Bulletproof Screenwriting™ Podcast

How do you sell a movie to Netflix, this episode will give you a bit of insight. We're getting deep into the weeds on Italian director and screenwriter, Ferdinando Cito Filomarino American cinema debut film, Beckett, which I absolutely enjoyed! Beckett stars the incomparable John David Washington and Swedish actress, Alicia Vikander. This action thriller follows an American tourist (Beckett) who had been in a tragic car accident in Greece and suddenly finds himself at the center of a dangerous political conspiracy and on the run for his life. He sets to reach the USA embassy to clear his name. Elements of romance and questions of political power are rolled up into a 90-minute manhunt. Beckett's world premiere was at the Aug 2021 74th Locarno Film Festival and is now distributed exclusively on Netflix.Filomarino talks about the cultural diversity on set - having seven languages spoken. I assume that would include, English, Italian, Greek, Swedish, etc. I was fascinated by the film’s meticulously crafted visual elements and screenplay. Filomarino’s work may be new to American screens, but he’s gained notoriety in European cinema directing or writing on films like The Other Man, Academy award-winning 2017, coming-of-age romantic drama, Call Me by Your Name (Second Unit Director). The story sets in a 1980s rural Northern Italy --- romance blossoms between a seventeen-year-old Jewish Italian, Elio, and a 24-year-old research assistant, Oliver, who’s living with the family over the summer to help Elio’s father, archaeology professor with his academic paperwork. Call Me By Your Name.Filomarino shadowed Call Me By Your Name's director, Luca Guadagnino while working the second unit on the film and forge a good professional relationship which led to a collaboration in 2010. He was fortunate to have Luca produce his directorial debut, Diarchy in 2010. Diarchy is a Locarno and Sundance Film Festival award-winning short film. Giano and Luc are traveling through the woods when a storm breaks, forcing them to take shelter in Luc's villa. Gradually and insidiously, a competition emerges between them, with terrible consequences.We also chatted about Richard Eyre's, The Other Man, fresh out of university, and how that experience prepared him for his own films. We know that experience is the best teacher, so I am always down for hearing knowledge bombs filmmakers learn from other filmmakers in this line of business. Sort of like an unofficial masterclass. Go watch Beckett! But first, enjoy my conversation with Ferdinando Cito Filomarino.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bulletproof-screenwriting-podcast--2881148/support.

Randall Jahnson is an American screenwriter and film producer. He was born on March 7, 1951, in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. Jahnson is best known for his work in the film industry, particularly as a screenwriter.Jahnson's notable credits include writing the screenplay for the 1989 film "The Mask," starring Jim Carrey. He also co-wrote the screenplay for the 1992 film "Dudes" and the 1998 film "The Doors," which is a biographical film about the rock band of the same name.In addition to his work as a screenwriter, Jahnson has worked on other aspects of film production. He served as a producer for the 1997 film "The Doors: When You're Strange," a documentary about the band, and was an executive producer for the 2009 film "The Spirit," directed by Frank Miller.Randall Jahnson has had a varied career in the film industry, working on both independent and mainstream projects. While he may not have the same level of name recognition as some other screenwriters, his contributions to the films he has worked on have left an impact on the industry.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bulletproof-screenwriting-podcast--2881148/support.

Alexander Dinelaris is an Academy Award and Golden Globe winning screenwriter for "Birdman (or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)", a co-producer on the three time Academy Award® winning film "The Revenant", and the book writer for the Broadway musical "On Your Feet! The story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan", as well as "The Bodyguard Musical" which began on the West End and now performs worldwide.He is the screenwriter and producer of the upcoming feature film, “Jekyll & Hyde” which he is readapting for the London stage. Alexander also wrote the screenplay for "Carmen" which was directed by Benjamin Millepied and premiered at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.His film company, Lexicon, is currently developing "State of Motion", a story by Marco Perego Saldana, written by Alexander. Lexicon is also producing "In The Summers" written by Alessandra Lacorazza and "Consurgo", which was written by Alexander.He recently teamed with Grammy winner, Residente, to write a historical film about Puerto Rico. Alexander will be making his directorial debut with a film adaptation of his play, "Still Life" in January of 2024.Please enjoy my conversation with Alexander Dinelaris.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bulletproof-screenwriting-podcast--2881148/support.

