Creative Screenwriting Podcast

So, I hate to do another “podcast recommendation” post, but I have had a blog block (“blogock”?) lately with regard to subject matter. So, getting back to basics, I did a quick scan of what my daily routines include that might be worthy of sharing. This morning, I was inspired by a podcast that has become a favorite.

Now before I get into the details of today’s recommendation, I feel obligated to take a step back to give a general overview of what podcasts are all about. (If you are familiar with podcasts, then skip down and start reading after the “Creative Screenwriting” image.)

Technically, a podcast is a non-streamed webcast. A webcast is an audio or video broadcast that is accessed and transmitted via the internet. The non-streamed part means that these media files can be downloaded and listened to and/or viewed at your discretion.

In layman’s terms, a podcast is a free audio or video show that can be done by anyone that has a microphone, video camera (if necessary), a computer, and the ability to house the media files online somewhere. Due to this fact, you can find podcasts ranging from an extremely specific topic by some guy recording out of his home office to highly-produced podcasts by major companies and media outlets. You can listen to a podcast in a few ways. One of the most popular ways is to find a podcast you like in the iTunes Store (searching by subject), then download individual episodes OR ‘subscribe’, which means that when that podcast has a new episode, your iTunes will automatically download it to your computer. From there you can listen to the podcast on your computer or transfer it to your iPod, iPhone and iPad to be viewed or listened to when you want. Alternatives to iTunes are Podcast Alley, JuiceReceiver and Podcast.net - a simple online search should help you find more if needed.

Podcasts are not limited to Apple devices, though the “pod” in podcast may confuse some. Not being completely educated on the subject, I believe that the term may have originally been a nod to the iPod due to the fact that the media form was pushed forward by the environment that the iPod and iTunes provided. However, since other mobile devices and access via your personal computer (no matter what brand or operating system) are able to take advantage of the medium, it seemed a bit unfair that all of these ‘non-streamed webcasts” were inadvertently pro-Apple due to the term. (Not unlike how the name brand Kleenex® has taken over all forms of facial tissue.) Webcast is a synonymous term, but has never really had the momentum that podcast had, so the tech population compromised by saying “no, no, no, POD cast does not refer to the Apple iPod, it is short for “Personal On Demand broadCAST.” Regardless of this extremely controversial history (not really), I hope that this sheds some light for my friends and family that don’t know much about this medium. Now on to today’s recommended podcast, Creative Screenwriting Magazine’s podcast.

Am I a screenwriter? No.

Do I have desire to eventually one day write a screenplay? No.

So, why the interest in a podcast that what would seemingly be about a pretty specific subject?
In the past, I had come to appreciate podcasts that support the television shows I watch like Grey’s Anatomy, where the podcast did not necessarily recap the show, but interviewed the producers and writers to expand the viewers’ understanding of the show. Whether it be details that I may have missed or a stronger explanation of why the writers chose to do something the way that they did, I definitely came to appreciate the screenwriting process.

Creative Screenwriting takes these qualities that I enjoy so much and applies them to feature length movies (old and new) as well as some television shows - anything that has a screenwriter on staff is eligible.

The host, Jeff Goldsmith, is a really good interviewer in that he is always very well-informed; but more than that, you can easily feel his sincere enthusiasm. The standard format for a show is that an interview is performed with the writer(s)/actors/producers of a movie immediately after a screening of that movie. The interview usually includes some personal history of the interviewees, then the details of the specific movie. That is the basic format, but there are instances, like the podcast covering “Once” in which the musicians of the movie played some music live and had back stories about each song. Needless to say, this and other podcasts have entertained and educated me. But more importantly, I have a much greater respect for the process of writing movies and television shows.

I highly recommend this podcast - even if it is something you might not subscribe to - you can at least go to iTunes and look for some of your favorites movies and shows. Here is a link to the podcast within iTunes.

The Moth Podcast

One of these days, I will go over podcasts in a more general sense - with those who don’t really even understand the term “podcast” in mind.
For now, I want to highlight a podcast that I just recently got into. It is called The Moth Podcast, and it is the on-demand audio vehicle for the bigger not-for-profit storytelling organization, The Moth.

