What happens when a struggling writer claims a Hollywood powerhouse stole her idea?

In this episode of The Writers Hangout, Sandy takes a closer look at a lawsuit filed by writer Lauren J. Salkin, who alleges that Taylor Sheridan and others used elements of her 2016 pitch, Sovereign Nation, to create the hit series Yellowstone.

Sandy breaks down a recent Variety article about the lawsuit and examines the similarities Salkin claims exist between her project and Yellowstone — including a tribal casino at the center of political and development power, disputes over reservation land, development deals, and allegedly similar character roles.

But is this actually plagiarism, or could it be a case of parallel thinking — two writers independently arriving at similar ideas within the same genre?

Sandy also looks at the history of Yellowstone, including Taylor Sheridan and John Linson's earlier development of the project, Sheridan's career as a screenwriter, and the challenges writers face when they believe their work has been copied.

Sandy also discusses the importance of understanding how Hollywood actually works when it comes to pitches, ideas, scripts, and intellectual property.

What do you think? Do you believe Taylor Sheridan stole Lauren J. Salkin's pitch, or do you think the similarities are simply examples of parallel thinking?

Send your thoughts to [email protected].

The Writers Hangout is sponsored by the Page International Screenwriting Awards.

Executive Producer: Kristen Overn
Executive Producer and Host: Sandy Adamides
Co-Host: Terry Sampson
Music: Ethan Stoller

If you enjoyed the episode, please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. And remember: Keep writing. The world needs your stories.

Taylor Sheridan Accused of Stealing ‘Yellowstone’ From 2016 Pitch in Copyright Lawsuit By Jack Dunn

https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/taylor-sheridan-accused-stealing-yellowstone-lawsuit-1236840854/

Let us introduce you to the fascinating and luxurious world of Stephen Leo Bing, an American businessman, philanthropist, film producer, and screenwriter. Sadly, Steve Bing passed away from multiple blunt-force trauma after jumping from the 27th floor of a luxury apartment building in Century City, Los Angeles, on June 22, 2020. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner officially confirmed his death as a suicide. He was just 55 years old.

Enjoy the show.

Contact us: [email protected]

The PAGE International Screenwriting Awards sponsors the WRITERS' HANGOUT.
Executive Producer Kristin Overn and Sandy Adomaitis
Producer Terry Sampson
Music by Ethan Stoller

PAGE International Screenwriting Awards
Hollywood’s favorite screenwriting contest -- one of the industry's top sources for new talent.

Rewind. Did you know there was another SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE besides the animated blockbuster starring Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen, and Fred Armisen? The first SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE hit theaters in 1993 and was the first feature-length live-action film based on a video game. Directed by the husband-and-wife team Rocky Morton and Annabel Jankel, it follows brothers Mario Mario (Bob Hoskins) and Luigi Mario (John Leguizamo) as they quest to rescue Princess Daisy (Samantha Mathis) from a dystopian parallel universe ruled by the ruthless King Koopa (Dennis Hopper). Unfortunately, it was a box office failure and was widely panned by critics. The credits list three writers, Parker Bennett, Terry Runté, and Ed Solomon.

Why did one MARIO movie succeed when the other MARIO movie didn’t? That’s the big question Sandy and Terry tackle in this episode.  

👍 If you enjoy the show, please remember to follow us and leave a review where you listen to podcasts. 

📸 Check out our IG for photos @thewritershangoutpodcast

💙 If you have an idea for the podcast or would like to make a comment, please contact us @[email protected] 

PAGE International Screenwriting Awards
Hollywood’s favorite screenwriting contest -- one of the industry's top sources for new talent.

Hang out with us for a fun conversation with Lisa Orkin and Harris Orkin — daughter and son of legendary radio writer, actor, and producer Dick Orkin. Dick Orkin, the mind behind the iconic radio serial “Chickenman” and the creative powerhouse The Famous Radio Ranch, was hailed by Newsweek as the pioneer of “The Advertising Theater of the Absurd.” He revolutionized audio advertising with his use of deadpan comedy, memorable characters, and situational humor, setting a new standard for creative storytelling in audio.

