Geoffrey D. Calhoun sits down with acclaimed director David Yarovesky (Brightburn, Nightbooks) to discuss his latest psychological thriller, Locked, starring Bill Skarsgård and Anthony Hopkins. They dive into the challenges of shooting an intense one-shot sequence, the emotional depth of the film, and how Locked balances visceral thrills with layered social commentary.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

How David Yarovesky created a panic-inducing thriller in just 19 days
Behind-the-scenes secrets of Locked's jaw-dropping camera work
What it’s like directing Bill Skarsgård and Anthony Hopkins together
The moral themes beneath the surface of Locked
How practical set design made the impossible possible

Key Moments:

00:00 – Script Summit 2025 is open for submissions!
00:27 – David Yarovesky joins the show to talk Locked
04:13 – The most intense shot: how they pulled it off practically
10:45 – Working with Bill Skarsgård and his next-level physicality
14:40 – Anthony Hopkins and Bill’s electric chemistry on set

About the Guest:
David Yarovesky is a visionary director known for blending genre storytelling with emotional depth. His previous works include Brightburn and Nightbooks, and his latest film Locked is a high-stakes, claustrophobic thriller starring Bill Skarsgård and Anthony Hopkins. David is a longtime collaborator with James Gunn and continues to push the limits of indie filmmaking with innovation and heart.

About the Host:
With films on network television and streaming platforms, Geoffrey D. Calhoun is a screenwriter, author of The Guide for Every Screenwriter, and passionate about teaching. He’s the founder of Script Summit and host of The Successful Screenwriter podcast, where he helps writers elevate their craft and careers. Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

Connect with the Guest:

Instagram – @yaroville

Connect with Geoffrey D. Calhoun:

Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more expert interviews and insider tips on screenwriting. Leave us a review—it helps more screenwriters discover the show!

#DavidYarovesky #LockedMovie #ScreenwritingPodcast #BillSkarsgard #AnthonyHopkins #FilmmakingTips #IndieFilm #ThrillerFilm #BehindTheScenes #OneShotScene #TheSuccessfulScreenwriter #ScriptSummit2025

Explore Free Resources & Membership

👉 Visit TheSuccessfulScreenwriter.com for free tools, guides, and podcast extras.

Members unlock Virtual Geoffrey, the AI screenwriting assistant built to transform good drafts into great scripts.

Connect with Geoffrey
📸 Instagram: @screenwriterpod
▶️ YouTube: The Successful Screenwriter

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Share it with a fellow screenwriter who’d find it valuable!

Ep 264 - Inside 'Locked' with Director David Yarovesky