Creative Principles

“I was hungry,” says Kurt Johnstad, who took any position he could find to get on set. “I was just looking for an avenue to tell stories. I looked at all the jobs and the flow and rhythm of being on set. I realized a director or cinematographer needs all these people, but you could be self-reliant and self-generate — it’s the writer.” “The writer can just sort of be in their little shack and type away. I gave myself ten years to have a career, from my 20s to my 30s. Just try to do this. I don’t come from an entertainment business family, so it was hard. By 30 though, I felt like I had a career and was going in the right direction.” Johnstad recalls that he wrote about three full films before he got his first credit, which was a straight-to-video kickboxer / bloodsport movie called True Vengeance. “That’s what it ended up being anyway. I’ve never seen it,” he jokes. But, it got him his first credit and fueled his career. He also credits this early relationships with other martial artists for career longevity. Friendships with people like Chad Stahelski (Dir. John Wick), Sam Hargrave (Dir. Extraction), and Dave Leitch (Bullet Train) have led to multiple collaborations. Now, Johnstad is best known for writing scripts like 300, Act of Valor, 300: Rise of an Empire, Atomic Blonde, and most recently, Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire and Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver. 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. 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!

Stephen Moyer is a renowned actor and director best known for his role as vampire Bill Compton in HBO's 'True Blood.' Starting his career on the London stage, Moyer transitioned to television and film, starring in productions like 'Quills' and '88 Minutes.' He has showcased his versatility by directing several episodes for different television projects, including 'True Blood', and more recently the film 'A Bit of Light.' In this interview, we talked about his trajectory as an actor, working with Michael Caine, acting, his time in 'True Blood', directing, and his film 'A Bit of Light,' a story about a forty-year-old woman named Ella who is forced to move back in with her father Alan, and is trying to stay sober having temporarily given up custody of her young daughters to her ex-husband Joseph and his new partner Bethan. 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!

Lee Hardcastle is a renowned claymation director celebrated for his dark humor and innovative style. Through the years he has honed his skills to create captivating short films blending horror, comedy, and absurdity, and his unique storytelling and attention to detail have earned him a global following. Hardcastle's work ranges from grotesque parodies of popular franchises to original tales of macabre madness, pushing the boundaries of clay animation. In this interview, we talked about what led him to claymation, how he approaches his stories, going viral on social media and how comments and feedback have affected his work, getting comfortable in his creative process, 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!

In high school, Bill Kennedy got a job making copies at a law firm. Back then, he pictured himself taking the bar, buying a collection of three-piece suits, and making a career as a lawyer. But, when he met someone a decade older also making copies, who was producing records at the time, asked, “Dude, why would you want to do this? Why be a lawyer?” The beneficial challenger concluded, “[Do] you think the people here are happy?” The realization sunk in. “In college, I started to explore a career in creative writing. I got really into it. I wrote some short stories and a novella. Moved out to LA and did the assistant thing for a long time, eventually becoming the Writer’s Room Assistant on the first season of House of Cards.” As an assistant, Kennedy would do anything from answering phones to scheduling meetings to reading scripts (he estimates he read over 1,500 scripts at this time). Most importantly though, he got to be a fly on the wall to learn the business from working in the business. “You see how the business works and develop your sense of taste.” He also worked as Beau Willimon’s assistant, who wrote Andor and The Ides of March in addition to creating House of Cards. “That was an extremely formative experience for me. I got to pitch a lot in the room and got promoted to staff writer Season 2.” As a staff writer, Kennedy has credits for 22 episodes of House of Cards and more recently, became a staff writer for The Morning Show. The whole time, he’s also been staying up late, writing spec scripts at night. “Even at its most tortuous, it’s the best.” 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. 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!

Whether through art, animation, or filmmaking, Julian Curi has dedicated his life and work to telling stories and helping others tell theirs. These days he is best known for his work in paper puppetry and animation. His latest work, GRUFF, a paper-made short film about his relationship with his late dad is out now: https://youtu.be/5p4s4k3eB_I?si=GHg0_z09Yx-xTqXF In this interview, we talked about what led him to animation, the origin of GRUFF, crowdfunding and how to start a campaign, dealing with the pressure that comes from social media, his future projects, 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!

Jeff Goins helps creative people succeed. Through his bestselling books, courses, coaching, and speeches, he shares his ongoing journey of transformation, inspiring creators like you to discover your voice and share it with the world. He is also the founder of Fresh Complaint, a bespoke creative agency that helps thought leaders turn good ideas into big ideas. Jeff and his team do this through the powerful medium of books: from proposals to editing to full-on ghostwriting, Fresh Complaint can help you make your book great. In this interview, we talked about his journey as a writer, how he started making money from his mailing list, his first books, the story behind 'Real Artists Don't Starve', 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!