Meet Our Guests:

• Lisa Orkin is a comedian, actor, writer, and audio director renowned for her unique blend of comedy, storytelling, and marketing across radio, film, and digital audio platforms. She’s also known for her podcast production work, distinctive voice acting, and creative leadership at The Radio Ranch.
• Harris Orkin is a multi-medium storyteller — author, playwright, screenwriter, video game narrative designer, and voice director. He’s best known for his BAFTA and WGA-nominated scripts for the Resident Evil video games and for his James Flynn Escapades spy comedy novels.

 The PAGE International Screenwriting Awards sponsors the WRITERS' HANGOUT.
Executive Producer Kristin Overn
Executive Producer/CreatorSandy Adomaitis
Producer Terry Sampson
Music by Ethan Stoller

Thanks for hanging out with us!

In this REWIND episode, Sandy and Terry dive into a fascinating Twitter thread that shares some really valuable insights into how signed writers found their representation. A big thank you to Tyler Clair Smith, the talented writer on X who inspired this episode. Be sure to follow Tyler Clair Smith at @tclairsmith—we certainly did!

In this episode, we discuss helpful internet programs for screenwriters. The Writers’ Hangout Podcast did not receive payment for our opinion.

The PAGE International Screenwriting Awards sponsors the WRITERS' HANGOUT.
Executive Producer Kristin Overn
Creator/Producer Sandy Adomaitis
Producer Terry Sampson
Music by Ethan Stoller

What makes Terminator 2: Judgment Day one of the greatest films ever made?

We're excited to have Becky D'Anna join us! Becky is a podcaster, a movie historian, and a lifelong cinephile with a 26-year career in movie marketing. We'll dive into an engaging chat about The Terminator, Comic-Con, the works of Ingmar Bergman, and much more!

Becky shares how watching Terminator 2 on opening day in 1991 inspired her Hollywood career and ultimately led to a 26-year career in movie marketing, working on blockbuster franchises including X-Men, Spider-Man, and Terminator Salvation.

The conversation also explores Quentin Tarantino's revival of historic movie theaters.

In This Episode

• Why Terminator 2 remains one of the greatest action and science fiction films ever made.
• How James Cameron blended spectacular action with an emotional story about hope and humanity.
• The evolution of the Terminator franchise and Becky's ranking of every film.
• The magic of seeing classic movies with an audience on the big screen.
• Quentin Tarantino's preservation of the New Beverly Cinema and the Vista Theatre.
• Becky's lifelong love of Comic-Con and what first-time attendees should expect.
• What it's like to work in movie marketing and how studios promote blockbuster films.
• How movie tie-ins with brands and restaurants help launch major releases.
• Why Ingmar Bergman's films continue to inspire generations of filmmakers.

Connect with Becky D'Anna

Hanging with Becky

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hanging-with-becky/id1896866617

Director’s Take: A Sony Pictures Podcast

https://directorstakepodcast.com

T2 episode just dropped from Film 89 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-154-terminator-2-judgment-day-1991/id1332493155?i=1000777367810

What can screenwriters learn from one of the greatest filmmakers of our time?

In this episode, we explore five inspiring quotes from Academy Award-winning writer and director Christopher Nolan and break down the storytelling principles behind his remarkable career. From Memento and The Dark Knight trilogy to Inception, Interstellar, and Oppenheimer, Nolan has built a reputation for creating emotionally powerful, intellectually challenging films that captivate audiences worldwide.

Before diving into his writing philosophy, we also discuss Nolan's upcoming epic The Odyssey, the first major studio feature filmed entirely with IMAX cameras, and what makes the project so ambitious.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why embracing your limitations can make you a more creative storyteller.
• How creating your own storytelling rules is more powerful than simply breaking existing ones.
• Why point of view is one of the most important decisions a writer can make.
• Christopher Nolan's "inside-out" approach to writing believable characters.
• Why stepping away from a script can often be the key to solving story problems.
• How high-concept ideas only work when they're grounded in universal human emotions.

We also discuss:

• Christopher Nolan's remarkable filmmaking career.
• His long collaboration with his brother Jonathan Nolan and producer Emma Thomas.
• The groundbreaking production of The Odyssey and its all-IMAX format.
• The film's star-studded cast, including Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong'o, John Leguizamo, Elliot Page, and Mia Goth.
• How Nolan spent years developing Inception before discovering its emotional core.

