Conventional wisdom says you need to write many scripts before you'll write a good one, and you'll never sell your spec pilot. Mickey Fisher proves both wrong!

Mickey Fisher biography:

Mickey Fisher is the creator of the CBS television series "Extant," executive produced by Steven Spielberg and Amblin Television, starring Halle Berry, and the NBC series "Reverie," Ex- ecutive Produced by Amblin Television, starring Sarah Shahi. He has also worked on "The Strain" (FX), "Mars" (NatGeo), and "Jack Ryan" (Amazon).

In 2018, his play "Replica" received its world premiere at Stages Repertory Theatre in Houston. He attended the College Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati for Musical Theater and worked as an actor in Chicago, New York, and regional theaters all over the country before moving to Los Angeles.

Follow Mickey on Twitter: @MickeyFisher73

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Visit new primary sponsor The BlueCat Screenplay Competition on the web: bluecatscreenplay.com

Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft.

You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more.

Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews.

Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.

This week, Gray Jones interviews Emmy and Golden Globe winner Kira Snyder, who has written and produced "The Handmaid's Tale", "The 100," "Eureka," and the feature film "Pacific Rim: Uprising."

Kira Snyder Biography:

Kira Snyder most recently was Executive Producer and Co-Showrunner of "Demimonde," J.J. Abrams’ sci-fi drama for HBO, where she currently has an overall deal for television. Previously Kira was a writer and producer on "The Handmaid’s Tale" for Hulu, for which she has won an Emmy, a Golden Globe, a PGA Award, and two WGA Awards. Kira also received nominations for the Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series Emmy and the USC Scripter Award for her Season 2 episode of "The Handmaid’s Tale," “Holly,” and an Episodic Drama WGA Award nomination for her Season 4 episode “Testimony.”

Her other film and television work includes the blockbuster feature film "Pacific Rim: Uprising," pilot scripts for Hulu, FX, and Amazon, "The 100" on the CW, "Incursion" for Starz, Syfy’s "Eureka" and "Alphas," and the CBS vampire cult hit "Moonlight."

"The Parish Mail" ebooks, Kira’s interactive Young Adult supernatural mystery series, are available for Kindle. Formerly a computer game designer, Kira has created games for Microsoft, the MIT Press textbook Rules Of Play, and Electronic Arts, including the seminal, award-winning alternate reality game "Majestic."

Kira grew up in a Navy family and is a longtime mentor with the Veterans Writing Project at the Writers’ Guild Foundation. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their two black cats.

Follow Kira on Twitter: @sugarjonze

Migrating to Hive Social? Follow @GrayJones.

Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft.

You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more.

Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews.

Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.

This week, Gray Jones interviews TV writer J. Holtham, known for Marvel's Cloak & Dagger, Marvel's Jessica Jones, Supergirl and The Handmaid's Tale.

J. Holtham Biography:

J. Holtham is a screenwriter, playwright, comic book writer and blogger. TV credits include "Pitch" (Fox), "Marvel's Cloak & Dagger" (Freeform), Marvel's Jessica Jones (Netflix), "Supergirl" (CW) and "The Handmaid's Tale" (Hulu). Theatre credits include Ensemble Studio Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Second Stage Theater, Bespoke Plays. Essays and reporting include American Theatre, Thrillist, Slate. He has written for such comics as Star Trek: The Mirror War (IDW), Marvel Voices: Legacy (2022) (Marvel Comics), and Spider- verse Unlimited (Marvel Unlimited). Podcasts include Marvel’s Wastelanders: Hawkeye. J. is a board member on The 24 Hour Plays and Ojai Playwrights Conference. He is a proud product of public education.

Follow J. on Instagram: @jholtham

Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft.

You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more.

Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews.

Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.

Devil in Ohio premiered at #1 on Netflix, and was in the global top 10 for 3 weeks straight. This week, Gray Jones interviews author-creator-showrunner Daria Polatin.

Daria Polatin bio:

Daria Polatin is an accomplished TV showrunner and executive producer, award-winning playwright and author of Egyptian descent.

