Creative Principles

Latest Episodes:

Ep583 - Kareem Rahma & Mary Neely, Writers & Stars of ‘Or Something’ Oct 26, 2024

Show notes

In 2021 Mary Neely and Kareem Rahma met at a Brooklyn comedy show. A week later they found themselves crammed at a downtown restaurant, elbows tucked and leaning forward, deep in discussion about an age-old argument: are men only nice to women who they want to have sex with? A settlement was never reached. Not long after, Kareem posted a still of Mathieu Kassovitz’ LA HAINE to his Instagram with the words, “I’m quitting comedy until someone casts me in a dramatic role.” Mary responded, “I’ll cast you.” The goal was set: write a joint personal essay, conversing about sensitive topics, and transcribing everything into the structure of a film that would be feasible to produce on a microbudget. Kareem Rahma is a three-time Webby-nominated writer, producer, comedian, and musician. He’s also the creator and host of two hit digital series: KEEP THE METER RUNNING and SUBWAYTAKES, which have both amassed 100s of millions of views on TikTok and Instagram. Mary Neely is an actor, writer, and director. She directed and edited the short film PINK TRAILER, which premiered at SXSW, played opening night of Palm Springs ShortFest and was featured in i-D, Paper Magazine, and Refinery29 before being selected by the Milwaukee Film Institute to screen before Olivia Wilde’s BOOKSMART in theaters. In this interview, we talk about the role of short form content in their careers, its impact on their work, and the advantages of a DIY approach, the challenges and rewards of self-producing films, the importance of constraints and much more. Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy! If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep582 - Justin Kuritzkes, Writer ‘Challengers’ Oct 25, 2024

Show notes

"The idea for CHALLENGERS came to me through this moment when I was watching the U.S. Open and it was this very controversial match between Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka," says Justin. "It was controversial because there was a call by the ref where he accused Serena Williams of receiving coaching from the sidelines and up until that point, I hadn't been a massive tennis fan or anything. I just happened to watch the U.S. Open. So I didn't know about that rule but immediately that struck me as this intensely cinematic situation. That you're all alone on the court, it's this incredibly high-stakes match. There's thousands of people watching you, and there's one other person who cares as much about what happens to you out there as you do, and you can't talk to them." "I started thinking what would you do if you really had to talk with them about something, and what if it was something beyond tennis? What if it was something that was about you guys or about your life, and what if somehow it involved this person across the net? And that was the initial seed and where it got planted." In this interview, we talk about the inspiration behind CHALLENGERS, the process of developing and introducing characters, the importance of wardrobe, the logistics of getting a screenplay made, and much more. As a special note, this was part of our new LIVE interview series in partnership with Buzztown, a community for serious screenwriters, where students also participated in this interview. You can learn more or join the waitlist here: forms.gle/RNaoVrdU9afWpykWA If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60-seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom on your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep581 - Bear McCreary, Composer ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ & ‘The Walking Dead’ Oct 24, 2024

Show notes

Bear McCreary is an acclaimed composer known for his work in film, television, and video games. His distinctive style blends orchestral elements with electronic and world music influences, creating unique and memorable scores. Best known for his work on the reimagined series BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, McCreary has also composed music for popular shows like OUTLANDER, THE WALKING DEAD, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER, and more. In Season Two of THE RINGS OF POWER, Sauron has returned. Cast out by Galadriel, without an army or ally, the rising Dark Lord must now rely on his own cunning to rebuild his strength and oversee the creation of the Rings of Power, which will allow him to bind all the peoples of Middle-earth to his sinister will. Building on Season One’s epic scopy and ambition, the new season plunges even its most beloved and vulnerable characters into a rising tide of darkness, challenging each to find their place in a world that is increasingly on the brink of calamity. Elves and dwarves, orcs and men, wizards and Harfoots…as friendships are strained and kingdoms begin to fracture, the forces of good will struggle ever more valiantly to hold on to what matters to them most of all…each other. In this interview, we talk about Bear’s early fascination with movies and music, his career journey, including his work on BATTLESTAR GALACTICA and LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER, his approach to writing music, creative constraints, and much more. Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy! If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep580 - Mark Morris, Writer & Editor ‘Blood on Satan’s Claw’ & ‘A View From a Hill’ Oct 23, 2024

