The Successful Screenwriter with Geoffrey D Calhoun: Screenwriting Podcast

Geoffrey D. Calhoun and Kristy Leigh Lussier cover writing for the budget you actually have, whether contests are still worth entering, and why writers should read the fine print on AI platforms. They also answer questions from live viewersWatching lately (1:13): Kristy's take on The Other Mommy (a strong opening act, then the ending falls apart). Geoffrey on the Elizabeth Holmes documentary and its manipulation. Also what they want to see next, including Street Fighter.Geoffrey's The Rewrite Workbook(6:06): He's about forty drafts in on a writer's block workbook. The Rewrite Workbook is on Amazon, and reviews help independent authors.Write for where the script will land (7:43): Kristy shares the Indy Film Podcast's debate on writing within a $50K budget. Both hosts say to know your goal before you write, and warn first-time writers about pitching a $200M blockbuster.Cardinal sins and over-explaining (12:37): First-script mistakes, plus the "it's just a lightsaber" lesson on world-building that bogs the script down.Viewer Q&A (13:52):Book picks for character development: Screenplay, How to Write a Movie in 21 Days, Kill the Dog (vs. Save the Cat), and Geoffrey's own guide and workbook.Developing characters: start from theme and make the lead its living embodiment. Test the theme by putting the character in scenarios that challenge it.Do screenwriting contests still matter? (19:08)Contests, coverage and AI (19:23): Why both hosts think contests have lost value, and Geoffrey's concern about paid evaluations. They also talk about AI tools for judging and screenwriting, and the warning to read the fine print before uploading your work.Wrap-up (25:37): Show schedule and episode updates.Mentioned in the episodeThe Other Mommy, Street Fighter, Good Boy, Wild Horse Nine, and the Elizabeth Holmes/Theranos documentaryBooks: Screenplay, How to Write a Movie in 21 Days, Kill the Dog, Save the Cat, and Geoffrey's guide and Rewrite WorkbookThe Indy Film PodcastPlatforms and contests: Nicholl, The Black List, InkTip, SunoShow updatesLive shows are Fridays at 6.Elsie episode 9 is on Instagram (@ScreenwriterPod) and YouTube (The Successful Screenwriter). Episode 10 comes next week, then a short delay while edits finish and they reach out to apps and networks.Connect with Kristy Leigh LussierInstagram: @kantoka127Watch her vertical drama: The Witch Wolf's MateConnect with Geoffrey D. CalhounWatch: ElsyThe Rewrite WorkbookWebsite: thesuccessfulscreenwriter.comInstagram: @screenwriterpodYouTube: @thesuccessfulscreenwriter#screenwriting #filmmaking #writingtips #screenwriterlife #storytelling #filmindustry #indiefilm #writerslifePlease share this podcast with your community!

Stuck on that rewrite? I got you. Grab The Rewrite Workbook and work through your screenplay one draft at a time.Could AI let audiences rewrite a movie’s ending and what would that mean for screenwriters? Geoffrey D. Calhoun and co-host Kristy Leigh Lussier discuss the possibilities, the concerns, and the value of human storytelling.Then we tackle your screenwriting questions: Do characters have to be likable? How do you convey emotion without dialogue? Should you avoid adverbs? We also discuss juggling multiple scripts, writing across different mediums, and why we both use WriterDuet.What You’ll LearnWhy audiences can connect with a character they don’t like.How to convey emotion through behavior without micromanaging actors.How specific action verbs bring energy to your scene descriptions.What to consider when working on multiple screenplays.How theater, film, and video games approach the character experience.Why AI-generated endings raise questions about storytelling and creative control.Key Moments02:33 — AI filmmaking and the possibility of audience-generated endings.09:59 — Bad screenwriting advice: every character must be likable.12:30 — Should you work on more than one script at a time?14:24 — Theater, film, and video game storytelling.16:34 — Why we use WriterDuet.21:44 — Adverbs, action verbs, and finding the right amount of description.ConnectJoin our live screenwriting Q&A Fridays at 6 p.m. Eastern on Instagram. Bring your questions!Instagram: @screenwriterpodYouTube: @thesuccessfulscreenwriterScreenwriting resources and membership: TheSuccessfulScreenwriter.com#Screenwriting #ScreenwritingTips #CharacterDevelopment #WritingEmotion #AIInFilm #TheSuccessfulScreenwriterConnect with Kristy Leigh LussierInstagram: @kantoka127Watch her vertical drama: The Witch Wolf's MateConnect with Geoffrey D. CalhounWatch: ElsyThe Rewrite WorkbookWebsite: thesuccessfulscreenwriter.comInstagram: @screenwriterpodYouTube: @thesuccessfulscreenwriter#screenwriting #filmmaking #writingtips #screenwriterlife #storytelling #filmindustry #indiefilm #writerslifePlease share this podcast with your community!

