We talked with Paul Guay about his work on The Little Rascals (1994) film! This was a fun, insightful conversation about screenwriting, working in the business, the importance of humor, and what new screenwriters should know.
Paul Guay is the co-writer of The Little Rascals and worked on several other films, including Liar Liar (1997) starring Jim Carrey.
Jon Meyers and Emily Brooks also talk about Jon Meyers’s #stupidwalk, continual learning, and shih tzus. Then they play a silly game involving Emily having to guess Brandon Sanderson’s age.
Listener Responses
We hear from Ashley Hargrove, Fiona Ross, and Betsey Kulakoski.
Hey Jon Meyers
Learn more about shih tzus here!
Call to Action
Follow Paul Guay’s advice! 01:01:47
Notes
00:01 Our Book Is Done! WRITE ANYWAY: Giving Yourself Permission To Write No Matter What
02:01 Introduction
- Winny comes and goes as she pleases
- Jon Meyers goes on his #StupidWalk and sees a ???
- Spencer calls into the show
- Jon Meyers clarifies that Dyngus Day is not Pulaski Day
- Emily has a #TheLittleRascals party
- David the Software Engineer gets the shout out he’s always dreamed of
10:22 YOU RESPOND
Ashley Hargrove, Fiona Ross, Betsey Kulakoski
13:50 A Conversation with PAUL GUAY
14:20 Paul and Jon Meyers are shrinking
15:25 Getting hired to write The Little Rascals
19:13 Writing on the lot with Penelope Spheeris
21:13 Mel Brooks
23:13 What got cut
26:02 Why we rewatch movies
27:30 Kids in movies
28:13 Different people laugh at different things
30:40 Reviews
31:40 Comedy Sensibilities
35:40 Lessons from Danny Simon
39:00 Humor in poetry
40:50 More Lessons from Danny Simon
43:30 Universal Monsters
44:57 The Sequel that never was
47:00 Anthem Film Festival
48:40 Emily’s The Little Rascals Party’s Greatest Hits
50:30 More review talk
53:13 Advice to future screenwriters
01:01:47 CALL TO ACTION
01:06:13 Jon Meyers and Emily discuss -knowing the industry -why we study -teaching
01:13:22 Like, Subscribe, Review, Tell Us You Love Us
01:13:56 THE FINAL ACT The Million Dollar Honey Drop
- Salmon P. Chase
- Jon Meyers says he forgot to tell Emily to leave one tube empty, but actually he did tell her that during the first question
- Emily tries to hold onto her $1,000,000
- Jon Meyers needs to use his inside voice
01:29:59 We Couldn’t Have Done It Without You
FactCheck on Jon Meyers Salmon P. Chase information.
Jon Meyers was correct in the information he shard on the show. However, Salmon P. Chase held even more office than Jon Meyers mentioned. From Wikipedia:
Salmon Portland Chase (January 13, 1808 – May 7, 1873) was an American jurist who served as the sixth chief justice of the United States from 1864 to his death in 1873.
Chase served as the 23rd governor of Ohio from 1856 to 1860, represented Ohio in the United States Senate from 1849 to 1855 and again in 1861.
Chase served as the 25th United States Secretary of the Treasury from 1861 to 1864 during the administration of Abraham Lincoln.
Chase is therefore one of the few American politicians who have served in the highest levels of all three branches of the federal government, in addition to serving in the highest state-level office.
Prior to his Supreme Court appointment, Chase was widely seen as a potential president.