On Story

Callie Khouri reflects upon her experience working with Ridley Scott and writing the classic female-driven-buddy film, Thelma and Louise.

In this second On Story installation featuring Paul Thomas Anderson and Jonathan Demme, the duo look back on the vision, style, influences, and creative passion for Demme's The Silence of the Lambs, Stop Making Sense, Rachel Getting Married and Something Wild.

True Detective director, Cary Fukunaga, and Fargo creator, Noah Hawley, discuss the rise of the television anthology series and how to execute a compelling balance of plot, character, and structure within the bounds of one season.

John Ridley reflects on his beginnings and the inspirations that have shaped his approach to screenwriting, with a special look into his journey adapting the Academy Award-winning script for 12 Years a Slave.

Danny Rubin, co-writer of Groundhog Day, deconstructs the unconventional romantic comedy's progression from script to screen and reminisces on his unique collaboration with the legendary Harold Ramis.

Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, co-writers of Rise of the Planet of the Apes, discuss reimagining the popular sci-fi franchise and their delicate approach to depicting the protagonist's journey.

Tom Schulman, writer of Dead Poet's Society, deconstructs the story's journey from script to screen, along with his unique working relationships on set with Robin Williams and director Peter Weir.

Scott Frank (Get Shorty, Out of Sight) reflects on his diverse career writing thrillers and pulp films, and his approach to developing complex characters in search of their identity.

Writers from the hit show Justified discuss adapting Elmore Leonard's short story for television and the evolution of the show's tone, rhythm, and setting.

Peter Gould, writer, producer, and director of Breaking Bad and co-creator of its spinoff Better Call Saul discusses shifting gears, schemes, and swindles within the world of Saul Goodman pre-Walter White.

John Singleton, the youngest and first African American filmmaker to win an Academy Award for his work on Boyz in the Hood, discusses his process, influences, and inspirations, from the work of acclaimed playwright August Wilson to pioneering directors Spike Lee and Federico Fellini.

Perhaps one of the most influential contributors to the landscape of situational comedies and progressive writing in Hollywood, Norman Lear transformed a genre known for play-it-safe humor into a platform for how Americans experience social issues.

Nicole Perlman (Guardian of the Galaxy) and Angela Kang (The Walking Dead) explore navigating a male-dominated industry as female genre writers.

Robert Mark Kamen looks back on his long-time working relationship with Luc Besson and his approach to writing description, violence, and well-developed characters in films such as The Fifth Element, The Transporter, and the Taken franchise.

Comedy titan Carl Reiner looks back on creating The Dick Van Dyke Show, how the show evolved over the course of its five seasons, and the collaborative efforts of the writers and actors involved.

Creator/director/producer/star Issa Rae discusses the unique challenges that surround creating independent webseries, the freedoms that come with doing it your own way, and how to navigate the growing sensation of developing original online content.

Chris Cooper, the Academy Award winning Best Supporting Actor, for his role in the comedy-drama Adaptation, discusses his acting career in both film and television.

Screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker dissects his bleak thriller masterpiece, Se7en and working with director David Fincher to create the cult classic film.

Producer/Emmy-award winning actress, America Ferrera talks about her early roles in film and television including the hit show Ugly Betty, Real Women Have Curves, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and working with Ryan Piers Williams on the independent film The Dry Land.

Writer/Director/Producer Charles Burnett shares his career development process in narrative and documentary filmmaking with Killer of Sheep (1978), his seminal film, which was definitive in highlighting African American cultural experience.

Director John Lee Hancock and writer Kelly Marcel discuss how the script for Saving Mr.

Writer/director Jason Reitman, whose credits include Thank You for Smoking, Up in the Air Juno, and most recently, the TV series Casual, discusses his journey from novice filmmaker to indie stalwart.

In this episode, award-winning writer/director Jeff Nichols talks about bringing a highly charged true story to the screen and finding the personal connection to Richard and Mildred Loving - apolitical people at the center of the landmark 1967 civil rights decision of the U.

Screenwriter Justin Marks shares the bear necessities on updating the classic Disney story to the modern screen.

From Arrested Development's Buster Bluth to Veep's bag man, actor Tony Hale discusses meeting audience's expectations, getting into character, making out with Liza Minnelli, and the collaborative environment of comedy.

