

Scriptcake
Lovinder Gill
Scriptcake is dedicated to the art and craft of screenwriting. With over 20 years of experience teaching screenwriting, I've seen novice screenwriters struggle with the same issues over and over again. I’ve created this podcast for those of you who struggle with these very same script issues. This podcast will help you overcome the most common mistakes screenwriters make and will help you develop your idea into a multi-dimensional story. If you want help formatting your screenplay, google it. I want to focus on issues that aren’t quite as google-able.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 29, 2025 • 9min
119. Mistakes to Avoid Before You Send Out Your Script
As a former script reader, I've seen it all. There are so many things that make a reader, producer, financier or distributor pass on your film. If it's the story, that's one thing but if it's any of these mistakes, you're cutting your legs off before you even begin walking through your screenwriting career. Make sure you avoid all of these mistakes before you send your screenplay to anyone!Support the showFor more information on Lovinder Gill's best-selling book "Scriptcake Secrets" or his public speaking schedule, please check out www.lovinder.com.

Aug 22, 2025 • 1h 22min
118. Sabrina Dewan - Screenwriter Monsoon Wedding, Rangoon, Ishqia
Sabrina Dhawan's debut feature as screenwriter, Monsoon Wedding, won the ‘Leon D’Oro’ at the Venice Film Festival and a Golden Globe nomination. Sabrina’s other produced screenplay credits include Kaminey, directed by Vishal Bharadwaj for UTV; Ishqiya, directed by Abhishek Chaubey for Shemaroo Entertainment. 11.9.01, directed by Nair for Canal Plus; Cosmopolitan for PBS; Rangoon, directed by Vishal Bharadwaj. She served as co-producer on Bollywood Hero, a mini-series for IFC and as story consultant on Bharadwaj’s Matru Ki Bijli Ka Mandola and wrote a documentary Greatest Love Story Ever Told to celebrate 100 years of Indian cinema for UTV and Shekhar Kapoor.Sabrina has been commissioned to write for include UTV, 20th Century Fox, HBO, Disney, Fox-Star, Killer Films, ABC Family and Fox Searchlight.Her student short Saanjh – As Night Falls won ‘Best of the Festival’ at the Palm Springs Film Festival; ‘Most Original Film’ from New Line Cinema, ‘Audience Impact’ Award at Angelus Awards, and was nominated for a Student Academy Award.Support the showFor more information on Lovinder Gill's best-selling book "Scriptcake Secrets" or his public speaking schedule, please check out www.lovinder.com.

Jul 18, 2025 • 8min
117. Taking Scenes to 11
Sometimes I get confused. I stick to structure to such an extent it keeps me from maximizing my scenes. Though I still believe you need a solid foundation structure to make your screenplay work, I now also believe that you can sway from it on a scene-by-scene basis to maximize your scenes, to take them to 11.Support the showFor more information on Lovinder Gill's best-selling book "Scriptcake Secrets" or his public speaking schedule, please check out www.lovinder.com.

Jul 11, 2025 • 1h 22min
116. Krushan Naik, Producer/Editor of Academy-Award Nominated film, Anuja
Ever wonder what it's like to have your film nominated for an Academy Award? Krushan Naik walks us through his experience as a producer/editor of the Oscar-nominated short film Anuja.Support the showFor more information on Lovinder Gill's best-selling book "Scriptcake Secrets" or his public speaking schedule, please check out www.lovinder.com.

Jun 20, 2025 • 10min
115. The Primary Objective
Do you ever get bogged down while writing your screenplay wondering what you should focus on? Do I need to work on the protagonist, the antagonist, the concept, the visuals, the action, the dialogue, the sub plots or what? I know that happens to me and I finally figured out a way to look at it that helps me clearly see what I need to focus on - The Primary Objective!Support the showFor more information on Lovinder Gill's best-selling book "Scriptcake Secrets" or his public speaking schedule, please check out www.lovinder.com.

May 14, 2025 • 1h 9min
114. Jacob Krueger - Screenwriter | Mentor | Teacher
This fabulous talk with Jacob Krueger is full of amazing insight, valuable lessons and thoughtful commentary on the screenwriting process. I know I learned a lot and I'm pretty sure you will too!Learn more on Jake's teaching at: www.writeyourscreenplay.comSupport the showFor more information on Lovinder Gill's best-selling book "Scriptcake Secrets" or his public speaking schedule, please check out www.lovinder.com.

Apr 28, 2025 • 9min
113. Do Film Festival and Screenwriting Competitions Work?
It a question that I get asked all the time. Listen to hear my thoughts on it!Support the showFor more information on Lovinder Gill's best-selling book "Scriptcake Secrets" or his public speaking schedule, please check out www.lovinder.com.

Apr 18, 2025 • 10min
112: The Top 6 Excuses Screenwriters Make
This week I've heard a lot of excuses from a lot of screenwriters and I'd like to address them. Enjoy!Support the showFor more information on Lovinder Gill's best-selling book "Scriptcake Secrets" or his public speaking schedule, please check out www.lovinder.com.

Apr 11, 2025 • 53min
111. Jeff Bushell - Screenwriter - Ricky Stanicky, Beverly Hills Chihuahua
This is a fantastic, fun interview with Screenwriter Jeff Bushell who has written for The Bernie Mac Show, Drawn Together, MADtv, What I Like About You, and Zoey 101. He most recently wrote Ricky Stanicky starring Zach Efron and John Cena.He also created and wrote the film Beverly Hills Chihuahua which was inspired by his dog, Maggie. Bushell won the Peabody Award and the Television Critics Award for his work on The Bernie Mac Show.Support the showFor more information on Lovinder Gill's best-selling book "Scriptcake Secrets" or his public speaking schedule, please check out www.lovinder.com.

Mar 30, 2025 • 1h 9min
110. Richard RB Botto - Screenwriter | Producer | Founder of Stage 32
Enjoy this great conversation with RB, a screenwriter and filmmaker who created Stage 32 to help artists learn and network with one another. RB discusses his journey into filmmaking as well as sharing his advice on how to advance your career in the industry. Support the showFor more information on Lovinder Gill's best-selling book "Scriptcake Secrets" or his public speaking schedule, please check out www.lovinder.com.