USC School of Cinematic Arts Conversations With... Speakers Series Podcast

Warren Bell is a twenty-year veteran of the sitcom business. His lengthy list of credits as a writer, producer and showrunner includes "Coach," "Ellen," "The PJs" and "According to Jim." He also has written or co-written seventeen network pilots, the most recent being "Home Game" for CBS.

USC Film School graduate Gabe Sachs is part of the Sachs-Judah writing-producing team. From early in his career, he started working with Judd Apatow as writer-producer on Sick In The Head, Freaks & Geeks and Undeclared. He and Judah continued in TV on Just Shoot Me and Life As We Know It, which they also created. After creating the new 90210, Sachs and Judah were asked to come on to write Diary Of A Wimpy Kid. Sachs and Judah are currently working on four features, including Diary Of A Wimpy Kid 2.

Melissa Rosenberg is one of the most successful female screenwriters of all time. Her screenplays for Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse have helped the franchise to grosses of over $1b. A trained dancer, Rosenberg launched her screenwriting career with Step Up. In TV, Rosenberg has written for The O.C, Ally McBeal, Party of Five, Boston Public, The Outer Limits & Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. She has recently completed the fourth season as both head writer and executive producer on Dexter. Rosenberg is a graduate of the USC Peter Stark Producing Program.

James Vanderbilt graduated from USC in 1999, with his first script sale coming two days before graduation. By 2003 three of his screenplays had been made into films: Basic, starring John Travolta and Sam Jackson, The Rundown, starring the Rock, and Darkness Falls. In 2007 his screenplay of Zodiac received widespread critical acclaim. His adaptation of The Losers was released in theatres on April 23. He is currently working on the reboot of the Spider-Man franchise.

Stephen J Cannell is a television producer, writer, novelist and occasional actor. He has scripted more than 450 episodes and produced or executive produced over 1,500 episodes of network TV. Despite suffering from dyslexia, Cannell has created or co-created nearly 40 television series including The Rockford Files, The Greatest American Hero, The A-Team, Wiseguy, 21 Jump Street and The Commish. He is a producer on the 2010 movie The A Team.

Eric Roth has nearly 40 years of screenwriting experience, in which time he has been rewarded with a WGA Award, a Humanitas Prize and an Academy Award. His extensive credits include Forrest Gump, The Postman, The Horse Whisperer, The Insider, Ali, Munich, The Good Shepherd and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Eric's currently working on Gump & Co, a follow up to Forrest Gump, as well as a reuniting with David Fincher in adapting the BBC TV series, House of Cards. He is an MFA graduate of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, where he won the prestigious Samuel Goldwyn Screenwriting Award.

All SCA Alumni, All working writers... Paul Foley: The Jetsons, Curious George, Scooby Doo 3. Doug Miro: The Great Raid, The Uninvited, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and Sharky's Machine (2012). Scott Murphy: Angel, My Own Worst Enemy and Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

In 1998 Scott Neustadter was hired to work in the story department of Robert De Niro's Tribeca Productions, first as story editor, then as Director of Development. Neustadter and his writing partner, Michael H. Weber, have sold projects to Sony, Warner Bros, Universal, 20th Century Fox, Paramount and Fox Searchlight, including the semi-autobiographical (500) Days of Summer and not-at-all-autobiographical Pink Panther 2.

Pamela Ribon was a producer on Mind of Mencia and Executive Story Editor on Samantha Who. She is currently developing a pilot for a major studio. Her novels include Why Girls Are Weird, Why Moms Are Weird and the upcoming Going In Circles.

Over the past thirteen years, Susco has penned and sold over forty scripts and pitches. He has written for a variety of acclaimed directors and producers. His first film, The Grudge, was produced by legendary director Sam Raimi and grossed almost $200 million worldwide in its theatrical release.

Susannah Grant wrote Erin Brockovich and received Academy Award, BAFTA and WGA nominations for Best Original Screenplay. A recipient of a 1992 Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting, her other credits include Ever After, In Her Shoe and Catch and Release, which she also directed. Grant was interviewed by Sean Wolfson for the "Conversations With..." speaker series, hosted by the Writing Division at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. An episode in the USC School of Cinematic Arts podcast series.

