Episodi

  • IFH 875: The Screenwriting Advice Hollywood Writers Actually Use with Ron Peters

    IFH 875: The Screenwriting Advice Hollywood Writers Actually Use with Ron Peters
    Oct 6 2026
    Screenwriter, story analyst, and editor Ron Peters takes us inside the craft of professional screenwriting through his experiences working on projects including Defiance, The Wolf of Wall Street, Fury, and Twin Peaks. Ron breaks down how he approaches a screenplay—first experiencing it as an audience member, then analyzing structure and character—and explains why compelling characters can matter even more than perfect structure. He also explores the importance of understanding your antagonist, internal conflict, and why The Wolf of Wall Street could use Jordan Belfort's own greed and self-obsession as powerful sources of antagonism.

    Ron also shares practical advice for writers trying to break into Hollywood. He discusses when screenwriting formulas can be useful, why emerging writers should build a portfolio before becoming overly experimental, how gatekeepers evaluate scripts, and why writers need to trust their own unique experiences rather than becoming dependent on consultants. Most importantly, Ron argues that professional writing requires discipline: read every day, write every day, accept bad pages, rewrite relentlessly, and approach the work with the consistency of a nine-to-five job.

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    55 min
  • IFH 863: How One Tweet Can Change Your Screenwriting Career with Jeanne Veillette Bowerman

    IFH 863: How One Tweet Can Change Your Screenwriting Career with Jeanne Veillette Bowerman
    Jul 14 2026
    Breaking into Hollywood has never followed a single formula, and Jeanne Veillette Bowerman proves that some of the most successful careers begin far outside Los Angeles. After owning a motel and restaurant for fifteen years, Jeanne reinvented herself as a screenwriter, eventually becoming the editor of Script Magazine, co-founder of the influential #ScriptChat community, and a respected voice in the screenwriting world. She shares how social media transformed her career, why networking online opened doors traditional methods never could, and how writers today can build meaningful relationships that lead to real opportunities instead of simply chasing representation.

    The conversation dives deep into practical screenwriting advice, including outlining versus discovery writing, choosing marketable concepts, rewriting, screenplay contests, pitching, script coverage, building an online presence, and the mindset required to survive the entertainment industry. Jeanne also offers candid insights into balancing a full-time career with writing, why every screenwriter should have a website, how to use social media professionally, and why generosity often becomes the greatest networking strategy a filmmaker can develop.

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    1 ora e 8 min
  • IFH 865: The Screenwriting Blueprint Every First-Time Writer Needs with David Hohl

    IFH 865: The Screenwriting Blueprint Every First-Time Writer Needs with David Hohl
    Jul 28 2026
    Writing a screenplay is easy. Writing one that Hollywood actually wants to read is something entirely different. In this episode, veteran screenplay consultant David Hohl shares decades of experience helping writers transform rough ideas into professional screenplays. From outlining and story structure to networking, screenplay contests, and script consultants, David explains why most first-time writers fail—not because they lack talent, but because they skip the preparation that professional writers never ignore.

    The conversation also explores why horror remains one of the smartest genres for filmmakers looking to break into the industry, the importance of building relationships instead of chasing shortcuts, crowdfunding versus private investors, low-budget filmmaking strategies, and how online education has completely changed the way aspiring filmmakers learn their craft. Whether you're writing your first screenplay or polishing your tenth, this episode is filled with practical advice that can save years of frustration and dramatically improve your storytelling.

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    46 min
  • IFH 866: The Brutal Truth About Making Horror Movies with Harrison Smith

    IFH 866: The Brutal Truth About Making Horror Movies with Harrison Smith
    Aug 4 2026
    Success in filmmaking rarely comes from waiting for permission.

    In this episode, horror filmmaker Harrison Smith shares the lessons he learned from building a career through writing, producing, and directing independent films like The Fields, Six Degrees of Hell, Camp Dread, and Zombie Killers: Elephant's Graveyard. From working at Universal Studios to producing feature films on modest budgets, Harrison explains why experience on real film sets teaches lessons no classroom can replicate and why every filmmaker eventually has to stop studying movies and start making them.

    The conversation covers independent film production, screenwriting, directing, financing, working with actors, horror filmmaking, investor relationships, film criticism, remakes, networking, and developing stories that stand apart from Hollywood formulas. Harrison also discusses why strong scripts remain the foundation of every successful film, why writers should focus on telling original stories instead of chasing trends, and how honesty, persistence, and reputation become the most valuable assets any filmmaker can build throughout their career.

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    1 ora e 19 min
  • IFH 867: Wes Craven's Secret to Writing Great Movies with Glenn Benest

    IFH 867: Wes Craven's Secret to Writing Great Movies with Glenn Benest
    Aug 11 2026
    What does it really take to become a professional screenwriter?

