274 | Derek Kolstad (John Wick, Nobody): How to Craft Character and Action on the Page

This week we’re celebrating one of our favorite genres: holiday movies!  Screenwriter Maggie Lane (HOTEL FOR THE HOLIDAYS) and producer Eric Jarboe (FALLING FOR CHRISTMAS, THE PRINCESS SWITCH) join us to pull back the curtain on how Christmas films are conceived, pitched, developed, budgeted, and shot - sometimes in as little as 13 days. We dig into what networks actually want, how to craft a great rom-com holiday premise, what makes a title irresistible, how to build producible scripts, and why collaboration (and quick rewrites!) are everything. It’s a warm, funny, highly practical episode full of insider intel and festive filmmaking stories. --- Looking for more support on your writing journey? Join Meg and Lorien inside ⁠⁠⁠⁠TSL Workshops⁠⁠⁠ ⁠- use code HOLIDAY25 for 50% off your first month. Episode Links: Writing the Romantic Comedy by Billy Mernit JHRTS (Junior Hollywood Radio & Television Society) Film Independent AFI Directing Workshop for Women Hotel for the Holidays (on Prime Video) WGA Minimums Schedule Check out the ⁠⁠⁠TSL merch shop⁠⁠⁠ TSL on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠ The Screenwriting Life is produced by ⁠⁠⁠Jonathan Hurwitz⁠⁠⁠ and edited by ⁠⁠⁠Kate Mishkin⁠⁠⁠. Email us at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠. --- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, JOHN WICK creator Derek Kolstad joins us to break down how he crafts character-driven action on the page. Derek shares how he thinks about tone, rhythm, and world-building, why action is an extension of the hero’s journey, and the psychological tricks he uses to survive rewrites. We also dig into his collaborations with actors like Keanu Reeves and Bob Odenkirk, his approach to adapting IP, and the creative habits that keep him excited to write "fade in." --- Looking for more support on your writing journey? Join Meg and Lorien inside ⁠⁠⁠TSL Workshops⁠⁠ ⁠- use code HOLIDAY25 for 50% off your first month. Episode Links: Check out the ⁠⁠TSL merch shop⁠⁠ TSL on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠ The Screenwriting Life is produced by ⁠⁠Jonathan Hurwitz⁠⁠ and edited by ⁠⁠Kate Mishkin⁠⁠. Email us at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠. --- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part 2 of our conversation with counselor and healer Madaline Blau, we move from understanding imposter syndrome to learning how to work with it in the body. Madaline guides us through grounding practices and shares a powerful 10-minute guided visualization designed to help you return to your truth, your courage, and the deeper steadiness beneath your storytelling. If you haven’t heard Part 1, start there for the full arc of this conversation. Then come back for this beautiful, restorative close to the episode. --- Looking for more support on your writing journey? Join Meg and Lorien inside ⁠⁠TSL Workshops⁠ ⁠- use code HOLIDAY25 for 50% off your first month. Episode Links: Letter to Agnes De Mille from Martha Graham Check out the ⁠TSL merch shop⁠ TSL on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠, and ⁠Bluesky⁠ The Screenwriting Life is produced by ⁠Jonathan Hurwitz⁠ and edited by ⁠Kate Mishkin⁠. Email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠. --- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part 1 of our deep dive into imposter syndrome, counselor and healer Madaline Blau helps us understand where creative insecurity really comes from - and why so many writers feel stuck between confidence and collapse. We unpack instinct, how insight shapes character and story, and the early experiences that form our creative identity. This episode ends at a powerful emotional pause, with Part 2 picking up next week as we move into grounding, embodiment, and a guided visualization with Madaline. --- Looking for more support on your writing journey? Join Meg and Lorien inside ⁠TSL Workshops ⁠- your first 5 days are free. Episode Links: Check out the TSL merch shop TSL on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky The Screenwriting Life is produced by Jonathan Hurwitz and edited by Kate Mishkin. Email us at [email protected]. --- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Melissa Rosenberg - creator of JESSICA JONES, head writer of DEXTER, and screenwriter of the TWILIGHT films - joins Lorien to talk about what it takes to stay grounded as a storyteller. From building creative communities to rediscovering her artistic voice after decades in Hollywood, Melissa reflects on the evolving balance between ambition, authenticity, and healing through story. --- Looking for more support on your writing journey? Join Meg and Lorien inside ⁠TSL Workshops ⁠- your first 5 days are free. Episode Links: Bennington College's new MFA in Screenwriting Check out the TSL merch shop TSL on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky The Screenwriting Life is produced by Jonathan Hurwitz and edited by Kate Mishkin. Email us at [email protected]. --- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jenny Han - creator, showrunner, and bestselling author of THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY - joins Lorien to talk about the art of writing love, longing, and growing up. From balancing fandom expectations to crafting authentic emotion, Jenny shares how she translates deeply personal themes to the screen, keeps romantic tension alive over multiple seasons, and why writing about first love never gets old. Whether you’re Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah, this one’s for you.  --- Looking for more support on your writing journey? Join Meg and Lorien inside ⁠TSL Workshops ⁠- your first 5 days are free. Episode Links: Jenny Han's website "The Summer I Turned Pretty" on Amazon Prime Check out the TSL merch shop TSL on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky The Screenwriting Life is produced by Jonathan Hurwitz and edited by Kate Mishkin. Email us at [email protected]. --- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Halloween around the corner, we’re revisiting one of our favorite spooky episodes. Join us for a conversation with the team behind Hulu’s CARVED — director and co-writer Justin Harding, co-writer Cheryl Meyer, and star Peyton Elizabeth Lee — as they share how they brought their campy slasher film to life and what it takes to write really great horror. --- Looking for more support on your writing journey? Join Meg and Lorien inside ⁠TSL Workshops ⁠- your first 5 days are free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So you want to be a screenwriter… now what? In a rebroadcast of one of our most popular episodes, we dig into the essential questions every writer should ask before jumping into a draft — questions that are just as valuable for seasoned pros as they are for those starting out. --- Looking for more support on your writing journey? Join Meg and Lorien inside TSL Workshops - your first 5 days are free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so With the Austin Film Festival coming up next week, we’re revisiting one of our favorite episodes to help everyone attending get ready to share their stories! --- The Austin Film Festival is known for many things — but few are as legendary as its annual 90-Second Pitch Competition, where writers have just 90 seconds to share their stories. In Hollywood, we call that “the elevator pitch” — and it’s more essential than ever. To unpack what makes a pitch truly land, we’re joined by an incredible lineup: TSL veteran and producer Sheila Hanahan Taylor, Austin Film Festival’s Screenplay Director Alyssa Alvarado, and five brave writers who step up to pitch their hearts out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so Meg was already a fan of Jeff Hiller from his Emmy-winning performance in SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE, but after listening to his moving and hilarious memoir Actress of a Certain Age, she fell completely in love with his honesty, humor, and heart. She knew she had to have him on the show — and we were deeply honored when he said yes, fresh off his big Emmy win. In this conversation, Jeff opens up about the myth of the “big break,” finding your authentic voice, navigating rejection with grace, and why it’s never too late to chase your dreams. Check out Jeff's memoir HERE: goodreads.com/book/show/220902134-actress-of-a-certain-age Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices