Active Voice Productions

Frequently Asked Questions

activevoiceproductions.com  |  (818) 469-5452  |  info@activevoiceproductions.com

About Active Voice Productions

Q: What is Active Voice Productions?

A: Award-winning writer, performer, and filmmaker Dylan Brody founded and leads Active Voice Productions (AVP), an independent production company and creative services studio. AVP creates, supports, and facilitates museum-quality, thoughtful, impactful projects for niche and mainstream audiences. The company operates across four main pillars: writing education and coaching, literary services (commissions, ghostwriting, and a script library), independent film/TV/audio production, and live performance booking.

Q: What does the tagline "Liberal. Arts. Entertainments." mean?

A: The tagline carries a deliberate triple-meaning: Progressive (liberal) at its heart, AVP dedicates itself to the arts in the classical sense, and operates squarely in the business of entertainment. The company holds that "all art sends a message and that entertainment is just art that reaches a vast number of people." The stated mission: We deliver ethically grounded, artistically considered work that also meets the commercial realities of the entertainment industry.

Q: Who runs Active Voice Productions?

A: Dylan Brody serves as CEO — multiple award-winning storyteller, humorist, playwright, author, filmmaker, and occasional stand-up comedian based in the Los Angeles area. He has earned the respect and endorsement of comedic legends including the late Robin Williams and George Carlin, and became the first performer David Sedaris ever invited to share his stages. He holds a Nicholl Fellowship semi-finalist credit and has appeared on Sirius/XM, NPR, Showtime, FOX TV, and A&E.

Q: How did Active Voice Productions get started?

A: AVP began as a vehicle to produce Dylan Brody's THREE SPECIALS IN ONE NIGHT event at the Mark Taper Foundation's David Henry Hwang Theater — a five-camera shoot that proved his work as a raconteur had a place in the broader entertainment landscape. Two specials licensed to streaming services almost immediately, and the company grew from there into the multi-faceted operation it has become.

Q: What is AVP's mission?

A: AVP operates on the belief that the world's capacity for self-destruction races against its capacity for adaptation and evolution; helping people with the impulse to put their ideas to the page makes a meaningful contribution to the outcome. We must all live up to our greatest creative, inventive, adaptive potential if we are to survive as a species. In doing so, we might save the world.

Q: How do I contact Active Voice Productions?

A: Phone: (818) 469-5452. General inquiries: info@activevoiceproductions.com. Booking (Thinking Allowed show or screenings): booking@activevoiceproductions.com. Script/property inquiries: scriptcontrol@activevoiceproductions.com. Personal appearances: dylan@dylanbrody.com. The website at activevoiceproductions.com also offers direct contact forms.

 FAQ:

Writing Workshops, Courses & Community

Q: What writing education programs does AVP offer?

A: AVP offers a range of programs for writers at every level: the ongoing Weekly Writers' Workshop (on a monthly subscription model), a Comedy Writing Workshop subscription, Thursday Freewriting evenings (via Patreon), the self-paced Basic Grammar for Serious Writers course, the Breathing Exercises for Writers audio series, and one-on-one private coaching. Free writing prompts, exercises, and instructional videos also live on YouTube.

Q: What is the Weekly Writers' Workshop?

A: Dylan Brody leads this ongoing, facilitated workshop for writers of all kinds. The workshop gives participants a space to discover and explore their creative process while developing literary tools. Dylan's approach draws on his background in literary, theatrical, comedic, and martial arts practice. The workshop runs on a monthly subscription.

Q: What is the Comedy Writing Workshop?

A: A monthly subscription workshop focused specifically on humor writing, led by Dylan Brody. It runs alongside the general Weekly Writers' Workshop for writers who want to develop comedic voice and technique.

Q: What are the Thursday Freewriting evenings?

A: Thursday Freewriting sessions offer low-pressure community writing evenings with accountability, community, and support — no performance pressure attached. They formerly ran as a $200-per-month loose workshop. Dylan has since opened them to anyone who joins his Patreon at the Writers' Level, at no additional cost.

Q: What is Basic Grammar for Serious Writers?