    In this fascinating conversation, Glenn Benest—screenwriter of two Wes Craven films, producer, novelist, and longtime Hollywood mentor—shares the lessons that transformed his career. From adapting A Stranger in Our House to collaborating with Wes Craven on Deadly Blessing, Glenn reveals why most aspiring writers focus on the wrong things, why film school isn't always the answer, and why the screenplay itself is the only calling card that truly matters.

    The discussion also dives into the development of Scream, the importance of finding world-class mentors, how writers should approach rewrites, what separates amateur scripts from professional ones, and why confidence—not perfection—is the key to finishing your first screenplay. Whether you're an aspiring writer, filmmaker, or storyteller, this episode is packed with practical wisdom from someone who's spent decades helping scripts become movies.

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    55 min
  • IFH 868: How The Asylum Makes Movies That Actually Make Money with David M. Latt

    IFH 868: How The Asylum Makes Movies That Actually Make Money with David M. Latt
    Aug 18 2026
    How do you build an independent film studio that produces movies constantly without betting the entire company on every release?

    In this episode, David M. Latt, co-founder of The Asylum, breaks down the unconventional business model behind one of the most prolific independent production companies in Hollywood. From working out of an apartment to releasing dozens of films, creating Sharknado, and expanding into television with Z Nation, David explains how pre-sales, strict budgeting, vertical integration, and relentless production allowed The Asylum to survive while much of the traditional independent film market changed around them.

    The conversation also dives into developing movies for buyers, creating ambitious films on limited budgets, why The Asylum rarely accepts outside scripts, the accidental success of Sharknado, casting challenges, digital distribution, television production, and the importance of relationships in the entertainment business. David’s experience offers filmmakers a rare look at independent cinema from the perspective of someone who doesn’t just make movies—he has helped build an entire system designed to keep making the next one.

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    48 min
  • IFH 870: He Waited 11 YEARS to Make His Movie—Then Jimmy Kimmel Changed Everything with Don Barris

    IFH 870: He Waited 11 YEARS to Make His Movie—Then Jimmy Kimmel Changed Everything with Don Barris
    Sep 1 2026
    What happens when Hollywood never comes knocking?

    Comedian, filmmaker, podcaster, and longtime Jimmy Kimmel collaborator Don Barris shares the unconventional journey that eventually led to the cult comedy Windy City Heat. After leaving Michigan for California, Don struggled through stand-up, lived in his car for extended periods, and spent years developing his own comedy projects rather than waiting for Hollywood to discover him. That persistence eventually connected him with Jimmy Kimmel and helped transform an unusual Comedy Store concept into one of the strangest cult comedies ever produced. Don also takes us behind the scenes of Windy City Heat, revealing how its elaborate real-life prank was constructed and why unpredictable reactions created filmmaking challenges unlike those of a traditional feature.

    Beyond the insanity of Windy City Heat, this conversation offers practical lessons for filmmakers and creators trying to build careers outside the traditional Hollywood system. Don discusses the importance of creating your own opportunities, developing long-term industry relationships, using podcasts and digital platforms to build an audience, and turning that audience into leverage for larger creative projects. From Jimmy Kimmel championing the movie to Quentin Tarantino, Eli Roth, and Jack Black discovering the film, Don’s journey demonstrates how unconventional work can develop a life far beyond its original release—and why filmmakers shouldn't depend entirely on gatekeepers to determine whether their projects get made.

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    1 ora e 15 min
  • IFH 871: The Screenwriting Advice Hollywood Writers Actually Use with Andrew Bloomenthal

    IFH 871: The Screenwriting Advice Hollywood Writers Actually Use with Andrew Bloomenthal
    Sep 8 2026
    Entertainment writer, screenwriter, and independent filmmaker Andrew Bloomenthal joins the show to discuss what years of interviewing working screenwriters and directors taught him about storytelling, preparation, and the filmmaking business. Andrew explains how his background in financial journalism unexpectedly opened the door to entertainment writing, eventually giving him opportunities to interview filmmakers including Oliver Stone and Michael Moore and contribute to publications such as Creative Screenwriting and Script Magazine. He also shares why every assignment should be treated as a calling card, how detailed research produces better conversations with filmmakers, and why writers need to develop an economy of words regardless of what they're writing.

    The conversation also gets into deadlines, developing your own screenplays, transitioning from writing to production, and Andrew's experience preparing to shoot a musical short film. He discusses casting actors, recording musical tracks before production, scouting locations, planning shots, and the excitement that comes when something that existed only on the page begins becoming a real film. For aspiring screenwriters and filmmakers, Andrew's experience reinforces a practical lesson: preparation matters, but eventually you have to move beyond thinking about making a film and actually start producing it.

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    50 min