IFH 374: Predatory Film Distributors - The Bankrupt Reboot Scam

Today on the show we have Hollywood Story/Career Consultant and former Studio Executive Jen Grisanti. Grisanti is also a Writing Instructor for Writers on the Verge at NBC, a former studio executive, a blogger for The Huffington Post and author of Story Line: Finding Gold in Your Life Story, TV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write a Script That Sells, and her recent book Change Your Story, Change Your Life: Using Shamanic and Jungian Tools to Achieve Personal Transformation.Over twenty years ago, Jen Grisanti started her career as an assistant to Aaron Spelling, who served as her mentor for 12 years.She quickly climbed the ranks and eventually ran Current Programs at Spelling Television Inc., covering all of Spelling’s shows including Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place and Charmed. In 2004, Grisanti was promoted to Vice President of Current Programs at CBS/Paramount where she covered numerous shows including Medium, Numbers, NCIS, 4400 and Girlfriends.In January 2008, Grisanti launched Jen Grisanti Consultancy, Inc., a highly successful consulting firm dedicated to helping talented writers break into the industry. Drawing on her years of experience as a studio executive where she gave daily notes to executive producers/showrunners, Grisanti personally guides writers to shape their material, hone their pitches and focus their careers.Since launching her consulting firm, Jen Grisanti worked with over 1000 writers specializing in television, features, and novels. Due to her guidance, over ninety of her clients have staffed as writers on television shows, fifty-three have sold pilots, and six of those pilots have gone to series.Enjoy my conversation with Jen Grisanti.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

1 Aug 20231h 3min

David F. Sandberg is a highly talented and innovative filmmaker who has left an indelible mark on the world of cinema. Born on January 21, 1981, in Jönköping, Sweden, Sandberg's passion for filmmaking began at a young age when he discovered his father's VHS camera. Little did he know that this simple encounter would shape his destiny.After completing his education, Sandberg embarked on a journey to fulfill his dream of becoming a filmmaker. He started by creating short films, which showcased his natural talent for storytelling and his ability to craft suspenseful and visually captivating narratives.One of his most notable early works was "Lights Out," a terrifying short film that gained widespread acclaim and eventually caught the attention of Hollywood producers.In 2016, Sandberg's career took a meteoric rise when he directed the feature-length adaptation of "Lights Out." The film received critical and commercial success, establishing him as a rising star in the horror genre. His mastery of building tension and crafting memorable scares earned him a reputation as a horror maestro.Not content to be confined to one genre, Sandberg continued to explore his creative range with the release of "Annabelle: Creation" (2017), a critically acclaimed addition to "The Conjuring" universe. The film further solidified his reputation as a director capable of delivering high-quality, spine-chilling experiences.What sets David F. Sandberg apart is his unique approach to filmmaking. He is known for his innovative use of lighting, practical effects, and well-paced storytelling. With each project, he shows an extraordinary ability to engage audiences emotionally while delivering an edge-of-the-seat experience.Sandberg's skills are not limited to the horror genre. In 2019, he took on the challenge of directing the superhero film "Shazam!" for the DC Extended Universe. His ability to blend humor, heart, and action into a cohesive and entertaining package earned him praise from both critics and fans, proving his versatility as a filmmaker.Beyond his talent as a director, David F. Sandberg is admired for his hands-on and collaborative approach to filmmaking. He maintains a strong presence on social media, sharing insights into his creative process and engaging with fans, making him a beloved figure in the industry.In a relatively short period, David F. Sandberg has established himself as a visionary filmmaker with a distinctive style. His commitment to storytelling, coupled with his technical prowess, promises a future filled with more captivating and thrilling cinematic experiences for audiences worldwide.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

27 Jul 20232h 3min

Today's guest is screenwriter Allen Johnson. Allen has taken a unique path to become a working screenwriter. He has been able not only to sell ten screenplays but has been able to do it without an agent and living outside of Hollywood. Allen lives in South Carolina, not exactly a mecca for screenwriting. In this episode, we dive into how he was able to make a living writing screenplays and discuss his tips and tricks to get screenwriting gigs.[Some info on today's guest: Allen Johnson is a Screenwriter, Historic European Martial Artist, and a fight choreographer/stunt fighter. Allen has had several screenplays and stage plays produced with several more in development. He has trained in historic swordplay for over 15 years and has been involved with the Society of American Fight Directors for about 6 years.He also teaches numerous screenwriting classes, workshops, and panels, and has appeared as a guest speaker on writing as well as providing script coverage services to others. He continues to train in historic martial arts with the Palmetto Knights: Historic Steel Combat Team, based out of Columbia, South Carolina.Enjoy my inspirational conversation with Allen Johnson.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

25 Jul 20231h 2min

Chad Archibald and Cody Calahan are Canadian film directors and producers known for their work in the horror genre. They have collaborated on several projects together, often through their production company, Black Fawn Films.Chad Archibald and Cody Calahan co-founded Black Fawn Films in 2007 with a focus on creating independent horror films. They have since produced and directed numerous feature films, gaining recognition in the Canadian horror scene.Some of their notable collaborations include: "Antisocial" (2013), "The Drownsman" (2014, "Bite" (2015), "Let Her Out" (2016), and "The Heretics" (2017).Chad Archibald and Cody Calahan have established themselves as prominent figures in the Canadian horror film industry, known for their unique storytelling and visually striking movies.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

