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Articles - Interviews

Interview with Jeffrey Stepakoff, Author and TV Writer
by Writers Store Staff
Author and TV Writer Jeffrey Stepakoff sat down with The Writers Store to answer a few questions about the TV industry.

A Little Confession is Good for the Soul: An Interview with Writer/Director Stefan Schaefer
by John Gaspard
Writer/Director Stefan Schaefer learned a lot while working on the script for his movie, Confess. He benefited from public readings, workshops, and mentors. In this interview, author John Gaspard speaks to Stefan Schaefer about the screenwriting process.

Interview with the "Stranger Adventures" Writing Team
by Christie Taylor
The Writers Store asked the writing staff of 'Stranger Adventures,' an online interactive adventure Web series, where they thought this new medium was headed.

Interview with Syd Field
by Athena Schultz
A real gem on the craft of screenwriting, the third edition of Syd Field's preeminent book, Screenplay, provides easily understood guidelines on writing a script from concept to finished product. Syd sits down to talk to the Writers Store about the next generation of screenwriting.

Interview with Steven Priggé, author of Created By: Inside the Minds of TV's Top Show Creators
by Writers Store Staff
In Created By, Priggé delves into the minds of people like Max Mutchnick and David Kohan (Will & Grace), Brenda Hampton (7th Heaven), Josh Schwartz (The O.C.), Amy Sherman-Palladino (Gilmore Girls), Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel), Bill Lawrence (Scrubs), Ilene Chaiken (The L Word) and others, to ask the questions all aspiring TV writers want answered.

Interview with: Shawn Lawrence Otto - Screenwriter of HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG
by Writers Store Staff
This email interview with Shawn Lawrence Otto, the screenwriter who co-wrote the adaptation of the hugely popular Andre Dubus III novel HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG with Vadim Perelman took place just six days before the much anticipated release of the film, in December 2003. Otto shares his thoughts on consciousness, authenticity, the responsibility of acting your values; on screenwriting competition, the rules of the business of Hollywood and moving to there - or NOT moving there. Warning: The content contains 'spoilers' with respect to the ending. We've marked the spoiler so that you can skip that Q&A until after you've seen the movie.

An Industry Interview with Manager/Producer Andy Cohen on Selling Books to Hollywood
by Howard Meibach
Hollywood has a voracious appetite lately for material, especially in the form of books.In the last 30 days, 12 books have been sold or optioned. Howard Meibach, founder of Hollywood Literary Sales and publisher of the Spec Screenplay Sales Directory, e-mailed producer/manager Andy Cohen and asked him about the spec book and script marketplace.

Interview with Dave Hackel: Creator and Executive Producer of the TV Show 'Becker'
by Writers Store Staff
Dave Hackel's producing credits include such long-running hits as Paramount's comedy series 'Wings' and 'Dear John.' He is the creator and executive producer of the hit television series ‘Becker,’ starring Ted Danson. He answered The Writers Store's questions via email in February 2001.

Interview with: Vickie Patik - Writer/Director/Actor
by Writers Store Staff
Vickie Patik has enjoyed success in nearly every facet of entertainment, first as a singer/dancer in Los Angeles civic light opera and Broadway productions and actress on soap operas, then as a screenwriter of numerous movies for television. In this exclusive interview, she answers questions about her varied career and about writing in general.

Interview with: Lewis Colick - Award Winning Screenwriter
by Writers Store Staff
Lewis Colick has made a living at writing for 20 years. He's written for television, written award-winning scripts, and earned an MA in playwriting at UCLA along the way. He's a cherished Writers Store customer since way, way back when.

Interview with: Donald Spoto - Biographer/Historian
by Writers Store Staff
‘Our purpose,’ Donald Spoto says, ‘is to set the record straight, celebrate lives, and set forth certain aspects of history and human behavior that is good for people to read about.’

Interview with: John Wirth - Television Writer/Producer
by Writers Store Staff
‘It’s just that simple,’ John Wirth says. ‘You write and write and write, and if you have talent, you will get better. The thing I always am surprised about, even now, is how much work it is. It’s a serious misconception among many young writers that it is easy to write anything well. '

Interview with: Lenny Ripps - Comedy Writer
by Writers Store Staff
Do you have to be funny to write comedy or can a good writer write any situation funny?

Interview: Karin Howard - German/American Writer
by Writers Store Staff
Karin Howard has written for nearly every medium: she’s written film scripts and TV shows in English and German, she has several novels to her credit, she has a degree in journalism and has worked as a journalist and even hosted a television magazine. Her feature film credits include ‘Millionaire Dogs,’ ‘The Arabian Prince,’ ‘Midnight Flight,’ ‘The NeverEnding Story III’ and ‘The NeverEnding Story II.’

Interview: Bob Holman - Screenwriters' Agent
by Kathryn Knowlton
Behind the Scenes at a Hollywood Talent Agency

Interview: Ray Gideon - Screenwriter
by Writers Store Staff
Originally an actor, Ray Gideon first took the turn into writing 20 years ago
with fellow actor Bruce Evans, and the two of them have been working together ever since.