The Rewrite Workbook is out now! I wrote it to simplify the rewrite process, so you can stop feeling overwhelmed by your draft and start making clear, focused improvements. Grab your copy on Amazon.Are screenwriting “rules” helping your script or getting in the way? Geoffrey D. Calhoun and Kristy Leigh Lussier break down bad screenwriting advice, including character deaths, dramatic irony, rewriting, horror, first-draft self-doubt, and story pacing. Plus, Geoffrey talks about The Rewrite Workbook, his new tool for making the rewrite process simpler and more focused.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy screenwriting rules should be treated as tools instead of lawsWhen killing a character can establish stakes without advancing the plotHow dramatic irony lets the audience know more than your protagonistWhy rewriting is where much of the real screenwriting work happensHow to keep moving when self-doubt hits during a first draftPractical ways to identify and fix pacing problemsHow horror writers create tension beyond jump scaresKey Moments07:22 — Bad screenwriting advice and the danger of blanket rules12:32 — Should the audience ever know more than the protagonist?14:37 — Geoffrey introduces The Rewrite Workbook19:25 — Do you really need multiple screenplay drafts?28:39 — What is story pacing, and how do you fix it?About the HostsGeoffrey D. Calhoun is a produced screenwriter, bestselling author, filmmaker, and host of The Successful Screenwriter Podcast. He is the author of The Guide for Every Screenwriter and The Rewrite Workbook and has spent more than 25 years developing his craft as a screenwriter.Kristy Leigh Lussier is a screenwriter, filmmaker, producer, and co-host of The Successful Screenwriter Podcast, bringing her writing and production experience to honest conversations about the craft and business of filmmaking.Resources Mentioned in the EpisodeThe Rewrite Workbook by Geoffrey D. CalhounResident EvilMaudWriterDuetHalloweenHave a screenwriting or filmmaking question? Join Geoffrey and Kristy live Fridays at 6 PM ET and drop your questions in the comments. They may answer yours on the next episode.#Screenwriting #ScreenwritingTips #WritingTips #Filmmaking # ScreenwritingPodcast Tags:  Geoffrey D Calhoun, Kristy Leigh Lussier, The Successful Screenwriter, The Rewrite WorkbookConnect with Kristy Leigh LussierInstagram: @kantoka127Watch her vertical drama: The Witch Wolf's MateConnect with Geoffrey D. CalhounWatch: ElsyThe Rewrite WorkbookWebsite: thesuccessfulscreenwriter.comInstagram: @screenwriterpodYouTube: @thesuccessfulscreenwriter#screenwriting #filmmaking #writingtips #screenwriterlife #storytelling #filmindustry #indiefilm #writerslifePlease share this podcast with your community!

