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S6 E9 DANA PROTSYSHAK & THE L.A. VERTICAL DRAMA MARKET
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June 8, 2026

S6 E9 DANA PROTSYSHAK & THE L.A. VERTICAL DRAMA MARKET

THE 2026 L.A. VERTICAL DRAMA MARKET IS OVER BUT NOT FORGOTTEN --- HOW COULD IT BE? FOUNDER AND HOST DANA PROTSYSHAK PUT TOGETHER ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING GATHERING OF VERTICAL INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS EVER! IN THIS EPISODE WE DEBRIEF THE FOUNDER AND VERT-I-GO MEDIA APP CREATOR DANA PROTSYSHAK ON HOW SHE PULLED THIS ONE OFF. THE CONFERENCE WAS THE EPICENTER FOR ALL THINGS VERTICAL; LABS WITH THE WRITERS FROM THE BEST VERTICAL APPS, INDUSTRY EXES WHO ARE SHIFTING THE MOVIE-MAKING LANDSCAPE, CREATORS ...
S6 E9 DANA PROTSYSHAK & THE VERTICAL DRAMA MARKET
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June 8, 2026

S6 E9 DANA PROTSYSHAK & THE VERTICAL DRAMA MARKET

THE 2026 L.A. VERTICAL DRAMA MARKET IS OVER BUT NOT FORGOTTEN --- HOW COULD IT BE? FOUNDER AND HOST DANA PROTSYSHAK PUT TOGETHER ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING GATHERING OF VERTICAL INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS EVER! IN THIS EPISODE WE DEBRIEF THE FOUNDER AND VERTIGO DRAMA APP CREATOR DANA PROTSYSHAK ON HOW SHE PULLED THIS ONE OFF. THE CONFERENCE WAS THE EPICENTER FOR ALL THINGS VERTICAL; LABS WITH THE WRITERS FROM THE BEST VERTICAL APPS, INDUSTRY EXES WHO ARE SHIFTING THE MOVIE-MAKING LANDSCAPE, CREATORS...
S6 E8 ALLEGORY DEBRIEF WITH MATTHEW LUTZ AND JOSH LANNAN
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April 6, 2026

S6 E8 ALLEGORY DEBRIEF WITH MATTHEW LUTZ AND JOSH LANNAN

On The Screenwriter Show, host Gail Stewart sits down with Matthew Lutz and Josh Lannan — the brains behind Hollywood’s Allegory Conference — the best screenwriters’ conference ever. If there’s one screenwriting conference you should already have circled for 2027, it’s the Allegory Conference from Hollywood Speakeasy — a community built by screenwriters, for screenwriters. Last month’s event at Solar Studios wasn’t just another panel-and-network industry gathering — it delivered. Smart, relevant...
S6 E7 MARTA MENDEZ CROSS — "iCHILD"
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March 16, 2026

S6 E7 MARTA MENDEZ CROSS — "iCHILD"

MARTA MENDEZ CROSS - LA based writer, actor, director, producer, discusses her latest inspirational film “iChild” — a short sci-fi drama that follows Nova, a woman on the brink, navigating a world where technology is her only companion as she struggles with memories she can't escape. iCHILD is featured at the 33rd San Diego Latino Film Festival and has already won several awards including the Best Narrative Short at the Newport Beach Film Festival. She was selected as a grant recipient of the ...
S6 E6 ELI SHELL: "IN-HOUSE" HIS VERTICAL WORKPLACE COMEDY
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March 6, 2026

S6 E6 ELI SHELL: "IN-HOUSE" HIS VERTICAL WORKPLACE COMEDY

"IN-HOUSE" IS A NEW VERTICAL WORKPLACE COMEDY CREATED BY ELI SHELL -- VERTICAL SERIES DIRECTOR/PRODUCER/WRITER AT SIDEWISE STUDIOS IN L.A. WE TALK ALL THINGS VERTICAL ON TODAY'S SHOW AS THE MICRO DRAMA/ VERTICAL MARKET CONTINUES TO COMMAND ATTENTION. "IN-HOUSE" CAN BE VIEWED ON YOU TUBE. CHECK IT OUT!
S6 E5 SAN DIEGO'S MARTHA RODRIGUEZ "HEART ON THE DIAMOND" & "BEHIND THE VERTICALS" WITH SANDRA TURKIEWICZ
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Feb. 28, 2026