Ronald D. Moore co-created Battlestar Galactica with David Eick and executive produced it throughout its four-season run. He has written, produced and run shows such as Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Carnivale. His feature credits include the Star Trek films Generations and First Contact. Among his future projects are a prequel to The Thing and the television series Virtuality and Caprica. Moore was interviewed by Sean Wolfson for the "Conversations With..." speaker series hosted by the Writing Division at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. An episode in the USC School of Cinematic Arts podcast series.

Jonathan Levine wrote and directed The Wackness which won the Audience Awards at the Sundance and LA Film Festivals. He also directed All the Boys Love Mandy Lane and has projects in development with Sony Pictures and others. Levine was interviewed by Sean Wolfson for the "Conversations With..." speaker series hosted by the Writing Division at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. An episode in the USC School of Cinematic Arts podcast series.

Pamela Pettler began her career in television and has gone on to write Tim Burton's Corpse Bride, Monster House and the upcoming 9. She currently has projects in the works with Robert Zemeckis, Ridley Scott and others. Pettler was interviewed by Sean Wolfson as a featured guest at the "Conversations With ..." speaker series, hosted by the Writing Division at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. An episode in the USC School of Cinematic Arts podcast series.

Vince Gilligan is the creator of AMC's Breaking Bad and was an executive producer on The X-Files for which he wrote 30 episodes and received two Golden Globe awards and three Emmy nominations. His feature credits include Wilder Napalm, Home Fries and Hancock. Gilligan was interviewed by Sean Wolfson as a featured guest at the "Conversations With..." speaker series, hosted by the Writing Division at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. An episode in the USC School of Cinematic Arts podcast series.

Peter Buchman Blurb: Peter Buchman wrote Che, the epic biopic of Ernesto "Che" Guevara, for Steven Soderbergh, His other credits include Jurassic Park III and Eragon. Buchman was interviewed by Sean Wolfson as a featured guest at the "Conversations With ..." speaker series, hosted by the Writing Division at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. An episode in the USC School of Cinematic Arts podcast series.

Mark & Michael Polish wrote and produced Twin Falls Idaho, Jackpot, Northfork and The Astronaut Farmer. In addition to writing, Michael directed and Mark starred in these films. Under their Prohibition Pictures banner, they will release Manure and Stay Cool in 2009. The Polish Brothers were interviewed by Sean Wolfson for the "Conversations With..." speaker series, hosted by the Writing Division at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. An episode in the USC School of Cinematic Arts podcast series.

Stuart Beattie wrote Collateral and Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl on spec, and has since gone on to write Derailed, 30 Days of Night, Australia and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. Beattie was a featured guest at the "Conversations With..." speaker series, hosted by the Writing Division at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. An episode in the USC School of Cinematic Arts podcast series.

Karey Kirkpatrick is the writer of Chicken Run, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Spiderwick Chronicles and many other films. He co-wrote and -directed Over the Hedge, and made his live-action directorial debut with NoWhereLand. A USC alumnus, Kirkpatrick was a featured guest at the "Conversations With..." speaker series, hosted by the Writing Division at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. An episode in the USC School of Cinematic Arts podcast series.

Nicholas Meyer has written and/or directed Star Treks II, IV and VI, as well as Time After Time, Sommersby, The Human Stain, Elegy and The Seven-per-cent Solution, for which he received an Academy Award nomination. He has also received Emmy nominations for The Night That Panicked America and The Odyssey. Meyer was a featured guest at the "Conversations With ..." speaker series, hosted by the Writing Division at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. An episode in the USC School of Cinematic Arts podcast series.

Garth Jennings and Nick Goldsmith are the creative team behind The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy as well as music videos of Beck, The Wannadies, Vampire Weekend, R.E.M. and Fatboy Slim, among others. Jennings wrote and directed the film Son of Rambow, while Goldsmith produced. Jennings and Goldsmith were featured guests at the "Conversations With ..." speaker series, hosted by the Writing Division at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. An episode in the USC School of Cinematic Arts podcast series.

Derek Haas and Michael Brandt are the writers of 3:10 To Yuma and the action blockbuster 2 Fast 2 Furious. They've also penned the upcoming Angelina Jolie film Wanted. Haas and Brandt were featured guests at the "Conversations With ..." speaker series, hosted by the Writing Division at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. An episode in the USC School of Cinematic Arts podcast series.