Daria is the creator, showrunner and executive producer of "Devil in Ohio," a Netflix Limited Series starring Emily Deschanel, which debuted at #1 on Netflix and ran in the Netflix Global Top 10 for three weeks. Daria authored the best-selling thriller novel of the same name, which she adapted into the series. Having worked on twelve seasons of television, Daria was co-executive producer of Stephen King’s "Castle Rock" (Hulu), where her episode “The Laughing Place” was named one of Entertainment Weekly’s Best TV Episodes of 2019.

Additional TV credits include "Jack Ryan" (Amazon), "Hunters" (Amazon), Heels (Starz) and Shut Eye (Hulu).

In theater, Daria wrote and directed her new play "Palmyra" at Center Theatre Group’s Kirk Douglas Theatre, which ran on CTG’s Digital Stage. Her plays have been produced at The Kennedy Center, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Cherry Lane Theatre, Ensemble Studio Theatre NY, Cape Cod Theater Project, The Wilshire Ebell Theatre, in London and Hong Kong. She has produced and directed theater in New York and Los Angeles, including directing the play "H40 + 1" written by and starring  Nikolaj Coster-Waldau from "Game of Thrones."

Daria completed residencies with London’s Royal Court Theatre, Center Theatre Group, The Echo Theater, and earned her B.F.A. from Boston University and M.F.A. from Columbia University. She is a founding member of The Kilroys, the advocacy group for gender parity in the American theater.

Daria has always been drawn to telling engaging stories that explore the complexities of the human condition. Under her 1001 Pictures banner, she continues to write and produce propulsive stories that challenge and entertain.

Follow Daria on Twitter: @DariaPolatin

Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft.

You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more.

Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews.

Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.

This week, host Gray Jones interviews a fellow York University Screenwriting alumnus, veteran comedy writer Rob Sheridan.

Rob Sheridan is an LA-based writer with extensive credits in both the US and Canada. Rob has written on such series as "2 Broke Girls" (WBTV/CBS), "Impastor" (TVLand), "Mad Love" (Sony Television/CBS), "18 To Life" (CBC/CW), "Corner Gas" (CTV), "Little Mosque on the Prairie" (CBC), "Less Than Kind" (HBO Canada), and "The Red Green Show" (CBC), as well as having developed original pilots for ABC Studios and Warner Bros. Television.

Additionally, Rob is a frequent contributor to the Just for Laughs comedy festival in Montreal, writing monologue and variety material for a wide range of performers in recent years including Will Forte, Sarah Silverman, Trevor Noah, Jeff Goldblum, Whitney Cummings and Carrie Fisher. He is repped by WME Entertainment in Los Angeles and managed by Meridian Artists in Toronto.

Check out Rob's YouTube channel, "Up All Night With Bob."

Follow Rob on Twitter: @therobsheridan

Visit new primary sponsor The BlueCat Screenplay Competition on the web: bluecatscreenplay.com

Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft.

You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more.

Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews.

Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.

This week, host Gray Jones interviews TV show creator & showrunner Brent Piaskoski.

About Brent:

Prior to focusing his creative energy on writing, Brent Piaskoski spent over a decade honing his comedic craft on the mean stages of some very cold comedy clubs (i.e. Canada). He went on to write and produce over 160 episodes of TV. Ryan Gosling still thanks Brent for writing his fist on-screen kiss ("Breaker High"). And Dave Foley might still owe Brent money for sneaking him back into Canada to star in CTV’s primetime sitcom "Spun Out." Brent also created the tween sitcom "The Latest Buzz" (Family Channel/STARZ), which launched the career of "Riverdale's" Vanessa Morgan. He’s won some nifty awards including a Gemini and three WGC Awards, was robbed of the Golden Globe and Academy Award, but lives to fight another day (pending an actual nomination). In 2019 he was a WGA TV Writer Access Project honoree.

Follow Brent on Twitter: @brentpiaskoski

Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft.

You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more.

Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews.

Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.

