The Film Mechanic Screenwriting Podcast!

In the age of execution, our last guest of season 3 is the awesome Brandon Tamburri, who stopped by to chop it up about his comedy film, Plan B, and how he logged countless hours writing the film, raising the money to produce it, and how creating a business plan went as smooth as a Rocky Mountain climb to the top. In this episode, Brandon and I discuss:

1) Why Build Organic Relationships With Producers To Steer Your Screenplay In The Right Direction?

2) Why Every Co-Writing Team Doesn’t Have The Same Journey.

3) What Happens When The Story Changes Throughout The Production and Post-Production Process?

Brandon’s experience in the film industry may not be unique, but what makes his journey special is how he made a three-month deal with himself to establish a production start date. After raising a substantial amount of the budget within three months, this led him to some serious production connections and a few sleepless nights while feverishly working to ensure he produced a solid, comedic film that yielded each investor’s return on their investment. You can learn more about Brandon and Plan B here:

Kimberly Latrice Jones, the 2X New York Times Bestselling author, slides through The Film Mechanics Screenwriting podcast to share some of the hardest lessons she’s learned as a screenwriter and producer.  In this episode, Kim and I discuss:

1) What Does Having An Overall Deal Means To A Screenwriter?

2) Why It’s Important To Know The Kind Of Deal You Are Getting?

3) Why Is It Necessary To Have A Strong Pitch On Paper (P.O.P)?

Some may call Kim a viral sensation with her high-powered perspective on Black America, but she’s the new generation’s revolutionary who sparks thought, ideas, relationships, and movements within this Hip Hop/Social Media generation that’s not just reacting but engaging with politics and media.  Kim comes from a long line of history makers, hustlers, and Black excellence, and in this episode, she talks about what keeps her sane in this mad world of projects that get finalized or fizzle out.  You can learn more about Kim here:

Lem Collins, the hardest working pen in the game, stopped by The Film Mechanics Screenwriting podcast to share his story from a small town in South Carolina to the big city of Atlanta to create a lane for himself.  In this episode, Lem and I discuss:

1) What Does The Power of Manifestation Mean To The Writer?

2) What Does Mean When Your Destiny Supersedes Your Plan?

3) Why Writing Is Inspirational In A Way To Help Others Take Care of Their Family?

Business mogul Master P inspired Lem to get his first film done.  He four-walled his first film, and after witnessing 300 people show up to support his dream, he started traveling to Atlanta to build his acting resume.  He is a strong believer in “Doing The Work!”  While artificial intelligence is taking shape in the film/screenwriting industry, Lem states it’s important to embrace the technology, but he only utilizes A.I. with productivity and efficiency for his loglines, treatments, and synopsis, but never his outline or script.  

You can discover more about Lem Collins here: 

Have you ever dreamed so big that you fearlessly worked to see it come to fruition?  That’s what happened to Shaun Sinclair, our next guest, on this week’s episode.  We’re thankful Shaun took some time out of his busy schedule to share his thoughts on his journey over the last few years.  In this week’s episode, Shaun and I talk about:

1) Why Are Strategic Partnerships Important in Screenwriting Business?

2) How Do Negotiations Work To Your Advantage When Selling A Screenplay?

3) How Is a Pitch Deck A Selling Point Before You Write A Script?

The writing team Kathleen Regan and Simon Barracchini hopped on The Film Mechanics podcast to discuss their film, Godless Children, and the difficult conversations it took to write, produce, and get a distribution deal together.  In this week’s episode, Kathleen, Simon, and I talk about:

1) Why Is It Important To Create An End Goal For Your Screenplay?

2) Why Should You Hire Someone That Knows What You Don’t Know?

3) Why Is A Writer’s Agreement Necessary In A Writing Partnership?

The heart of a writer is showcased in this week’s episode with Tamala Baldwin, the talented multi-hyphenated artist of the sensational web series Bubbly Brown Sugar.  In this week’s episode, Tamala and I chop it up about:

1) How Can Investing In Yourself Build A Creative Career?

2) Why Is A Shot Out To Her Literary Manager Necessary?

3) What Do Notes Mean In The Grand Scheme of Writing?

