905. Dystopic Yet Hopeful

Writer Aaron Kozak was a winner at the Austin Screenwriting Festival this year and a finalist in two other categories! Here he talks about the many ideas he’s put on the page, his ability to write a lot of material very fast and how moving away from Los Angeles has made him a better writer.

Virgil Williams, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter of Mudbound, talks about his latest feature film, an adaptation of the August Wilson playThe Piano Lesson, produced by Denzel Washington and directed by Malcolm Washington.

When actor/writer Mia Serafino was given the opportunity to audition for the Netflix show Beef, she knew this was a script worthy of changing her Christmas plans. Here she talks about what speaks to her in scripts and how this has informed her own journey as a writer.

Lynn Renee Maxcy, writer for The Handmaid’s Tale and The Complex talks about her love of sci-fi and speculative fiction where, no matter how dark it seems, a story can always provide hope.

Screenwriters Rafael Aguilo and Neal Thibedeau have written more than ten projects over the past four years and Pilar thinks they need their big break! Here they talk about their favorite projects and their style of collaboration.

Producer Kim Zubick (Togo, The Zookeepers Wife) emphasizes the need for emotion in verbal pitches, pitch-decks and sizzle reels.

Filmmaker and marketing specialist Chris Brennan discusses ways that screenwriters can market themselves and their work by creating a new mindset, thinking about how they can “add value” and strategizing their social media and e-mails in more effective ways.

Writer/Director/Professor Shahari Moore draws from her “well" of experience and knowledge as she writes personal stories that grab the attention of industry and writers labs.

Adrian Colón Jr went from being a Wayans fan to working in the writers room with them on the new CBS show Poppa’s House. Hear what he learned as he went from Writers PA to CBS Fellow to working writer.

Actress, director, writer Tiffany Yvonne Cox (Reasonable Doubt, Napa Ever After) talks about the work she does on screen, on the page and behind the scenes to improve artists' lives and "expose the world one story at a time."