20 Jul 20231h 21min

Today on the show we have writer and showrunner Michael Jamin. Michael 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. Michael currently lives in Los Angeles where he's working on a collection of personal essays to be released in 2020. Michael also launched a new course to help writers interested in working in streaming/television. It's called The Showrunner's Guide to TV Writing. Here's the pitch by Michael.I've watched a bunch of Masterclass videos. They feature amazingly talented writers talking about their craft. At $200, it's a great way to get exposed to their genius. My course is not about getting you exposed. And I want to do more than just inspire you. I do a lot of hand-holding in these lessons. I show you how to take a kernel of an idea, break it into a story with act breaks, then develop that story from outline to script.I lay out the exact process that I use every day to write stories that make people laugh and cry. It's about creating an easily managed structure so that the creative process isn't so daunting. You should continue to draw inspiration from the masters. I certainly do. But if you need more than just inspiration, I can be your guide.Enjoy my conversation with Michael Jamin.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

18 Jul 202349min

Our guest today is producer, director and screenwriter Marshall Herskovitz. Many of his production projects have been in partnership with his long-time filmmaking collaborator, Edward Zwick whose films, he’s produced and written half of. Their decades-long filmmaking partnership was launched as co-creators of the 1987 TV show, ThirtySomething. Now, Marshall had already written for the TV show, Family, in 1976. So his understanding of TV was pivotal in the success of ThirtySomething.Other projects he’s credited for executive producing or creating include Traffic (2000), The Last Samurai (2003), Nashville (TV show 2016), Blood Diamond, and Women Walks Ahead(2017), starring the incomparable, Jessica Chastain.Marshall show, ThirtySomething, which only ran for four-season was quite successful. Co-created with Zwick, the follows the stories and journeys of seven thirtysomethings living in Philadelphia who struggle with everyday adult angst.[presto_player id=41018]The show's success earned over a dozen Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe awards, and personal honors for Marshall from the Writers Guild and a Directors Guild.Herskovitz's filmography is pretty adventurous. We discussed as many as we could in this interview and he was totally down for the ride. But if we are to highlight some must-mentions, Traffic will get the spot. Herskovitz co-produced Traffic in 2000 alongside esteem producer, Laura Bickford and directed by Zwick.The film holds a constant 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and won numerous Oscars BAFTA, Screen Actors Guild, and Golden Globes awards in 2001.It followed through grossing a total of $207.5 million on its $46 million budgetThe President appoints a conservative judge to spearhead America's escalating war against drugs, only to discover that his teenage daughter is a crack addict. Two DEA agents protect an informant. A jailed drug baron's wife attempts to carry on the family business.Another classic of his is the 1999 TV show, Once and Again. A divorced father and a soon-to-be-divorced mother meet and begin a romantic courtship which is always complicated by their respective children and their own life problems.Marshall dropped all sorts of knowledge bombs on the tribe this week. You have to listen to the episode to hear all those extra deets he shared with us about the attempts at rebooting ThirtySomething and many more.Enjoy this conversation with Marshall Herskovitz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

13 Jul 20231h 44min

S.S. Wilson, the screenwriter of such films as Tremors and Short Circuit, has just finished his second novel Fraidy Cats. Wilson also wrote a book on special effects, stop-motion animation, PUPPETS, AND PEOPLE. In 1983 Wilson and Maddock sold their spec script SHORT CIRCUIT. Directed by John Badham, it was their first produced feature. In quick succession, they wrote SHORT CIRCUIT 2, BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED, GHOST DAD; and served as consultants on Steven Spielberg’s animated THE LAND BEFORE TIME.In 1990 they sold another spec, TREMORS, on which they also served as producers. Directed by fellow USC alum Ron Underwood and starring Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Michael Gross, and Reba McEntire, the film became a revered cult classic, spawning three sequels and a TV series. Wilson and Maddock joined with Nancy Roberts (producer of all the Tremors sequels) and Ron Underwood to form Stampede Entertainment in 1992. The first Stampede project was HEART AND SOULS at Universal, starring Robert Downey, Jr.The TREMORS franchise grew with Wilson debuting as a director on TREMORS 2: AFTERSHOCKS for Universal Family Home Entertainment. During the same time period, he and Maddock wrote the green-light draft of Warner Bros. 1999 tent pole release WILD WILD WEST, starring Will Smith.In 2001 it was TREMORS 3: BACK TO PERFECTION, with Stampede partner Brent Maddock directing and Wilson handling the second unit. 2004 saw both the debut of TREMORS: THE SERIES for the Sci-Fi Network (Wilson co-created and co-executive produced with Maddock and Roberts) and TREMORS 4: THE LEGEND BEGINS, with Wilson again at the helm.In addition to screenwriting, Wilson is branching out into fiction. His first book is an action-adventure tale Tucker’s Monster.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

11 Jul 202337min

Today on the show we have screenwriter and best-selling author Alan Watt. Alan Watt is the author of The 90-Day Novel, Amazon’s #1 book on writing, as well as The 90-Day Rewrite: The Process of Revision and The 90-Day Screenplay: From Concept to Polish. He runs the publishing company, The 90-Day Novel Press which has also published The 90-Day Play. Watt has written screenplays for numerous production companies and is the author of the L.A. Times bestselling novel Diamond Dogs.He has taught everyone from award-winning authors to A-list screenwriters, USC business school students, journalists, poets, actors, professional athletes, war veterans, housewives, doctors, lawyers, maximum security prisoners, television showrunners, Emmy-winning directors, and first-time writers.Many of his students have gone on to successful careers, writing New York Times and International bestsellers, appearing on Oprah, winning major literary awards, becoming top screenwriters and television show-runners, and most importantly, developing a craft and methodology that delivers consistent results.We get into the weeds on how to write a screenplay in 90 days. Enjoy my talk with Alan Watt.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support.

6 Jul 20231h