Creative Principles

Latest Episodes:

Ep332 - Neal Marshall Stevens on ‘A Sense of Dread-Getting Under the Skin of Horror Screenwriting’ Mar 01, 2022

Show notes

“I have been writing screenplays since I was 13 years old. I have been writing for a long, long time, back before there even were screenwriting books,” said Neal Marshall Stevens, who has 45 writing credits on IMDB (and many more unlisted). “I think I bought an old Star Trek episode, which was totally inappropriate as a screenwriting guide,” he joked. “You could order screenplays back then, but they were written after the fact so they were not at all useful.” Stevens is a graduate of NYU and began his career as a consultant and story editor for Laurel Entertainment. One of his first jobs included the pilot to the syndicated series Monsters. The veteran writer is also known for working on The Vernon Johns Story, Precious Victims, Stephen King’s The Stand, the Puppetmaster series, Hellraiser: Deader, and Dark Castle’s remake of Thirteen Ghosts. If it’s your first time listening, make sure to subscribe and visit my new website for information on the YouTube channel, the blog, this podcast, and my new book ‘Ink by the Barrel’ which takes advice from these 200+ interviews at the link below… Follow us on Instagram: @creativeprinciples 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!

Ep331 - Weiko Lin, Author ‘Crazy Screenwriting Secrets - How to Capture a Global Audience’ Feb 23, 2022

Show notes

Weiko Lin’s writing comes from a place of pain, but also a place of fear. He was already a professional screenwriter when his mother passed away, but since this monumental moment, his work became more authentic as it changed his views on writing character. In this interview, Lin talks about his new book ‘Crazy Screenwriting Secrets: How to Capture a Global Audience,’ how to write about duality, what it means to see characters through the lens of fear, and why writing is a way of life. If it’s your first time listening, make sure to subscribe and visit my new website for information on the YouTube channel, the blog, this podcast, and my new book ‘Ink by the Barrel’ which takes advice from these 200+ interviews at the link below… Follow us on Instagram: @creativeprinciples 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!

Ep330 - Jandy Nelson, Author & Screenwriter for Apple’s ‘The Sky is Everywhere’ Feb 21, 2022

Show notes

As a literary agent early in her career, Jandy Nelson was attracted to “voice-driven work.” A poet and YA reader, she saw a path for herself in the subgenere of verse novel. “That’s when I wrote The Sky is Everywhere and fell in love with fiction.” In The Sky is Everywhere, the story follows a shy, teenage musician who tries to keep things together after the death of her older, outgoing sister. Nelson has a solo writing credit for the screenplay. “At first, we tried to make it a movie ten years ago, but ultimately, I realized I wanted to adapt it myself.” To understand this new craft, Nelson read all of 101 books on screenwriting and everything else she could get her hands on. “I found it to be a combination of novels and poetry because it has a strict structure and every word counts.” In this interview, Nelson talks about voice driven work, how to bring out an interior world, why every word counts, why she loves YA, how she invented Lennie-scapes for the film, and how to create leverage with personality-driven work. If it’s your first time listening, make sure to subscribe and visit my new website for information on the YouTube channel, the blog, this podcast, and my new book ‘Ink by the Barrel’ which takes advice from these 200+ interviews at the link below… Follow us on Instagram: @creativeprinciples 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!

Ep329 - Dana Schwartz, Author Reese’s Book Club Pick ‘Anatomy - A Love Story’ Feb 15, 2022

Show notes

Since elementary school, Dana Schwartz has been writing full-length books. Today, she’s known for her work as a writer, author, and podcaster. Most recently, Dana published the book Anatomy: A Love Story, which was recently chosen as a pick for Reese Witherspoon’s book club. Set against the backdrop of 1830’s Edinburgh, this is a gothic tale full of mystery and romance. Inspired by grave robbers and the burgeoning Edinburgh surgical academic scene in the nineteenth century, this is a deliciously gruesome tale about the lengths one will go to for their passions – and the sinister twists and turns that are always lurking around the gaslit, cobblestone streets of a city where it's much more popular to die than it is to live. In this interview, Dana talks about being a prolific writer, creating leverage with Twitter, how “work begets more work,” why YA is more about marketing these days, and how novice writers can break into the industry today. If it’s your first time listening, make sure to subscribe and visit my new website for information on the YouTube channel, the blog, this podcast, and my new book ‘Ink by the Barrel’ which takes advice from these 200+ interviews at the link below… Follow us on Instagram: @creativeprinciples 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!

Ep328 - Mike Mills, Writer-Director Joaquin Phoenix Film ‘C’mon C’mon’ Jan 25, 2022

Show notes

At age 25, Mike Mills found filmmaking through music videos, following the path of Spike Jonze, and eventually working with musicians like Moby and The Beastie Boys. Mills launched his career with Thumbsucker, an adaptation of Walter Kirn’s novel by the same name, followed by Beginners, and most recently, C’mon C’mon. The plot follows a woman who asks her radio journalist brother to help look after her son. In this interview, Mills talks about working with Joaquin Phoenix for this film, his obsession with “moments,” why it takes 5-6 years to make a movie, when a script becomes “sticky,” and how to “communicate with strangers in the dark room.” If it’s your first time listening, make sure to subscribe and visit my new website for information on the YouTube channel, the blog, this podcast, and my new book ‘Ink by the Barrel’ which takes advice from these 200+ interviews at the link below… Follow us on Instagram: @creativeprinciples 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!