S6 E5 SAN DIEGO'S MARTHA RODRIGUEZ "HEART ON THE DIAMOND" & "BEHIND THE VERTICALS" WITH SANDRA TURKIEWICZ

MICRO-DRAMAS — VERTICAL SERIES — CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT! SANDRA TURKIEWICZ CO-FOUNDER OF "BEHIND THE VERTICALS" TAKES A DEEP DIVE INTO WHAT'S DRIVING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE TO WATCH "MOVIES" ON THEIR PHONES! PLUS - SAN DIEGO'S OWN MARTHA RODRIGUEZ TALKS ABOUT HER LATEST FILM "HEART ON THE DIAMOND" SHOWING AT THE SAN DIEGO LATINO FILM FESTIVAL.
S6 E4 HEIDI HORNBACHER - GOAL, OBSTACLE, OUTCOME!
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Feb. 9, 2026

S6 E4 HEIDI HORNBACHER - GOAL, OBSTACLE, OUTCOME!

HEIDI HORNBACHER BRINGS US A FRESH LOOK ON HOW TO STRUCTURE A SCRIPT! SHE'S AN L.A. FILMMAKER, PRODUCER, SCREENWRITER AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL SCRIPT CLINIC AND PAGECRAFT , WHICH OFFERS SCRIPT COACHING, WORKSHOPS AND WRITERS RETREATS. HEIDI SHARES ALL IN THE EPISODE OF THE SCREENWRITERSHOW.COM ALSO SAN DIEGO'S FILMMAKERS NETWORK - IF YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS MONTHLY EVENT AT SPARK STUDIO SOUNDSTAGE -- YOU NEED TO! ORGANIZER KARL WEISS IS ON THE SHOW TO TELLS ALL ABOUT FR...
S6/E3 "NOBLE HOMES" SITCOM AND "MZ. PARKER" COMING OF AGE
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Jan. 23, 2026

S6/E3 "NOBLE HOMES" SITCOM AND "MZ. PARKER" COMING OF AGE

CHLOE RAY (actor/producer/director) AND RENEE STORY (LA -based Literary Manager also helped produce the hilarious new office comedy series "NOBLE HOMES." The series was an official selection at the Austin Film Festival and is headed to the NY Comedy Festival. They explain the entire process of the idea, the script and the festival circuit. ALSO — MARCELLAS CLAY Texas-based actor/writer/producer/director talks about his coming of age series “MZ. PARKER” and life with a camera in his hand. The Scr...
S6 E2 MAYLEN DOMINGUEZ & FITCH JEAN: LIVE FROM AUSTIN
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Dec. 11, 2025

S6 E2 MAYLEN DOMINGUEZ & FITCH JEAN: LIVE FROM AUSTIN

CANADA FILMMAKER FITCH JEAN AND FLORIDA SCREENWRITER MAYLEN DOMINGUEZ LIVE FROM THE AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL! "ETHAN BLOOM" WRITTEN BY MAYLEN DOMINGUEZ IS A TENDER, COMING OF AGE STORY ABOUT AN AWKWARD TEENAGER NAVIGATING THE LOSS OF HIS MOTHER WHILE SECRETLY CONVERTING TO CATHOLICISM BUT.... HIS FAMILY IS JEWISH. DIRECTOR FITCH JEAN : "IT COMES IN WAVES" THIS IS A GRIPPING TALE OF A YOUNG RWANDAN-CANADIAN MAN WHO STRUGGLES TO RAISE HIS YOUNGER SISTER WHILE THEIR MOTHER BATTLES ADDICTION FORCING...
S6 E1 CASH ROBINSON & CALEB SAMPLES - AND THE HOLDEN BROS
Nov. 19, 2025

S6 E1 CASH ROBINSON & CALEB SAMPLES - AND THE HOLDEN BROS

THE AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL DISHED UP SOME DEEP-SOUTH FILMS INCLUDING THE CRIME DRAMA "NOBODY WANTS TO BE HERE, NOBODY WANTS TO LEAVE" BY SCREENWRITER CALEB SAMPLES AND DIRECTED BY CASH ROBINSON. PLUS... T HE HOLDEN BROTHERS, NICK AND JOSH, PREMIERED THEIR LATEST FILM "SELL OUT" -- A QUIRKY DRAMEDY ABOUT A NEUROTIC NOVELIST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HIS NEXT BIG BOOK. THE SCREENWRITERSHOW.COM TALKS WITH INSPIRING FILMMAKERS ABOUT CHARACTER, PLOT, AND BUDGET.
S5/E20 VETERAN DIRECTOR TOM LOGAN & "YARD SALEING"
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Oct. 19, 2025