Show notes

In his 35-year career, Mark Morris has written and edited around fifty novels, novellas, short story collections, and anthologies. His script work includes audio dramas for DOCTOR WHO, JAGO & LITEFOOT, and the HAMMER CHILLERS series. Among his most recent work are new audio adaptations of the classic 1971 horror movie BLOOD ON SATAN’S CLAW and the M.R. James ghost story A VIEW FROM A HILL, the official BBC Books/Target novelization of the 60th anniversary DOCTOR WHO special WILD BLUE YONDER, and, as editor, the anthologies AFTER SUNDOWN, BEYOND THE VEIL, CLOSE TO MIDNIGHT and DARKNESS BECKONS. In this interview, we talk about his early experiences with writing, the transition to professional writing, his writing process and approach to editing, the importance of finding a good editor and maintaining a healthy dialogue with your publisher, plus his love for science fiction and horror. This episode is brought to you by AutoCrit. This episode is brought to you by AutoCrit. One of the most value-packed memberships for any author, AutoCrit brings you an incredible suite of tools that make it a breeze to plan, write AND edit your books all in one place. There's also a wonderful member community stuffed with live events, story workshops, feedback sessions, and even guest appearances that put you right in the room with bestselling authors from around the world. Head to www.autocrit.com/brock to get yourself a LIFETIME membership. If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep579 - Best of Horror Writers, Mike Flanagan, Dennis Lehane, James Vanderbilt, Robert Eggers & Sjón Oct 15, 2024

Show notes

It’s almost Halloween! To celebrate, we've curated a spine-chilling compilation of the best moments from our interviews with the masters of horror. First, we have Mike Flanagan talking about THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE and the freedom and challenges of working in the horror genre, then we have Dennis Lehane talking about the process of writing novels vs. TV and the balance of darkness and hope, followed by James Vanderbilt talking about the importance of character development in horror films and the differences between SCREAM and other slasher films, and lastly, we have Robert Eggers & Sjón talking about the role of curses in storytelling and the belief in the supernatural. This episode is brought to you by AutoCrit. This episode is brought to you by AutoCrit. One of the most value-packed memberships for any author, AutoCrit brings you an incredible suite of tools that make it a breeze to plan, write AND edit your books all in one place. There's also a wonderful member community stuffed with live events, story workshops, feedback sessions, and even guest appearances that put you right in the room with bestselling authors from around the world. Head to www.autocrit.com/brock to get yourself a LIFETIME membership. If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep578 - Nicholas Stoller & Rob Letterman, Creators ‘Goosebumps’ Oct 14, 2024

Show notes

Rob Letterman is the creator, showrunner, executive producer, and director of GOOSEBUMPS for Sony/Disney+. The series is a critical and commercial success for the streamer, debuting to more than 4 million households within its first three days of availability. Nick Stoller, is the director of the $379M-global grossing comedy franchise NEIGHBORS, FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL, and the animated feature STORKS. He also co-created the GOOSEBUMPS TV series, an adaptation of the second best-selling book series of all time, for Disney+. The 2023 GOOSEBUMPS TV series tells the story of a group of five high school students who unleash supernatural forces upon their town. Now, they must work together in order to save it. In this interview, we talk about their writing styles and their collaborative process, their experiences adapting the GOOSEBUMPS series into a television show, including their approach to aging up the characters and maintaining a balance between horror and humor, plus some industry Insights. This episode is brought to you by AutoCrit. This episode is brought to you by AutoCrit. One of the most value-packed memberships for any author, AutoCrit brings you an incredible suite of tools that make it a breeze to plan, write AND edit your books all in one place. There's also a wonderful member community stuffed with live events, story workshops, feedback sessions, and even guest appearances that put you right in the room with bestselling authors from around the world. Head to www.autocrit.com/brock to get yourself a LIFETIME membership. If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep577 - Erik Nelson, Director & Producer ‘Daytime Revolution’ & ‘Grizzly Man’ Oct 12, 2024

