Screenwriting craft with industry scar tissue.
The gist
Act Two Podcast treats screenwriting as both craft and working life. Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman move from scene mechanics and old coverage to general meetings, producer notes, awards reactions, and the strange stamina required to keep writing.
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About Act Two Podcast
Act Two Podcast is a screenwriting show about the page, the room, and the long stretch between them. Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman approach the craft as working writers who know that “good writing” is only one part of surviving the business. The conversations are loose, funny, and sometimes tired, but the advice lands on concrete problems. How does a scene earn a true audience cheer? When is a script ready to send? What does a writer do when a producer’s excitement starts pulling the idea away from its original shape? The show keeps returning to that practical tension between openness and self-trust. Its craft episodes talk about rewrites, coverage, exposition, plotting, dialogue, and emotional payoff without turning the process into formula. Its career episodes are just as direct. General meetings become vibe checks. Pitching becomes a separate verbal skill, adjacent to writing but not the same thing. Passes are treated as part of development culture, not proof that the work is worthless. That perspective sharpens in the conversation with Anna Halligan, where executive decision-making, development, and breaking in are discussed from inside the system. The show also has a strong movie-fan pulse. JJ Abrams, Steven Spielberg, Oscars reactions, Project Hail Mary, Toy Story 5, Grogu, and theatrical releases surface as fuel for the writing life rather than side chatter. It can be blunt about disappointment. It is also affectionate about why writers keep going. Episodes often end by pulling a quote into the room, giving the practical talk a small final charge. The result is a grounded companion for screenwriters who want craft advice, industry context, and permission to be ambitious without pretending the job is easy.
Made for: Best for screenwriters, TV writers, film students, and serious emerging writers who want practical career context alongside craft talk. It also suits movie obsessives curious about how working writers think.
What sets it apart: The show stands out by treating meetings, pitching, rejection, rewrites, and producer notes as part of the same craft ecosystem as dialogue and structure. Its value comes from specific working-life stories, not abstract inspiration.
In their own words
Welcome to the Act Two Podcast where screenwriters Tasha Huo and Josh Hallman demystify what it means to be an everyday working Screenwriter. A podcast for Screenwriters, by Screenwriters.
As heard by us
Based on 6 episodes we listened to · September 2026
Act Two Podcast makes screenwriting's emotional strain legible through candid self-critique, practical craft talk and detailed industry conversations.
Tasha Hugh and Josh Hallman use their own scripts, meetings and pitches as working material, alternating co-host conversations with industry interviews.
Why you'd press play
Old script coverage gets read aloud, so your own bad notes feel less terminal.
Press play if you want
- a calmer read on why a pass on your script can still lead to a useful meeting
- backup when producer notes start replacing the version you actually wanted to write
Talks about
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Episodes
- 1
How to Multitask as a Screenwriter: Balancing Multiple Projects
·53m - 2
Framing Devices: What They Are and When They Work
·40m - 3
How to Advocate for Yourself
·52m - 4
Good Writing Isn't Enough | The "Other" Skills Every Screenwriter Needs to Succeed
·40m - 5
Don't Send That Script Yet: Rewrites, Feedback & Knowing When Your Screenplay is Ready
·27m - 6
Is the Screenwriting Life Worth It? Yes - Here's Why (Part 2)
·36m - 7
Is the Screenwriting Life Worth It? The Ugly Truth (Part 1 of 2)
·42m - 8
We Read Our Old Script Coverage (and It's Brutal) | 2025 Oscar Nominee Reactions
·49m - 9
What TV Execs Wish You Knew: Pitching, Development & Breaking In With Legendary's Anna Halligan
·49m - 10
Screenwriting Q&A: Free Work, Producer Conflicts & February: Are You Excited?
·44m - 11
Inside Studio Coverage: How Story Analysts Evaluate Scripts at Major Studios
·49m - 12
Selling Out Isn't Wrong -- It's a Strategy
·34m - 13
Free Work as Screenwriters: How to Decide, Set Boundaries, and Protect Yourself
·41m - 14
Why You? - The Question Every Screenwriter Needs to Know How to Answer
·31m - 15
How Post-Production Can Make You a Better Writer: Insights from an Editor
·1h - 16
Interview with Scott Glassgold: Selling Your Short Story (REPOST)
·55m - 17
How to Actually Hit Your 2026 Screenwriting Goals
·1h - 18
Wins, Misses and Takeaways: Our 2025 Goal Wrap-Up
·41m - 19
How to Plan Your Screenwriting Year for Success: A Month-by-Month Guide
·1h 4m - 20
Are You Excited?: July 2025 Edition
·46m - 21
The Writing Behind Tomb Raider: the Legend of Lara Croft Season 2
·34m - 22
5 Tips on Telling a Compelling Story
·40m - 23
Living Outside LA, Pitching Update, Mighty Nein - Plus: Are You Excited?
