On The Page

Writer / director Chris Derrick discusses writing for Star Trek: Picard and how it’s taught him to write to the emotional arc first and bring the cool stuff in later.

What takes eight years, sixty-seven writers, thirty-six directors and one actual apocalypse? Hear how filmmaker Chris Jones produced the crowd-created feature film, The Impact, connecting 50 short films into one narrative.

Actor, writer Beverly Mickins, creator of Los Angeles’s longest running storytelling venue Story Salon, talks about the elements that make up a well told, personal story.

Screenwriter Agnieszka Kruk talks about the ways that her creative community in Poland is helping filmmakers in Ukraine affected by the war, and suggests ways that writers worldwide can support their cause.

After earning a spot in the prestigious CBS Mentoring Program, Writer Yakira Chambers learned how to create a “personal A story” that contributed to her getting a job as a writer on NCIS Hawaii. She discusses her successful first year, writing three episodes and getting the opportunity to work with LeVar Burton.

On "Sibling Day” Pilar sits down with her brother Chris Pittas to discuss his decision to pursue screenwriting, his success in competitions, recent representation with Citizen Skull Management … and what he’s learned along the way. 

Veteran comic book editor Shelly Bond discusses the similarities and differences between comic book writing and screenwriting.

Television director and feature writer Pete Chatmon dives into his extensive experience and unique perspective on storytelling and directing, while giving a sneak peak of his new book,"Transitions: A Director's Journey and Motivational Handbook."  

Manager Matt Dy talks about the way he discovers and develops material for the management/production company Lit Entertainment.  

Pilar and her friends Brian Pope, Mike Musa and Alex Troxler get together for their annual discussion about the best screenplay and best adapted screenplay Oscar nominees.

York Walker, staff writer on FBI, talks about his personal path from actor to playwright to television writer.

How can writers truly observe their world and society and write honestly about them? Dr. Teruko Vida Mitsuhara, a linguistic anthropologist and script writer, is here to tell you.

Joshua Berman found himself in the middle of a movement, reached for a camera and never stopped filming. Director Amy Goldstein took it from there, crafting the story that became The Unmaking of a College, a documentary about the 2019 student-led, 75-day sit-in at Hampshire College – the longest in American college history

A passion for the true story and years of “crawling through broken glass” helped writer David Kessler get his movie Minamata produced, starring Johnny Depp and directed by Andrew Levitas. 

For 30 years Charlie Vignola has had a hand in developing some of the world’s most successful movie franchises for Jerry Bruckheimer Films. Here he shares what he learned about acquiring, developing and “creative problem solving,” for the Pirates of the Caribbean saga, the National Treasure films, the Bad Boys series and others. 

Barbara Ward Thall's script Geriosity sparks a discussion about how our views on aging create bias in the hiring process and prevent accurate depictions on screen.

Sydney Baloue (CW’s Tom Swift) talks about how his experiences in the world of queer culture and ballroom contribute to his super power as a storyteller and television writer.

Allard Cantor, co-founder of the literary management company Epicenter, shares about finding talent, developing material and getting his clients work in the film and TV industry. 

Doug Passon and Randy Olson talk about the “And, But, Therefore” template they use to help lawyers, scientists and screenwriters tell effective stories.

From love interests to courtroom scenes, Pilar offers writing tips to kickstart the writing year. Writer Sam Benjamin joins her to discuss!