Creative Principles

Latest Episodes:

Ep573 - Howard Klausner, Screenwriter ‘Space Cowboys’ & ‘Reagan’ Oct 04, 2024

Show notes

“As a kid, I had the Super 8, we were making backyard epics, and somebody had to write the scripts,” jokes Howard Klausner about his screenwriting career. “I struck out as a guitar player and actor, but I knew how to write.” Klausner is best known for SPACE COWBOYS, DIRTY HARRY: THE ORIGINAL, THE LAST RIDE, GOD’S NOT DEAD: A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS and most recently, REAGAN. The latest film stars Dennis Quaid, Penelope Ann Miller, and Jon Voight. The story is “a drama based on the life of Ronald Reagan, from his childhood to his time in the oval office” that took 14 years to get made. In this interview, Howard talks about advice from Clint Eastwood, “what do I care about versus what am I trying to sell?,” his love for the Hero’s Journey, shifting from being hired help to being the Band of Brothers, advice for indie filmmakers, and the intangibles that drive writers to craft specs. 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 hundreds of interviews here at Creative Principles.

Ep572 - Lauren LeFranc, Writer & Producer ‘The Penguin,’ ‘Chuck,’ & ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ Oct 02, 2024

Show notes

Lauren LeFranc is the showrunner of Max’s highly-anticipated limited series THE PENGUIN. With LeFranc’s assured creative voice as its throughline, the show is a radical departure from what we’ve come to expect from comic book stories, embracing a daytime noir tone and aesthetic akin to crime dramas like THE SOPRANOS. Prior to THE PENGUIN, LeFranc most notably ran YouTube Premium’s IMPULSE. As a television veteran, her body of work also includes credits on AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D., HEMLOCK GROVE, and CHUCK. In her latest work, THE PENGUIN, the series follows Oswald “Oz” Cobb’s quest for control in Gotham City. With the city in peril following the seawall’s collapse, Oz seeks to fill the power vacuum left by the death of Carmine Falcone and finally give his mother Francis the life he’s always promised. But first, Oz must confront his enemies, including Carmine’s children, Sofia Falcone and Alberto Falcone; the Maroni family, led by their imprisoned patriarch, Salvatore Maroni; and Oz’s own demoralizing reputation as “The Penguin.” In this interview, we talk about how she got attached to THE PENGUIN, working with Colin Farrell and Matt Reeves, the portrayal of Oz as a complex and empathetic villain, the research and development involved in the show, 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!

Ep571 - Actress Rhona Mitra & Director Isaac Florentine on ‘Hounds of War’ Sep 27, 2024

Show notes

Rhona Mitra first gained recognition as the live-action model for the video game character Lara Croft before breaking into acting with notable roles in projects like UNDERWORLD: RISE OF THE LYCANS and DOOMSDAY. Isaac Florentine is a highly respected director and martial artist known for his expertise in action filmmaking. With a career spanning over three decades, Isaac has garnered acclaim for his dynamic choreography and visceral storytelling in numerous action films and television series. In their latest film, HOUNDS OF WAR (available on Digital now), the best military mercenaries known as ‘The Hounds,’ are sent on a final mission by their creator: a carefully planned trap set up to destroy them. In these back-to-back interviews, we talk about Rhona’s decision to take on the role, her journey into the action genre, the challenges and rewards of action films, Isaac’s approach to directing action movies, the importance of tailoring scripts to specific locations and schedules, how he approaches action scenes with different actors, 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!

Ep570 - Dan Hernandez & Benji Samit, Screenwriters 'LEGO Star Wars - Rebuild the Galaxy' Sep 25, 2024

Show notes

Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit trace their love for writing back to childhood. Hernandez recalls writing a Star Wars short story in fourth grade, inspired by Timothy Zahn's novels, such as the Thrawn trilogy. "I remember that moment as the first time that I really thought, oh, I really enjoy doing this. I like doing this. I think I can do this," he shares. "And that bug never really quit. It never really left me." Similarly, Samit grew up in a family of writers. "My mom's a writer. My dad has written some things. So there's always been like writing in my world," he explains. "And I always saw it as a thing that people do to express themselves. And yeah, when I was a kid, I loved writing stories, making up stories with my friends." Their partnership began at Brown University, where they discovered a shared taste in pop culture. "We started as best friends, just hanging out in college talking about movies and TV and just pop culture that we love," Samit recalls. "We just had this bond where we had basically the same taste, everything he liked I liked, everything I liked he liked. We didn't really ever disagree on anything." This synchronicity laid the foundation for their future collaboration. Hernandez adds, "We were making each other's writing better. We were making each other's creative choices better. There are things that he's really, really good at that I'm not good at, at all." 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 hundreds of interviews here at Creative Principles.

Ep569 - Rick Lite, Founder of ‘Stress Free Book Marketing’ Sep 25, 2024

Show notes

Rick Lite is the founder of Stress Free Book Marketing and a seasoned sales and marketing professional with over 20 years of experience in the book industry. His expertise stems from a relentless pursuit of innovative book promotion strategies. He is dedicated to integrity, innovation, and growth, and he collaborates closely with authors to develop customized, comprehensive book marketing programs. Rick is always eager to share his valuable insights and insider tips for running successful campaigns that boost exposure, awareness, and, most importantly, sales. You can learn more about Rick and his impressive track record in the book industry by visiting his website: www.StressFreeBookMarketing.com In this interview, we talk about how he got into the publishing industry, the process of self-publishing and marketing books, the challenges in self-publishing, how he helps indie authors 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!