Tamala has made that major move to Atlanta to follow her dreams and leverage her filmmaking skills into a passionate, profitable career.  Her sacrifice and determination netted her a deal with Paramount to produce her new film, Blended Christmas, which is coming to BET and Paramount+ this upcoming holiday season.  You can learn more about Tamala here:

Bob Saenz, a prolific screenwriter and the author of That’s Not The Way It Works: A No-nonsense Guide to the Craft and Business of Screenwriting, swings by the podcast and talks about the defining moments of his 30 years of experience.  We chat it up on:

1) What Is A Calling Card Script, And Why Is It Necessary?

2) Why Screenwriters Shouldn’t Get Attached to Assignment Jobs?

3) Why A Screenwriter Should Never Give A Fee Upfront? 

You ever have one of those moments when you meet someone and talk to them, and they make you laugh while they educate you at the same time?  That’s how I felt talking to the incomparable, amazing Angela Nissel.  In her twenty years of screenwriting experience, she’s written on some of our favorite shows and learned a lot on her journey.  Check Angela and me out as we discuss:

1) The Power of Betting On Yourself, As Others Bet On You!

2) Why There Is Good Money In Optioning A Book?

3) What Is The UnEASY Part Of The Process Of Selling A Show in Hollywood?

Mark Sanderson, the well-renowned Script Cat and author of A Screenwriter’s Journey to Success lands on The Film Mechanics Screenwriting Podcast to grace us with his impressive resumé and knowledge on the business of screenwriting.  Mark understands the journey and lays out some groundwork for any beginning screenwriter to follow.  Check us out as we discuss:

1) What Is The Life of a Writer?

2) How Do Most Screenwriters Make A Living In The Film Industry?

3) Do Agents Matter In The Business Of Screenwriting?

Mark is intentional when he speaks about pitfalls in the business and how screenwriters can never be bigger than the craft.  The screenwriter may have talent, but it requires work ethic, integrity, and, most importantly, always having a follow-up script after you sell your first spec.  This episode is a blueprint for a screenwriter’s career.  Reach out to Mark

Niall Cassin, the Dublin native, swings by the podcast to discuss his unique, pivotal moments in the last eight years while becoming a produced screenwriter.  In this episode, you can hear Niall (pronounced NILE, like the river) and I discuss:

1) How He Metaphorically Shot His Way Into Becoming A Screenwriter.

2) His Worldwide Journey As A Produced Screenwriter.

3) Is There Real Money In Being An Optioned Screenwriter?

Welcome to Season 2 of The Film Mechanics Screenwriting Podcast w/ Deri Tyton.  Adé Akisanya steps through the podcast with 30 years of award-winning writing experience that is bridging the gap between Black storytellers from America to Nigeria.  This episode you'll get to hear Adé and I discuss:

1) Why Should You Practice Writing Fast?

2) Can the Wrong Structure Hurt Your Story?

3) How Do You Properly Develop Your Story Acts?

Adé discusses the importance of writing from a Black perspective and how the Black experience sometimes doesn't fit Aristotle's version of the 3-Act Structure.  As a filmmaker that helmed a film in Nigeria, Adé also describe how the Nollywood structure is different from the Western Hemisphere.  You might get a 3-4 hour Nollywood movie and how every bit of the movie is relevant.

Welcome to Season 2 of The Film Mechanics Screenwriting Podcast w/ Deri Tyton.  Marquis Nave pulls up on us today and drops some invaluable jewels from his 20 years of experience as a Creative Writing College Professor who's fresh in his bag with thought-provoking screenplays.  This episode you'll get to hear Marquis and I discuss:

1) Can Save The Cat book by Blake Snyder be a great place to start?

2) Is It Important To Create Your Own Story Template?

3) What Does Screenwriting Mastery Look Like?

Marquis speaks about the "personal purpose of writing" that you'll need in order to go the distance.  He also mentions that there is  no secret that every screenwriter, who's looking for success, entering the business of screenwriting will have to prepare themselves for "The Marathon Mentality."  