Tom Schulman is the Academy Award-winning writer of Dead Poets Society; Honey, I Shrunk The Kids; What About Bob; Medicine Man and 8 Heads In A Duffel Bag (which he also directed). Schulman was a featured guest at the "Conversations With ..." speaker series, hosted by the Writing Division at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. An episode in the USC School of Cinematic Arts podcast series.

Bill Prady (Two and a Half Men, Dharma & Greg), executive producer and co-creator of The Big Bang Theory, discusses his show, along with staff writers Dave Goetsch (3rd Rock From the Sun) and Jennifer Glickman (Caroline in the City). Prady, Goetsch and Glickman were featured guests at the "Conversations With ..." speaker series, hosted by the Writing Division at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. An episode in the USC School of Cinematic Arts podcast series.

David Weiss '87 has worked in animation for over 15 years, writingsuch films as All Dogs Go To Heaven, Shrek 2, Jimmy Neutron and The Rugrats Movie. His work in television includes Cybill, Rugrats and Mission Hill. He currently serves as the vice-president of the Writers Guild of America West. Weiss was a featured guest at the "Conversations With ..." speaker series, hosted by the Writing Division at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. An episode in the USC School of Cinematic Arts podcast series.

Alfred Gough & Miles Millar are the creators of the hit show Smallville. As a writing team they have worked on Spiderman 2, Lethal Weapon 4, Shanghai Noon and Herbie Fully Loaded. They are both 1994 alumni of the Peter Stark Producing Program. Gough and Millar were featured guests at the "Conversations With ..." speaker series, hosted by the Writing Division at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. An episode in the USC School of Cinematic Arts podcast series.

Julie Taymor is known for directing such films as Frida (2003), and the recently released Across the Universe (2007). Taymor was the first woman to win the Tony Award for directing a musical with her adaptation of The Lion King (1997). She has directed operas and stage plays across the world, and is also an award-winning costume and puppet designer. Taymor was a featured guest at the "Conversations With..." speaker series, hosted by the Writing Division at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. An episode in the USC School of Cinematic Arts podcast series.

Jerry Stahl is the writer of Bad Boys 2 and the book Permanent Midnight (adapted into the film starring Ben Stiller). He's written over 10 episodes of CSI, and has also written episodes of Northern Exposure, Twin Peaks, ALF, Moonlighting, thirtysomething and You Again? His other novels include Perv-A Love Story, Plainclothes Naked, Love Without and I, Fatty. Stahl was a featured guest at the "Conversations With ..." speaker series, hosted by the Writing Division at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. An episode in the USC School of Cinematic Arts podcast series.

Richard Shepard is the critically acclaimed writer/director of The Hunting Party and The Matador. He also recently won an Emmy and the Director's Guild Award for directing the TV pilot of Ugly Betty. His other films include Mexico City, Oxygen, Mercy, The Linguini Incident and Scotland PA (as a producer). Shepard was a featured guest at the "Conversations With ..." speaker series, hosted by the Writing Division at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. An episode in the USC School of Cinematic Arts podcast series.

Mark Fergus is best known for his work on Children of Men, for which he was honored with the USC Scripter Award. Fergus and his partner Hawk Otsby also penned the adaptation of John Carter Of Mars, now in turnaround at Pixar. Jon Favreau enjoyed working with the team so much that he hired them to rewrite Iron Man, which is slated for a summer blockbuster release in 2008. Not only a talented writer, Fergus also directed First Snow starring Guy Pearce. Fergus was a featured guest at the "Conversations With ..." speaker series, hosted by the Writing Division at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. An episode in the USC School of Cinematic Arts podcast series.

Jane Anderson is an award-winning writer/director whose work has spanned film, television and theater. A California native, Anderson started her career in New York theatre, appearing in David Mamet's Sexual Perversity in Chicago. Her stage work led to a series of television jobs including The Facts of Life and The Wonder Years. In the '90s, Anderson branched into feature film, writing It Could Happen to You (1994), and adapting How to Make an American Quilt (1995). Most recently she adapted and directed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio (2005). Anderson was a featured guest at the Zaki Gordon Speaker Series, hosted by the Division of Writing for Screen & Television at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. An episode of the Zaki Gordon Speakers Series podcast.