Marta Kauffman takes viewers into that unforgettable New York apartment and talks about how the phenomenon of Friends came to be, the universal appeal of Grace and Frankie, and working with the network versus Netflix.

With Saturday Night Live and the movies Sisters and This is 40 in her credits, Paula Pell is the queen of comedy.

As charming as any muppet, actor/writer Jason Segel relays how he was destined for the stage at an early age and how, from goofball to vampire puppet musical to full frontal nudity, he's formed a family of weirdos in film and television.

In this episode, writer Aaron Covington discusses how he and co-writer/director Ryan Coogler came up with the idea for a unique and personal spin on the Rocky Balboa story and in the process created a new legend.

Inarguably one of the greatest storytellers in Hollywood, filmmaker Billy Wilder's classic films include Double Indemnity, Sabrina, Sunset Boulevard, Some Like it Hot, The Apartment, and more.

Short Film: Grand Opening From Private Benjamin to Something's Gotta Give, writer/director Nancy Meyers has created and championed some of the most memorable complicated women characters on the screen.

Screenwriter Mark L. Smith discusses adapting The Revenant from book to screen, working with Alejandro Inarritu, and getting that famous bear attack right.

The writers behind Red Eye, The X-Files, Disturbia, and Shut In weigh in on the crucial elements for those psychological thrillers that keep you up all night; namely putting regular people into horrifying scenarios - and hopefully getting them out in one piece.

The filmmakers behind Sense and Sensibility, The Jane Austen Book Club, and The Lizzie Bennet Diaries discuss the timelessness and relate-ability of Jane Austen's characters, from the jealousies, the romances, the desire to improve one's status, and, of course, Mr.

Producer Suzanne de Passe, screenwriter Bill Wittliff, and crew share stories about the making of Lonesome Dove, the movie adapted from the NYT bestselling novel by Larry McMurtry.

Parks and Recreation and Master of None writer Alan Yang talks about making up for lost time, writing for the Harvard Lampoon, and putting stories from his personal life into the show.

In our season 8 premiere episode, Academy Award-nominated filmmaker and actress Greta Gerwig talks about her theatrical beginnings, what she learned working with filmmakers Noah Baumbach, Mike Mills, and others in such films as Frances Ha and 20th Century Women, and taking the leap to write and direct her own film, the critically acclaimed Lady Bird.

Entertainment trailblazer writer/director/producer Keenen Ivory Wayans achieved national prominence when he created the culturally groundbreaking, Emmy award-winning, black-oriented comedy satire In Living Color.

Once considered "unfilmable," the movie Arrival scored big at the box office.

Award-winning producer Gale Anne Hurd has spent decades navigating high-tension, high-stakes, and high-conflict situations - both on and off the page.

In this episode, Pete's Dragon director and co-writer David Lowery and co-writer Toby Halbrooks take us behind the scenes of their reinvention of the classic story and discuss writing fairy tales, balancing tragedy with wonder, and the difference between making indie films, like Ain't Them Bodies Saints, and a big budget Disney movie.

Show creator Misha Green isn't afraid to push boundaries; the critically-acclaimed Underground, a historical period drama about the Underground Railroad that she co-created with Joe Pokaski, combined terror, modern music, romance, and thrills, breaking ground for the genre.

Twin Peaks co-creator Mark Frost talks about the impact of the original cult favorite show, collaborating with David Lynch, updating the series for a less innocent era, and exploring the human condition as a narrative story on screen.

It was the verdict heard around the world, one that has continued to haunt and divide our country's collective conscience.

Writer, director, producer, actor, and comedian Robert Townsend has over 30 years of experience working in film and television.

Saddle up yer horses with legendary writer/director Walter Hill and Oscar nominated screenwriter Scott Frank as they explore the great quintessential Western genre.

In this episode, Bloodline's co-creator Todd A. Kessler talks about the genesis and development of the popular Netflix series.

In this episode, creator, showrunner, and producer Courtney A.

With a huge list of characters, ambitious flashbacks, centuries' worth of mythology, and constant epic battles between gods-all within the confines of a television series, adapting Neil Gaiman's seminal novel American Gods was no small feat.

