The Broken Projector Movie Podcast (Screenwriting)
A movie podcast that isn't boring.

It's possible that the people who write the movies you love will stop working on May 2nd. Screenwriter John Gary joins us to explain how we got here, and what may happen next.

Direct download: brokenprojector-episode127.mp3
Category:Screenwriting -- posted at: 2:18pm EST

This week on the show we answer your screenwriting questions about how to make the Second Act easier to slog through [1:50 - 13:10] and what to do if your friends (and husband) make fun of you for taking time to write [13:10 - 23:30]. Then we mine Chef David Chang's article in Wired about "unleashing the world's most amazing flavors" for nuggets of wisdom for screenwriters [23:30 - 38:00].

Direct download: brokenprojector-chefvd31.mp3
Category:Screenwriting -- posted at: 10:18am EST

This week, award-winning filmmaker BenDavid Grabinski joins us to answer your screenwriting questions about writing for an international audience [0:00 - 8:25], what the heavy amount of biopics on the 2016 Black List means [8:25 - 18:00], and how to dance around the specter of Donald Trump at your pitch meetings [18:00 - 25:00].

Direct download: brokenprojector-episode124vd.mp3
Category:Screenwriting -- posted at: 1:05pm EST

This week on the show, we answer your screenwriting questions about Johnny Depp being overpaid [0:00 - 5:00], how much of a lunch meeting is spent on small talk vs the project [5:00 - 10:00], preparing for a pitch meeting [10:00 - 16:00], what a "set piece" is [16:00 - 23:00], and the best movie made from a bad script [23:00 - 33:00].

Direct download: brokenprojector-episode123vd.mp3
Category:Screenwriting -- posted at: 11:23am EST

This week we answer your screenwriting questions about creative script fixes for budget problems (Hey, Deadpool!) [1:15 - 11:30], showing a character lying with your visuals [11:30 - 16:40], writing an action synopsis that isn't just a laundry list of action scenes [16:40 - 22:15], figuring out why Doctor Strange showed up on General Hospital [22:15 - 27:45], and then Geoff wants to bring up the new Willy Wonka movie for some reason [27:45 - 33:00].

Direct download: brokenprojector-episode120vd.mp3
Category:Screenwriting -- posted at: 5:41pm EST

This week we answer your screenwriting questions about what to do with your old "practice" scripts [0:00 - 9:55], what to do if you keep spoiling the tone of your serious movie with unfunny jokes [9:55 -  16:30], what it means for a producer to attach themselves to a project [16:30 - 20:30], when you should give up on becoming a professional writer [20:30 - 41:45], and what music we listen to while writing [41:45 - 44:00].

Direct download: brokenprojector-vdquitting.mp3
Category:Screenwriting -- posted at: 1:16pm EST

This week on the show we hang out with literary manager Michael Botti of Industry Entertainment. We learn how he became a manager [0:00 - 7:45], and answer your screenwriting questions about expectations for meeting with a manager for the first time [7:45 - 17:55], if following up ever leads to a 'yes' [17:55 - 20:45], whether cold queries are worth the time [20:45 - 26:00], how UK-repped writers can get in on the LA action [26:00 - 26:45], how someone with a few script under their belt who doesn't live in LA can catch a manager's attention [26:45 - 34:05], if managers are looking for writing teams [34:05 - 35:15], if managers should be more regulated as an industry [35:15 - 43:00], what the distinction is between managers who produce and producers who manage [43:00 - 60:45], what a manager does to develop a writer [60:45 - 69:35] and whether it's pronounced "By-o-pic" or "Bio-dome" [69:35 - 70:30].

Direct download: brokenprojector-bottivd.mp3
Category:Screenwriting -- posted at: 4:46pm EST

This week on the show we follow-up on a question about selling yourself and your writing [4:30 - 12:30], then answer your screenwriting questions about how to know which manager is right for you [12:30 - 17:00], where to find solid script resources [17:00 - 20:00], if you can write about true crime without permission [20:00 - 22:45], and how to go about inventing a pitch for a board game that doesn't have a story behind it [22:45 - 35:00].

Send questions to podcast@filmschoolrejects.com or @brokenprojector on Twitter. 

Direct download: brokenprojector-boardgamesvd.mp3
Category:Screenwriting -- posted at: 1:18pm EST

This week on the show, we answer your questions about selling your work and yourself [0:00 - 9:30], which production company we're dying to write for [9:30 - 15:45], and how to keep your script on target for a PG-13 rating [15:45 - 24:00].