·43m - 24
How to Get Unstuck in Your Writing: Screenwriting Tips that Actually Work
·40m - 25
Writing THE MIGHTY NEIN: Interview with Showrunner Tasha Huo
·49m - 26
Holiday Gifts -- What to get Reps and Producers (REPOST)
·35m - 27
Staying Relevant: How to Have a Long Career as a Screenwriter
·56m - 28
How to Write Great Villains | Halloween Special for Screenwriters
·50m - 29
Ready or Not? How You Know Your Script is Ready
·31m - 30
Networking Dos and Don’ts & Are You Excited: October 2025 Edition
·1h 14m - 31
Write Better Dialogue: Tasha Huo's Secret Hack
·43m - 32
How do you write for animation? Interview with Francisco Angones (THE LEGEND OF VOX MACHINA, DUCK TALES)
·1h 4m - 33
Which Screenwriter Personality Are You?
·1h 5m - 34
Are You Excited?: September 2025 Edition + TWIW
·39m - 35
Writing Action and Staying Relevant with Derek Kolstad (JOHN WICK, NOBODY)
·48m - 36
How Agents Work for Screenwriters: David Boxerbaum (Partner, Verve)
·34m - 37
Writing for the Audience (and not sell out)
·42m - 38
Are Pro Screenwriters Just Like Pro Athletes?
·50m - 39
Writing RED SONJA: From Script to Screen with Tasha Huo
·49m - 40
Is San Diego Comic-Con good for Screenwriters? + Are You Excited?: August Edition
·49m - 41
8 Famous Improv Moments Writers Can Learn From
·40m - 42
Social Media in your Screenwriting Career: Interview w/ Nic Curcio and Kristen Tepper
·1h - 43
Where to Spend Time: IP or Spec?
·45m - 44
MAILBAG: Ready to Send Your Script? Writer’s Groups, Pitching & More
·35m - 45
Animated to Live Action Adaptation: LILO & STITCH and HTTYD (Part 2)
·30m - 46
Animated to Live Action Adaptation: LILO & STITCH and HTTYD (Part 1)
·46m - 47
When Life Happens, How to Keep Writing
·40m - 48
RE-RELEASE: How to Stay in Screenwriting Shape
·38m - 49
Are You Excited? JUNE 2025 EDITION
·22m - 50
Top Tips for Aspiring Screenwriters
·41m - 51
A Writer's Tools: The Oversized Sketchpad
·31m - 52
Know Your Story
·41m - 53
A Screenwriter's Self-Talk Cycle
·32m - 54
Los Angeles Fire Wellness Check-In
·5m - 55
How to Get Repped (REPOST)
·43m - 56
Starting Your Story Through Location
·46m - 57
Should You Outline?
·34m - 58
Why Now? - What It Means, How to Answer It
·33m - 59
The Oscars 2025 Episode! W/ Dave Levinson
·56m - 60
MAILBAG: Pilots, Day Jobs, Meetings, and More!
·36m - 61
The Screenwriter’s Brand: Find Your Lane
·38m - 62
One Room. Lots of Drama. Writing Contained Movies w/ Dave Levinson
·40m - 63
Writing To "Cheer Moments"
·38m - 64
Writing in a Crisis
·24m - 65
2025 Goals (Part 2)
·50m - 66
2025 Goals (Part 1)
·44m - 67
Nolan Corn
·43m - 68
The Holiday Edition: Blacklist Winners, Holiday Gifts, Staying Productive
·47m - 69
Christmas Genre Mashups: Why They Work
·35m - 70
Is a Work/Life Balance possible as a Screenwriter?
·34m - 71
How to Turn Meetings into Opportunities
·48m - 72
The Training Montage
·52m - 73
Mailbag: Call to Action vs. Inciting Incident, Adapting IP, and more!
·47m - 74
Chekhov's Gun in Screenwriting
·42m - 75
The Best Horror Sequels!
·1h - 76
Horror Rules & Mystery w/ Joe Russo and Dave Levinson
·58m - 77
Script Changes, Tomb Raider, and Q&A Galore
·41m - 78
TOMB RAIDER Q&A with Showrunner Tasha Huo
·50m - 79
Get Your Tomb Raider Questions & 8 Sequence Story Structure (Repost)
·40m - 80
No Writing Path Is The Same
·32m - 81
Being Flexible without Compromising,
·48m - 82
Hate Writing, or Yourself? How to Stay Motivated at a Low Point
·37m - 83
The TV Writer's Room: Writing a Script
·31m - 84
Interview with Joe Russo: From Writing to Release of the ensemble horror movie THE INHERITANCE
·54m - 85
(Don't) Write What You Know
·40m - 86
Does your script have a Central Question?
