The Writers Hangout

Rewind. Did you know there was another SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE besides the animated blockbuster starring Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen, and Fred Armisen? The first SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE hit theaters in 1993 and was the first feature-length live-action film based on a video game. Directed by the husband-and-wife team Rocky Morton and Annabel Jankel, it follows brothers Mario Mario (Bob Hoskins) and Luigi Mario (John Leguizamo) as they quest to rescue Princess Daisy (Samantha Mathis) from a dystopian parallel universe ruled by the ruthless King Koopa (Dennis Hopper). Unfortunately, it was a box office failure and was widely panned by critics. The credits list three writers, Parker Bennett, Terry Runté, and Ed Solomon.

Why did one MARIO movie succeed when the other MARIO movie didn’t? That’s the big question Sandy and Terry tackle in this episode.  

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PAGE International Screenwriting Awards
Hollywood’s favorite screenwriting contest -- one of the industry's top sources for new talent.

Hang out with us for a fun conversation with Lisa Orkin and Harris Orkin — daughter and son of legendary radio writer, actor, and producer Dick Orkin. Dick Orkin, the mind behind the iconic radio serial “Chickenman” and the creative powerhouse The Famous Radio Ranch, was hailed by Newsweek as the pioneer of “The Advertising Theater of the Absurd.” He revolutionized audio advertising with his use of deadpan comedy, memorable characters, and situational humor, setting a new standard for creative storytelling in audio.
Meet Our Guests:
Lisa Orkin is a comedian, actor, writer, and audio director renowned for her unique blend of comedy, storytelling, and marketing across radio, film, and digital audio platforms. She’s also known for her podcast production work, distinctive voice acting, and creative leadership at The Radio Ranch.
Harris Orkin is a multi-medium storyteller — author, playwright, screenwriter, video game narrative designer, and voice director. He’s best known for his BAFTA and WGA-nominated scripts for the Resident Evil video games and for his James Flynn Escapades spy comedy novels.
 The PAGE International Screenwriting Awards sponsors the WRITERS' HANGOUT.
Executive Producer Kristin Overn
Executive Producer/CreatorSandy Adomaitis
Producer Terry Sampson
Music by Ethan Stoller

Thanks for hanging out with us!

In this REWIND episode, Sandy and Terry dive into a fascinating Twitter thread that shares some really valuable insights into how signed writers found their representation. A big thank you to Tyler Clair Smith, the talented writer on X who inspired this episode. Be sure to follow Tyler Clair Smith at @tclairsmith—we certainly did!

In this episode, we discuss helpful internet programs for screenwriters. The Writers’ Hangout Podcast did not receive payment for our opinion.

The PAGE International Screenwriting Awards sponsors the WRITERS' HANGOUT.
Executive Producer Kristin Overn
Creator/Producer Sandy Adomaitis
Producer Terry Sampson
Music by Ethan Stoller

What makes Terminator 2: Judgment Day one of the greatest films ever made?
We're excited to have Becky D'Anna join us! Becky is a podcaster, a movie historian, and a lifelong cinephile with a 26-year career in movie marketing. We'll dive into an engaging chat about The Terminator, Comic-Con, the works of Ingmar Bergman, and much more!
Becky shares how watching Terminator 2 on opening day in 1991 inspired her Hollywood career and ultimately led to a 26-year career in movie marketing, working on blockbuster franchises including X-Men, Spider-Man, and Terminator Salvation.
The conversation also explores Quentin Tarantino's revival of historic movie theaters.
In This Episode
Why Terminator 2 remains one of the greatest action and science fiction films ever made.
How James Cameron blended spectacular action with an emotional story about hope and humanity.
The evolution of the Terminator franchise and Becky's ranking of every film.
The magic of seeing classic movies with an audience on the big screen.
Quentin Tarantino's preservation of the New Beverly Cinema and the Vista Theatre.
Becky's lifelong love of Comic-Con and what first-time attendees should expect.
What it's like to work in movie marketing and how studios promote blockbuster films.
How movie tie-ins with brands and restaurants help launch major releases.
Why Ingmar Bergman's films continue to inspire generations of filmmakers.
Connect with Becky D'Anna
Hanging with Becky
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hanging-with-becky/id1896866617
Director’s Take: A Sony Pictures Podcast
https://directorstakepodcast.com
T2 episode just dropped from Film 89 
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-154-terminator-2-judgment-day-1991/id1332493155?i=1000777367810

What can screenwriters learn from one of the greatest filmmakers of our time?
In this episode, we explore five inspiring quotes from Academy Award-winning writer and director Christopher Nolan and break down the storytelling principles behind his remarkable career. From Memento and The Dark Knight trilogy to Inception, Interstellar, and Oppenheimer, Nolan has built a reputation for creating emotionally powerful, intellectually challenging films that captivate audiences worldwide.
Before diving into his writing philosophy, we also discuss Nolan's upcoming epic The Odyssey, the first major studio feature filmed entirely with IMAX cameras, and what makes the project so ambitious.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why embracing your limitations can make you a more creative storyteller.
How creating your own storytelling rules is more powerful than simply breaking existing ones.
Why point of view is one of the most important decisions a writer can make.
Christopher Nolan's "inside-out" approach to writing believable characters.
Why stepping away from a script can often be the key to solving story problems.
How high-concept ideas only work when they're grounded in universal human emotions.
We also discuss:
Christopher Nolan's remarkable filmmaking career.
His long collaboration with his brother Jonathan Nolan and producer Emma Thomas.
The groundbreaking production of The Odyssey and its all-IMAX format.
The film's star-studded cast, including Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong'o, John Leguizamo, Elliot Page, and Mia Goth.
How Nolan spent years developing Inception before discovering its emotional core.
Whether you're writing your first screenplay, revising a novel, or simply looking for creative inspiration, these five lessons from Christopher Nolan offer timeless advice on crafting stories that are both intellectually engaging and emotionally resonant.