Oct 7
The Mexican Fisherman Story: Rethinking Success
What if you already have the life you’re working toward? In this episode, I take a break from film financing and distribution to share the Mexican Fisherman Story. It’s a simple, inspiring reminder to think about what success means to you, enjoy time with your family, and appreci ... Show More
2m 33s
Sep 30
How Much Is Your Indie Film Really Worth?
Your indie film isn’t automatically worth what you spent making it. In this episode, I break down how the marketplace actually determines an indie film’s value—and why cast, genre, audience, festival exposure, buzz, timing, and buyer demand can matter far more than your productio ... Show More
4m 1s
Sep 23
Why Box Office Gross Does NOT Equal Profit
Why doesn't a $20 million movie that grosses $30 million at the box office automatically make a $10 million profit? Because that's not how theatrical movie economics work. In this episode, I break down the real numbers behind a theatrical release, including production budgets, P& ... Show More
3m 4s
Aug 2025
260 | From Barf Draft to Next Draft: 5 Steps to Take Now
Join TSL Workshops: https://tslworkshops.circle.soIn this episode, Meg and Lorien dive into a messy, magical stage of screenwriting: the barf draft — your first unfiltered pass at a script.They share how to tackle chaos on the page, whether your draft is too long, too short, tona ... Show More
1h 4m
Jul 2024
How To Write a Movie To Shoot (In Three Months)
On this special episode of the No Film School podcast, host GG Hawkins shares her experience of writing her first feature, 'I Really Love My Husband' on a small budget and arguably, an even smaller timeline. She discusses the constraints she faced, the collaborative writing proce ... Show More
24m 50s
Mar 2020
2 | Turning Ideas Into Screenplays
We all hear it: "I've got this great idea for a movie," or, "they should totally make that into a movie," but why do so few people take the next step and actually write the script? Well, today, Pixar alum Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna answer that question, getting into all the n ... Show More
38m 17s
Dec 2023
DZ-106: How do you know if you have enough story?
Listen you're not sure whether your idea has enough fuel for 90 pages. In this episode, Chas, Stu and Mel attempt to answer a listener question: “In your own pre-writing process, how do you know you have enough for a feature? And do you have a specific pre-writing method you're g ... Show More
1h 36m
Apr 2020
6 | Mastering Structure In Your Screenplay: Part I
Writers dread the idea of feeling confined by a structure, but what they don't realize, is that structure is one of the greatest gifts that they can be given as a writer. Structure = story, and the best films ever made know how to "play within the rules." Today, we go over those ... Show More
38m 32s
In this episode of the Filmmaking Stuff podcast, host Tom Malloy explains the often misunderstood process of screenwriting. Dispelling the myth that a screenplay is ready after the first draft, Malloy tells new screenwriters that industry executives demand polished scripts reflecting professional standards. The first completion of your screenplay is just the ... Show More