“I started out in the acting world,” says Rebecca Flinn-White. “Acting, directing, theater. And that’s how Zak and I met actually. We were friends in college, didn’t date back then, but we’re married now,” she adds, about her writing partner, Zak White. Zak adds, “This is the only thing I ever wanted to do. I grew up in a small midwest town. I was a movie fanatic but I didn’t know people actually got paid to do it. I thought you had to be born in a magical world that doesn’t exist.” The duo both wore many hats until they realized how much they enjoyed the writing, specifically writing together. “Writing is the story creation,” says Zak. “It’s where I feel unbridled creativity.” “We started working together in college,” says Rebecca. “Zak actually cast me in my first horror movie. I had so much fun doing it and I loved collaborating with him.” “When we started living together, you just sort of bounce ideas off of each other,” says Zak. “Then there’s a couple things that click. You think, ‘I get this the way you get this, and—“ “Suddenly you’re pregnant,” jokes Rebecca. “Pregnant with a script,” Zak clarifies. 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. 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!

‘I didn’t grow up in a place where I was hanging out with screenwriters,” says Melanie Marnich. “I grew up in Duluth, Minnesota. I was a voracious reader and I think that sparked something in me, but I didn’t know that that would be a career.” In college, Marnich was a journalism major with an emphasis in advertising. “I would up doing and loving TV and radio commercials.” She loved the job, but felt limited writing in spurts of 30- or 60-seconds. “Then I got the theater bug.” Feeling that she had some of the right instincts but wanting a more formal degree, she went back to graduate school to learn the ins and outs of becoming a playwright. “That was the big leap, going from advertising to being a playwright. But again, after a few years, I felt like there was something more to do.” Following her gut instinct once more, she pursued a career in filmmaking. “Out of the blue, my theater agent sent a play of mine to an agent in LA, who, unbeknownst to me, sent the play to the Showrunner of Big Love.” She went on to write 12 episodes of the hit HBO series. In addition to Big Love, Marnich has credits for My America, The Big C, Low Winter Sun, The Affair, The OA, The Son, A Murder at the End of the World, and Apples Never Fall. “I think it was an extremely necessary path and the right path for me. I think to say that advertising + theater = TV.” “I think if I had gone into TV sooner, I don’t think I would have had the tools I needed as a writer to build a career out of it. I think I learned a lot every step of the way and those various versions of storytelling that created in me someone who understood TV and had specific toolkit beneficial for TV.” 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. 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!

Michael Jamin has been writing for television since 1996. His many credits include Just Shoot Me, King of the Hill, Beavis & Butthead, Wilfred, Out of Practice, Rules of Engagement, Lopez and Tacoma FD. He’s also served as Executive Producer/Showrunner on Glenn Martin DDS, Maron, and Rhett & Link’s Buddy System. In his debut collection of personal essays A Paper Orchestra, Michael recounts the true stories of a sensitive, anxious man searching for the things that are most important: identity, love, forgiveness, and redemption. In this interview, we talked about how he started his career, his book, the reason behind building a social media following, his thoughts on AI, and much more! For free screenwriting advice, follow him on social media @michaeljaminwriter 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!

“I wanted to be a filmmaker for as long as I can remember,” says Dave Boyle. “I wanted to be a writer-director but after I made my first couple of independent films, I was making more of my living as an editor. I didn’t really start pursuing screenwriting as a professional until I had done a couple of micro-budget films.” This would include films like Big Dreams Little Tokyo, White on Rice, Surrogate Valentine, Daylight Savings, and Man From Reno. “That’s when I became passionate about writing as the end result. I think it was always a passion of mine, but from the beginning, I had this sort of omnivorous jack-of-all-trades approach until those things melted away.” This renaissance approach eventually led Boyle to the new Netflix series, House of Ninjas. The story follows The Tawara family, the last shinobi clan. The description reads, “It had abandoned its roots after an incident in the past, but now the family must take on the greatest crisis in Japanese history, one that threatens to shake the nation to its core.” “As I started focusing more on writing, I wrote my couple of spec scripts and finished Man from Reno, that’s when I started getting more jobs as a screenwriter. The passion was always there but it wasn’t the focus of my career for a long time.” Being an editor and director also shaped his writing. “You end up in trouble in editing because you realize if you had done this and this while writing, I wouldn’t be in this pickle right now. It definitely taught me a lot about structure. I was making some arrogant mistakes that I thought I could get through directing and editing.” This three-prong approach also changed the perspective of what he liked to write. “Eventually I realized the stuff that I was addicted to reading was the stuff I should be writing. Initially, I saw myself as a slice of life [screenwriter] for human dramas, but in everyday life, I love thrillers and detective stories. Genre, that’s my true passion and that’s what I should be writing, instead of fitting a square peg into a round hole.” 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. 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!