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seated at the writers table podcast

“Seated At The Writer’s Table” is meant for anybody who geeks out over writing. If you find yourself over-analyzing a plot-line or discussing the details of a character’s dialogue than this show is for you. If you debate over who’s a better rock lyricist, Neil Peart or Pete Townshend, than this show is for you. If you’ve read and debated the finer points of the Lord of the Rings more than once, than this show is for you. Host Phil Giangrande interviews writers of all genres, as well as industry professionals such as literary agents, publishers and script doctors. For those who are interested in professional content writing for businesses, Phil will be speaking with experts in that field as well to uncover powerful marketing techniques that writers can use to immediately increase sales. Take Your Seat at the Writer's Table.
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Now displaying: 2018
Jul 17, 2018
Los Angeles,CA………..Love is beautiful even when it’s dark. “365 Days of Love Letters,” a new series starring heart throb actor Chris Salvatore, dives into the tricky games of dating in today’s age of digital voyeurism. Created by Kyle Thomas and produced by Jessica Bryant ("The Humanity Bureau," "American Justice”), the series just dropped their teaser and has signed a team of powerhouses across talent, production, music, and fashion.
 
“The series follows two best friends who battle addiction — to love, security, and fantasy,” Thomas says. “We watch how far some people will go to gratify their needs at the expense of others.”
 
Also starring social media star, RJ Aguiar, the series highlights technology’s effects on relationships. “Social media apps promised to connect us,” Aguiar said, “but do they actually bring us closer? Or are they making us obsess over projecting an image while our own sense of self worth disappears?”
 
“People have become disposable: easy to find and easier to lose,” Salvatore said. “This series shows us modern day intimacy at a whole new level. It’s raw and riveting, and in this game of love, everyone is playing by their own set of rules.”
 
 The series has launched an IndieGoGo campaign to raise the money to finish the rest of the first season. The project, shot by Jessica Ramos (who worked on “Breaking Bad,” “Hail, Caesar!”, and “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”) and scored by Craig J Snider (who has worked with Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, and Katy Perry), looks to reach their goal of $50K by 8/12/18.
 
“We need everyone’s help to tell this story, because it’s a human story for the modern day,” Thomas said. “Do we as people each want love or do we just want power?”
 
 
The IndieGoGo highlights many levels of engagement, from set visits, personalized photos, and one-on-one chats. The first single from the show, “Envy,” sung by the haunting chanteuse Katie Hansen, is available for download on the project’s IndieGoGo. “Envy,” which Snider describes as a pop anthem about sex and awakening, is available for a donation of only $2.
 
Caitlainne Gurrerri (“Grey’s Anatomy,” “All My Children”), lead actress in the series, Borris Powell, international fashion designer, Alex Levine, and Dawson Schachter, producers, round out the team.
 
In this episode we discuss creating a series from the lens of technology, dating in Hollywood, putting structure to a series of fast paced beats, creating a personal brand, voyeurism with film, tone and intimacy in film, detachment of technology, creating music for film, finding the vulnerability of a character, character arc, casting, specificity in writing, improvising on set, the structure of a character's evolution, collaboration on set, networking and creating the right team, how to write a song, prepping for the shoot days, mistakes learned, prioritizing locations, finding the funding and much more...
 

For past shows and to learn more about the Seated At the Writer's Table community and join the mailing list, check us out at www.seatedatthewriterstable.com 

Join us on Facebook for updates and please like our page. www.facebook.com/seatedatthewriterstable    

Help us spread the word. Please rate our show on itunes and leave comments for us. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seated-at-writers-table-podcast/id980801767?mt=2  Tell us what insights you took from this episode

 
 
 
May 26, 2018

Filmmaker R. H. Norman will show his most recent narrative short film HAJJI at the 21st Annual Dances With Films at the TCL Chinese Theaters in Hollywood, Saturday, June 9th at 2:45PM.  The festival runs June 7- 17th.

 
Ross Marquand (The Walking Dead) plays a soldier in a reality-based conflict zone in "HAJJI", an inspired-by-true-events short which explores the cycle of violence caused by modern warfare in the Middle East.
 
Written and directed by R.H. Norman, the story follows two soldiers, played by Marquand and actor Dayo Okeniyi (Hunger Games, Shades of Blue), and their interaction with a local family, which culminates in an unfortunate act of unspeakable violence. The film is produced by David Lawson Jr., a U.S. Air Force veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and was drawn to the project by its unique perspective on war.
 
