Ever wondered what it actually takes to get a psychological horror movie made? If you are a writer or filmmaker staring down the barrel of another rejection email, this episode is for you. It's a candid look at the "business" side of show business, from the harsh reality of actor "value" scores to the art of the perfect pitch.
Episode Summary
In this episode, hosts Angel and Leah sit down with the filmmaking duo Mercedes Bryce Morgan (Director/Writer) and Katrina Kudlick (Producer) to discuss their collaborative relationship and recent projects, including the psychedelic horror Spoonful of Sugar (penned by Leah herself) and the psychological thriller Fixation.
They break down the difference between pitching a script you wrote versus pitching your "take" as a director on someone else's script. They also get brutally honest about the industry's current landscape, specifically how "value" (a monetary metric assigned to actors) dictates what gets funded, often making it nearly impossible to cast unknown talent in lead roles. They wrap up with a discussion on resilience, rejection, and why horror remains one of the most vital genres for exploring human emotion.
Plus, we discover Angel’s first rated R movie, Katrina’s philosophies on dream projects, Mercedes’ pitch advice, and what Leah would be if she weren’t a filmmaker.
Interesting Quotes about Writing and Pitching
On the "Golden Rule" of Pitching:
"Make it as simple as possible for someone else to pitch it for you... Make the version that you can get really simply with only looking at it for a few seconds, and then make the version that someone who's pouring over their desk really diligently... can also understand." — Katrina Kudlick
On Grabbing Attention Immediately:
"Start your pitch with a question... ask people a personal question because everyone is very self-involved... For example, I did this pitch and I started out with, 'What was the saddest moment in your life?'" — Mercedes Bryce Morgan
On the Silence During a Pitch:
"If you actually let people sit and think about things, it's more powerful sometimes. And so I think if it feels a little uncomfortable, just let something hang in the air. Do it because it's more powerful." — Mercedes Bryce Morgan
On Handling Rejection:
"I don't think that your idea being rejected is ever, ever personal... it just comes down to taste and timing. It's like dating... Go to IMDb and look up your favorite movies of all time and read the one-star reviews, and then think about rejection in Hollywood." — Katrina Kudlick
Listen on YouTube!
About the Guests
- Mercedes Bryce Morgan: An award-winning director and writer whose feature debut Fixation premiered at TIFF in 2022. She also directed the psychological horror Spoonful of Sugar (available on Shudder) and has directed series for MGM, Facebook Watch, and Snapchat.
- Katrina Kudlick: An indie film producer who has worked on projects like Lady World and Spoonful of Sugar. She also produced the horror-comedy Appendage for Hulu/20th Digital and previously served as a resident producer at Disney+, focusing on digital brand enhancement.
