Living To Write

Imagine writing for an animated Disney series. Now, imagine being invited to write for the Star Wars universe. And imagine that leading you to the Marvel universe. And now, imagine your audience is preschoolers! In this episode of Living To Write, Brian and Bailey talk with James Eason-Garcia, who has done all this and more. His behind-the-scenes stories are fun and enlightening, and his industry and craft advice applies to far more than just animation and writing for kids. Join us to hear everything from how the industry works to how to fine-tune your portfolio to get the attention your writing deserves. And along the way, James even shares his strategy for storing 30,000 comic books! Produced by Bailey Patterson and Brian Landwehr

Paul Schrader wrote classics like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and The Last Temptation of Christ, directed American Gigolo, Affliction and First Reformed, documented the history of the transcendental style of film, and he’s still hard at work telling stories with impact. In this special episode, we present his engaging Story Summit VIP Guest Lecture, recorded shortly after the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, where he premiered his latest feature, Oh, Canada. Hear how a strict Calvinist upbringing devoid of cinema lead to Paul picking up the mantle of the transcendental style of filmmaking, and how he utilizes metaphor to draw audiences into his stories without all the handholding. If you care about meaningful cinema with lasting impact, or simply want to hear what Taxi Driver is actually about, don’t miss this episode. Produced by Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson

Brian and Bailey chat with The Naked Gun (2025) screenwriters Dan Gregor and Doug Mand. Comedy ain’t easy. And neither is the job of continuing the beloved Naked Gun franchise with a new chapter that honors the spirit of Lt. Frank Drebin without feeling stuck in the past. But that is exactly what Dan Gregor and Doug Mand have accomplished, and they are here to discuss why and how they do what they do, the lessons learned from years of partnership, and what it takes to keep audiences laughing in a new era. Their journey from the improv comedy scene to How I Met Your Mother, from Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers to The Naked Gun, is a colorful one. So tune in for all that, plus their thoughts on comedy writing in the age of YouTube, and why even in Hollywood a good script is never truly dead. This episode is produced by Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson.

Brian and Bailey conclude their two-part conversation with former president of Paramount Motion Picture Group, David Paul Kirkpatrick. As the man who greenlit some of the biggest films in history, David knows why things happen, and why they don’t. Why does almost no one in the studio system actually read scripts? Why is strong coverage so important? What does it take to get a studio project across the finish line? And what does it look like if it falls apart? Plus, why did Michael Jackson shed tears over lunch with David? And is Steven Spielberg truly the mensch the world believes he is? His remarkable history, combined with talents as both a writer himself and mentor to many, makes David just the man to share the most insightful industry advice and outrageous Hollywood-insider stories you’ll ever hear.

On the latest episode of the Living to Write podcast, Brian and Bailey chat with Story Summit founder and former Paramount Pictures studio executive David Paul Kirkpatrick in Part 1 of an unforgettable conversation. Throughout his illustrious career as president of the Motion Picture Group and head of production at both Disney and Touchstone, David helped bring to life some of the most iconic and influential films of all time, including — Indiana Jones, Star Trek, Friday the 13th, Top Gun, Ghost, The Hunt for Red October, Witness, Reds — and a Living to Write favorite — Can’t Buy Me Love. His remarkable history, combined with talents as both a writer himself and mentor to many, makes David just the man to share some of the most insightful advice and outrageous Hollywood-insider stories you’ll ever hear. What’s it actually like to be a studio executive? What does it take to greenlight a film—and what quietly kills it? Tune in to Part 1 to find out what really happens behind the curtain. And yes... He names names. This podcast is produced by Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson.

On the latest episode of Living to Write, Brian and Bailey sit down with Emmy- and Peabody-award-winning writer/director Peter Hastings. Fresh off his animated feature debut Dog Man, Peter discusses why he writes, how improv comedy led to writing, what it was like working with Steven Spielberg on Animaniacs, how writing is like music for him, and what led to his award-winning projects. For more information on writing opportunities visit StorySummit.us. This podcast is produced by Bailey Patterson and Brian Landwehr.

On this episode of Living to Write, writer-director Drew Hancock, fresh off his feature debut Companion, talks with us about why he writes, how he came to direct his very first feature, why story is everything, and how he gets the work done without imposter syndrome getting in his way. For more information on Story Summit, visit Story Summit. This episode is produced by Brian Landwehr & Bailey Patterson.

Lucky there’s a Patrick Meighan guy! This week, as Family Guy celebrates its 25th anniversary, we sit down with Family Guy and TED series writer Patrick Meighan to talk about his start in the industry, what it’s like keeping the Griffin family fresh all this time, and what life in a writer's room is really like. Patrick discusses his approaches to comedy, the art of balancing irreverence with heart, how a changing culture affects edgy humor, and his journey from intern to guy who writes the show. For more visit: Story Summit This episode is produced by Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson.

Emmy-nominated screenwriter, showrunner, and now author Michael Jamin is here! With credits that include 'King of the Hill,' 'Beavis & Butthead,' 'Just Shoot Me,' 'Tacoma FD,' and more. His debut book, A Paper Orchestra, a collection of personal essays, is out now. In this episode, Michael chats why he chose to build a social media following and how it helped grow his audience for the book. We also discuss his writing process, what it means to be a Showrunner and how to break into the writer's room—even if you've got the drive but no experience. And what does he wish he knew when he started? Check out Michael's website here, grab your copy of A Paper Orchestra here, and visit Story Summit here for more insights. This episode is produced by Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson.