Norman, who was mentored by Werner Herzog and whose other short films include “Gusano” and “Mulberry”, is also known as a producer, editor, storyboard artist and colorist. “Hajji” also stars Maddie Rien, Ray Haratian (Argo), Dajan Ahmad, Bahara Golestani, and Rajeev Chhibber. In addition to producers Okeniyi, Marquand, Lawson, and Norman, the film was produced by Micheline Pitt, Sean McDaniel, Christopher Ely, Damir Omic, and John Thomas Schrad of ReKon Productions.
 
In this episode, R.H. and I discuss self-funding a project, working with a producer to attach celebrity talent, writing an ambitious tightly woven short film, finding the victim in a dark character, creating a full character arc in a short film, choosing the specific moments to use in a short, the difference between writing a short film and a feature, writing characters for child actors, connecting dialogue to theme, playing with the timeline of a film, what makes a complete scene and much more...
 
Tickets and passes are available for sale at  http://www.tclchinesetheatres.com/.
 
Additional screening and ticket information can also be found at  https://danceswithfilms.com.

For past shows and to learn more about the Seated At the Writer's Table community and join the mailing list, check us out at www.seatedatthewriterstable.com 

Join us on Facebook for updates and please like our page. www.facebook.com/seatedatthewriterstable    

Help us spread the word. Please rate our show on itunes and leave comments for us. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seated-at-writers-table-podcast/id980801767?mt=2  Tell us what insights you took from this episode

May 22, 2018

Meet Aina Dumlao and Bru Muller.  Two very talented filmmakers who cam on Seated at the Writer's table to discuss the making of their award winning short film "DIWA".  In this episode Aina and Bru discuss the process of co-writing a script, adapting a short film from a feature,  re-writes, how to take a note on your script, tough scene choices, character motivations, finding locations, how to raise funding (The good and the bad), putting together a team, time maintenance, budgeting and strategy.

As you can see, the making of "DIWA" is a labor of love and very much a DIY project.  Aina and Bru co-wrote and co-produced the film, Aina starred in the film, they scouted locations, edited, raised funding...it's truly a wonderful accomplishment.  If you are a Do=It-Yourselfer, this is the show to listen to. 

"DIWA" will be screening at the "Dances with Film Festival" on June 9th Saturday at 5PM, at TCL Chinese theatre, 6801 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles 90028. 

Get tickets at: www.danceswithfilms.com/diwa  

Feb 15, 2018

Writing with a universal theme in mind gives a story wide appeal and the ability to connect across generations.  In this episode sibling creators Bailey and Molly Donovan discuss the process of making a feature from writing to release.  There is a wealth of experiences to learn from.  You will hear things like:

  1. Writing to a universal theme.
  2. The genesis of the idea
  3. Managing a budget 
  4. Strategic trades for things like catering.
  5. Creating a professional look on a small budget
  6. The rewriting process
  7. Character development
  8. Writing dialogue that's real
  9. Lessons to learn about hiring crew
  10. Casting
  11. Raising Funds including grants from non profits, crowdfunding and family.
  12. Agreements for money.
  13. Breaking through production issues
  14. Cutting pages before the shoot
  15. Editing: tightening and knowing what to fight for
  16. Finding Distribution

Contact:
Molly Donovan
mollybdonovan@gmail.com
@themollydonovan (Twitter/instagram)

Bailey Donovan
baidonovan@gmail.com
@baidonovan (Twitter/instagram)

backforgoodfilm.com
@backforgoodfilm (Twitter/instagram)
Facebook: /backforgoodfilm

Back for Good - Trailer

For past shows and to learn more about the Seated At the Writer's Table community and join the mailing list, check us out at www.seatedatthewriterstable.com 

Join us on Facebook for updates and please like our page. www.facebook.com/seatedatthewriterstable    

Help us spread the word. Please rate our show on itunes and leave comments for us. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seated-at-writers-table-podcast/id980801767?mt=2  Tell us what insights you took from this episode

Jan 10, 2018

Getting into the writer's room is not easy.  It takes persistence, networking, hard work, talent and the ability to work well in a group of  others with similar skills and ambition.  In this episode writer Lorna Clarke Osunsanmi discusses her climb from PA to writer's assistant and finally to staff writer on the Hulu Original Series "The Path".  This interview is packed with great information for aspiring as well as seasoned writers. Special Note: *Mona Barkat and Rasha Goel were the brilliant producers of Cha Do Web Series. Bhavani Rao is just an awesome friend and producer

For past shows and to learn more about the Seated At the Writer's Table community and join the mailing list, check us out at www.seatedatthewriterstable.com 

Join us on Facebook for updates and please like our page. www.facebook.com/seatedatthewriterstable    

Help us spread the word. Please rate our show on itunes and leave comments for us. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/seated-at-writers-table-podcast/id980801767?mt=2  Tell us what insights you took from this episode

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