On The Page

Writer Jo Rochelle was just about to call it quits when her writing career caught fire. Hear how she got the attention of a manager, became staffed on her favorite show Good Trouble, and filmed her own independent movie - all while continuing to “ride the rollercoaster."

Actor/writer Danielle Pinnock had a crazy year full of ups and downs but she kept writing, found inspiration in her underwear drawer and set up her animated series Unmentionables with Taraji P. Henson! 

Michael-Leon Wooley’s search for depth in his singing and performing has informed his writing as well, leading to major attention on his very first feature-film script! Hear how he did it and why “fine is not enough."

Pilar Alessandra’s teaching and consulting business On the Page celebrates a 20 year anniversary! Alex Troxler interviews Pilar about her program, its humble beginnings and the way her teachings and the industry have changed.

Richie Siegel and Marissa Torelli-Pedevska, co-founders of the Inevitable Foundation, talk about the need to hire and produce the work of disabled screenwriters. 

Writer Matt Foss talks about how he went from being “terrible and earnest” to "consciously competent” as an award winning playwright and how he uses “given circumstances” to ground his stories and adaptations.

Elizabeth Kaiden and Nitza Wilon, co-founders of The Writers Lab, talk about their efforts to highlight the voices of women over 40 on the screen and on the page.

Writer/producer Emily Fox (Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, Daybreak, Girlfriends Guide to Divorce) shines a light for writers as she describes how she comes up with story and runs a writers room.

Writer and director Dan Mazer talks about his long collaboration with Sacha Baron Cohen and the complex storytelling that goes into writing movies with a number of possibilities and outcomes.

Eric Pearson, the writer of Black Widow and Thor: Ragnarok talks about his and Marvel’s approach to storytelling, including “every scene needs to do two things” and “that’s a long way to go for salami." 

Tim Long’s nerdy beginnings inspired his new movie The Exchange, and his story sense and comedy chops earned him head writer status at Letterman and a 20 year run on The Simpsons. 

Ted Campbell talks about how his experience as a second unit director and assistant director helped him develop the writing and directing skills he needed to be hired as a writer and director for three projects for MarVista Entertainment.

Glenn Sanders, Senior Creative Director at Amazon Prime Video, talks about entertainment marketing and how it can impact choices a writer makes early on in terms of concept, story and character.

Writer Kris Crenwelge turned a lockdown low to an end of the year high when she set her mind to treating her writing passion as a TV business. Hear her take on applying to labs, interviewing for “entertainment adjacent” jobs and doing the hard work that eventually landed her her first paid writing gig.

Writer Antwone Fisher talks about what went into writing and selling the classic movie about his real life and the importance of letting yourself be embarrassed by the truth.