Ever write a script and then... nothing? What if that "nothing" turns into a seven-year journey that ends with your movie premiering at a major festival and landing on Shudder? Or what if you get hired to write an entire feature film, but you need to finish in 31 days? Sound crazy? It's just another month in Hollywood, and in this episode, we're telling you exactly how it all went down.
Episode Summary
This episode is a special one! Instead of bringing on an outside guest, we decided to put each other in the hot seat.
First, Angel interviews Leah about the incredible journey of her horror script. It started as "The Sitter," became a finalist in the ScreenCraft Horror contest, and got noticed by a manager through an industry newsletter. This all led to it being greenlit by Shudder and released as the feature film, "A Spoonful of Sugar"! Leah breaks down the entire seven-year process, from finding a "script pipeline" to working with the director and producers.
Then, we flip the script (pun intended), and Leah interviews Angel about his recent writing assignment: writing a full-on comedy feature in just 31 days. He talks about the pressure, the process, and what it's like to write for a specific actor and producer, trying to nail their voice and sense of humor.
Interesting Quotes about Writing and Pitching
We really dug into process in this one. Here are some of our favorite takeaways for all you writers:
The Long Game: Don't get discouraged. Leah's script was written in 2016, and the film was released in 2023. That seven-year timeline is not only normal, but she even considers it fast.
Target Your Submissions: Leah knew her script was a specific kind of horror. Instead of a general festival, she submitted it to the ScreenCraft genre competition, saying, "I need to find a horror festival because horror people are my people".
On Pitching Your Script: Leah's initial pitch for her script (then called "The Sitter") was brilliantly high-concept: "What if Mike Myers from Halloween grew up with a babysitter who was Lolita?".
The Power of Good Notes: When the director and producer gave Leah notes, she took them all. Why? "They were that good." It's about collaboration, not ego.
The Hermit Writer's Dream: The director, Mercedes Bryce Morgan, was so passionate about the script that she was the one who pitched it to Shudder. Leah didn't even have to be in the room!
Know Your Ending (Usually): Angel usually needs to know the ending before he can write. Once he found that big surprise, he was "dancing around the apartment."
Emotion as Plot: We had a breakthrough realizing "plot is emotion". Instead of a rigid three-act structure, Angel broke down the script by the character's emotional state in each section. Who is he for the first 15 pages? Who does he change into for the next section?
About Us
This episode, our "guests" are... well, us! We turned the microphones on each other to give you a transparent look at our own writing careers.
Leah St Marie: I'm a former investigative journalist who made the jump to filmmaking. These days, I'm focused on writing and directing.
Angel DaHood Murphy: I'm a filmmaker, writer, director, and actor. I've been in Hollywood for decades, starting as talent and now focusing my energy on writing and directing.
We're so glad you're here. Let's get to it!