Geoffrey D. Calhoun and Kristy Leigh Lussier explore what happened when Geoffrey entered Screenwriting Reddit to offer writers free advice without promoting himself or selling anything. His posts quickly reached thousands of writers—but a message encouraging compassion also attracted hostility from the community’s self-appointed gatekeepers.They break down why some online writing communities become toxic, how anonymous critics continually move the goalposts, and why writers need to protect their confidence. Geoffrey and Kristy also discuss the surprising release of Coyote vs. Acme, Jason Statham’s unusual fight-contract rules, when a screenplay prologue works, and why a 30-minute short film may need to become a feature.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:What happened when Geoffrey infiltrated Screenwriting RedditWhy compassion matters in online screenwriting communitiesHow writers can protect themselves from toxic feedbackWhy studios shelve completed movies for financial reasonsHow to avoid using a prologue as an exposition dumpWhy an overly long short film may work better as a featureKey Moments:02:27 – How Coyote vs. Acme escaped the studio shelf08:41 – The unusual rules behind Jason Statham’s fight scenes09:45 – Geoffrey infiltrates Screenwriting Reddit12:26 – When the Screenwriting Reddit trolls arrived16:15 – Knowing your value when critics attack24:10 – Avoiding the exposition and monologue trap24:48 – Why a 30-minute short film may need to become a featureResources Mentioned in the Episode:Screenwriting RedditCoyote vs. AcmeBatgirlMutinyTerminator 2: Judgment DayHalloweenThe Lord of the RingsRabbit TrapScreenplay prologues and cold opensShort-film structureOnline screenwriting communitiesConnect with Kristy Leigh LussierInstagram: @kantoka127Watch her vertical drama: The Witch Wolf's MateConnect with Geoffrey D. CalhounWatch: ElsyThe Rewrite WorkbookWebsite: thesuccessfulscreenwriter.comInstagram: @screenwriterpodYouTube: @thesuccessfulscreenwriter#screenwriting #filmmaking #writingtips #screenwriterlife #storytelling #filmindustry #indiefilm #writerslifePlease share this podcast with your community!

Geoffrey D. Calhoun and Kristy Leigh Lussier break down one of the easiest ways to spot weak screenwriting: dialogue nobody would actually say. They share practical ways to write more authentic conversations before answering listener questions about first drafts, fixing scenes, formatting flashbacks, and whether a writer should ever give up on the dream.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why generic dialogue can immediately weaken a screenplayHow listening to real conversations can improve your character dialogueWhy every scene needs its own purpose, objective, and forward momentumHow to keep moving when a scene is slowing down your first draftHow to approach flashbacks and scene numbering in a screenplayWhy screenwriting formatting has become less rigid over the yearsWhy your filmmaking career may not look the way you originally imaginedHow writers and directors can start creating with the resources they have right now.Key Moments:01:24 – Breaking down character-driven storytelling in recent movies06:03 – The generic dialogue screenwriters need to stop using10:30 – Kristy's techniques for developing authentic character voices12:36 – What every scene needs to accomplish15:26 – Why Geoffrey stopped using Final Draft16:53 – When should you give up on your dream of writing and directing?19:57 – Redefining what it means to be a writer and director todayAbout the Co-host:Kristy Leigh Lussier is a screenwriter, filmmaker, and creative collaborator who works across multiple genres including horror and drama. She has experience in independent film production, writing, and on-set collaboration, and regularly shares insights into the filmmaking process with the screenwriting community.About the Host:With films on network television, streaming platforms, and in theaters, Geoffrey D. Calhoun is a screenwriter, author of The Guide for Every Screenwriter, and a passionate mentor in the industry. He hosts The Successful Screenwriter podcast to empower writers and filmmakers at every level.Resources Mentioned in the Episode:Indie Gathering International Film FestivalScreenplay dialogue and character developmentFinal Draft screenwriting softwareIndependent filmmakingVertical filmmaking and mobile-first storytellingConnect with Kristy Leigh LussierInstagram: @kantokaWatch Kristy’s vertical drama: The Witch Wolf's Mate.Connect with Geoffrey D. CalhounWatch Geoffrey's Vertical Thriller: ElsyWebsite: thesuccessfulscreenwriter.comInstagram: @screenwriterpodYouTube: @thesuccessfulscreenwriter#ScreenwritingPodcast#ScreenwritingTips #Screenwriting #WritingDialogue #Screenplay #Filmmaking #IndieFilmmaker #Scriptwriting #TheSuccessfulScreenwriter  #WritingCommunityConnect with Kristy Leigh LussierInstagram: @kantoka127Watch her vertical drama: The Witch Wolf's MateConnect with Geoffrey D. CalhounWatch: ElsyThe Rewrite WorkbookWebsite: thesuccessfulscreenwriter.comInstagram: @screenwriterpodYouTube: @thesuccessfulscreenwriter#screenwriting #filmmaking #writingtips #screenwriterlife #storytelling #filmindustry #indiefilm #writerslifePlease share this podcast with your community!