Send your questions to @brokenprojector on twitter or email podcast@filmschoolrejects.com.

Direct download: brokenprojector-episode118vd.mp3
Category:Screenwriting -- posted at: 10:05am EST

This week we talk about falling off a horse [0:00 - 3:30], then answer your screenwriting questions about the value of simplicity [3:30 - 11:35], the biggest mistakes of our respective careers [11:35 - 14:00], formatting a character who also goes by a nickname and other slightly wonky irritations [14:00 - 20:00], how much you can get wrong in a first draft [20:00 - 26:45], what lessons screenwriters can pull from great novels [26:45 - 31:45], and whether/why more actors are becoming screenwriters than any other time in Hollywood history [31:45 - 42:00] 

Direct download: brokenprojector-duodecuplethreatvd.mp3
Category:Screenwriting -- posted at: 1:49pm EST

This week on the show, guest host Eric Heisserer (Lights Out, Hours) offers a revolutionary way of thinking about horror screenwriting, talks about adapting a one-punchline short film into a feature and answers a few listener questions about when to introduce the big baddie.

Direct download: brokenprojector-heissererlightsoutvd.mp3
Category:Screenwriting -- posted at: 2:25pm EST

This week we answer your screenwriting questions about the pitfalls of outlining too much, the market for delightful pg-rated rom-coms, how long it takes to become a great writer and more.

 

Direct download: brokenprojector-episode117vd.mp3
Category:Screenwriting -- posted at: 11:37am EST

This week we answer your screenwriting questions about whether plot or characters are driving a script, what happens when a ton of writers work on a project and how to approach a slapstick scene that rests largely on the actor's shoulders.

Direct download: brokenprojector-plotcharactervd.mp3
Category:Screenwriting -- posted at: 1:45pm EST

This week we answer your screenwriting questions about tackling story concepts that are outside your personal experience, common mistakes to avoid when trying to get representation, and we learn what a First Class Twinkie really is.

Direct download: brokenprojector-episode116vd.mp3
Category:Screenwriting -- posted at: 4:11pm EST

This week, special guest Justin Marks (Jungle Book, Top Gun 2, Counterpart) helps us answer your screenwriting questions about IP, getting started in animation, if one bad film can hurt your career and more.

Send us your questions @brokenprojector on Twitter and podcast@filmschoolrejects.com.

Direct download: brokenprojector-justinmarksvd.mp3
Category:Screenwriting -- posted at: 4:03pm EST

This week special guest Travis Beacham (Pacific Rim, The Curiosity) helps us answer your screenwriting questions about determining if your idea is a TV show or a movie, being unafraid of collaboration, the feeling of that first great script, and much more.

Send us questions @brokenprojector on Twitter or podcast@filmschoolrejects.com.

Direct download: brokenprojector-beachamvd.mp3
Category:Screenwriting -- posted at: 4:18pm EST

This week we answer your screenwriting questions about the best script ever written, how to know if your industry contact is worth anything, what to do when you've got a great script but want perfection, and we probably survive a kick-ass boat chase.

Send us your questions @brokenprojector on twitter or podcast@filmschoolrejects.com

Direct download: brokenprojector-episode115vd.mp3
Category:Screenwriting -- posted at: 1:40pm EST

This week's questions involve pesky page economy, looking outside of writing for writing advice, how to avoid being longwinded and the absolute best screenwriting book to buy (if you can only get one).

Send your questions to @brokenprojector on Twitter and podcast@filmschoolrejects.com.

Direct download: brokenprojector-vd4-22.mp3
Category:Screenwriting -- posted at: 12:28pm EST

This week we answer your screenwriting questions about crafting dialogue for a family fighting over dinner, where to find a qualified reader, and how insane writing a full season of a TV drama can be.

 

Send us your questions @brokenprojector on Twitter or podcast@filmschoolrejects.com

Direct download: brokenprojector-episode113vd.mp3
Category:Screenwriting -- posted at: 11:24am EST

This week we answer your screenwriting questions about using a novel to promote your script, good summer internships and domes on the moon.

Send us your questions @brokenprojector on Twitter and podcast@filmschoolrejects.com

Direct download: brokenprojector-episode112vd.mp3
Category:Screenwriting -- posted at: 11:44am EST