Working Title: From Paper to Screen with Mark Elias

Before a script, before a plan, before anything gets made—there’s just an idea. In Episode 1 of Working Title, Mark Elias sits down with writer Bert V. Royal (Easy A, Cruel Summer) to break down the messy, unpredictable process of ideation—how ideas form, how to pressure test them, and how to know when it’s time to stop thinking and start writing. They dig into: The difference between a real story and “just a vibe” Why writing fast can lead to better scripts The danger of overthinking (and over-outlining) How to spot a bad idea before wasting months on it Why imagining the trailer might be the best test of all Plus, Bert shares stories from writing Easy A in five days to revisiting ideas that took years to find their moment. Work Title: From Paper to Screen is hosted by Mark Elias and produced by Merrick Studios. Catch the show on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and at Merrick Studios+

This new series from Merrick Studios follows filmmaker Mark Elias as he documents the real, unfiltered journey of making an independent film—from first draft through fundraising, production, and release. Season One tracks We Could Be Heroes, offering a behind-the-scenes look at what it actually takes to get a movie made today—no gloss, just the process. If you’ve ever wondered how films really come together, this is it—in real time. Episode one of Working Title: From Paper to Screen with Mark Elias drops Monday, April 6th on Apple, Spotify, Youtube and wearemerrickstudios.com.