A: A six-session, self-paced online course designed to refresh and strengthen a writer's understanding of fundamental sentence structure and grammar. The course engages rather than remediates — building skill and confidence for working writers at any level. A free preview lives on the AVP website.

Q: What are the Breathing Exercises for Writers?

A: An audio series derived from Dylan's own work alleviating anxiety as a martial arts student, then as a martial arts instructor, and now re-imagined specifically for writers. The exercises target writer's block and creative hesitance at a physiological level. One client testimonial on the site reads: "There may be actual magic involved. In two weeks I wrote a pilot I'd been struggling with for six years." — Parker Bennett

Q: Are there free resources available?

A: Yes. AVP provides free writing prompts, exercises, and instructional videos through a YouTube playlist linked from the education page. The first session of Basic Grammar for Serious Writers also lives on the website as a free preview. Prospective coaching clients can book a free project strategy call with Dylan, also at no charge.

Q: How do I sign up for workshops or courses?

A: Workshops and courses live in the "Writers' Workshops and MORE" section of the AVP website. For Patreon-based offerings like Thursday Freewriting, join at the Writers' Level on Dylan's Patreon page. For private coaching, apply through the coaching section of the site.

 FAQ - One-on-One Private Coaching

Q: What is private coaching with Dylan Brody?

A: Private coaching delivers personalized, one-on-one writing support designed to help you start and finish your project — whether that's a novel, screenplay, memoir, or other creative work. Dylan brings a calm, encouraging, supportive approach, drawing on a toolkit assembled over decades in the literary, performing, and martial arts.

Q: What does every coaching program include?

A: All coaching programs include: regular one-on-one support sessions; customized exercises to free creative flow and help you find your own natural process; personal attention, accountability, and support to keep you on the writer's path; an editorial or punch-up pass (where applicable); and flexible payment options. Most come with subscriptions to the workshops and freewrites should the additional time serve you.

Q: What coaching commitment lengths are available?

A: Dylan offers several structures: Six-month or year-long commitments for clients who want sustained support through a project or across multiple projects. To-completion commitments, where coaching continues until the first draft lands, you're ready to tackle a next draft independently, or you reach a final submission draft. Month-by-month, pay-as-you-go pricing for writers who need short bursts of support without a lengthy contract.

Q: What kinds of projects can coaching help with?

A: Coaching supports writers working on novels, screenplays, memoirs, plays, personal essays, and other creative projects. Dylan works with beginners who haven't yet put a word to the page, as well as experienced writers stalled on a specific challenge — whether that's getting started, pushing through a draft, or polishing a project for submission.

Q: How do I get started with coaching?

A: Book a free project strategy call with Dylan directly through the AVP website. That conversation covers your project and the right coaching structure for your needs. No obligation attaches to the call.

Q: What is the One-Hour Consult?

A: AVP also offers a standalone one-hour consulting session with Dylan. In that hour, he brings the same technique and approach he uses with private clients to focus entirely on solving your specific writing issue — no class enrollment required. At the end of the session, he welcomes discussion of ongoing coaching if you're interested, but no pressure follows.

 FAQ

Literary Services: Commissions, Ghostwriting & Scripts

Q: What literary services does AVP offer?

A: AVP's literary services fall into three areas: screenplay commissions (writing your script, pilot, or pitch documents from scratch), ghostwriting (writing your project in your voice, with full confidentiality), and a library of available properties — scripts, plays, and pilots ready to option or purchase.

Q: Can AVP write a screenplay for me?

A: Yes. Dylan Brody holds WGA membership in good standing and takes screenplay, pilot, and pitch document commissions. If you need a Guild craftsman to build your project, AVP has you covered. Contact the company to discuss scope and timeline.

Q: What types of scripts are available in the AVP library?

A: The library holds properties across a wide range of genres: adventure fantasy, urban fantasy, thriller, comedy, family drama, romantic comedy, aspirational science fiction, musical theater, and award-winning scripts. Screenplays, plays, and TV pilots all populate the collection. Properties stand ready for sale or option.

Q: How does ghostwriting work at AVP?