Ever wondered what it’s like to send Nicolas Cage on a quest for a stolen truffle pig or craft a post-apocalyptic studio blockbuster? Writer and director Michael Sarnoski is here to share all the details on how he blends subtle darkness with authentic humane connection. Join us as Michael takes us through the writing process of "Pig" and "A Quiet Place: Day One," working on a studio franchise, vomit drafts, finding his unique voice on the page, and advice to emerging writers. Plus, we tackle his next project which stars Hugh Jackman and Jodie Comer. A Quiet Place: Day One is now available to rent or buy on VOD. Pig (2021) For more visit: Story Summit This podcast is produced by Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson.

The time has finally come. A master of horror himself, writer, director, and producer Mick Garris is here! A frequent collaborator with Stephen King, Mick has directed seven adaptations of King’s works, including The Stand, The Shining, Sleepwalkers, and Desperation. He's also the mind behind Hocus Pocus, Psycho IV, and Masters of Horror, featuring other genre directors like John Carpenter and Joe Dante. Mick takes us through his humble beginnings, from first writing at 12, how he approaches writing a spec screenplay, and what fuels his creativity as a storyteller. From being hired by Steven Spielberg to write for Amazing Stories (1985) to becoming an iconic voice in the genre, Mick discusses his unique career, including the finale episode of his show Post Mortem featuring Quentin Tarantino. Don't miss this one! Visit: StorySummit.us. This podcast is produced by Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson.

YES, CHEF! Sofya Levitsky-Weitz is here! She is a playwright and screenwriter who divides her time between Brooklyn and Los Angeles. Sofya works as a story editor and writer on FX's "The Bear," and has also contributed to "Gaslit" (Starz) and "The Dropout" (Hulu). Her play "This Party Sucks" is scheduled for production later this year. Let's go behind the scenes of "The Bear" and see how the writer's room operates. We will discuss Sofya's creative processes, beginnings in the industry, relationships within the field, and what motivates her passion for writing. Don't miss Sofya’s virtual live Q&A at Story Summit + this summer on July 15th. For more information, visit StorySummit.us. This podcast is produced by Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson.

Did someone say, 'Grease Lightning!?' Today, we're joined by Hollywood icon Randal Kleiser, who starred in George Lucas's first student film, played the first American superhero on screen, and directed hits such as "The Blue Lagoon" and "White Fang." He's here to discuss his latest novel, "Drawing Directors," sharing his close encounters with directors who shaped his career. What attracts a director to a script? Tune in for an unforgettable journey with the man behind "Grease" and much more!

"Bailey Meets World" Brian and Bailey chat with Emmy-winning Writer, Producer, and Director, Mark Blutman of Boy Meets World, Ghostwriter and Girl Meets World fame about how and why he writes, the lasting influence of Boy Meets World, finding the best poutine in Canada (eh), the ongoing WGA strike, and why being a #PREWGA is more important than ever for emerging writers. You can follow Mark on Twitter (X) at @BlutmanMark. WGA CONTRACT 2023 (UPDATE) Join the Story Summit Facebook writing group! The Writers Strike is a movement that's been heard around the world. On May 2, 2023, the WGA went on strike with one goal in mind -- fair pay. If you'd like to support the Writers Strike, please visit: https://entertainmentcommunity.org This Podcast is produced by Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson, with the support of David Paul Kirkpatrick, founder of Story Summit.

Let's go, girls-- we mean writers! This week on Living to Write, we're joined by the talented Jessica Welsh, whose not only a member of the WGA but a participant in the Story Summit. We'll talk about her acclaimed spec script “Shania!”, which was featured on the 2021 Blacklist, delve into her life as an Apple TV writer, and she'll provide an insider's perspective on the 2023 writers' strike. Plus, we tackle the most common debate among screenwriters - Is outlining a must? Get to listening. You won’t be sorry. Links: Story Summit MERCH Keep up with Jessica at: https://jessica-welsh.com/ WGA proposals and AMPTP responses 2021 Black List article (Shania!) https://deadline.com/2021/12/the-black-list-2021-screenplays-list-scripts-1234890009/ Picket Locations and Schedules This podcast is produced by Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson. More information on Story Summit: https://www.storysummit.us/

Get ready for the return of the Story Summit Podcast, as we dive into an exciting and engaging conversation in Episode 2 with Spyder Dobrofsky. He will be sharing his journey from crafting heartwarming Hallmark Christmas movies to penning the spine-chilling hit horror film "Teardrop" on Tubi. To top it all off, we'll also delve into his memorable appearance on the legendary Jay Leno Show.

In this premiere episode of the Story Summit Podcast, we chat with Jeff Arch, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter of Sleepless in Seattle and author of Attachments. Join us as we explore his creative process, how he sold Sleepless, the uproarious comedy offer that came his way, and his thoughts on the eternal conundrum: Why do men lie? Show notes: BUY JEFF'S NOVEL ATTACHMENTS: https://www.amazon.com/Attachments-Novel-Jeff-Arch/dp/1684635004 JOIN STORY SUMMIT FACEBOOK WRITING GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/426751458353816