Interview, Writing

Episode 116 — Learning the Art and Craft of Screenwriting with Jacob Krueger

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Ali interviews award-winning screenwriter, playwright, producer and director, as well as the founder of Jacob Krueger Studio, Jacob Krueger. Jake shares his journey into screenwriting and founding the studio, his thoughts on starting a project from character, plot or process, a deeper look into what’s behind writer’s block, the effect of negative and positive self-talk about your own writing, a different approach to the well-known concept of show, don’t tell and much more!

Visit writeyourscreenplay.com and check out the Write Your Screenplay Podcast.

Jacob Krueger
Animation, Television

Episode 115 — Character Study: Miriam Pataki

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Ali discusses the heartbreaking reality of Miriam Pataki from Hey Arnold!, touching on episodes such as “Road Trip,” “The Beeper Queen,” “Helga on the Couch” and more.

Be sure to also check out Episode 65 — Hey Arnold! The Jungle Movie + “Audaciously Flirting” and Episode 58 — Hey Arnold! + “Care.”

Animation, Movie

Episode 114 — Rugrats in Paris: The Movie

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Ali discusses the second Rugrats theatrical film, Rugrats in Paris: The Movie. She reminisces about seeing it in theaters, sharing her love of all the heartfelt moments and the addition of new characters to the Rugrats family. Plus, some interesting revelations she never knew about the 2000 hit song from the soundtrack, “Who Let the Dogs Out” by Baha Men.

Be sure to also check out Episode 50 — Rugrats and Episode 12 — The Rugrats Movie.

Animation, Movie

Episode 113 — The Nightmare Before Christmas

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Ali discusses the stop-motion animated movie, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, sharing her thoughts on the plot, favorite songs and Jack and Sally’s love story.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Movie

Episode 112 — The Addams Family

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Ali discusses the movie, The Addams Family (1991), based on the characters created by cartoonist, Charles Addams, sharing her favorite lines while admiring the unbreakable love between this creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky family.

The Addams Family
Animation, Interview, Television, Writing

Episode 111 — TV Writing with Alison Tafel

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Ali interviews TV writer, Alison Tafel. She shares how she got her start in the industry, her first day in the BoJack Horseman writers’ room and insight into each of the episodes she wrote for the show: “Stupid Piece of Sh*t,” “INT. SUB,” “Feel-Good Story” and “The View From Halfway Down.” She also talks about her experience writing for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and she gives advice for writers trying to break into the industry as well as when you’re in the industry.

Be sure to follow Alison on Twitter and Instagram.

Alison Tafel

Animation, Television

Episode 110 — South Park Goth Kids

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Ali discusses the cigarette-smoking, coffee-drinking, nonconforming Goth Kids from South Park, focusing on three of their most prominent episodes: “Raisins” (season 7), “The Ungroundable” (season 12) and “Goth Kids 3: Dawn of the Posers” (season 17).

South Park Goth Kids
Musical

Episode 109 — Little Shop of Horrors

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Ali discusses the musical, Little Shop of Horrors, composed by Alan Menken with book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, based on the original 1960 horror comedy film, The Little Shop of Horrors. She talks about first seeing the musical in a college production, favorite songs, her thoughts on the 1986 movie adaptation directed by Frank Oz and the original ending compared to the updated version.

Television

Episode 108 — Gilmore Girls

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Ali discusses Gilmore Girls created by Amy Sherman-Palladino and starring Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel as the fast-talking, coffee-loving, mother-daughter duo, Lorelai and Rory Gilmore. She shares how all the buzz about the revival got her into the show and reminisces about visiting the lot where they shot all the exterior scenes for the fictional town of Stars Hollow. She also talks about her favorite characters, Luke and Lorelai’s relationship, her thoughts on each of Rory’s boyfriends throughout the series and the Netflix revival, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.

Gilmore Girls

Books

Episode 107 — Author Spotlight: Mitch Albom

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Ali discusses the works of bestselling author, Mitch Albom, touching on the universal themes of life, love, family, faith and more that he beautifully depicts in his popular books, including his debut memoir, Tuesdays with Morrie, novels, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, For One More Day, The First Phone Call from Heaven, The Time Keeper and The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto, as well as his latest memoir, Finding Chika: A Little Girl, an Earthquake, and the Making of a Family.

Mitch Albom Books