, Anders Media Inc., produces film and television content for global audiences. He has sold more than 100 million records and worked with artists ranging from the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus to Andy Grammar and Ceelo Green. His music has been heard in such film productions as HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, THE WEDDING PLANNER, CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS, and ROCK OF AGES. His many other credits include executive producing the television shows PERFECT HARMONY for NBC and the international hit teen musical KALLY’S MASHUP, which he created based on his own life. His credits also include executive producing the faith-based FOX live television event THE PASSION, starring Tyler Perry, which generated the #1 soundtrack on Billboard. The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Act One Podcast - Episode 40 - Interview with Producer, Nick Moceri. Nick Moceri is the founder of All Night Diner , a production company that works in film, television, podcasts, and digital media, and the co-founder of Nightlight Media, a joint venture with writer/director/producer Adam Anders. Nick is one of the producers of the recently released film, SITTING IN BARS WITH CAKE , for Amazon Studios, which is now streaming on Amazon Prime so check it out. Nick's film producing credits include A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT (Sundance 2014), DEIDRA & LANEY ROB A TRAIN (Sundance 2017), THE KINDERGARTEN TEACHER (Sundance 2018), MADELINE'S MADELINE (Sundance 2018), STRANGE NEGOTIATIONS (SXSW 2019), and FRAMING JOHN DELOREAN (Tribeca 2019). He was also a producer of the Bill Gates & Rashida Jones Ask Big Questions podcast. The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Act One Podcast - Episode 39 - Interview with Screenwriter, Karen Hall. In her career as a screenwriter, producer and creative consultant, Karen Hall has worked on numerous television series, including M*A*S*H, Hill Street Blues, Moonlighting, Roseanne, Grace Under Fire, Northern Exposure, Judging Amy and The Good Wife . She has received seven Emmy Award nominations, as well as the Humanitas Prize, the Women in Film Luminas Award, and the Writers Guild of America Award. Her novel, Dark Debts , was a Book of the Month Club main selection when first published in 1996 and has been translated into French, German, and Japanese. She rewrote some of the book and re-released it in 2016. The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Act One Podcast - Episode 38 - Interview with Producers, Aaron Benward and Cliff Young. Aaron Benward comes to Watershed Motion Pictures by way of the music business where he started his career as one half of the award-winning father/son duo Aaron Jeoffrey. He followed that up as the founding member of the 3 time CMA and ACM nominated duo Blue County. Aaron’s creative skills continue into his acting career where he can be seen recently in the Netflix Original series “The Ranch”, Sony’s “The Song” and City on a Hill’s “Acts of God.” He joined the Watershed team by packaging and negotiating a worldwide distribution deal for The Watershed Short Films Collection. Cliff Young began his career as a founding member of Caedmon's Call. The band made 16 albums, sold over two million records and toured 48 states over 15 years. Cliff also served on the board of the Dalit Freedom Network, which helps the “untouchables” of India. Cliff began working full time for Second Baptist Church in 2006 as the Media Director. Cliff oversees the worldwide broadcast The Winning Walk and also has produced commercials, documentaries, and short films for the past 11 years. GOD. FAMILY. FOOTBALL. features the rich, diverse personal stories of Evangel’s players, coaching staff, and the broader Shreveport community, set against the dramatic backdrop of the 2022 Louisiana high school football season. With the perennial high school football powerhouse—14 state championships in the last 20 years—coming off their worst season in school history, redemption is everyone’s goal. Pastor Denny Duron has returned to the head coaching position to lead this talented group of kids, with dreams of playing in college and the NFL, into prominence on the field, while molding them into future leaders off of it. As the team faces struggle and triumph on and off the field, they are united by coach Duron’s formula for success: “God first, family second, and football third.” GOD. FAMILY. FOOTBALL. hails from Propagate and is executive produced by Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens, and Drew Buckley. The series was created and executive produced by Aaron Benward of Watershed. Jared Goetz of Ascending Media Group, NFL quarterback Russell Wilson in association with Why Not You Productions and Rob Gehring serve as executive producers. Cliff Young, Cody Bess, Scott Brignac, Chelsea Friedland and Matt Woolsey serve as co-executive producers. GOD. FAMILY. FOOTBALL. is available to stream beginning September 1st on Amazon’s Freevee channel. Trailer: https://youtu.be/dqUkf2DikBA?si=uOHPX4bGr-2NlWZc The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Act One Podcast - Episode 37 - Interview with Director and Screenwriter, Brandon Dickerson. Brandon Dickerson is an award-winning writer/director/producer honored for his work in film, documentaries, commercials, and music videos—including the coveted Cannes Gold Lion. After building a career directing hundreds of high-profile commercials and music videos, Dickerson shifted his focus to writing, directing, and producing feature films. His music-based debut feature SIRONIA won the audience award at the Austin Film Festival before he dove into the inspiring biopic VICTOR, followed by the documentary A SINGLE FRAME, and the quirky romantic comedy AMANDA & JACK GO GLAMPING. With comprehensive experience as a DGA filmmaker, Dickerson also enjoys serving as an educator, writer, speaker, and improv teacher. Brandon is currently directing/producing his commissioned screenplay KATHARINE — the true story of 1880s social justice pioneer Dr. Katharine Bushnell. Earning his MFA in Film degree at Vermont College of Fine Arts, Brandon continues his dedication to teaching by investing in the next generation of storytellers at the VCU Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture as well as mentoring students globally as a Superprof Ambassador. For more on the retreats Brandon mentioned, visit: https://orefugioretreat.carrd.co and https://azoresislandretreats.carrd.co The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Act One Podcast - Episode 36 - Interview with Author, Andrew Peterson and Producer, J. Chris Wall. Andrew Peterson is a recording artist, songwriter, producer, filmmaker, and the award-winning author of THE WINGFEATHER SAGA book series. His music has garnered three separate Dove Award nominations. In 2008, driven by a desire to cultivate a strong Christian arts community, Andrew founded a non-profit arts organization called The Rabbit Room which hosts concerts and conferences and has published over 30 books to date. J. Chris Wall is the Executive Producer and Showrunner of THE WINGFEATHER SAGA Animated Series. Before creating Shining Isle Productions in 2016 to develop and produce family content with an entertainment first strategy, Chris spent over a decade collaborating with industry leaders at Dreamworks Animation and Big Idea producing the direct-to-video VEGGIETALES animated movies. He is also the creator of the acclaimed SLUGS AND BUGS SHOW with Brentwood Studios and RightNow Media. THE WINGFEATHER SAGA animated series chronicles the adventures of the Igiby family as they discover secrets, flee the evil Fangs of Dang, seek their place in the world, and make a stand against the mysterious ruler, Gnag the Nameless. They will need their special gifts and all the love of their noble mother and ex-pirate grandfather to survive the venomous Fangs, sea dragons, flabbits, and toothy cows! To watch the entire first season, go to https://www.angel.com/watch/wingfeather-sagaangel.com or download the Angel Studios app. The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Act One Podcast - Episode 35 - Interview with Screenwriter, Buzz Dixon. Buzz Dixon writes oddball TV / movies / games / comics / novels, putting words in the mouths of Superman, Batman, Conan, The Terminator, Optimus Prime, The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Mork & Mindy, Scrooge McDuck, Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, plus more G.I. Joes and My Little Ponies than you can shake a stick at. His short fiction appears in Mike Shayne’s Mystery Magazine, the Pan Book Of Horror stories, National Lampoon, Analog, and numerous original and “best of” anthologies. If you were a kid in the 70’s or 80’s, there is a good chance, Buzz wrote for one of your favorite cartoons. The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Act One Podcast - Episode 34 - Interview with Writer/Director, Nathan Scoggins. Nathan is the writer/director