Bulletproof Screenwriting™ Podcast

How to Make a Good Script Great with Linda Seger
Linda Seger is a legend when it comes to screenwriting coaching and scriptconsultant. She's been coaching for over 30 yearsandpretty much invented the job title. After reading herbest-sellingbook, "Making A Good Script Great" I had to have her on the show.
She'sbest known for her method ofanalyzing movie scripts, which she originally developed as her graduate schooldissertationon "What Makes a Great Script."She founded the script consulting industry, becoming the first entrepreneur who saw script consulting as a business, rather than an offshoot of seminars or books.
Linda Seger has consulted on over 2000screenplaysand over 100 produced films and television shows includingUniversal Soldier,The Neverending Story II,Luther,The Bridge(miniseries,) etc.
“When I arrived I had an idea. Three days later the idea had become a complete and rich outline. Linda’s warmth, guidance and insight helped me structure my story and discover the layers that made it come alive.”Sergio Umansky
Her clients includeOscar® winningwriter and director Peter Jackson, SonyPictures, and Ray Bradbury.Unlike otherscreenwriting gurus, Linda Seger is not ascreenwriterbut has focused exclusively on consulting and teaching.
Linda Segerhas written13 books, 9 of them on screenwriting, including the best-selling Making a Good Script Great, Creating Unforgettable Characters, and Writing Subtext.(FREE AUDIO BOOK VERSIONS HERE)
Ron Howardhas endorsedMaking a Good Script Great,saying he uses thebook when makingall of his movies beginning withApollo 13.
Not a badrecommendation.Take a listen to this master class on screenwriting with Linda Seger and get ready to take notes!

How to Create an Emotional Impact in Your Screenplay with Karl Iglesias
This week we were lucky enough to have as our guest best-selling authorKarl Iglesias. He has written award-winning books includingThe 101 Habits of Highly Successful Screenwriters,Writing for Emotional Impact, andCut to the Chase.(FREE AUDIO BOOK VERSIONS HERE)
I discovered Karl Iglesias' work readingWriting for Emotional Impact. It really transformed the way I wrote screenplays and created a bunch of new habits that I still use today.
Karl is a script-doctor, author, award-winning instructor and story consultant, specializing in the reader’s emotional response to the written page. He helps writers, filmmakers, producers and advertising executives craft better stories that connect emotionally with an audience.
It was a major treat to interview Karl on the show. His work is so specific but yet broad. His one rule that can never be broken,
"Always be interesting."
I think most films coming out of Hollywood today should take that advice. Keep your audience engaged and emotionally invested. So many filmmakers and screenwriters today don't understand that basic concept.
I really asked Karl the tough questions so we could fill this episode with amazing content for you. This is one podcast youwon't want to miss. Enjoy!

How a Screenwriter Becomes a First Time Director with Kelly Fremon Craig
I'm asked all the time
"How does a screenwriter get the opportunity to direct one of their screenplays?"
That is the question. In Hollywood, more times than not, writers don't have the power or ability to direct their own material. It took a few screenplays before Quentin Tarantino got the shot with Reservoir Dogs. Today's guest is writer/director Kelly Fremon Craig. She got her shot to director her own screenplay on the 2016 critical darling Edge of Seventeenstarring Hailee Steinfeld, Woody Harrelson, and Kyra Sedgwick. Check out the trailer below.
Kelly's adventures through Hollyweird is inspiring to say the least.Enjoy my conversation with Kelly Fremon Craig.