S5/E20 VETERAN DIRECTOR TOM LOGAN & "YARD SALEING"

THE SCREENWRITER SHOW PRESENTS VETERAN DIRECTOR AND WRITER TOM LOGAN WHO SHARES HIS INSIGHTS INTO FILMMAKING, AND HIS LATEST PROJECT -- "YARD SALEING." LOGAN DISCUSSES HIS UNIQUE WRITING PROCESS, THE IMPORTANCE OF VISUAL STORYTELLING, AND THE CHALLENGES EMERGING SCREENWRITERS FACE IN HOLLYWOOD. LOGAN'S ADVICE TO SCREENWRITERS: CREATE YOUR OWN OPPORTUNITIES AND MAINTAIN CREATIVE CONTROL OVER YOUR PROJECTS.
S5 E19 DR. MEGAN EBOR'S FILM: "EVEN ME: THE JOURNEY"
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Sept. 4, 2025

S5 E19 DR. MEGAN EBOR'S FILM: "EVEN ME: THE JOURNEY"

SDSU Assistant Professor Dr. Megan Ebor's latest documentary "Even Me: The Journey" , which addresses the HIV/AIDS crisis among older adults, particularly women of color, is now available on Amazon Prime! This is storytelling at its best ... a powerful tool for social change and awareness. In this conversation, Dr. Megan Ebor discusses her documentary "Even Me: The Journey" and emphasizes the importance of storytelling in raising awareness and the need for women's voices in discussions about se...
S5 E18 ROY HSU AND HIS NEW FILM "CHEAP AF"
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Aug. 20, 2025

S5 E18 ROY HSU AND HIS NEW FILM "CHEAP AF"

Roy Hsu , a Seattle-based Producer/Writer, will make his directorial debut with his new film "CHEAP AF." Arden Cho ( Partner Track ) and Margaret Cho ( Dying for Sex ) have signed on to star in Cheap AF , a romantic comedy from first-time feature director Roy Hsu , who also penned the script. Cheap AF tells the story of a money-saving influencer (Arden Cho) seeking her big break, who risks losing her wedding and relationships when she goes all out to win Wedding Magazine’s “Best Wedding on a Bud...
S5 E17 PRODUCER GERREN HALL & "YARD SALEING"
Aug. 1, 2025

S5 E17 PRODUCER GERREN HALL & "YARD SALEING"

FILMED IN SAN DIEGO, LA MESA MOVIE PRODUCER, GERREN HALL, JOINS THE SAN DIEGO SCREENWRITERS STUDIO WITH TED HOLMES AND GAIL STEWART TO CHAT ABOUT HIS NEW MOVIE “YARD SALELING” AND HOW TO GET A MOVIE MADE! “YARD SALELING” IS AN ACTION-PACKED MYSTERY THAT BEGINS AFTER THE CROWN GEMS OF DUBAI ARE STOLEN, AND SURBURBANITES JIMMY AND SALLY MARSH STUMBLE ONTO CLUES TO THEIR WHEREABOUTS…” THIS LOCALLY FILMED MOVIE STARS ERIC ROBERTS AND PREMIERES LOCALLY AT THE REGAL CINEMA IN EL CAJON ON AUGUST 26 — ...
RASHEED NEWSON -- "BEL AIR" CO-CREATOR & EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
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July 20, 2025

RASHEED NEWSON -- "BEL AIR" CO-CREATOR & EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

San Diego screenwriters Gail Stewart and Ted Holmes sit down with the phenomenal Rasheed Newson — Co-Creator and Executive Producer of the hit series Bel-Air . Rasheed’s powerhouse credits include serving as Co-Executive Producer and/or Showrunner on Narcos , The Chi , and Animal Kingdom , as well as producing The 100 — to name just a few. He’s also the author of the New York Times bestselling novel My Government Means to Kill Me . In this exclusive conversation, Rasheed shares what it’s really ...
S5 E15 REGAN LATIMER'S FILM: BULLETPROOF - A LESBIANS GUIDE TO SURVIVING THE PLOT
July 8, 2025

