Jim Burnstein, the John H. Mitchell Professor of Entertainment and Director of Screenwriting Program at the University of Michigan stopped by Ledger to talk about his career as a screenwriter. He's written such films as Renaissance Man, starring Danny DeVito and directed by Penny Marhsall, Mighty Ducks 3, a particular childhood favorite of mine, and more.

We discussed how he became a successful screenwriter without moving from Plymouth, MI to L.A. - and specifically he in the 80s and 90s - and what that process looked and felt like. He tells us the one thing you shouldn’t say as a writer and how one time he did in fact say that thing to beloved actor (and total comic book nerd; for real, look it up) Ed Asner; what turnaround is and feels like to an actor; and also, what it means to have people on your side, even if it’s ONE person.

The books he recommends for screenwriters are, in no particular order:

William Goldman’s ADVENTURE IN THE SCREEN TRADE
Linda Seger’s MAKING A GOOD SCRIPT GREAT
David Howard and Edward Mabley’s THE TOOLS OF SCREENWRITING: A WRITER’S GUIDE TO THE CRAFT AND ELEMENTS OF A SCREENPLAY.
Miranda J. Banks's THE WRITERS: A HISTORY OF AMERICAN SCREENWRITERS AND THEIR GUILD
Lynda Obst's SLEEPLESS IN HOLLYWOOD

Thank you so much to Jim for stopping by!

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Thank you for listening!