On Story Season 8, Episode 11: A Conversation with Robert Townsend

1

A Conversation with Greta Gerwig

Director and actress Greta Gerwig talks about her theatrical beginnings and how she came to write and direct "Lady Bird."

2

A Conversation with Keenen Ivory Wayans

Writer, director and producer Keenen Ivory Wayans talks about his path to Hollywood and how "In Living Color" helped pave the way for many artists and projects.

3

A Conversation with Kenneth Lonergan

Academy Award-winning writer-director Kenneth Lonergan compares screenwriting with playwriting and talks about being open to mistakes.

4

Script to Screen: Arrival

Screenwriter Eric Heisserer talks about "Arrival," working with director Denis Villeneuve and the challenges of writing a sci-fi story about love and loss.

5

A Conversation with Dan Gilroy

Screenwriter Dan Gilroy discusses the evolution of "Nightcrawler," working with Denzel Washington, and the challenges and benefits of being part of a Hollywood-successful family.

6

A Conversation with Gale Anne Hurd

Producer Gale Anne Hurd discusses her career, including working with Roger Corman and James Cameron.

7

Script to Screen: Pete's Dragon

Director David Lowery and writer Toby Halbrooks reinvent "Pete's Dragon" and discuss the difference between making indie films versus big budget movies.

8

A Conversation with Misha Green

Writer and producer Misha Green discusses her experience as a first-time showrunner, and she talks about having to say goodbye to a story before it's finished.

9

A Conversation with Mark Frost

"Twin Peaks" co-creator Mark Frost talks about the show's impact and his collaboration with David Lynch.

10

The People v. O.J. Simpson: A Conversation with Scott Alexander

Scott Alexander talks about developing and writing "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story."

11

A Conversation with Robert Townsend

Actor and director Robert Townsend's career spans 30 years in front of and behind the camera.

12

Revisiting Westerns: A Conversation with Scott Frank & Walter Hill

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, Hill and Frank discuss the art of writing the good, the bad, and the ugly.

13

Bloodline: A Conversation with Todd A. Kessler

In this episode, Bloodline’s co-creator Todd A. Kessler talks about the genesis and development of the popular Netflix series. With their storied, dynastic image of small business success and solid moral fiber, the Rayburns seem like the very picture of the American dream.

14

Power: A Conversation with Courtney Kemp

In this episode, creator, showrunner, and producer Courtney A. Kemp discusses the power dynamics in the television industry, the writers room, and a well-crafted story. With credits that includes The Good Wife, The Bernie Mac Show, Justice, and creating the critically acclaimed gritty New York drama Power, Kemp knows her way around a successful TV show.

15

American Gods: A Conversation with Michael Green

With a huge list of characters, centuries’ worth of mythology, and 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, Season 1 writer, co-showrunner, Michael Green will walk through the series’ script, discussing topics like staying true to and expanding the world that Gaiman created.

16

Great Adaptations

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. The art of writing them is as advantageous as it is demanding especially within the constraints of a 90-minute film.

17

A Conversation with Noah Hawley

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.

18

The Shape of Water: A Conversation with Vanessa Taylor

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.

19

Script to Screen: Snowpiercer: A Conversation with Kelly Masterson

Join Snowpiercer co-writer Kelly Masterson as he dissects the story’s journey from graphic novel to script-to-screen. Masterson will reference specific scenes from the film—with clips projected throughout—and discuss writing for a multinational audience, the writer/director relationship with Joon-ho Bong, writing through language barriers, and the layered messages throughout the film.

20

LBJ: A Conversation with Woody Harrelson & Rob Reiner

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.