Shows
Beyond The Script : Career Strategy For TV and Film WritersWhen And How To Ask For FavorsFor many, finding a champion to help them move forward in their screenwriting career is precarious. The conventional wisdom suggests that you need to put in time proving yourself to industry contacts before you can ask for a favor. But what if there were ways to be more direct in your asks, or new forms of thinking about this issue so that the whole process didn't feel so one-sided and transactional?In this episode, Nick and Steve ponder the question so many in the world of screenwriting ask - "is now the right time to ask for a...2025-06-1436 minBeyond The Script : Career Strategy For TV and Film WritersShould Entertainment News Guide Your Decisions?Human nature suggests that when the sky seems to be falling we turn to the media to confirm our fears. As writing jobs and our industry as a whole contracts writers find themselves turning to the trades to allay fears or just to "find out more." The good wisdom has always seemed to say that "reading the trades" was a must for any writer worth their salt. But how much trade news - on premieres, and overall deals, and mergers, and agents leaving companies - is too much news? In this episode, Nick and Steve di...2025-05-0937 minBeyond The Script : Career Strategy For TV and Film WritersThe DIY Career LaunchMaking your own work has been at the core of the strategic playbook for breaking in to film and tv for 25 years. Hollywood loves to embrace and amplify the story of the little gal or guy who made their short film for $500 bucks and landed the major studio deal. But with the ubiquity of film festivals and prohibitive costs to make high quality content, is the DIY career launch still a winning strategy? In this episode, Nick and Steve examine whether you should cash in your favors and piggy banks to make a short/web series, or w...2025-03-3134 minBeyond The Script : Career Strategy For TV and Film WritersThe Antihero DilemmaIn a media ecosystem polluted with bad news, online vitriol, and political polarization, what is the writer's responsibility to the audience? If we - as writers - continue to churn out dark heroes and revenge story arcs - aren't we part of an ever growing problem?In this episode, Nick and Steve break down whether you should follow the money towards script ideas that have explosive action, hair raising violence, and back-stabbing betrayals - or lean into your own heart to find more optimistic narratives. As always, Nick and Steve will offer two different perspectives o...2025-03-0134 minBeyond The Script : Career Strategy For TV and Film WritersAI - Should I?Today's episode is all about AI - artificial intelligence - and what it means to TV and screenwriters. When the WGA writers went on strike, AI was among the concerns. Writers became obsessed with what it was and how it works and whether it's useful or not useful for a professional career. Since the strike ended there have been stories in the press about multiple sides of the issue - from concerns about AI learning from TV and film scripts to the question of whether (and how) writers should use it in their own work. What's the...2025-02-0126 minBeyond The Script : Career Strategy For TV and Film WritersOverNotedOn today's episode, we're talking about notes. Every TV and Feature writer gets notes - whether in writers' groups or from executives, showrunners, production companies or studios. But what do you do with all that feedback? Notes can make people defensive and emotional. All those comments can shut people down and some are just confusing. Should you stay open and soak up all the notes they throw at you? Or get the note-givers to slow their roll and keep the notes to a minimum?Nick and Steve offer TWO different ways to deal with notes...2024-12-2531 minBeyond The Script : Career Strategy For TV and Film WritersThe One About Life And DeathEvery writer wants the secret to career success. It's not only technique. It's not just connections. Those are important, but it's really about navigating what's INSIDE YOU. How do you manage the INTERNAL joys and challenges of living as a writer in TV and Film? You've learned how to put words on the page, but no one taught you to live the life of a writer through the ups and downs. On The Secret Writer Podcast, Nick Jobe and Steve Harper, writers, and script consultants/coaches, examine the "secret" inner world of the writing process for TV, film, and t...2024-06-2253 minBeyond The Script : Career Strategy For TV and Film WritersThe One About Networking?Every writer wants the secret to career success. It's not only technique. It's not just connections. Those are important, but it's really about navigating what's INSIDE YOU. How do you manage the INTERNAL joys and challenges of living as a writer in TV and Film? You've learned how to put words on the page, but no one taught you to live the life of a writer through the ups and downs. On The Secret Writer Podcast, Nick Jobe and Steve Harper, writers, and script consultants/coaches, examine the "secret" inner world of the writing process for TV, film, and t...2024-06-141h 13Beyond The Script : Career Strategy For TV and Film WritersThe One About Breaking The RulesEvery writer wants the secret to career success. It's not technique. It's not connections. Those are important, but it's really about what's INSIDE YOU. How do you navigate the INTERNAL joys and challenges of living as a writer in TV and Film? On The Secret Writer Podcast, Nick Jobe and Steve Harper, writers, and script consultants/coaches, examine the "secret" inner world of the writing process for TV, film, and theater - as a way to prepare you for a long and fruitful writing career. In this episode, we discuss BREAKING THE RULES. Can you do it? Sh...2024-06-0749 minBeyond The Script : Career Strategy For TV and Film WritersThe One About DisruptionEvery writer wants the secret to career success. It's not technique. It's not connections. Those are important, but it's really about what's INSIDE YOU. How do you navigate the INTERNAL joys and challenges of living as a writer in TV and Film? On The Secret Writer Podcast, Nick Jobe and Steve Harper, writers, and script consultants/coaches, examine the "secret" inner world of the writing process for TV, film, and theater - as a way to prepare you for a long and fruitful writing career. In this episode, we discuss DISRUPTION, the idea of trying things that ar...2024-05-2445 minBeyond The Script : Career Strategy For TV and Film WritersThe One About PressureEvery writer wants the secret to career success. It's not technique. It's not connections. Those are important, but it's really about what's INSIDE YOU. How do you navigate the INTERNAL joys and challenges of living as a writer in TV and Film? On The Secret Writer Podcast, Nick Jobe and Steve Harper, writers, and script consultants/coaches, examine the "secret" inner world of the writing process for TV, film, and theater - as a way to prepare you for a long and fruitful writing career. In this episode, we discuss the PRESSURE of working with well-known talent, an...2024-05-2139 minBeyond The Script : Career Strategy For TV and Film WritersThe One With The Burning QuestionsEvery writer wants the secret to career success. It's not technique. It's not connections. Those are important, but it's really about what's INSIDE YOU. How do you navigate the INTERNAL joys and challenges of living as a writer in TV and Film? On The Secret Writer Podcast, Nick Jobe and Steve Harper, writers, and script consultants/coaches, examine the "secret" inner world of the writing process for TV, film, and theater - as a way to prepare you for a long and fruitful writing career. In this episode, we discuss the BURNING QUESTIONS we keep hearing from cl...2024-05-1044 min