After interviewing over 130 TV writers, I can't count how many times I've heard how lost writers felt when they first stepped into a writers' room. Wouldn't it be great if there was a book to help you understand how to succeed in all types of staffs, with all types of personalities, working for all types of showrunners? Well, now there is -- Niceole Levy's comprehensive book "The Writers' Room Survival Guide" is now available! CLICK HERE to order -- I guarantee you will want it on your shelf, and it makes a great gift for the budding TV writer, or anyone who wants to know what life is like for a TV writer from when they clock in to when they clock out.

Niceole Levy Bio:

Niceole Levy grew up under the bright stars of the Mojave Desert before swapping them for bright lights of Los Angeles. Studying acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts yielded the epiphany that she preferred writing. She worked as a police dispatcher to pay her way through undergraduate USC, and then completed the Master of Professional Writing program, also at USC.

An alum of the CBS Writers Mentoring Program, NBC’s Writers on the Verge, and the WGAw Showrunner Training Program, Niceole has written on "Ironside," "Allegiance," "The Mysteries of Laura," "Shades of Blue," "Cloak & Dagger," "Fate: the Winx Saga," and "S.W.A.T." She also co-wrote a feature, "The Banker," with former Allegiance showrunner and director George Nolfi, available on AppleTV+.

Niceole is currently a co-executive producer on "The Recruit," which will air on Netflix, and has several TV and feature projects in development. The Writers’ Room Survival Guide is her first book.

Follow Niceole on Twitter: @niceolecookies

Visit new primary sponsor The BlueCat Screenplay Competition on the web: bluecatscreenplay.com

Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft.

You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more.

Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews.

Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.

Supercharge your characters while minimizing the work in creating them! This week host Gray Jones asks authors Christopher and Kathy Riley all about their new book, The Defining Moment.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The best storytelling explores character formation and transformation. Sometimes the shaping of characters takes place in slow, smooth, steadily bending arcs, other times in sudden, jagged, cataclysmic moments. Without discovering these moments, it’s impossible for an actor or writer to fully realize their character. In The Defining Moment: How Writers and Actors Build Characters, screenwriters and story gurus Christopher and Kathy Riley share the secret to creating character-defining moments—moments without which the character couldn’t exist, and through which characters transform before our eyes. 

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Christopher Riley is a professional screenwriter who cowrote with his wife Kathy Riley the award-winning German language film "After the Truth." The Rileys have written scripts for Disney’s Touchstone Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Mandalay Television Pictures, Sean Connery’s Fountainbridge Films, and Robert Cort Productions. Christopher produced the action-thriller "Red Line" and executive produced the web series "Bump+." He began his career as a proofreader in the standard-setting script processing department at Warner Bros., a department he eventually rose to manage. He is the former director of the Act One Hollywood Writing Program, the author of the classic screenplay format guide The Hollywood Standard, an instructor of screenwriting at the undergraduate and graduate levels, a founding partner of Story Masters Film Academy, and a longtime member of the Writers Guild of America West. 

Kathy Riley cowrote the award-winning feature film "After the Truth." In addition to her work as a writer for Touchstone Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Mandalay Television Pictures, Fountainbridge Films, and Robert Cort Productions, Kathy holds a master’s degree in public health and is a certified health education specialist. She serves as vice president of family support for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and has worked extensively on behalf of families of children diagnosed with brain tumors. She also holds a certification of professional achievement in narrative medicine from Columbia University and is a longtime member of the Writers Guild of America West.

Follow Christopher on Twitter: @hwoodstandard

Follow Kathy on Instagram: @kathywecan

BUY THEIR BOOKS AND SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Click on "The Defining Moment: How Writers and Actors Build Characters" and "The Hollywood Standard" to buy on Amazon.

Visit primary sponsor Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com

Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft.

You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more.

Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews.

Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.

Want to get to the heart of comedy? Look no further than this week's episode, as host Gray Jones interviews comedy guru Steve Kaplan.

Steve Kaplan Bio:

For years, Steve Kaplan has been one of the industry's most respected and sought-after expert on comedy. His first book, "The Hidden Tools of Comedy," is a best-seller in its field, and his new book, "The Comic Hero's Journey: Serious Story Structure for Fabulously Funny Films" was recently published.