A: Ghostwriting at AVP runs fully confidential — your project, your name, your credit. Dylan has ghostwritten jokes that appeared on the Tonight Show, punched up scripts for produced films, and written autobiographies and solo shows. The process typically starts with a conversation about your concept, after which Dylan writes the project in your voice. One client described it this way: he "sucked it out of my head and put it on the page."

Q: How do I discuss a ghostwriting or commission project?

A: Schedule a direct conversation with Dylan through the booking link on the ghost-writing page of the AVP website, or reach out via info@activevoiceproductions.com.

 FAQ - Film, Television & Audio Production

Q: What kinds of productions has AVP made?

A: AVP has produced feature films, short films, experimental films, web series, TV pilots, comedy specials, audio albums, and animated children's television scripts. Notable productions include: YOU ARE HERE (micro-budget narrative feature, multiple festival awards including Best Feature Film at Hollywood Gold Awards and Best Feature Narrative at Hollywood Discovery Awards); The Corona Dialogues (32-episode web series shot during the 2020 lockdown, multiple awards); LockDown 2o2o (feature assembled from Corona Dialogues episodes, multiple awards); Singing in the Wrong Direction (one-woman musical comedy starring Robyn Heller); Road Tested (collaborative album with Chauncey Bowers); and various experimental short films under the Dylan Brody Experiments banner.

Q: Where can I watch AVP's films?

A: YOU ARE HERE streams now on Circuit Cinema. The Corona Dialogues lives at corona-dialogues.com. Various short films and experimental works have screened on festival circuits worldwide. Additional specials stream through NextUp Comedy (Dylan Brody's Driving Hollywood) and Revry. Check the production page on the AVP website for current links.

Q: What is BAD GIRL?

A: Dylan Brody wrote and will direct BAD GIRL, a narrative thriller feature now in development. The story follows Dalia Marcus, a privileged teen sent by her wealthy parents for behavior modification therapy who finds herself trapped in the destructive for-profit Troubled Teen Industry — a program more prison camp than boarding school. As the program threatens to strip away her identity, Dalia plans a daring escape with the help of her only trusted friend. A one-sheet, synopsis, and script await your request at scriptcontrol@activevoiceproductions.com.

Q: What is AND... AGAIN?

A: Dylan Brody's confessional anti-fascist comedy AND... AGAIN workshopped at The Main in 2021 and attracted top-end talent including Paul Provenza and Mo Gaffney, turning a planned workshop presentation into a full Equity production. ‘When fascism rises and people cry out for protection, most citizens remain fixed on a simple question — what's for dinner?’ The script and a production prospectus live on the AVP website.

Q: Does AVP produce children's television?

A: Yes. AVP has provided dozens of episodic scripts for animated children's programming for Little Airplane Productions, U Young (China), and Nelvana (Canada). These come available as scripting commissions; contact the company for details.

Q: Does AVP accept outside projects for production or post-production?

A: On a selective basis, yes. AVP's involvement with the Rabbit Creek Media documentary began as a post-production edit consultation and evolved into a full participating production house credit and directorial role through post. That model can repeat. Reach out if you have a project that aligns with AVP's values.

Q: How can I invest in an AVP film project?

A: AVP actively seeks financing partners for BAD GIRL and welcomes discussions about financing low-budget prestige-indie projects. A dedicated investor/financing inquiry page lives on the site. Contact info@activevoiceproductions.com to start a conversation.

 FAQ

Thinking Allowed

The Live Musical Comedy Solo Show

Q: What is Thinking Allowed?

A: Dylan Brody's current touring musical comedy solo show, Thinking Allowed, runs ninety-seven lean minutes of music and comedy that reviewers have called "an enchanting experience of music, laughter, courage and hope." BroadwayWorld has praised it; the LA entertainment press has reviewed it widely.

Q: Who should book Thinking Allowed?

A: The show suits theaters, jazz clubs, colleges, universities, and academic venues. It works as a standalone evening of entertainment and supports additional revenue streams: book and CD merchandise agreements, workshops, Q&A sessions, and daytime signings or readings. Venues describe it as flexible and appropriate for audiences of many kinds.

Q: How do I book Thinking Allowed?