Stephen Chbosky wrote the screenplay for the acclaimed film adaptation of Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, Rent (2005). Chbosky also co-created and serves as executive producer of the CBS post-apocalyptic drama, Jericho. He is currently writing the screenplay adaptation of Marti Leimbach's novel Daniel Isn't Talking for Fox 2000 and actor Julia Roberts. Chbosky was a featured guest at the Zaki Gordon Speaker Series, hosted by the Division of Writing for Screen & Television at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. An episode of the Zaki Gordon Speakers Series podcast.

Jamie Vanderbilt is a writer/producer with a penchant for dark dramas, including the murder mystery Basic (2003) and the serial killer chiller Zodiac (2007). A 1999 graduate of the School of Cinematic Arts screenwriting program, Vanderbilt spent an afternoon speaking with students about the ins and outs of writing and the entertainment industry. Vanderbilt was a featured guest at the Zaki Gordon Speaker Series, hosted by the Division of Writing for Screen & Television at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. An episode of the Zaki Gordon Speakers Series podcast.

Simon Kinberg is a British-born writer whose work on projects such as X-Men: The Last Stand and Mr. and Mrs. Smith has made him one of Hollywood's hottest scribes and earned him accolades such as being named by Premiere Magazine as "New Power" Screenwriter of the Year in 2005. Kinberg was a featured guest at the Zaki Gordon Speaker Series, hosted by the Division of Writing for Screen & Television at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. An episode of the Zaki Gordon Speaker Series podcast.

Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg are the writing force behind the 2004 hit comedy Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle. The film depicts the lives of two 20-something stoner roommates - one a Korean-American investment banker; the other an Indian-American medical school candidate - go through a life-changing journey, as they spend a night roaming the state of New Jersey in search of White Castle hamburgers. The duo are currently at work on the sequel, Harold & Kumar Go to Amsterdam, which is due out in 2007. Hurwitz and Schlossberg were featured guests at the Zaki Gordon Speaker Series, hosted by the Division of Writing for Screen & Television at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. An episode of the Zaki Gordon Speaker Series podcast.

Joel Michaely is best known as an actor from such films as Academy Award-winner Roger Avary's The Rules of Attraction, But I'm a Cheerleader, and the teen classic Can't Hardly Wait, where he was the biggest geek in school. Upcoming films include Cruel World opening October 23rd with Jaimie Pressley and Eddie Furlong, as well as The Factory Girl coming in December with Sienna Miller and Guy Pearce. Michaely was a featured guest at the Zaki Gordon Speaker Series, hosted by the Division of Writing for Screen & Television at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. An episode of the Zaki Gordon Speaker Series podcast.

Suzanne Todd has become one of cinema's leading producers, along with her sister Jennifer who is the other half of Team Todd. Together the two have been a driving force behind a string of commercially and critically acclaimed films ranging from the Austin Powers series to Memento. Suzanne Todd was a featured guest at the Zaki Gordon Speaker Series, hosted by the Division of Writing for Screen & Television at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.

Gary Ross has written numerous hit films, including Big, Mr. Baseball, Dave and Lassie, in addition to directing Pleasantville and Seabiscuit, for which he received an Academy Award nomination. Ross was a featured guest at the Zaki Gordon Speaker Series, hosted by the Division of Writing for Sceen & Television at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.

Frank Wuliger, vice president of the Feature Literary Department at the Gersh Agency, represents writers and directors and has worked on films such as Eve's Bayou, The Day After Tomorrow, Chocolat, The Wedding Date, Dogfight and Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. A linchpin to projects that range from independents to blockbusters, Wuliger fosters young writers and helps them build careers.

Barry Blaustein is best known for having written such comedy classics as Coming to America, Boomerang and The Nutty Professor I & II. Blaustein recently penned and directed The Ringer, which stars Johnny Knoxville, and directed the critically acclaimed documentary Beyond the Mat. He worked as head writer and supervising producer on Saturday Night Live in the early '80s, where he wrote and developed characters such as Buckwheat, Velvet Jones, Mr. Robinson and Gumby.