We've allread in Variety or The Hollywood Reporter of some no-name screenwriter selling his or her screenplay for a million bucks. Ever wonder how they did it? What structure did they use? What "tricks of the trade were" employed?
May I introduce Paul Castro,the original writer ofone of my favorite films August Rush.Paul Castro is a produced, award-winning screenwriter and world-renowned screenwriting professor.
"Structure...is the canvas on which we paint with words." - Paul Castro
His project,August Rushwas produced by Warner Brothers and starredthe late great Robin Williams,Keri Russell,Freddie Highmore andJonathan Rhys Meyers. The film took Paul Castro into the belly of the Hollywood beast.
The business of screenwriting can be tough, but while a student at the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television,he was a finalist for theCoca-Cola Refreshing Filmmaker's Awardfor directing and producing his original screenplayHealing, and landed a three-picture screenwriting deal worth $1 million.
The lessons he learned not only from sellingAugust Rush butmany other Hollywood screenwriting adventures were invaluable. He later wentback and becamea screenwriting professor at UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television, teaching thousands of students overhis tenyears of teaching.
“Paul Castro teaches screenwriting from the inside out.” - Richard Walter, UCLA Screenwriting Chairperson.
Enjoy this whopper of a podcast episode and if you haven't seen August Rush do yourself a favor and watch it. It's worth watching for Robin Williams alone!

Today's guest is screenwriter/podcaster Ashley Scott Meyers from Sellingyourscreenplay.com. Ashley is a working screenwriter in Hollywood. He also spends his time running a popular screenwriting blog and podcast. His focus is on helpingyousell your screenplay. Here's a bit of his philosophy in his own words:
If you ask 100 different screenwriters how they broke into the business you’re going to get 100 different answers. There is no “right” way to break in. So my philosophy has always been simple: try as many different angles as possible and figure out what works best for you.
Below are two short lists of things you should be doing to try and sell your screenplays. I’ve listed them in order of what I think is most effective (your results may vary). One thing to keep in mind, this is not an exhaustive list. You should be thinking of other ways you can market your material and doing those things, too. If you would like to share any of your ideas please email me as I’m always curious to hear how other writers are successfully marketing their material.
Also, you may not be able to do everything on these lists, but the more you do the better chances you’ll have. If you’re serious about success, however, you’re going to need to try most of these things, otherwise you’re not going to be giving your screenplay, or yourself, a real chance to succeed.
Things you can start doing today.
Make phone calls to agents, managers, and producers pitching your material
Write query letters for your screenplays and snail mail, email, or fax them to agents, managers, and producers
Scour sites like Craig’s List and other online resources for people looking for screenplays and send them your query letter
Enter screenwriting contests
Try and connect with agents, managers and producers on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook
Long term items which you should also be doing.
We get into it in this interview so take some notes on this epic conversation. Enjoy!

Can you imagine having a front row seat to the start of the filmmaking careers of Will Smith, Bruce Willis and Michael Bay? Well this week's guest Screenwriter Doug Richardson did just that. In198920th Century Fox hired Doug to adapt Walter Wager’s novel58 Minutesinto the first sequel to the hit franchiseDie Hard. In 1990, it was released asDie Hard 2, Die Harder.
Around the same period, Doug Richardson and his one-time writing partner, Rick Jaffa, garnered national attention when their spec screenplay,Hellbent…and Backwas the first in Hollywood to sell for a million dollars. Doug has since written and produced feature films including the box office smashBad Boys(1995),Money Train(1995),andHostage(2005).
In addition to writing for the screen and print, Doug posts a weekly blog on his website, dougrichardson.com, where he shares personal anecdotes and insight from his thirty-year showbiz career. The first collection of his blogs,The Smoking Gun: True Tales from Hollywood’s Screenwriting Trencheswas published in 2015.
I had a ball chatting with Dougand his stories from the set had been mesmerized. He dropped some major knowledge bombs in this interview. Enjoy!

First Rule ofJim Uhls, YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUTJim Uhls!
We I have a MAJOR treat for the tribe this week. I have no other thanJim Uhls,the master screenwriterbehind David Fincher's "Fight Club",one of the greatest films in my generation, inmy humble option.
When Chuck Palahniuk'sFight Clubwas making the rounds in Hollywood, it was a tough saleto be adapted for the screen. But then Brad Pitt got involved; add David Fincher and Ed Norton, throw Jim Uhls into the mix and you've got a modern classic.
Jim’s screenwriting credits include of course the modern classic “Fight Club” the feature-film "Jumper" the NBC television film "Semper Fi" and the SyFy miniseries "Spin".
In this remarkablediscussion,Jim Uhlsbreaks the first rule ofFight Club: He talks about it, working with David Fincher,why he hates outlines and why you should interview your characters. Step inside the mind of the man who figured out how to conquer Hollywood as he lays down knowledge bomb afterknowledge bomb in this eye-opening interview.
Towards the end of the interview, Jim gives easily the GREATEST ADVICE ON HOW TO BECOME A WORKING SCREENWRITER I EVER HEARD!This podcast is not to be missed.
Enjoy my conversation with Jim Uhls.