of the film, WHAT REMAINS. The film tells the story of a small town pastor who is forced to reckon with an act of forgiveness when the convict he forgave for murdering his wife returns to town five years later, while the town sheriff investigates another murder that may be related. WHAT REMAINS is in select theaters and on demand beginning December 2nd so be sure to check it out. Use this link to purchase tickets: https://www.laemmle.com/film/what-remains-1 Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwYuEH5RD1s Some of Nathan’s other credits include THE LEAST OF THESE, released in 2011 by Universal and starring Isaiah Washington (“Grey’s Anatomy”) and Oscar-nominee Robert Loggia, as well as the TV movie THE PERFECT SUMMER starring Eric Roberts and the independent feature film RED LINE. He also recently directed two episodes of an upcoming television series for Sony Affirm to premiere in 2023. The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Act One Podcast - Episode 33 - Interview with Screenwriter, Paul Guyot. PAUL GUYOT has written and produced more than 200 hours of television. His work includes the JJ Abrams created FELICITY, the Emmy-winning JUDGING AMY, and LEVERAGE for TNT which won back-to-back People’s Choice Awards. Guyot served as Co-Executive Producer on THE LIBRARIANS, including taking over all showrunning duties for Season Two. After that he served as the Co-Executive Producer for NCIS: NEW ORLEANS -- at the time the 8th most watched series in the world. He has written pilots for multiple networks and studios including his original pitch THE BLACK 22s -- based on the true story of the first all African-American squad of detectives in St. Louis, MO -- which sold in a fierce bidding war between four networks. The series died in development hell, but Guyot retains all rights to the story and is currently developing a feature film with award-winning screenwriter Geoffrey Thorne. Guyot co-wrote the Warner Brothers feature GEOSTORM starring Gerard Butler and Andy Garcia, which grossed more than a quarter billion dollars worldwide. But don’t hold it against him. His spec feature TIME BANDITS was optioned by Slated and is presently out to some of the top directors in Hollywood. Currently, Guyot is developing COLONIE 07 for French television, one of the first American screenwriters ever hired to do so. He is the author of several award-winning short stories, and his bestselling DARE TO LIVE -- a serialized story on Amazon’s Kindle Vella platform -- was chosen as a Top 200 favorite out of more than 17,000 stories. In May of 2022 Guyot launched http://screenwritingtruth.com -- a website dedicated to helping emerging writers learn the truth about Hollywood and a career in screenwriting. Guyot attended the University of Arizona. In his non-writing time he enjoys cycling, golf, mechanical watches, and his quest to find the perfect old fashioned. The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Act One Podcast - Episode 32 - Interview with Screenwriter and Producer, Michael Warren. Michael Warren began his career writing for television as executive story consultant on the classic television show, HAPPY DAYS. He then went to Warner Bros. where he was an executive producer on PERFECT STRANGERS. He also co-created and executive produced two of the longest running shows on ABC television: STEP BY STEP, and FAMILY MATTERS featuring the legendary character, Steve Urkel, which TV GUIDE listed as one of the 50 most popular television characters of all time. He also executive produced HANGIN WITH MR. COOPER, GETTING BY, THE FAMILY MAN, KIRK, MEEGO and TWO OF A KIND. He presently has over 800 episodes of television in syndication. The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Act One Podcast - Episode 31 - Interview with Screenwriter, Eboni Freeman. Eboni Freeman is a native Angelino who got her start in the television industry working for FOX Sports. While at FOX, she won an Emmy for her work on the 2015 Women’s World Cup. In 2016, Eboni was chosen as a Sundance Episodic Fellow and was also selected for WeForShe’s WriteHer List. She most recently was co-producer on the hit NBC series THIS IS US. While on THIS IS US, Eboni has been nominated for two Writers Guild Awards and a Humanitas Prize. SPOILER WARNING: Eboni and I discuss the final episode of THIS IS US during the first 30 minutes of this episode. The Act One Podcast provides insight and inspiration on the business and craft of Hollywood from a Christian perspective. Support the show