·32m - 87
San Diego Comic-Con for Writers and the Summer Blockbuster
·44m - 88
RE-RELEASE: Breaking Down BRAVE with Producer & Manager, Michele Wolkoff
·54m - 89
Mailbag: How to Write Professional Dialogue, How to Write Different Genres, and more!
·43m - 90
TWIW - Being an Authentic Writer, Are Managers Staying Away from New Clients?, Beverly Hills Cop, and More!
·41m - 91
Are you dedicated to Screenwriting? Let's find out.
·48m - 92
The Keys to a Successful (and long) Screenwriting Career
·53m - 93
Have you hit your goals? -- 2024 Mid-Year Goals Check-In
·24m - 94
You Just Got Notes: What Now?
·44m - 95
Interview with Script Pipeline’s Matt Misetich
·48m - 96
Career post AIR: Interview with Alex Convery
·1h 5m - 97
Fan Fiction as a Road to Screenwriting: Interview with Keely MacDonald (AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER)
·42m - 98
The Act Two Mixer, and How to Have a Successful Writer's Group
·39m - 99
TWIW & the Act Two Mixer Announcement
·31m - 100
A Physical Therapist on Writers' Pains with Melody Garcia
A physical therapist discusses common pains for writers and screenwriters on the Act Two podcast.
·55m - 101
The Art of the Cheer Moment | How to Write Scenes That Excite Audiences
Hidden gemAct Two Podcast centers on J.J.
Apr 14, 2026·36m·3 clips - 102
Good Writing Isn't Enough | The "Other" Skills Every Screenwriter Needs to Succeed
Hidden gemTwo screenwriters discuss the non-writing skills needed for a successful screenwriting career, including networking and industry savvy.
Apr 7, 2026·40m·2 clips - 103
Don't Send That Script Yet: Rewrites, Feedback & Knowing When Your Screenplay is Ready
Tasha and Josh discuss the challenges of knowing when a screenplay is ready for feedback and rewrites, sharing personal anecdotes and insights for working screenwriters.
Mar 30, 2026·27m - 104
Is the Screenwriting Life Worth It? Yes - Here's Why (Part 2)
Josh and Tasha discuss their reactions to the Oscars and their excitement for upcoming summer movies.
Mar 23, 2026·36m - 105
Is the Screenwriting Life Worth It? The Ugly Truth (Part 1 of 2)
Tasha Hume and Josh Hallman discuss the challenging aspects of being a professional screenwriter in the first part of a two-part series.
Mar 17, 2026·42m - 106
We Read Our Old Script Coverage (and It's Brutal) | 2025 Oscar Nominee Reactions
Hidden gem["Act Two Podcast opens with Tasha Hugh and Josh Hallman swapping writing updates, including Josh's action-comedy opener drafted without an outline and Tasha's five-page franchise pitch written in one and a half days.", "They then read coverage on Josh Hallman's Engaged and Tasha's Shel Silverstein adaptation of Where the Sidewalk Ends, where the notes focus on tone, cause-and-effect, and plots that feel episodic or too convenient.", "The middle of the episode turns into a Steven Spielberg ET craft breakdown, with discussion of the opening, the adults' framing, the glowing chest, and the potted plant as visual signals.", "They close by comparing 2026 Best Picture and screenplay nominees such as One Battle After Another, Sinners, F1, and Frankenstein, while treating One Battle After Another as the likely winner."]
Mar 9, 2026·49m·3 clips - 107
What TV Execs Wish You Knew: Pitching, Development & Breaking In With Legendary's Anna Halligan
Hidden gemAnna Halligan says she passes on plenty of good scripts because slate fit, tone, and buy logic matter as much as quality.
Mar 2, 2026·49m·3 clips - 108
Screenwriting Q&A: Free Work, Producer Conflicts & February: Are You Excited?
Hidden gemAct Two Podcast with Tasha Hugh and Josh Hallman opens with an AI debate, including Josh's D&D experiment with ChatGPT and Tasha's warning that uploaded scripts train the tools.
Feb 23, 2026·44m·4 clips - 109
Inside Studio Coverage: How Story Analysts Evaluate Scripts at Major Studios
Feb 16, 2026·49m - 110
Selling Out Isn't Wrong -- It's a Strategy
Feb 9, 2026·34m - 111
Free Work as Screenwriters: How to Decide, Set Boundaries, and Protect Yourself
Feb 2, 2026·41m - 112
Why You? - The Question Every Screenwriter Needs to Know How to Answer
Jan 26, 2026·31m - 113
How Post-Production Can Make You a Better Writer: Insights from an Editor
Jan 19, 2026·1h - 114
Interview with Scott Glassgold: Selling Your Short Story (REPOST)
Hidden gemScott Glassgold says a short story can sell for film while the author keeps the book rights.