Ep327 - James Vanderbilt Returns to Talk ‘Scream’ & 'Zodiac' Jan 17, 2022

Show notes

Screenwriter James Vanderbilt returns for the third time to talk about his new film Scream. Look for James in Episodes 50 and 163 of the podcast for more great advice. In the new film, Scream, the plot reads, “Twenty-five years after the original series of murders in Woodsboro, a new Ghostface emerges, and Sidney Prescott must return to uncover the truth.” In this interview, James talks about writing secret projects, why he doesn’t chase ideas, why writing is a marathon until it’s a sprint, spinning multiple plates, and what separates Scream from other slasher films. Note: near the end of this interview, around 30 minutes, we also discuss Spider-Man: No Way Home and Vanderbilt’s experience with the Marvel franchise. If it’s your first time listening, make sure to subscribe and visit my new website for information on the YouTube channel, the blog, this podcast, and my new book ‘Ink by the Barrel’ which takes advice from these 200+ interviews at the link below… Follow us on Instagram: @creativeprinciples 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!

Ep326 - Rebecca Sonnenshine, Screenwriter ‘Archive 81,’ ‘The Boys,’ & ‘The Vampire Diaries’ Jan 17, 2022

Show notes

Rebecca Sonnenshine “came to screenwriting last,” after making short films, capturing images, and attending Film School. After trying her hand at screenwriting, she discovered she loved the process. As a writer-producer, she’s best known for working on The Vampire Diaries, Outcast, The Crossing, The Boys, and now, James Wan’s Archive 81 for Netflix. In her new series, the description reads: “An archivist hired to restore a collection of tapes finds himself reconstructing the work of a filmmaker and her investigation into a dangerous cult.” In this interview, Rebecca talks about getting immersed in character, what she learned as a script reader, how to create improv with yourself, what separates great from average, and common pitfalls for novice writers. If it’s your first time listening, make sure to subscribe and visit my new website for information on the YouTube channel, the blog, this podcast, and my new book ‘Ink by the Barrel’ which takes advice from these 200+ interviews at the link below… Join the email list here: www.brockswinson.com Follow us on Instagram for updates: @brockswinson 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!

Ep325 - Christopher Vogler, Author ‘The Writer’s Journey’ Dec 21, 2021

Show notes

“As a kid, I was so moved by these things,” said author Christopher Vogler about the world of cinema. “What made stories so exciting? I followed that trail to Film School at USC, where I encountered some of the ideas of Joseph Campbell.” Vogler’s Professor encouraged him to further explore the mythological signs that stood out to him, which led him to Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces. This collection broke down the “universal motif of adventure” that runs through essentially all storytelling. Vogler later turned this idea in a 7-page memo that summarized the “Hero’s Journey,” explaining how to use Campbell’s ideas in modern storytelling. “That went viral, in primitive means at the time, by fax machines, but it went all over Hollywood.” The memo led Vogler to a job at Disney working on The Lion King. “It seemed new and fresh to them, so that was good timing for me.” Over the years, Vogler has worked on films like 101 Dalmatians, Fight Club, Courage Under Fire, Volcano, and The Thin Red Line. If it’s your first time listening, make sure to subscribe and visit my new website for information on the YouTube channel, the blog, this podcast, and my new book ‘Ink by the Barrel’ which takes advice from these 200+ interviews at the link below… Follow us on Instagram: @creativeprinciples 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!

Ep324 - Diallo Riddle & Bashir Salahuddin, Creators HBO Max Comedy ‘South Side’ Dec 21, 2021

Show notes

“Necessity,” said Bashir Salahuddin, about his path to screenwriting, as he and his writing partner Diallo Riddle were limited in which roles they were given, even in sketch comedy performances in LA. The duo felt like there had not been a “boisterous black sketch comedy show in LA” since Keenen Ivory Wayans’ In Living Color (1990-1994). “We had goofy sketches, like Malcolm X doing stand-up and then we started doing some video and viral stuff. That was how David Alan Grier and Jimmy Fallon found us, and helped us get our WGA cards.” One of their first paychecks actually came from Bernie Mac. “I believe he gave us $750," said Riddle, “which at the time felt like we were millionaires. That buys a lot of wigs and make-up,” he added, as they put all of their money back into the business. Eventually, the writers landed jobs on shows like Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The Maya Rudolph Show, Maya & Marty, The Last O.G., and Sherman’s Showcase, with Co-Creator credits for the new sketch comedy show South Side. If it’s your first time listening, make sure to subscribe and visit my new website for information on the YouTube channel, the blog, this podcast, and my new book ‘Ink by the Barrel’ which takes advice from these 200+ interviews at the link below… Follow us on Instagram: @creativeprinciples 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!

Ep323 - Andrew Herr, Actor Hulu Comedy ‘Letterkenny’ Dec 20, 2021

Show notes

Andrew Herr spent the bulk of his childhood playing hockey, until he moved senior year, and got involved with acting and theaters in the new environment. Herr is best known as Jonesy on ‘Letterkenny,’ where he plays one of two bumbling hockey players in a small town in Canada. The character-based series is made up of “hicks, skids, hockey players and Christians.” In this interview, Herr talks about how ‘Letterkenny’ inspired him to get into screenwriting, the positive limitations of low-budget writing, his favorite recent horror movies, the benefits of writing with partners, and what’s next for the series that is currently on a live tour. Make sure to also read our interview with ‘Letterkenny’ co-creator Jacob Tierney on Creative Screenwriting’s website. If it’s your first time listening, make sure to subscribe and visit my new website for information on the YouTube channel, the blog, this podcast, and my new book ‘Ink by the Barrel’ which takes advice from these 200+ interviews at the link below… Follow us on Instagram: @creativeprinciples 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!

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