In addition to having taught at UCLA, NYU, Yale and other universities, Steve Kaplan created the HBO Workspace, the HBO New Writers Program and was co-founder and Artistic Director of Manhattan Punch Line Theatre. In addition to development projects for HBO, he has taught workshops at companies such as DreamWorks, Disney Animation, Aardman Animation, NBC's Writers on the Verge, and others.

In addition to private coaching and one-on-one consultations, Steve has taught his Comedy Intensive workshops to thousands of students around the world, including--in pre-pandemic times--Los Angeles, New York, Australia and Mumbai. He's presently teaching online via Zoom. You can find out all about it at KaplanComedy.com.

Follow Steve on Twitter: @skcomedy.

BUY STEVE'S BOOKS AND SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

Click on "The Hidden Tools of Comedy" and "The Comic Hero's Journey: Serious Story Structure for Fabulously Funny Films" to buy on Amazon.

Visit primary sponsor Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com

Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft.

You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more.

Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews.

Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.

Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing" was the spark that ignited the career of film/TV writer-director Amitabh Klemm, instructor at Script Anatomy.

An award-winning, biracial filmmaker born amongst the cornfields of Iowa; Amitabh Klemm made his way to Los Angles by way of USC where he completed an MFA in directing.

Most recently, he staffed in the writer’s room for “#FBF,” a screen-reality feature film starring Ashley Judd, produced by Timur Bekmambetov. Prior to the pandemic, he broke into TV directing with an episode of the half-hour comedy “All the Way Black,” for BET.

After film school, Amitabh directed and produced branded marketing content for clients like the Obama Administration, Sperry Apparel, TOMs Shoes, Focus Features, Complex Magazine, and Leonardo DiCaprio. He is a recipient of the Panavision New Filmmaker Grant and resides in Pasadena, CA with his wife and rescue dog, Skylar.

Follow Amitabh on Twitter: @AmitabhKlemm

Please Note: Interview recorded on December 2, 2021.

Visit primary sponsor Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com

Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft.

You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more.

Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews.

Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.

This week, learn about how to break in to both comic writing and TV writing, as host Gray Jones interviews TV & comic writer Jay Faerber.

Originally from rural Pennsylvania, Jay Faerber grew up on a steady diet of comic books, detective novels, and cop shows. After writing and drawing his own comics throughout high school, Jay started getting work from Marvel and DC in the late 90s, writing such titles as “Generation X,” “New Warriors,” and “Titans.” 

Craving more creative freedom, Jay turned his attention to Image Comics, where he created the superhero soap opera series “Noble Causes,” which ran for over 40 issues. He also co-created numerous other series, including “Dynamo 5,” "Near Death,” “Copperhead,” and “Elsewhere.”

In 2010, Jay was accepted into the Warner Bros TV Writers Workshop, and after completing that program, he landed a staff writer job on the CW series, “Ringer,” starring Sarah Michelle Gellar. After “Ringer” was cancelled, Jay was staffed on another CW series, “Star-Crossed.” He then wrote on all three seasons of the CBS summer series, “Zoo," and was most recently a writer/producer on the last two seasons of the CW series “Supergirl.”

In a special section at the beginning of the podcast, Jay answers pressing fan questions related to the last season and series finale of "Supergirl," as well as other viewer-submitted questions.

Jay lives in Burbank with his wife and son.

Follow Jay on Twitter: @JayFaerber 

Visit primary sponsor Script Anatomy on the web: scriptanatomy.com

Buying Final Draft screenwriting software? Use this link to support the podcast: tinyurl.com/BuyFinalDraft.

You can help with the ongoing costs of bringing these weekly podcasts to you by becoming a patron of the podcast – for as little as 25¢ per episode! There are many reward levels. CLICK HERE to find out more.

Buy Gray’s book for only $4.99! Look for it on Amazon – How To Break In To TV Writing: Insider Interviews.

Didn’t get your questions asked? Make sure you follow Gray on Twitter (@GrayJones) so you can get the scoop on who is being interviewed and how to get your questions in. Also check out our TV Writer Twitter Database to find Twitter addresses for over 1,200 TV writers. Find previous episodes and other resources at www.tvwriterpodcast.com.