S5 E15 REGAN LATIMER'S FILM: BULLETPROOF - A LESBIANS GUIDE TO SURVIVING THE PLOT

BULLETPROOF: A LESBIAN'S GUIDE TO SURVIVING THE PLOT , IS A CLEVERLY CRAFTED DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM BY REGAN LATIMER WITH PLENTY OF HEART THAT TAKES ON THE HIGH-STAKES WORLD OF LGBTQ REPRESENTATION ON TELEVISION. WITH SCIENCE, ANIMATION, FANDOM, SHOWRUNNERS, AND WRITERS, REGAN LATIMER EXPLORES WHAT OUR TV STORIES TEACH US ABOUT WHO GETS TO BE SEEN, TO LOVE, OR TO LIVE .... YOU'LL BE SURPRISED! WINNER OF NUMEROUS BEST DOC AWARDS INCLUDING FILMOUT SAN DIEGO AND CINEMA DIVERSE (PALM SPRINGS). YOU...
S5/E14 "SINNERS" -- THE THEMES, THE SCENES, AND THE TONE OF RYAN COOGLER'S BOX OFFICE HORRO SMASH HIT
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June 27, 2025

S5/E14 "SINNERS" -- THE THEMES, THE SCENES, AND THE TONE OF RYAN COOGLER'S BOX OFFICE HORRO SMASH HIT

RYAN COOGLER, 39, IS A DIRECTOR, PRODUCER AND WRITER AND THE GENIUS BEHIND THE NEW BOX OFFICE SMASH "SINNERS." CO HOSTS GAIL STEWART AND TED HOLMES RIP INTO THE STORIES THEMES OF GUILT, REDEMPTION, AND REGRET ALL PLAYED OUT IN THE JIM CROW SOUTH.
S5/E13 THE AMAZING STORY OF TED HOLMES
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June 20, 2025

S5/E13 THE AMAZING STORY OF TED HOLMES

TED HOLMES - FORMER PHILLY RAPPER TURNED SAN DIEGO FILMMAKER LAUNCHES HIS FIRST T.V. PILOT "TURN & BURN" - A HALF HOUR COMEDIC LOOK AT THE SERVICE INDUSTRY AND LIVING WITH ROOMMATES THAT HATE YOU. IT'S ALL THE MORE AMAZING WHEN YOU LEARN HE'S NEVER TAKEN A SCREENWRITING CLASS, DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT FINAL DRAFT, YET GOT A GRANT, GOT A CREW, AND AN AGENT WHO GOT THE SHOW ON AMAZON! How does that even happen??? I like the guy so much he is now The San Diego Screenwriters Studio's new CO-HOST ! You'll...
S5/E12 PATRICIA K. MEYER & THE 8-SEQUENCE STRUCTURE
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June 10, 2025

S5/E12 PATRICIA K. MEYER & THE 8-SEQUENCE STRUCTURE

IF YOUR SCRIPT ISN'T WORKING -- WE'VE GOT THE SCRIPT DOCTOR IN STUDIO! TAKE A LISTEN. PATRICIA K. MEYER -- SCREENWRITER, PRODUCER, AND EDUCATOR HAS SOLD AND WRITTEN NUMEROUS SCREENPLAYS FOR MARTIN SCORSESE, ROBERT DE NIRO, AND OTHER MAJOR STUDIOS. VARIETY NAMED HER ONE OF THE TOP FILM EDUCATORS IN THE COUNTRY IN 2019. AND FOR SEVERAL YEARS -- PATRICIA SERVED AS GRADUATE DIRECTOR OF MFA SCREENWRITING AT LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY'S SCHOOL OF FILM AND TELEVISION. YOU GOTTA HER EXPLAIN THE 8-SEQUE...
S5/E11 GREG PORPER & "DON'T TELL LARRY"
May 28, 2025

S5/E11 GREG PORPER & "DON'T TELL LARRY"

