From Contest Quarterfinalist to Industry Meetings: A Screenwriter’s Real Path Forward, Jack Cusick
The ISA Podcast
What does it mean to “level up” as a screenwriter? Grounded sci-fi writer Jack Cusick breaks down the realities of building a screenwriting career, from mastering craft, to finding community, to finally stepping into real industry conversations. Jack shares how he fell in love with storytelling, why the structure of screenwriting sharpened his writing, and how he thinks about grounded sci-fi as character-first storytelling rather than spectacle. He also opens up about “quarterfinalist syndrome,” rewriting without losing your sanity, and why progress in this business often feels like a...
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ISA Presents: How to Hook Agents & Producers, a roundtable with ISA Leadership
The ISA Podcast
Join the ISA for an honest conversation about what agents & producers want & what you need to do to become the writer they're searching for. They're not just looking for potential. They're looking for proof. In this roundtable, we'll cover: What makes agents say yes (& what makes them pass immediately) The truth about what your script needs to be ready & how to get it there How to build the professional foundation that gets you noticed Strategic paths to industry visibility The ISA resources that help you Get Great → Get Noticed → Get Repped Featuring: Craig James...
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Keeping the Fun in Filmmaking: Molly Ratermann’s Creative Mindset | Emerging Screenwriter Interview
The ISA Podcast
Writer–director–actor Molly Ratermann shares the wild, deeply personal, and inspiring story behind her debut feature film, "Making a Bridesmaid."
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Take 10 with Craig - General Meetings: Stop Trying to Sell. Start Building Relationships.
The ISA Podcast
A general meeting isn’t about pitching your project. It’s about building relationships, establishing trust, and showing executives, producers, and collaborators who you are as a person and storyteller.
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"How to be a Screenwriter" with Phil Stark (South Park, That '70s Show, Dude, Where's My Car?)
The ISA Podcast
Screenwriter and therapist Phil Stark joins the ISA for an honest, funny, and deeply insightful conversation about creativity, impostor syndrome, and breaking into the industry.
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From Dream to Debut: Alex Sarrigeorgiou’s First Feature Film Story, making "In Transit"
The ISA Podcast
Writer, actor, and poet Alex Sarrigeorgiou talks about her creative journey and her debut feature film, "In Transit," a tender, intimate queer drama about connection, identity, and the courage to change direction in life.
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Overcoming Impostor Syndrome as a Writer | Trusting the Process of Storytelling
The ISA Podcast
“The idea of impostor syndrome is something I think we all struggle with — and I’m no exception.” In this heartfelt reflection, Craig James opens up about creative self-doubt, trusting your work, and learning to let go once you’ve done your part.
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Just Your Typical Award-winning Screenwriter-slash-Zookeeper | Alli Kiko Masloske's Inspiring Story
The ISA Podcast
In this inspiring conversation, Alli Kiko Masloske shares her creative journey from working with animals to writing screenplays that connect deeply with audiences. From navigating chronic illness to finding her voice in a competitive industry, Alli opens up about how humor, honesty, and community have shaped her work and outlook on life.
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Dani Hanks on Writing with Authentic Voice & Building a TV Career, Emerging Screenwriter Interview
The ISA Podcast
Writer, director, and creative powerhouse Dani Hanks joins Shaya Weber for an in-depth conversation about her journey from actor to award-winning writer, how chronic illness shaped their perspective, and their process for writing powerful, character-driven stories. Learn how Dani approaches outlining, keeps momentum through rejection, and balances a thriving creative life with a demanding day job. Perfect for emerging screenwriters, showrunners-in-training, and anyone seeking inspiration and practical tips for breaking into TV writing. BiographyDani Hanks (they/she) is a disabled...
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Finding Your True Writing Voice | Stop Writing for the Audience, Start Writing for YOURSELF
The ISA Podcast
Every writer needs to find their true voice, that unique perspective that makes their work authentic and unforgettable. We dive into what “voice” really means and how to write from a place of honesty.
info_outlineStephanie Bast was abandoned in Korea, adopted by Italians and raised in a town so small and white, someone asked: “How are you gonna understand her when she starts speaking?” Fiercely loved and protected, she was taught to fear “the other” while knowing “the other” was herself. She started to write comedy to heal a wound. Now she writes to heal others, creating characters who think they’re not enough, desperate to prove they’re worthy of being saved.
Stephanie lives in Los Angeles and is currently ISA’s Story Farm fellow, Roadmap’s Diversity Fellow, studied at UCLA extension and placed as a Finalist for Austin Film Festival, Final Draft’s Big Break, CineStory, PAGE and The Writers Lab winner. A Broadway and TV/Film actress in the time when presenting as Asian was a detriment, she has turned the pain of her race into a super power.
Stephanie writes for everyone who’s adopted. She writes for everyone who hates looking in the mirror. She writes for her children, so they may always love their eyes. In a pinch, Stephanie can perform a reverse vasectomy.
See more about Stephanie here: https://www.networkisa.org/profile/stephanie-bast