On The Page, again!

So about two years ago, me and two other writers, Mike Martin and Aydrea Walden, were asked to be on On The Page podcast by the wonderful Pilar Alessandra for our first time. She calls us the "Go Getters" which is really cool! Then recently, she asked us back again as returning guests. So since it had been a while since I chatted with these two other wonderful writers, it was really nice to be back on the podcast with them and see what they were up to. I will say, that I know I was super nervous the first time I did the podcast. I can't speak for the others. But I will say is we had a really nice relaxed energy together this time. Or maybe it was because I wasn't as nervous this time! haha Who knows. All I know is I hope it's as fun to listen to as it was for us to record. And of course, it's always wonderful spending time with Pilar. Please listen and hope you enjoy!

http://onthepage.libsyn.com

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-page-screenwriting/id262077408

http://podbay.fm/show/262077408

Nothing Shines Like Dirt - My guest spot on a podcast

So a couple weeks back I recorded a podcast for Nothing Shines Like Dirt. The two gals that interviewed me were Elise Sievert and Lesley Shannon, both do everything in the biz it seems: Actresses, producers, directors, you name it! They're as adorable in person as they are in their photos and made me feel comfortable right away. I was a tad nervous before we started speaking even though this is the 2nd podcast I've done so far. Luckily, each one seems to get easier to do. What I will say about speaking with Elise and Lesley is they were easy to chat with and so sweet that I felt like I'd known them for ages. And what I loved about how they did the podcast is they set me up in front of the microphone and we started talking about normal things and before I knew it we were actually in the middle of the interview/podcast. Eventually, I thought, hey, I think we've started! It's an awesome way to do a podcast, if I do say so myself. They interviewed me about my upcoming movie, 5 Weddings, that opens worldwide October 26, plus a whole other bunch of things about my writing path and writing advice. So without further ado, here is a selfie we took after the podcast and the podcast itself. Hope you enjoy!

Itunes:https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/nothing-shines-like-dirt/id1114955249?mt=2

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/nothingshineslikedirt

Website: https://www.nothingshineslikedirt.com/podcast-guests-1/denisecruz-castino

Being on Pilar Alessandra's podcast

So you might have already listened to me on Pilar Alessandra's podcast. If not, please feel free to. Here's the link, we're in episode 502, http://onthepage.libsyn.com/

A bit about the experience. First of all, I was nervous as heck leading up to it. So then I meet the other two writers right before we start taping, Aydrea Walden, and Mike Martin, and they're just as nervous as I am! So that's a relief knowing it's not just me!

Then, this is my second time to meet Pilar, and she was just as sweet as the first time. If you listen to her podcast, you already know she's super nice and really friendly. And guess what? Every time I meet her, she's like that in person! I really hope at some point in her life she gets mad at something or someone, but I have this awful feeling that just never happens and she's just the sweetest person on this planet!

So, as Pilar says in the podcast, she had some difficulty getting the recording to actually record. So it took about half an hour for her to figure it out. Poor thing was worried she'd have to reschedule. It took us a lot to find a day that worked for all of us, so that wouldn't be easy. Meanwhile, Mike and Aydrea and I started chatting about our backgrounds and what kind of things we had written. As Pilar mentions in the podcast, we easily made friends. They were super nice and I think when you meet other writers that are working towards making their dreams turn into reality, you're really just excited to meet other writers in the same boat and hear their stories. I don't know if it's always like that, but it was for us.

Finally Pilar got the recording to actually record, and we were off to start our podcast. We were still super nervous but all tried to act like, heck, no big deal! ha! It was! I got the feeling none of us were trying to talk over each other and be really respectful of what the others wanted to say so they could get in their info. Then before we knew it, it was over!

Every show, Pilar says this closing line, "And have a good writing week!" She looked at us to see if we wanted to join in with her to say that at the end of our show, and yes we did! I was really awesome to say that line! I'd been listening to hundreds of podcasts of hers at this point, and it was very cool to think that someday I might get to say that infamous line. And then, that day was finally here! So surreal. I know it's silly. It's not like it's like winning an Oscar or anything! haha But for me, it definitely was a moment.

So then we had to wait a couple weeks for the podcast to come out. Of course, while you wait, you think of all the things you could have said that might have been funnier. Or a great insight you missed out on saying. But oh well, that's the show everyone's going to hear. And so far, I've been getting really nice comments about it. So good! Phew! At least it's done! I've even had a writer friend listen to it on his own and realize, hey, my friend Denise is on Pilar's podcast! And he emailed to tell me he heard it. So that was kind of cool.

In the end, it was a great experience. Mike and Aydrea and I are keeping in touch and hope to meet up when we have time. But boy, writers are busy! haha

So here's the group. Everyone has the best smiles and look super nice. And that's because they were and are! If you listen to the podcast, let me know what you think!

Ready for a script consultation with Pilar?

I've always wanted to use a script doctor or have a script consultation from someone professional in the industry. I've been in many writing groups and also have many trusted writer friends to give me feedback. But this time, I have a certain really great producer that's waiting on my current script. So even though my talented writer friends helped me get my script to where it is now, I just felt I needed one more special set of eyes to take me the final way.

So, I listen on a regular bases to On The Page, the podcast with Pilar Alessandra. If you don't know her podcast and you're a writer or anything in the business, you need to listen to her podcasts asap. I've been listening to them for a year or so now. She's had the podcast much longer than that. But I listen to them daily, sometimes a few a day. She records them weekly, so I'm slowly catching up! But what I can say is that everyone in the industry seems to have used her writing guidance at one point or another. Her guests and those that have used her services are professional TV writers, film writers, directors producers, and everything in-between. Every time I listen to her podcasts, I've learned something so invaluable.

So when it was time for me to decide who I would hire to look over my latest draft, I knew it had to be Pilar. You can either pay for rush feature notes at $500 or regular turnaround at $400. Sitcom notes are $350. I had a feature. You can also meet her at her office, on skype or on the phone. I wanted to meet in person because I've been a fan for so long that I wanted to meet the gal behind the podcast. And all I can say, is she's as sweet as she seems on the podcast. Not fair! lol No, really it was such a pleasure meeting her. Of course, then I was thinking, what if she rips my script apart? I'll be so excited to meet her and have my hopes dashed in the same instance. Luckily for all my hard work, even though she had notes throughout, there weren't any, "Start from page 1 rewrite" notes. Phew!

And all her notes were amazing and I agreed and saw how they were going to punch up and improve what I already had. That's exactly why I wanted to her hire. On one of her podcasts she even said how friends usually try to give notes based on what they want your script to be, not based on the script you already have. (By the way, I never do that). But, I will say, most writers I know do that. And so even with good intentions, you sometimes get lead astray. But with Pilar, she only gave me notes that I knew would improve my script.

I'm so super excited. I am half way done with my rewrite from her notes. And after the holidays I will get my script to the producer ready to read this. With her notes, I feel really confident to get my script to him. Before her notes, I'm not sure if I would have. Of course, as writers, we always hope we've turned out something great. But can we always be so certain? But Pilar really gave me a lot of confidence in what I wrote. And now I can't wait to finish my latest rewrite! I will definitely use her on future scripts.

Here's her website for classes and consultation if you're interested too. I highly recommend! http://www.onthepage.tv/script-consultations/script-consultations/