In this episode, the screenwriters behind Arrival, Kubo and the Two Strings, and I Love Dick discuss book-to-film adaptations and translating themes and literary devices to the screen.

In this episode, award-winning screenwriter, producer, and director Noah Hawley, the man behind some of TV's best dramatic series, Fargo and Legion explores the creation and execution of a limited series, writing across mediums, and making adaptations your own.

In this episode, co-writer of the Academy Award winning film, The Shape of Water discusses collaborating with genre director Guillermo del Toro on his initial idea for the film and the process of writing the dark fantasy world del Toro envisioned for the film.

Join Snowpiercer co-writer Kelly Masterson as he dissects the story's journey from graphic novel to script-to-screen.

Academy-Award nominated actor Woody Harrelson and director/producer Rob Reiner discuss how the bio-pic, LBJ came to life with actor Woody Harrelson who portrays the president following the Kennedy assassination in 1963.

In our season 9 premiere episode, legendary television producer, actor, comedian, and writer Larry Wilmore talks about his more than 25-year career span.

In 1991, Linda Woolverton became the first woman to write an animated feature for Disney.

Writing partners Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely are no strangers to blockbuster franchises.

Screenwriters Scott Beck and Bryan Woods dissect their original horror hit A Quiet Place and discuss the process of storytelling with little dialogue and creating tension that keeps people on the edge of their seats.

Ali LeRoi has mastered comedy from all angles: he's worked as a stand-up comedian, writer, director, and television creator.

In this episode, Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber discuss The Disaster Artist and its adaptation from true events to film adaptation.

In this episode, legendary producer and director Roger Corman shares his independent filmmaking background and his extensive body of work, which includes over 500 film credits.

In this episode, documentary filmmakers Chapman and Maclain Way discuss their Emmy award-winning Netflix documentary, Wild Wild Country.

Sleepless in Seattle. When Harry Met Sally. You've Got Mail.

In this episode, we'll hear from writer, producer, and showrunner Graham Yost.

In this episode, writer and best-selling author Pamela Ribon discusses writing the Disney films Moana and Ralph Breaks the Internet as well as writing for the TV show, Samantha Who?.

In this episode, we'll hear from Kids in the Hall and Brain Candy comedy writer and performer, Kevin McDonald on writing sketch comedy, performing standup and improv and the process for generating fresh content with his iconic comedy troupe.

In this episode, actress and comedian Sasheer Zamata discusses the nuts and bolts of her comedy sketch writing and acting on Saturday Night Live and how to bring your own voice as a performer.

In this episode, writer Dana Gould discusses the ins and outs of writing for TV's longest-running scripted comedy series The Simpsons and his role as creator and co-executive producers of the IFC horror-comedy Stan Against Evil.

In our season 10 premiere episode, Craig Mazin, Emmy Award-winning creator of the HBO miniseries Chernobyl, discusses the creative process behind his faithful account of the 1986 nuclear accident that led to one of the worst human disasters in history.

This week on On Story, Lulu Wang, writer/director of The Farewell, discusses writing and directing the autobiographical story of her family's decision to lie to her grandmother about her terminal illness and instead plan a wedding to say their final goodbyes.

Winter finally arrived for the groundbreaking series Game of Thrones.

This week on On Story, To All the Boys I've Loved Before writer Sofia Alvarez discusses the process of adapting the New York Times bestselling young adult novel into a hit romantic comedy for Netflix.

This week on On Story, Catherine Reitman discusses her acting career in film and television, bringing the pain and comedy of real-life experiences into her work, and her transition to the role of creator/writer/star of the International Emmy Award-nominated comedy series Workin' Moms.

This week on On Story, we'll hear from writer and producer Felicia D.

This week on On Story, screenwriters Michael Werwie (Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile) and Guinevere Turner (Charlie Says) discuss the challenges of crafting compelling entertainment while respecting the human stories affected by the crimes.

This week on On Story, The Good Place, Parks & Recreation, and Silicon Valley writer Megan Amram discusses developing characters audiences care about, the emotion behind the humor, and her Emmy-nominated web series, An Emmy for Megan.

This week on On Story, Virgil Williams, writer on 24, Criminal Minds, and Mudbound, discusses adapting work for the screen, being nominated for an Academy Award, and the power of routine.

