Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Film Courage
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How To Get Inside The Mind Of A Character - Steve Harper
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![Easiest Way To Avoid Writers Block - Billy Van Zandt [FULL INTERVIEW]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eNTL4kFYWiI/mqdefault.jpg "Easiest Way To Avoid Writers Block - Billy Van Zandt [FULL INTERVIEW]
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In this interview, Film Courage speaks with Billy Van Zandt on his writing process, acting, comedy, theater in New Jersey and his late writing partner Jane Milmore.
0:00 - When Writing Screenplays This Is The Mistake That Most Actors Make
9:27 - If Your Writing Doesn’t Scare You... Youre Probably Doing It Wrong
19:47 - If You Are Writing A TV Spec Script... Avoid These Mistakes
29:02 - What Stops People From Having A Successful Career In The Entertainment Business
49:25 - How Ive Written Every Day For 46 Years
58:32 - Why Writers Should Study I Love Lucy
1:08:34 - Why Is It That Some Writers Never Get Writers Block?
1:19:27 - Why Arent People Watching Comedies Any More?
1:30:33 - 3 Ways To Produce A Stage Play
1:38:49 - How To Make Money Writing Stage Plays
Billy Van Zandt and his writing partner, the late Jane Milmore, are two of the most often produced playwrights in the world. Billy and Jane met at a high school acting competition in their home state of New Jersey. Together for 46 years, they wrote and starred in 25 plays together. Billys solo play The Property Known as Garland starring his ex-wife Adrienne Barbeau broke box office records at Off-Broadways Actors Playhouse. The plays have been produced in thousands of theaters worldwide, including two productions directed by Oscar winner Olympia Dukakis (Billy and Jane are funny, outrageous, off-the chart writers/performers) and one by film legend Burt Reynolds. For television, these award-winning writers have produced over three hundred hours of television comedy, including Newhart; Martin, which won them a Peoples Choice Award; The Hughleys, which won them a Prism Award; Suddenly Susan for Brooke Shields; Daddy Dearest for Don Rickles and Richard Lewis; Anything But Love for Jamie Lee Curtis and Richard Lewis; The Wayans Bros.; and I Love Lucy: The Very First Show which won them an Emmy nomination. As an actor, Billy made his film debut in Jaws 2; Billy lives in Los Angeles, when hes not touring the world in the last Van Zandt/Milmore musical, The Boomer Boys Musical.
BUY THE BOOK - BECAUSE ITS FUNNY!: The Plays of Billy Van Zandt & Jane Milmore
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BUY THE BOOK - GET IN THE CAR, JANE!: Adventures in the TV Wasteland
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CONNECT WITH BILLY VAN ZANDT
https://vanzandtmilmore.com
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0888345
https://www.facebook.com/VanZandtMilmoreProductions
https://x.com/billyvzandt
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Why Arent People Watching Comedies Any More? - https://youtu.be/guATSXnE3g8
Hidden Tools For Writing A Comedy Screenplay - https://youtu.be/X5G0INWwQe4
Unbelievable Secret Behind 99% Of All Comedy - https://youtu.be/0FEmuUpeHrc
The Formula For Writing A Great Comedy Script - https://youtu.be/A5iGXzZN0iM
The Art and Craft Of Writing Comedy - https://youtu.be/XkqueJePFuw
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►BOOKS WE RECOMMEND:
THE NUTSHELL TECHNIQUE: Crack the Secret of Successful Screenwriting https://amzn.to/2X3Vx5F
THE STORY SOLUTION: 23 Actions All Great Heroes Must Take
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THE ANATOMY OF STORY: 22 Steps To Becoming A Master Storyteller
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THE ART OF DRAMATIC WRITING - Lajos Egri
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ON WRITING: A Memoir of the Craft
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