Screaming into the Hollywood Abyss

Noah Evslin and Dan Rutstein

Behind the glitz and glamor, Hollywood can be brutal. For every success, there are many more rejections and failures. Screaming into the Hollywood Abyss explores that world and each week a new guest will talk about dealing with rejection, failure and adversity in the entertainment industry. Writer Noah Evslin and podcaster Dan Rutstein ask the questions.

  • 44 minutes 41 seconds
    Take 135 - Executive and Producer Sue Naegle, Day of the Jackal, Game of Thrones

    We talk to former HBO President and now producer Sue Naegle.
    A fascinating insight from the top of Hollywood about how Game of Thrones nearly didn’t get made, working with Eddie Redmayne and the art of saying no.
    Sue talks about producing multiple shows at the same time, the projects that got away and the fear of where the next deal is coming from.
    We also talk about Hollywood coming out of its dark times, the Day of the Jackal and what she learned being an agent.
    Extraordinary insight from a varied and successful career.

    19 December 2024, 10:00 pm
  • 50 minutes 12 seconds
    Take 134 - Writer and Showrunner Kevin Abbott, Roseanne, Golden Girls, Happy’s Place

    We talk to comedy writing legend Kevin Abbott.
    He talks about the drinking, drugs and smoking of his first comedy rooms, how he got his break in the business and working through the night.
    Pitching while an exec was peeing, why writers are all miserable and the behaviours that are no longer acceptable.
    Kevin explains that Hollywood is in its worst possible spot, why creatives are not valued and how the industry has changed to be so much more business than show.
    A fascinating and hilarious discussion with a legend of the business.

    6 December 2024, 7:00 am
  • 41 minutes 53 seconds
    Take 133 - Producer Michael Costigan, Brokeback Mountain, Based on a True Story

    We talk to the magnificent Michael Costigan, producer of such hits as Brokeback Mountain, Robin Hood and Hit Man, among many others joins the show.
    He talks about his new TV series Based on a True Story, his transition from movies to the small screen and how hard it is to get anything made.
    Michael explains his journey from terrible assistant, to producing seminal movies and  compares adversity in film and television.
    An honest and candid romp through Hollywood, with tales of the biggest directors and a genuine passion for every project he touches.

    21 November 2024, 2:00 pm
  • 53 minutes 19 seconds
    Take 132 - Showrunner Frank Cardea, NCIS, Crazy Like a Fox, Shogun

    What an episode!
    We talk to TV legend Frank Cardea about his decades in the business.
    He tells us about his move from accountancy to producing, the extraordinary longevity of his writing partnership and working on more than 400 episodes of NCIS.
    We hear some great examples of failure, some great examples of success and also some great examples of leadership.
    A fascinating deepdive into one of Hollywood longest and most prodigious careers.

    24 October 2024, 1:00 pm
  • 46 minutes 3 seconds
    Take 131 - Writer and Showrunner Michael Rauch, Beautiful People, Royal Pains

    We talk to Michael Rauch. He starts with an extraordinary film school firing, then a late-night 'show being un-picked up' call and how he recovered from those early career setbacks.
    He tells us about his casting frustrations, managing multiple projects, and what he learned from great showrunners.
    An excellent episode full of brilliant anecdotes.

    10 October 2024, 4:00 pm
  • 40 minutes 34 seconds
    Take 130 - Writer and Showrunner Mark Goffman, West Wing, Sleepy Hollow, Bull, Irrational

    We talk to the fascinating Mark Goffman.
    He tells us about swapping real Government speech writing at the State Department for writing on the West Wing, some extraordinary career luck and ventriloqism documentaries.
    Mark talks about the importance of giving people a voice in a room, the importance of working with good people repeatedly and the importance of reflecting something of yourself in every show.
    He talks about regret, where he derives his satisfaction in the writing process and he answers the question 'are your shows better in your head or on the screen'.
    A fascinating interview with a brilliant creator.

    3 October 2024, 4:00 pm
  • 55 minutes 20 seconds
    Take 129 - John Wirth Part Two!

    We weren’t finished with John Wirth, so he comes back for more.
    This time we talk leadership style, drinking too much soda and the use of the red pen.
    John talks about being blunt, some more failure stories and even more advice.

    26 September 2024, 7:00 pm
  • 1 hour 15 minutes
    Take 128 - Showrunner and Writer John Wirth, Dark Winds, Nash Bridges

    We speak to the legendary John Wirth.
    He talks about a Hollywood career so long that he can't even remember all of the shows he has run, the shows he has been fired from and arguing with actors who hadn't won Emmys.
    He talks about managing upwards, 'run money' and an extraordinary argument with talent about trust.
    A remarkable episode with a remarkable storyteller.

    19 September 2024, 7:00 pm
  • 1 hour 50 minutes
    Take 127 - Writer, Showrunner, Memoirist SJ Hodges, The Player, Uneven Ground

    We talk to the extraordinary SJ Hodges.
    She talks about changing her name to a gender neutral one to get read, jumping from staff writer straight to show runner and what she learned from managing a literal car crash on The Player.
    Then SJ shares her personal journey of losing her husband to a brain tumour, what she did next and how she ended up building a community around her memoir Uneven Ground.
    A poignant and honest episode.

    12 September 2024, 10:00 pm
  • 1 hour 8 minutes
    Take 126 - Writer Gary Whitta, The Book of Eli, Rogue One

    The podcast is back for the second half of season three and we have a cracker.
    Gary Whitta, writer of Book of Eli and Rogue One gives an extraordinary interview about his transition from video game editor to writer, working on Star Wars and his frustrations with Hollywood. 
    He gves us an extraordinary pig analogy, talks about the excitement and pressure of being asked to work on the world's largest franchise and why he now won't watch any new Star Wars shows.
    One of the most honest and candid interviews we've had, Gary holds back nothing as he talks about his rollercoaster journey to the pinnacle of Hollywood.
    A must listen for writers, Star Wars fans and anyone interested in perseverance, creativity and how to play the Hollywood game.

    5 September 2024, 1:00 pm
  • 54 minutes 16 seconds
    We're back!

    After a long mid-season break, we are back up with the second half of Season Three of Screaming into the Hollywood Abyss.
    Noah and Dan talk about what they have been up to the last few weeks - Noah's show got cancelled! - and we thank our long-term partner Scriptation and then introduce tomorrow's episode with Rogue One writer Gary Whitta.
    This taster episode will just remind you of the quality of our banter, get you reacquainted with our voices and sets the table for a great upcoming season.

    5 September 2024, 1:00 am
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