Jan 12, 2026·55m·2 clips - 115
How to Actually Hit Your 2026 Screenwriting Goals
Jan 5, 2026·1h - 116
Wins, Misses and Takeaways: Our 2025 Goal Wrap-Up
Dec 30, 2025·41m - 117
How to Plan Your Screenwriting Year for Success: A Month-by-Month Guide
Dec 22, 2025·1h 4m - 118
The Writing Behind Tomb Raider: the Legend of Lara Croft Season 2
Dec 15, 2025·34m - 119
5 Tips on Telling a Compelling Story
Dec 8, 2025·40m - 120
Living Outside LA, Pitching Update, Mighty Nein - Plus: Are You Excited?
Dec 1, 2025·43m - 121
How to Get Unstuck in Your Writing: Screenwriting Tips that Actually Work
Nov 25, 2025·40m - 122
Writing THE MIGHTY NEIN: Interview with Showrunner Tasha Huo
Tasha Huo discusses her experience as showrunner for the animated series The Mighty Nein on Amazon, covering the writer's room, animation process, and premiere.
Nov 17, 2025·49m - 123
Holiday Gifts -- What to get Reps and Producers (REPOST)
Nov 10, 2025·35m - 124
Staying Relevant: How to Have a Long Career as a Screenwriter
Nov 3, 2025·56m - 125
How to Write Great Villains | Halloween Special for Screenwriters
Oct 27, 2025·50m - 126
Ready or Not? How You Know Your Script is Ready
Oct 21, 2025·31m - 127
Networking Dos and Don’ts & Are You Excited: October 2025 Edition
Oct 13, 2025·1h 14m - 128
Write Better Dialogue: Tasha Huo's Secret Hack
Oct 6, 2025·43m - 129
How do you write for animation? Interview with Francisco Angones (THE LEGEND OF VOX MACHINA, DUCK TALES)
Frank Angones discusses his career path into animation writing, including his work on DuckTales and The Legend of Vox Machina.
Sep 29, 2025·1h 4m - 130
Which Screenwriter Personality Are You?
Sep 22, 2025·1h 5m - 131
Are You Excited?: September 2025 Edition + TWIW
Sep 15, 2025·39m - 132
Writing Action and Staying Relevant with Derek Kolstad (JOHN WICK, NOBODY)
Sep 8, 2025·48m - 133
How Agents Work for Screenwriters: David Boxerbaum (Partner, Verve)
Sep 2, 2025·34m - 134
How to Multitask as a Screenwriter: Balancing Multiple Projects
Aug 26, 2025·53m - 135
Are Pro Screenwriters Just Like Pro Athletes?
Aug 18, 2025·50m - 136
Writing RED SONJA: From Script to Screen with Tasha Huo
Tasha Huo discusses her experience writing the Red Sonja script, from initial concept to final screenplay.
Aug 11, 2025·49m - 137
Is San Diego Comic-Con good for Screenwriters? + Are You Excited?: August Edition
Aug 4, 2025·49m - 138
Are You Excited?: July 2025 Edition
Jul 28, 2025·46m - 139
Social Media in your Screenwriting Career: Interview w/ Nic Curcio and Kristen Tepper
Jul 21, 2025·1h - 140
Where to Spend Time: IP or Spec?
Jul 14, 2025·45m - 141
MAILBAG: Ready to Send Your Script? Writer’s Groups, Pitching & More
Jul 8, 2025·35m - 142
Animated to Live Action Adaptation: LILO & STITCH and HTTYD (Part 2)
Jun 30, 2025·30m - 143
Animated to Live Action Adaptation: LILO & STITCH and HTTYD (Part 1)
Jun 23, 2025·46m - 144
When Life Happens, How to Keep Writing
Jun 16, 2025·40m - 145
RE-RELEASE: How to Stay in Screenwriting Shape
Tasha and Josh discuss staying in screenwriting shape, including a correction about submitting specs during the strike and introducing a new segment called Spec Watch.
Jun 9, 2025·38m - 146
Are You Excited? JUNE 2025 EDITION
Jun 2, 2025·22m - 147
Top Tips for Aspiring Screenwriters
May 26, 2025·41m - 148
A Writer's Tools: The Oversized Sketchpad
May 19, 2025·31m - 149
8 Famous Improv Moments Writers Can Learn From
May 12, 2025·40m - 150
Know Your Story
May 5, 2025·41m