Today's guest blew my mind on his approach to storytelling and screenwriting. John Truby is one of Hollywood'spremier screenwriting instructor and story consultant.Over the last 25 years, more than 50,000 people have attended his sold-out seminars around the world, with the American Film Institute declaring that his “course allows a writer to succeed in the fiercely competitive climate of Hollywood.”
Over the last 25 years, more than 50,000 people have attended his sold-out seminars around the world, with the American Film Institute declaring that his “course allows a writer to succeed in the fiercely competitive climate of Hollywood.”
Called “the best script doctor in the movie industry,” Truby serves as a story consultant for major studios and production companies worldwide, and has been a script doctor on more than 1,800 movies, sitcoms and television dramas for the likes of Disney, Universal, Sony Pictures, FOX, HBO, Alliance Atlantis, Paramount, BBC, MTV and more.
Truby’s former students’ work have earned more than $15 billion at the box office, and include the writers, directors and producers of such film blockbusters asRatatouille,In Treatment,Pirates of the Caribbean,X-Men I/II/III,Shrek,Mother Mary of Chris,Breaking Bad,House,Lost,Planet of the Apes,Scream,The Fantastic Four,The Negotiator,Star Wars,Sleepless in Seattle,Outbreak,African Cats(which Truby co-wrote for Disney) and more. Truby’s class is also regularly attended by top fiction writers and novelists who have topped theNew York Times’ Bestseller List, won numerous prestigious literary awards, and have sold over 46 million books worldwide. Hollywood’s best kept secret, Truby’s classes regularly attract everyone from first time writers to A-list writers, producers, directors, filmmakers, story executives, novelists, fiction writers and more.
In addition to his sold-out seminars, John Truby remains on the cutting- edge of technology having created and developed Truby Blockbuster – the bestselling software designed to intuitively help writers learn and understand the art of developing their story ideas into fully realized, professionally-structured scripts.
Truby’s principles and methods are the most modern, exciting approach to screenwriting and storytelling to bedevelopedin a generation, which is why his classes regularly attract everyone from Oscar winners to first-time writers.
We get into the weeds of story in this EPIC conversation. Get ready to take notes. Enjoy!

It’s here! The first episodeof The Bulletproof Screenwriting Podcast! Now you might be asking...
"Alex, why are you launching another podcast dedicated to screenwriting when you cover that on the IFH Podcast already?"
Well, it's because I know that screenwriters are really NOT that interested in learning about lenses, self-distribution, or social media marketing. They want to get into the craft and business of screenwriting and storytelling. I found that IFH Tribe members that wanted to learn about screenwriting would have to wait until I had a screenwriting guest.
With The Bulletproof Screenplay Podcast, they can get a fresh episode every weekdedicatedto the craft and business of screenwriting.
I'll be grabbing some of my past screenwriting themed interviews and re-publishing them here but I'll also be adding brand new content as well. I already have a bunch of amazing guests lined up for the podcast.
So if you're fan of the IFH Podcast you should definitely subscribe to the BPS Screenwriting Podcast as well. That'll be THREE FRESH EPISODES of content every week. Yes, I'm crazy but I'm crazy about providing the best content I can to the IFH Tribe and helping them on their filmmaking and screenwriting journeys.
You can download the screenwriting podcast to your computer or listen to it here on the blog. This podcast feed is listedoniTunes, Spreaker,andStitcher, so you can subscribe there as well.
Thanks for Listening!
Thanks so much for joining me again this week.Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below!
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Also,please leave an honest review for The Bulletproof Screenplay Podcast on iTunes!Ratings and reviewsareextremelyhelpfuland greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.
And finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the show oniTunesto get automaticupdates.Untilnext time!
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