L.A. BASED GREG PORPER SCREENWRITER/DIRECTOR/PRODUCER UNPACKS FROM NAVIGATING THE TREACHEROUS OF DISTRIBUTION - HIS DARK OFFICE COMEDY "DON'T TELL LARRY" IS OUT BUT MAINTAINING CREATIVE CONTROL AND CHAIN OF TITLE - IT'S NOT FOR THE WEAK OF HEART! JOIN SAN DIEGO SCREENWRITER STUDIO'S PRODUCER/HOST GAIL STEWART AND GREG PORPER FOR AN AMAZING STORY OF HOW HE DID IT!
S5/E10 CAITLYN SPONHEIMER "WILD GOAT SURF"
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May 20, 2025

S5/E10 CAITLYN SPONHEIMER "WILD GOAT SURF"

THE JOURNEY TO MAKE "WILD GOAT SURF" AN AWARDING WINNING FEATURE FILM BY CANADIAN WRITER/DIRECTOR/PRODUCER CAITLYN SPONHEIMER . CAITLYN JOINS THE SAN DIEGO SCREENWRITERS STUDIO JUST AS HER FILM "WILD GOAT SURF" IS BEING RELEASED IN THEATERS ACROSS THE USA. PLUS WE DISCUSS DAVID POPE'S STOWE STORY LAB FEATURE CAMPUS CLASS -- AND -- THE EIGHT SEQUENCE STRUCTURE! WE HAVE A FEATURE DRAFT PEOPLE!!!
S5/E9 - SARAH KAMBE HOLLAND & GILLIAN MCKERCHER
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April 26, 2025

S5/E9 - SARAH KAMBE HOLLAND & GILLIAN MCKERCHER

SARAH KAMBE HOLLAND ' S "EGGHEAD & TWINKIE" - HOW SHE WROTE AND DIRECTED THE AWARD WINNING, HYSTERICAL, COMING OUT...COMING OF AGE COMEDY. A SMASH HIT -- AVAILABLE ON DEMAND. GILLIAN MCKERCHER'S NEW DRAMA "LUCKY STAR" - A MASTER CLASS ON CHARACTER BUILDING AND FAMILY DYNAMICS. LEARN HOW SHE CREATED THIS RIVETING CHARACTER - AVAILABLE ON DEMAND. PLUS DETAILS ON SAN DIEGO'S ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL FROM ARTISTIC DIRECTOR BRIAN HU -- HE'S GOT THE INFO. THE SAN DIEGO SCREENWRITER STUDIO IS DEDICATED TO ...
S5/E8 "LOVE, CAMERA, ACTION" : A NOVEL BY NOEL STARK -- SCOOPS ON HOLLYWOOD
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April 15, 2025

S5/E8 "LOVE, CAMERA, ACTION" : A NOVEL BY NOEL STARK -- SCOOPS ON HOLLYWOOD

"LOVE, CAMERA, ACTION" NOEL STARK - AN L.A. BASED SCREENWRITER/ACTOR/DIRECTOR/PRODUCER TURNS TO NOVELS AND TAKES HER CAREER TO THE NEXT LEVEL. HER DEBUT NOVEL TAKES US TO A HOLLYWOOD STUDIO AND FOLLOWS A SCRAPPY YOUNG DIRECTOR WHO FINDS NOT ONLY SUCCESS...BUT LOVE! PLUS NOEL -- WHO HAS YEARS OF ON-SET EXPERIENCE IN REAL LIFE -- SHARES SOME FUNNY STORIES AND ACTIONABLE ADVICE ON HOW TO GET AHEAD IN THE INDUSTRY. ALERT: THE LATEST ON SB 680 WHICH WILL GIVE FILMMAKERS MORE MONEY TO FILM THEIR NEX...
S5/E7 SAN DIEGO'S FILM FESTIVAL WEEKEND
April 1, 2025

S5/E7 SAN DIEGO'S FILM FESTIVAL WEEKEND

THE SAN DIEGO ARAB FILM FESTIVAL GIVES US A CLOSE UP OF THE ISRAEL AND PALESTINE CONFLICT -- LARRY CHRISTIAN TALKS ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE. AND THE SAN DIEGO FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL IS COMING IN MAY -- WE HAVE JULIE RIPOLL -- THE THEME -- OF COURSE IS LOVE... AND BELIEVE IT -- GAIL JOY STEWART SIGNS A CONTRACT -- IT'S A START!!!