Sarah gives a shout out to all the truck drivers who made her grueling RV drive to Kansas City and back better and safer. Then Liz and Sarah talk to iconic labor leader and activist, Dolores Huerta, about her decades long fight for social justice. At ninety years old, is she finally able to relax? The answer is absolutely not. This week’s Hollywood Hack comes from Everything Happens host, Kate Bowler: reassess the COVID-19 situation every two weeks (and don’t stress about it in between).
Podcast episodes
Episode 158: Managing The Personal To Manage The Professional
In Hits & Bombs, Liz and Sarah give a shared Hit to Satellite Sister, Lian Dolan, for her new book, The Sweeney Sisters. They also give a shared Bomb to people who refuse to wear masks in public. Then Sarah gives herself a Hit for recommitting to her personal health goals, and Liz gives herself a Bomb for expecting something different from what ALWAYS happens. This week’s Hollywood Hack adds some colorful whimsy to quarantine: dye your gray roots purple (or pink or blue or green)!
Episode 157: Meet Our New Manager And Combating Zoom Fatigue
Liz and Sarah talk to their new manager, Dianne Fraser, about exactly what a manager does, how managers are different from agents, and how aspiring writers can get a manager of their own. Pro tip? Follow up a query email with a call to the office. In Take A Hike, Sarah reveals her desire to “choose the smaller life” during this global pandemic. This week’s Hollywood Hack will help fight Zoom fatigue: instead of a Zoom work meeting have a walking conference call.
Episode 156: Dressing For Zoom Meetings With Emmy-Nominated Costume Designer Allyson Fanger
Liz and Sarah have their minds blown by Emmy-nominated Costume Designer, Allyson Fanger, who says dressing for Zoom meetings isn’t just about what you wear. It’s also about what else is in the frame. Pro tips? Production design your space, wear a shirt with a collar, and choose bold glasses. This week’s Take A Hike comes from Sarah’s daughter, Violet: take comfort in the notion of “eventually.” Finally, Liz and Sarah share a Hollywood Hack from Liz’s mom — bring in an expert.
Episode 155: More Lightning Listener Questions!
Liz and Sarah are answering your questions—and they’re answering them fast! What’s their favorite part of writing for television? When an actor gets an Executive Producer credit… what does that mean exactly? Will the current situation make it easier or harder for unrepresented writers to get hired? Are spec scripts still a thing? What will happen during the pandemic once networks run out of shows they have in the can? Will there be lots of reruns? How are Liz and Sarah working while they’re safer at home? And so much more…
Episode 154: What Makes A Good Idea Good?
Sarah shares her COVID-19 mantra: “Does this matter?” Liz’s is “Closer, stronger, lighter.” Then Liz and Sarah discuss how living through this extraordinary time is—surprisingly—making them want to take more professional risks. Is it finally time to “ride the dragon?” In The Craft (And Fain), they explore what makes a good idea good. The five elements: clarity, specificity, dynamics, legs, and relevance. In this week’s Hollywood Hack, both Sarah and Liz offer an app to keep you occupied at home: I Love Hue and Real Mah Jongg.