Whether you're writing your first screenplay, revising a novel, or simply looking for creative inspiration, these five lessons from Christopher Nolan offer timeless advice on crafting stories that are both intellectually engaging and emotionally resonant.

REWIND This episode explores the remarkable life and tragic death of Doug Kenney, the comedic genius behind Animal House and Caddyshack, and a co-founder of National Lampoon. Friends and collaborators described Kenney as a brilliant creative force whose influence helped redefine American comedy. At just 33 years old, his life came to a sudden and mysterious end after falling from a cliff in Hawaii, leaving behind a legacy that continues to shape comedy and filmmaking today.

The PAGE International Screenwriting Awards sponsors the WRITERS' HANGOUT.
Executive Producer Kristin Overn
Executive Producer/CreatorSandy Adomaitis
Producer Terry Sampson
Music by Ethan Stoller

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Victoria “Vicky” Hart, daughter of acclaimed television writer Stan Hart, whose remarkable career helped shape some of the most beloved comedy programs in television history.

Stan Hart, alongside writing partner Larry Siegel, was a key writer for The Carol Burnett Show, earning multiple Emmy Awards for his work. His extensive career also included writing credits for films such as Move and Eat and Run (1986), as well as television favorites such as Love, American Style (1971) and Oh, Nurse! (1972), The Hal Linden Special (1979), The Wonderful World of Disney, and many other productions. During our conversation, Vicky shares stories about her father’s life, legacy, and impact on comedy writing.

Dr. Victoria Hart is an accomplished performer and educator in her own right. She earned her Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) in Vocal Performance from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and has built an impressive career as an operatic soprano and teacher. She has performed leading roles with opera companies across the United States, including Knoxville Opera, Sacramento Opera, Fresno Opera, Greensboro Opera, Opera Santa Barbara, Eugene Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Long Beach Opera, and Rimrock Opera.

Join us for a fascinating conversation about television history, comedy, music, family legacy, and the artistic journeys that connect generations.

Filmmaker Billy Luther talks with Sandy about his coming-of-age film, ‘Frybread Face and Me,’ which was executive-produced by Taika Waititi and distributed by Ava DuVernay’s company, Array, on Netflix.

Written and directed by Billy, ‘Frybread Face and Me’ was selected for SXSW 2023's Narrative Spotlight and TIFF 2023's Discovery and New Wave Selects. Billy’s feature documentary, Miss Navajo, premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival and aired nationally on PBS’ Independent Lens that same year.

Billy has also served as a writer and director on the hit AMC series Dark Winds, adapting Tony Hillerman's novels featuring Navajo tribal police investigations.

You can watch ‘Frybread Face and Me,” ‘Miss Navajo,’ and all of Billy’s films for free on his website here: https://billyluther.com

If you have Netflix, go watch ‘Frybread Face and Me’ right now!  Pick up the remote, click the link.  Do.  

The PAGE International Screenwriting Awards sponsors the WRITERS' HANGOUT.
Executive Producer Kristin Overn
Creator/Executive Producer Sandy Adomaitis
Producer Terry Sampson
Music by Ethan Stoller

Rewind. Sandy and Terry will discuss Billy Wilder's 10 tips for screenwriters. Few screenwriters are as pedigreed as Billy Wilder, who is renowned as one of the most creative filmmakers of American cinema's Golden Age. Wilder was nominated 21 times at the Academy Awards, 13 for screenwriting and 8 for direction. He won the Best Director award for his 1945 film "The Lost Weekend" and again 15 years later for "The Apartment." Thanks to the success of "The Apartment," Wilder became the first person to win an Academy Award as a producer, director, and screenwriter for the same movie. Cameron Crowe said, “There’s no better film school than listening to what Billy Wilder says.”

The PAGE International Screenwriting Awards sponsors the WRITERS' HANGOUT.
Executive Producer Kristin Overn
Creator/Producer Sandy Adomaitis
Producer Terry Sampson
Music by Ethan Stoller