with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna
| Who doesn’t love podcasts—and discovering a new one that is worthwhile! Plenty of super informative and fun pods on writing and creativity, on health (Rich Roll), and for writers, a wealth of opportunities to explore what are literally masterclasses and lectures that were previously only available in lecture series, writing conferences, festivals or university classes. I have a host of favorites, and will discuss more of them, but today I want to rave about THE SCREENWRITING LIFE podcast as it is slightly newer than some other well established, long running and excellent pods (Scriptnotes). I first listened to Meg LeFauve when I was on my annual retreat to the London Screenwriting Festival (back in the days when we attended gatherings in person), taking the train from Richmond (home now to Ted Lasso!) to London, listening to The Q&A with Jeff goldsmith podcast (I will cover this one too, great deep dives with writers and directors) and he was interviewing Meg LeFauve, a brilliant, warm, supportive, industry expert (she ran Jodie Foster’s Production company for years) with an amazing knack for teaching craft whose writing credits include INSIDE OUT, CAPTAIN MARVEL and more. I was furiously taking notes on that train ride, rewinding over and over to listen to her breakdown the themes of FINDING NEMO and how they pertain to act structure. Listen here, fantastic episode: http://www.theqandapodcast.com/2015/12/inside-out-q.html(Other favorites for film fans to check out on the Q&A: Arrival, Tom Cruise & Chris MacQuarrie, I, Tonya). But there was not much more to find from Meg at that time…until, Ta-Dah, The Screenwriting Life podcast arrived. Meg and Lorien, along with an amazing array of guests, talk about the screenwriting life, which they live; but for writers, their deep dive into teaching craft is wonderful. Some writers might argue that you cannot teach craft (buy into that idea if you want to write as a hobby). I think there are multiple ways to learn to write, mostly involving actually writing, reading other scripts, and it helps to learn craft and tools. Meg and Lorien offer up weekly learning session that yes, you might read or hear elsewhere if you study writing — but in these initial episodes (46 so far), is several semester’s worth of writing classes. For the new writer, this sets a framework for understanding techniques, writing habits, craft, and the basic foundations of storytelling (mostly for screenplays, but applicable to any writing format). For those writers honing your craft, you can hear how these two professional writers use the exact same tools and techniques to work through problems in their own work, needing to be reminded of the exact same lessons; and also how they work through the emotional journey and toll of endeavoring in a creative field. Enjoy this writing gift from two writers in the business! And since my opinion is not super valuable, their apple rating is 5/5 stars. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-screenwriting-life-with-meg-lefauve-and-lorien-mckenna/id1501641442 |