This week on On Story, VEEP showrunner David Mandel discusses his role at the helm of the critically acclaimed series, developing a cast of characters as beloved as they are deplorable, and bringing the story to its hilariously bittersweet close.

This week on ​On Story, ​Lawrence Kasdan, screenwriter of ​The Big Chill​, ​ The Empire Strikes Back, ​Raiders of the Lost Ark ​ and many more, ​ ​remembers the creative process behind some of his greatest films and getting to the heart of a story.

This week on On Story, GLOW co-creators Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch discuss adapting the real-life '80s phenomenon Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling as a fictional series and the liberties they took in the storytelling process.

This week on On Story, Academy Award-winning screenwriter Ron Bass discusses his prolific career writing box office mega-hits like Rain Man, My Best Friend's Wedding, and Sleeping with the Enemy.

This week on On Story, award-winning director/writer/producer Gina Prince-Bythewood talks about her character-driven work in The Old Guard, Love & Basketball, and Beyond the Lights.

This week on On Story, Academy Award winning screenwriter Akiva Goldsman discusses his work on A Beautiful Mind, A Time to Kill, Star Trek, and Titans, and the role of personal experience and self-exploration in developing characters.

This week on On Story, award-winning writer and director Brenda Chapman discusses how female perspective, a love of art, and an understanding of flawed characters influenced her writing in the animated classics The Lion King, The Prince of Egypt, and Brave.

This week on On Story, critically acclaimed writer Kevin Willmott talks about balancing messages of social justice with entertainment, working with famed director Spike Lee, and writing BlacKkKlansman, CSA: Confederate States of America, and Da 5 Bloods.

This week on On Story, award-winning writer and producer Damon Lindelof discusses the process of creating the ambitious and challenging television series Watchmen, The Leftovers, and Lost.

This week on On Story, writer and producer Liz Hannah reflects on her career, from her sudden rise in the industry with her first screenplay, The Post, to the modern rom com Long Shot starring Seth Rogan and Charlize Theron which she co-wrote, as well as her role as writer/producer on the Netflix true crime series Mindhunter.

n this week's On Story, Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, the screenwriting team behind Ed Wood, The People vs.

This week on On Story, bestselling author and screenwriter Gillian Flynn talks about writing in different mediums and adapting Gone Girl, Sharp Objects, Widows, and Utopia for the screen.

This week on On Story, Mara Brock Akil discusses writing and producing nearly over 400 episodes of television including the creation of Girlfriends and Being Mary Jane.

This week on On Story, John Logan, three-time Academy Award-nominated producer/playwright/screenwriter of The Aviator, Gladiator, Penny Dreadful, and many more, discusses working in multiple storytelling mediums, writing for actors, and bringing his vision to the stage and screen.

This week on On Story, horror writers Akela Cooper and Owen Egerton discuss their love for the genre, setups and payoffs, emotional scares, and inspirational moments from Pumpkinhead, Night of the Living Dead, and others.

This week on On Story, Barry co-creators Alec Berg and Bill Hader discuss their award-winning dark comedy about a hitman from the Midwest who develops a passion for acting and how they created an honest and convincing story about a bizarre anti-hero.

This week on On Story, Kemp Powers, co-writer/co-director of Academy-Award winning Soul and writer of Academy-Award nominated One Night in Miami talks about the process of adapting his own play and what is needed to build a compelling narrative.

This week on On Story, Bill and Ted and Men in Black writer Ed Solomon delves into the beginning of the writing process.

This week on On Story, award-winning television creator Michael Schur talks about his role in creating and writing for some of the most loved comedies: Parks and Recreation, The Office, and The Good Place.

This week on On Story, screenwriter Dave Callaham discusses his work on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Wonder Woman 1984, and Jean-Claude Van Johnson and the role of personal experience and self-exploration while developing and navigating big budget blockbusters.

This week on On Story, join Jihan Crowther (The Underground Railroad) and Zach Baylin (King Richard) as they discuss tackling real life events and how they translate on screen.

This week on On Story, critically acclaimed writer David Koepp talks about jumping between genres and working on adaptations, collaborating with famed director Steven Spielberg, and writing Carlito's Way, Jurassic Park, Mission: Impossible, Panic Room, and Spider-Man.