Now, I was scanning the web the other day, and I came across a book about the making of Quentin Tarantino‘s first feature film. Quite fascinated that someone took the time to dig into the unreleased, My Best Friend’s Birthday, which I’ve spoken about a bit on my podcast and also written a couple of articles about the film. So, as per usual, I invited the author, Andy Rausch to the show to talk a bit more about his book.Before this interview, I did not know that Andy has spent years interviewing other prominent industry names and has authored over forty non-fiction on specific works of established entertainment contributors.Writing forty books is no small feat.Some of Rausch’s publications include Turning Points in Film History (2004), The Films of Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro (2010), Making Movies with Orson Welles, a Gary Graver memoir, and Fifty Filmmakers: Conversations with Directors from Roger Avary to Steven Zaillian (2008).But today, l would like to get into the weeds on Rausch’s 2019, My Best Friend’s Birthday: The Making of a Quentin Tarantino Film book, which is the story of a group of friends who set out to make their own movie in 1983, financing it with Tarantino’s minimum-wage earnings from his job at a video store. In most biographies and Tarantino histories, this unfinished $5,000 film is mentioned only in passing and is looked upon as little more than a curiosity. But with this oral history, author/editor Andrew J. Rausch details how each of the friends came together, other early film projects they worked on, and how they ended up making (or trying to make) a black-and-white screwball comedy.Check out the show notes below for links to some of Andy’s other books, all available on Amazon.Enjoy my chat with writer, Andy Rausch.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bulletproof-screenwriting-podcast--2881148/support.

Oren Peli, an Israeli-American film producer, director, and screenwriter, is the creative genius behind the horror sensation Paranormal Activity. The movie single-handedly revolutionized the found-footage genre and spawned a successful franchise, all while being produced on a shoestring budget. In this article, we explore Peli's background, the making of Paranormal Activity, and its immense impact on the horror film industry.Oren had always been fascinated by the world of movies. After moving to the United States in his early twenties, Peli initially worked as a software programmer. However, his passion for films remained undiminished, and he soon turned his attention to filmmaking. With no prior experience, Peli embarked on an ambitious journey and created a movie that would leave a lasting impact on the horror genre.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bulletproof-screenwriting-podcast--2881148/support.

Scott Myers is a screenwriter and educator known for his work in the film industry. He has written numerous screenplays and is the co-writer of the 2006 film "K-9: P.I." starring James Belushi. Myers is also the founder of the website Go Into The Story, which is a popular resource for aspiring screenwriters.Myers has been involved in the film industry for several decades and has worked as a screenwriter, script consultant, and script doctor.He has taught screenwriting at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and has conducted screenwriting workshops and seminars around the world.In addition to his work as a screenwriter and educator, Myers has written extensively on the craft of screenwriting. His book "The Screenwriter's Bible: A Complete Guide to Writing, Formatting, and Selling Your Script" is a widely recognized resource in the field. He also regularly shares insights and advice for screenwriters on his blog, Go Into The Story.Scott Myers is a respected figure in the screenwriting community, known for his contributions to the field and his dedication to helping aspiring screenwriters improve their craft.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bulletproof-screenwriting-podcast--2881148/support.

Today on the show we have writer/director Chloe Okuno.Chloe is a graduate of UC Berkeley with a masters degree from the American Film Institute Conservatory. There she received the Franklin J. Shaffner Fellow Award, and directed the award-winning horror short film SLUT.Her recent work includes writing a remake of “Audrey Rose” for Orion Pictures and writing and directing a segment of the anthology series V/H/S/94. She's the director of this year's Sundance feature film Watcher.Julia joins her husband when he relocates to his family’s native Romania for a new job. Having recently abandoned her acting career, she finds herself frequently alone and unoccupied. One night, people-watching from her picture window, she spots a vague figure in an adjacent building, who seems to be looking back at her. Soon after, while alone at a local movie theater, Julia’s sense of being watched intensifies, and she becomes certain she’s being followed — could it be the same unknown neighbor? Meanwhile, a serial killer known as The Spider stalks the city.Below is the story of making The Watcher from Chloe's POV.In making “Watcher,” I wanted to capture a kind of constant, uncomfortable dread that accompanies many women throughout their lives- one that is expressed through the character of Julia. Julia moves into this apartment building with her husband and quickly begins to believe she is being watched. She recognizes that the Watcher is a threat. She feels it very clearly- even if it’s difficult to articulate the extent of that threat to the people around her. It’s a situation that’s probably quite familiar to most women. We experience the world in a different way than men and then when we try to express that experience, we’re often doubted- written off as paranoid, irrational, or overly sensitive… which in turn can make us begin to doubt ourselves. This has always been at the core of a story that in other ways has evolved greatly since I was first hired to direct it in 2017. Initially, the script was set in New York City, but when it became clear that we would be shooting the movie in Romania, I decided to rewrite it to take place in Bucharest.There are times as a filmmaker where practical limitations end up being creatively very freeing- unlocking something great when you’re willing to embrace the unexpected. This was one of those times.Suddenly, Julia’s experience as a foreigner in this new city heightens all her other feelings of unease and uncertainty. She finds herself increasingly isolated- largely unable to speak the language and therefore alienated from everyone around her. There were of course natural (sometimes uncomfortable) parallels shooting the movie on location in Romania: unable to speak the language, oftentimes sequestered in a hotel room amidst the raging pandemic, and occasionally fighting against the doubt that surrounds you as a woman working in a male dominated profession. Fortunately, life didn’t fully imitate art. I finished the movie without any nightmarish descent into Watcher-style darkness, content with the hope that all of the tension found its way on screen. The filmmakers I admire are the ones who are able to create a language for emotion through their craft, translating what they feel into a form that other people can see and experience for themselves.For Watcher I was inspired by the work of David Fincher, Sofia Coppola, Satoshi Kon, Roman Polanski, Krzysztof Kieslowski, and Mary Harron- filmmakers who have excelled at translating fear, loneliness, and alienation. The hope is always that there will be someone else who can empathize- telling stories so that we can take comfort in the recognition of ourselves in others. As a person filled with seemingly endless anxieties, making films is the best- and possibly the only- way I’ve found to confront them. I’ve done my best to portray them honestly in this film, and I can only hope that those who have experienced similar fears and anxieties will find solace in the knowledge that they are not alone. Enjoy my conversation with Chloe Okuno.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bulletproof-screenwriting-podcast--2881148/support.

Alvaro Rodriguez has been writing since childhood and, in fact, did his best work when he was 11. Without a movie camera in sight, Rodriguez relied on the written word and a Polaroid Button to storyboard the films in his head. A crash course in entertainment writing and editing at the University of Texas student newspaper and seminars in creative writing supplied more tools for the toolbox. When he riffed on a Spanish guitar figure as the hero's musical theme in cousin Robert Rodriguez's debut film, El Mariachi (1992) (Columbia Pictures, 1993), he began a collaboration that has lasted more than two decades.Rodriguez sold his first pitch to Dimension Films, a spaghetti-western prequel to the genre-bending vampire flick From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) called From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman's Daughter (1999) (Miramax/Dimension, 2000), which starred Marco Leonardi, Michael Parks, Sonia Braga, Rebecca Gayheart and Danny Trejo, with Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino producing.Rodriguez co-wrote the wishing-rock children's movie Shorts (2009) (Warner Brothers, 2009), starring James Spader, Jon Cryer, Leslie Mann, and William H. Macy, and followed that confection with the bloodier Machete (2010) (Fox, 2010) starring Danny Trejo, Jessica Alba, Michelle Rodriguez, Lindsay Lohan, Jeff Fahey, Don Johnson, and Robert De Niro. Both were directed by Robert Rodriguez.]As of 2014, he is writing on the television series From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series (2014) for the El Rey Network, now in its second season, and is developing feature and television projects in the United States and Italy.A frequent panelist and presenter at the Austin Film Festival, he has also curated an "Epoca de Oro" Mexican film series at the Museum of South Texas History and has been a speaker at colleges and universities throughout the United States. His border-influenced short fiction has appeared in multiple publications, both physical and digital, including Mulholland Books/Popcorn Fiction, "Along the River" (2011), and the Bram Stoker Award-winning "After Death" (2013).Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bulletproof-screenwriting-podcast--2881148/support.