Show notes

Multiple Emmy and IDA award-winning filmmaker Erik Nelson has produced and directed a wide range of feature documentaries for his company ‘Creative Differences’. Some of his producing credits include GRIZZLY MAN, CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS, INTO THE ABYSS, and the Oscar-nominated ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD. In his latest film, DAYTIME REVOLUTION, Erik takes us back in time to the week that John Lennon and Yoko Ono descended upon a Philadelphia broadcasting studio to co-host the iconic Mike Douglas Show, at the time the most popular show on daytime television with an audience of 40 million viewers a week. In this interview, we talk about his approach to storytelling, the documentary production process, his views on collaboration, his film DAYTIME REVOLUTION, and more. Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy! If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep576 - Simon Bestwick (aka Daniel Church), Author ‘The Hollows’ & ‘The Ravening’ Oct 08, 2024

Show notes

Daniel Church is a horror fiction writer and the author of THE HOLLOWS, which was shortlisted for the British Fantasy Award. His second book, THE RAVENING, is out now and his third novel, THE SOUND OF THE DARK, will be published in 2025. In THE RAVENING, two women fight to free themselves of a terrifying thousand-year-old curse. Jenna lost her mum when she was a girl—a terrifying incident on a lonely road in the woods that no one, least of all Jenna, has ever been able to explain. She’s been angry, defensive, and self-reliant ever since—until she meets Holly and begins to open up just a little. But just as life is beginning to offer some promise Jenna is ripped away from Holly; kidnapped by a bizarre cult in thrall, so they say, to an ancient demon who offers the promise of eternal life in return for a particular sacrifice. A sacrifice that links Jenna, her mum, and a bloodline reaching back centuries. With its antlered demon and a shadowy otherworld behind the veil of our world, THE RAVENING combines cinematic horrors with a compelling story of one woman’s refusal to give up and another woman’s fight for survival against terrible odds – both of them determined to overturn very different expectations. In this interview, we talk about, his childhood fascination with dark and creepy stories, his pen name, the writer's responsibility to serve the story and characters, the importance of avoiding self-indulgence and ego, and more. This episode is brought to you by AutoCrit. Head to www.autocrit.com/brock to get yourself a LIFETIME membership. If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep575 - Rebekah Powell, Creative Director & Video Director Oct 06, 2024

Show notes

Rebekah Powell is a Creative Director & Video Director better known as RebekahBCreative on social media. With more than 24 thousand followers on Instagram and another 75 thousand on TikTok, Rebekah inspires and guides aspiring creatives through her engaging content on TikTok, boasting over 1.5 million likes. Known for her candid advice, Rebekah shares insights into the creative industry, from career paths and portfolio building to navigating the challenges of freelancing. Her work extends beyond social media, as she has collaborated with renowned brands and individuals on various creative projects. Some of her credits include LUSH, ALDO, Peacocks, Joel Corry, Elton John, Britney Spears, SAMSUNG, TikTok, MNEK, Becky Hilli, Wiley, and Future. In this interview, we talk about the importance of both creative and entrepreneurial skills for self-employed creatives, the evolution of music promotion, the challenges and opportunities presented by the changing landscape of the creative industries, and the democratization of creativity and the opportunities presented by social media. Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy! If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Ep574 - Emalee Burditt & Hayley Frazier, Writers ‘The Santa Clauses’ Oct 05, 2024

Show notes

Hayley Frazier and Emalee Burditt are LGBTQ+ comedy writers based in Los Angeles. The two met as assistants on LAST MAN STANDING and have written together since. Hayley and Emalee just wrapped as Executive Story Editors on THE Z-SUITE for Tubi. They were also previously staffed on Mike Schur's A CLASSIC SPY for Netflix and seasons one and two of Disney's THE SANTA CLAUSES. In THE SANTA CLAUSES, Scott Calvin is about to turn 65. Realizing that he can't be Santa forever, he sets out to find a suitable replacement Santa while preparing his family for a new life adventure south of the North Pole. In this interview, we talk about the importance of building connections and networking within the industry, the benefits and challenges of working as a writing team, breaking into comedy writing, their show THE SANTA CLAUSES, plus some advice for aspiring screenwriters. Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy! If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

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