From their web site:
The Moth, a not-for-profit storytelling organization, was founded in New York in 1997 by poet and novelist George Dawes Green, who wanted to recreate in New York the feeling of sultry summer evenings on his native St. Simon's Island, Georgia, where he and a small circle of friends would gather to spin spellbinding tales on his friend Wanda's porch. After moving to New York, George missed the sense of connection he had felt sharing stories with his friends back home, and he decided to invite a few friends over to his New York apartment to tell and hear stories. Thus the first "Moth" evening took place in his living room. Word of these captivating story nights quickly spread, and The Moth moved to bigger venues in New York. Today, The Moth conducts eight ongoing programs and has brought more than 3,000 live stories to over 100,000 audience members.


Lately, due to the combination of what is going on with my work and the need for new things to listen to during my commute, I have been listening to audiobooks and podcasts dealing with screenwriting and storytelling. The Moth is a great example of one of these podcasts. When boiled down, it is a fascinating way to learn peoples’ stories as well as reflect upon how one would structure and present stories of his or her own life.

The most recent (8/2/2010) installment by Andrew Solomon was incredibly moving. I would summarize, but could not do justice to the story or the storytelling. Another thing I like about The Moth is that the stories are usually around 15 minutes long, so you do not need to commit a big chunk of time to listen and enjoy.

As mentioned at the top, I will go over podcasts in general sometime soon - for now, The Moth might be a great way to get introduced to how they work. One good thing about this is that podcasts are readily available for Mac and non-Mac users alike!

I hope you enjoy The Moth. If you have other suggestions, please leave them in the comments section.

1Password

I love recommending apps, tips and tricks with regard to Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV. I am also the kind of guy that worries about being reputable, so I am just as worried when I make recommendations because “what if they don’t like it as much as I do?! (gasp!)”

Today, I cast aside my worry. There is a chance that some may not need this or use it to the extent that I do, but this application is my longest-running favorite application for Mac (it has complimentary iPhone & iPad apps, as well). The application is 1Password for the Mac, by Agile Web Solutions.

There are a handful of other similar applications and the Mac even has built-in functionality with Keychain Access, but I got 1Password a couple of years ago and have never really tested the others out because it fit the bill and has evolved over time. I use 1Password (currently version 3.3.0) for 2 main things: secure passwords & secure data. I continue to use 1Password because of the ease it allows me to use the web, the ability to securely have my information available to me, the continued support that the software developer provides, and the peace of mind that all of these allow.

So, here the gist of it for those who are completely in the dark about what I am talking about. Maybe you have some sort of notebook, spreadsheet, napkin, whatever that you use to keep track of all of those logins, passwords, serial numbers, etc. Perhaps you just kind of use the same two or three moderately complex passwords for passwords every time you register on a web site; or maybe you step that up a little and use slight variations of those two or three standards. You are well aware of the security concerns with regard to your personal data - either you hear about it from work or in the media, or, if you are relatively computer-illiterate, then you have a built-in paranoia about putting anything on your computer, much less the internet. Underlying all of those concerns, just managing the passwords you do have can be frustrating (ie. paging through that notebook for the right one or not being sure if your spreadsheet is current.) Even though sites are able to help you if you forget your password, the process can be just a frustrating (but, for the sake of security, we kind of need it to be, right?)

1Password has helped me tremendously because I can have it create some crazy JEpd&@03jk0z!€{_ type of password for a banking site that I access, whether it be once a month or three times a day. It can create, store, auto-fill, and update the passwords for online sites as I need. Then, in case I am not on my Mac, I can have a secure vault on my iPhone, via the 1Password for iPhone app. Yes, I may have to type crazy password in now and again, but 1) I know it is safe and 2) I always have it available to me (note: even if I don’t have my phone, there are other, more in-depth ways of doing this). 1Password easily integrates itself into Safari and Firefox browsers, so much of my secure browsing and internet use can be done within 1 or 2 clicks
Outside of web browsing, there are numerous ways to use 1Password. I can keep personal data securely in one place. I am not great with remembering numbers, so whether I have bank account numbers that I need to use once in awhile or need my daughter’s social security number for whatever reason, I can have it all - even locked under a couple of passwords, depending on how secure it needs to be. I can keep track of software registration numbers (and even attach receipts to that file), personal notes, a home inventory in case of disaster, securely shop online and more. I just looked over the current web site and there are even more ways that I could leverage 1Password in my daily routines.

Agile Web Solutions has been very good concerning updates, whether they are adding functionality, continually ensuring that the software is as secure as it can be, or making sure the software works in concert with all of the updates to OS X. The updates are quick and simple when they do come, as well.

1Password is $39.95 for a single license / $69.95 for a family license(5 users). There is also a trial version as well. The accompanying iPhone app is currently $9.99.