So you made a short film, now WTF do you do? Today guest is filmmaker Clarissa Jacobson and she is the perfect person to guide you through the rough waters of getting your short film out to the world.Clarissa is the writer, producer and creator of the multi-award-winning comedy/horror short - Lunch Ladies - based on her feature. The film garnered forty-five awards and is distributed all over the world.Her follow up short - A Very Important Film - also got distribution. Her optioned feature screenplay, Land of Milk and Honey, is in development with Elizabeth Avellan and Gisberg Bermudez.In addition, Clarissa wrote a book – I Made a Short Film Now WTF Do I Do With It: A Guide to Film Festivals, Promotion, and Surviving the Ride.I Made A Short Film Now WTF Do I Do With It is jam-packed with hard-earned knowledge, tips, and secrets on how to enter film festivals, promote your movie… and SUCCEED!IMade A Short Film Now WTF Do I Do With It covers everything from what festivals to submit to, how to maximize your money, secure an international presence, deal with rejection, gain publicity, harness the power of social media, what a sales rep does and much more.Included are exclusive filmmaker discounts on services/products from the subtitling company, Captionmax, and promo merchandisers, Medias Frankenstein and The Ink Spot.Get a FREE copy of the audiobook I Made a Short Film Now WTF Do I Do, released by Indie Film Hustle Books.Enjoy my conversation with Clarissa Jacobson.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bulletproof-screenwriting-podcast--2881148/support.

In the male-dominated world of Hollywood, Susannah Grant has emerged as a powerful force, breaking barriers and reshaping the landscape of screenwriting. With her unique storytelling abilities and uncompromising vision, Grant has become a trailblazer, paving the way for women in the film industry.Born on January 4, 1963, in New York City, Grant developed a passion for storytelling at a young age. She attended Amherst College, where she studied English and received her Bachelor of Arts degree. Grant's love for writing and storytelling drove her to pursue a career in screenwriting, and she enrolled in the prestigious American Film Institute in Los Angeles.Grant's breakthrough moment came in 1995 when she wrote the screenplay for the critically acclaimed film, "Pocahontas." Her heartfelt and emotionally resonant script earned her widespread recognition, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. This achievement placed Grant in an elite category, as she became one of the few women to receive such recognition in the film industry.However, it was her work on the film "Erin Brockovich" in 2000 that solidified her position as a groundbreaking screenwriter. Grant's masterful script, based on a true story, portrayed the journey of Erin Brockovich, a determined legal assistant who takes on a corporate giant.The film, directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Julia Roberts, became a critical and commercial success, earning Grant her second Academy Award nomination.Grant's screenwriting prowess lies in her ability to tell stories that resonate deeply with audiences. Her characters are flawed, complex, and relatable, capturing the essence of the human experience. Whether it's exploring themes of justice, resilience, or personal growth, Grant's writing delves into the core of the human condition, leaving a lasting impact on viewers.Beyond her skillful storytelling, Grant's contribution to the industry extends to her advocacy for women in film. She has been a vocal supporter of gender equality and has actively fought against the gender disparity that exists within the industry. Grant believes in creating opportunities for female filmmakers and has mentored and championed aspiring women writers, directors, and producers, encouraging them to tell their stories and make their mark in Hollywood.In addition to her screenwriting work, Grant has ventured into directing.In 2007, she made her directorial debut with the film "Catch and Release," which she also wrote. While the film received mixed reviews, it showcased Grant's versatility as a storyteller and her willingness to take creative risks.Grant's impact on the film industry cannot be overstated. Through her groundbreaking work and unwavering commitment to her craft, she has inspired a new generation of female storytellers, empowering them to shatter the glass ceiling and claim their rightful place in the world of cinema.As the landscape of Hollywood continues to evolve, Susannah Grant remains a steadfast figure, pushing boundaries, challenging conventions, and amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities.Her dedication to storytelling and advocacy serves as a guiding light, reminding us of the transformative power of cinema and the importance of diverse perspectives.In a time when the call for inclusivity and gender equality is louder than ever, Susannah Grant's legacy stands as a testament to the strength, resilience, and creativity of women in film. Through her remarkable career, she has proven that a powerful story knows no gender and that the talent and passion of women in the industry are indispensable. Susannah Grant's impact will continue to be felt for generations to come as she paves the way for a more inclusive and representative film industry.Please enjoy my conversation with Susannah Grant.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bulletproof-screenwriting-podcast--2881148/support.