Ep568 - Gaby Laurent, Author & Memoirist ‘Wrinkles Welcome’ Sep 17, 2024

Show notes

At twenty-six, Gaby Laurent felt like her life was just beginning. Newly married and pregnant with her first child, she was on top of the world. But that joy was shattered when a routine blood test led to a diagnosis of AML Leukemia-and the treatment she needed could harm her baby or save them both. As a mother and cancer survivor, Gaby navigated the complexities of motherhood, adoption, and addiction, confronting the darkest depths of the human spirit. More than a personal narrative, her memoir WRINKLES WELCOME provides a roadmap for finding strength in adversity. Gaby's journey will help you discover hope in the darkest times and inspire you to live your life to the fullest. In this interview, we talk about her love for writing, blogging during her cancer diagnosis, shifting from fiction to memoir, her writing process and learning curve, social media, the purpose of the memoir, and more. You can get her book right here on September 17th: https://www.gabylaurentwrites.com/ Full disclosure, Gaby’s been a friend for many years, and this project actually got started in my course, How to Write a Non-Fiction Book in 12 Weeks. You can watch Gaby and other students go from idea to published book in that video course. Anyone who orders Gaby’s book, email my assistant and I’ll send you that full course for free (marionne.munoz@BrockSwinson.com). 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!

Ep567 - Katie Robbins, Showrunner 'The Affair,' 'The Last Tycoon' & 'Sunny' Sep 15, 2024

Show notes

Katie Robbins is the creator and showrunner of the AppleTV+ drama series SUNNY. The series stars Emmy Award nominee Rashida Jones, and follows Suzie, an American woman living in Japan, and Sunny, a domestic robot made by her husband's company, as they uncover the dark truth of what really happened to Suzie's husband and son who disappeared in a mysterious plane crash. In this interview, we talk about how she transitioned from journalism to screenwriting, the dynamics of working in writers' rooms, her experience working on THE AFFAIR, how she went from staff writer to showrunner, her new show SUNNY, and 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: https://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!

Ep566 - Carrie Coon, Actress 'Gone Girl,' 'The Leftovers,' & 'His Three Daughters' Sep 13, 2024

Show notes

"I think David [Fincher] at first was a little disconcerted. I didn't know any of the vocabulary," says Carrie Coon. "After a particularly frustrating day where he was asking for screen direction or something, and I didn't know what he was asking me to do. I said to him, you knew, when you hired me for this movie that I'd never made a movie before. I don't know what you're saying to me. But if you explain it to me, I can do it. I will do it. I just need to know what it is that you're trying to get." Hailing from the Chicago theater scene, Carrie Coon is perhaps best known for her breakout role in 2014’s highly acclaimed GONE GIRL, playing twin sister to Affleck’s Nick Dunne in the adaptation of the best-selling novel by Gillian Flynn. Other credits include HBO’s THE LEFTOVERS, FX’s FARGO, Sean Durkin’s THE NEST for which she received critical acclaim, and Anthony and Joe Russo’s Marvel Universe blockbuster AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, among others. In her latest project, HIS THREE DAUGHTERS, Carrie stars alongside Natasha Lyonne and Elizabeth Olsen in a tense yet touching story of family dynamics; directed by Azazel Jacobs, the film follows three estranged sisters who come together to try to plan for the inevitable when their father’s health declines. In this interview, we talk about her early career in theater and commercials, working with David Fincher in Gone Girl, her role in The Leftovers, the value of specificity in writing, advice for aspiring actors, 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!

Ep565 - Mikael Håfström, Filmmaker 'Evil,' 'The Rite,' & 'Slingshot' Sep 07, 2024

Show notes

After gaining an Academy Award nomination for his 2003 film EVIL, director and screenwriter Mikael Håfström started an international career, with films such as DERAILED, starring Clive Owen and Jennifer Aniston, THE RITE starring Anthony Hopkins, and ESCAPE PLAN starring Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Håfström’s latest work includes the upcoming film SLINGSHOT starring Casey Affleck and Laurence Fishburne. SLINGSHOT follows an astronaut who struggles to maintain his grip on reality aboard a possibly fatally compromised mission to Saturn's moon, Titan. In this interview, we talk about his creative process, the development of SLINGSHOT, the current filmmaking landscape, his experiences with television, his future plans, 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!

Ep564 - Shaye Ogbonna, Showrunner Kevin Hart Series 'Fight Night' Sep 06, 2024

Show notes

"I always looked at this as like, I'm trying to make Black Ocean's Eleven or I'm trying to make a contemporary Harlem Nights or contemporary Uptown Saturday Night, which were like this kind of like star-laden projects," says Ogbonna about FIGHT NIGHT. "And what you need is gravity. You need somebody at the center that pulls everybody in, you know what I mean?" Shaye Ogbonna is an accomplished writer and producer for both television and film. He has written on an array of premium series including THE CHI, as well as two highly-anticipated HBOMax series: THE PENGUIN from Matt Reeves, and DUSTER - a 1970s crime thriller exec-produced by JJ Abrams. Currently, Shaye serves as Creator, Writer, Showrunner, and Executive Producer of the star-studded limited series FIGHT NIGHT: THE MILLION DOLLAR HEIST, starring Kevin Hart, Samuel L. Jackson, Taraji P. Henson, Don Cheadle, and Terrence Howard. The true-crime series tells the story of how an armed robbery on the night of Muhammad Ali’s historic 1970 comeback fight ultimately transformed Atlanta into the “Black Mecca.” In this interview, we talk about his early career and influences, his decision to focus on television as a medium for storytelling, the future of limited series, his new show FIGHT NIGHT, the importance of telling local stories, 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!

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