A: Contact AVP's booking team directly at booking@activevoiceproductions.com or by phone at (818) 469-5452. You can also reach Dylan directly at dylan@dylanbrody.com for comedy clubs, college dates, or theater engagements.

Q: Does Dylan perform other formats beyond Thinking Allowed?

A: Yes. Dylan performs straight-ahead stand-up comedy in clubs and more structured solo show formats for theaters and colleges. He has performed at MIT (invited back multiple times), opened for David Sedaris at the Valley Performing Arts Center, and appeared on Sirius/XM, NPR, Showtime's The Green Room with Paul Provenza, FOX TV, and A&E.

 FAQ - Books, Albums & Published Work

Q: What books has Dylan Brody published?

A: Dylan's published books include: Relatively Painless (Atmosphere Press, 2020), a linked story collection about the multigenerational Grunman family; Heroes Fall (a science fiction novel, 2001; reprinted 2019); The Modern Depression Guidebook (2014); A Manifesto of Radical Optimism (monograph, 2020); and A Tale of a Hero and the Song of Her Sword (1997). He has also contributed humor fiction to The American Bystander magazine.

Q: What spoken-word and comedy albums has Dylan released?

A: Dylan released five albums through Stand Up Records between 2009 and 2013: Brevity, True Enough, A Twist of the Wit, Chronological Disorder, and Writ Large. A compilation, Dylan Brody: The StandUp! Records Years, sells through the AVP website. Additional recordings include Dylan Goes Electric (2014, digital download) and Road Tested (2019, a collaborative album with singer-songwriter Chauncey Bowers, available through Oak Honest Records).

Q: Where can I buy Dylan's books and albums?

A: Books ship through major retailers including Amazon (click the book cover on the AVP homepage). The StandUp! Records Years compilation sells directly through the AVP website store. Road Tested lives at oakhonestrecords.com. For personal appearances, signings, and related events, visit dylanbrody.com.

 FAQ - Texas Hold 'Em Poker Education

Q: Does AVP offer anything outside of writing and film?

A: Yes — AVP also publishes poker education content. Dylan Brody developed a comprehensive Texas Hold 'Em course called 10 Lessons to Save You 10 Years of Losses, available through the AVP website. The course targets players who want to level up their game fast with practical, experience-based lessons.

Q: Where can I find the poker course?

A: The course lives https://activevoiceproductions.com/startwinning. The accompanying book sells on Amazon (linked from the AVP homepage). Custom playing cards round out the program.

FAQ - General Questions & Contact Information

Q: I'm a writer but I don't know where to start. Can AVP help me?

A: Absolutely — that ranks among the most common starting points. AVP's coaching, workshops, and free resources specifically serve writers who have something to say but haven't yet found their process or put word to page. A free project strategy call with Dylan makes a solid first step.

Q: Does AVP work with experienced professional writers, or only beginners?

A: Both. Coaching clients range from writers who have never written a page to produced professionals who've hit a wall on a specific project. The workshops welcome writers at all levels. The literary services — commissions, ghostwriting, and script punching — target clients with specific professional needs.

Q: Is AVP politically progressive? Will that affect the content of my project?

A: AVP describes itself openly as "unapologetically progressive" in its own productions. However, coaching and ghostwriting services remain client-centered — the work serves your voice and your project, not AVP's worldview. Dylan's coaching philosophy centers on helping you find your own most natural and authentic voice.

Q: How does AVP feel about AI and creative work?

A: Dylan has publicly engaged with AI as a creative collaborator — using Dall-E in his experimental film work and writing about the responsibility of feeding AI high art and humanistic values. He holds a nuanced view: AI represents a cutting edge of human exploration of consciousness, and he advocates for artists to lead the way in giving it "a soul, curiosity, empathy and all the things we think of as 'humanity.'"

Q: Where can I follow AVP and Dylan Brody online?

A: Main site: activevoiceproductions.com. Dylan's personal site (books, media, appearances): dylanbrody.com. AVP also maintains a Patreon (for Freewriting access and community) and a newsletter you can join through the website. For The Corona Dialogues web series: corona-dialogues.com.