From Oscar snubs to 90s nostalgia, screenwriter Adam Davis (Just Friends) takes us on a wild ride through his creative journey. He talks about his new podcast "What Were They Thinking?" investigating questionable Oscar decisions, shares the story behind Ryan Reynolds' iconic "I Swear" scene, and reveals what it really takes to make it in Hollywood. Join Kent and Coop for a fascinating conversation about courage, creativity, and never giving up.

Stories From The Show

* Adam shares a Turning Point from a middle school writing contest that sent him to a career in screenwriting

* Adam shares how he went from making car wash parts in New Jersey to being a paid screenwriter

* How Adam created Atomic Entertainment with his friend Jerry Kolber to create genre-defining neuroscience and informational series like BRAIN GAMES and BRAINCHILD.

* Adam's newest podcast, "What Were They Thinking?” investigates past Oscar decisions and behind-the-scenes stories with co-host Bruce Vilanch, a writer for many Oscar shows over the years.

* Adam shares a couple of surprising behind-the-scenes stories about actors and the Oscars from the podcast

* The real story behind Ryan Reynolds singing "I Swear" in the fat suit for the opening of the movie “Just Friends.”

Questions We Explore

* How can creatives keep going in the face of frequent rejection and projects not getting made?

* What lessons can be applied from the business world, like building strong relationships, to the creative process?

* How important is it for artists to have a unique, searchable name to stand out in a crowded field?

* Should you keep pitching and revising a rejected screenplay or move on to the next project?

Chapters

04:14 Turning Points in Writing

07:09 The Importance of Creative Exercises

09:56 Navigating Rewrites and Collaborations

12:56 The Birth of Atomic Entertainment

15:57 Resilience in the Face of Rejection

19:08 The Journey To Making Just Friends

21:42 The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?

24:46 Creating the Podcast: A New Venture

29:04 The Oscars: A Deep Dive into Nominations and Winners

31:42 The Evolution of the Academy Awards

33:24 The Importance of Branding and Marketing in Film

37:52 The Making of Just Friends and Working With Ryan Reynolds

42:09 Behind the Scenes: Oscar Stories and Anecdotes

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'What Were They Thinking?' Oscars Podcast & Working With Ryan Reynolds