Welcome to Season 2 of The Film Mechanics Screenwriting Podcast w/ Deri Tyton.  This episode we switched it up a bit and talked to the hilarious, Hollywood comedy tv-writer, Lee House.  Lee adds his personal touch to this episode as he discusses his journey from Lench Mob Records (Ice Cube's old label) to the writing staff of UPN's One On One (starring Flex Alexander and Kyla Pratt).  This episode you'll get to hear Lee and I discuss:

1) How To Pitch and Engage An Executive, Quickly

2) Dealing In The Business of "NO"

3) The Purpose of Building Thick Skin

Lee's spark of spontaneity and gut-punching truthfulness comes from years of taking "generals"(meetings executives/producers) with some of the most powerful industry heads.  He, cathartically, opens up to Deri about his own struggles to get his work produced, which he gives in a dope metaphor pertaining to a selling a VW Bug.  

Welcome to Season 2 of The Film Mechanics Screenwriting Podcast w/ Deri Tyton.  We have the privilege of interviewing the successful gangster genre screenwriter/filmmaker, Marcus Carothers.  Marcus and I met back in 2006 when he starred in a film I produced entitled, LOVE BONES, and since then he has taken off and created a huge and growing fanbase for his own films.  This episode you'll get to hear Marcus and I discuss:

1) How His Screenwriting Process Always Begin With Relationships

2) Why He's NEVER Wrote in Final Draft 

3) What It Will Take To Leave A Legacy In The Industry

Marcus has an undeniably rich story where he was a childhood star who wound up doing "time" as his grandmother, who believed in him no matter what, continued to pay his Screen Actor Guild union dues. 

Welcome to Season 2 of The Film Mechanics Screenwriting Podcast w/ Deri Tyton.  Here's a treat for you, the incomparable writer, producer, and director Maggie Bush stops by to deliver the only way a true professional could deliver.  Maggie keeps it real from her early days of being a wife/mother/student/blogger (all at the same time) to rising the ranks in one of the biggest studios in the world, Tyler Perry Studios.   This episode you get to hear Maggie and I discuss:

1) Finding The Right Time To Write

2) Breaking Down Structure and What Purpose It Serves

3) How She Finds The Perfect Protagonist

Maggie, an Afro-Latina writer, speaks about writing between the lines because it's where the magic happens.  

This episode is indeed MAGGIE-CAL!

Welcome to Season 2 of The Film Mechanics Screenwriting Podcast w/ Deri Tyton.  Today, the amazing and talented filmmaker, Kimberly D. Conner drop in.  Kimberly, with 25 years in the game, doesn't mince her words on what it takes to make it in the film industry.  This episode you get to hear Kimberly and I discuss:

1) Structure vs. Formula: Is There A Difference?

2) Why Vision Is Necessary When Writing

3) How To Keep Your Faith In The Film Industry.

Kimberly answers the small question with a BIG answer: What keeps you coming back to the writing?

Welcome to Season 2 of The Film Mechanics Screenwriting Podcast w/ Deri Tyton.  Today we jump into it with the incredible, self-determined, self-taught filmmaker, Coquie Hughes.  Coquie's words will pierce your soul with her raw and candid answers.   This episode you get to hear Coquie and I discuss:

1) Writing Movies That Celebrate Black Women.

2) The Film School Theory

3) Manifesting Happiness in the Film Industry

Get to know the woman who "GETS SH** DONE!"

Welcome to Season 2 of The Film Mechanics Screenwriting Podcast w/ Deri Tyton.  Today we chop it up with the phenomenal, world traveling filmmaker, Stacie Hawkins.  Stacie and I laughed our way through her experiences to becoming a filmmaker and why The Academy is still sending out  DVD's in 2022.  This episode you get to hear Stacie and I discuss: 

1) Writing Action Vs. Dialogue, and what wins in her first draft! 

2) Using Symbolism in her scripts.

3) Encouraging herself through all phases to writing and creating.  

What's the last movie to make Stacie cry?  Tune in and see what she says!

Welcome to Season 2 of The Film Mechanics Screenwriting Podcast w/ Deri Tyton.  Today we chop it up with screen/tv writer/director/producer, Sade Sellers.  Sade is in her bag in this episode as a self-taught screenwriter as she stays busy in the industry making connections and being genuine. In this session, we discuss: 

1) How she rewrites as she writes 

2) How she gets gigs as a screenwriter in the industry... You'll be surprised! 

3) What's her "GOLD" on this journey for a screenwriting career. 

Sade states what kind of movie she'll make if she was given a blank check! 

Welcome to Season 2 of The Film Mechanics Screenwriting Podcast w/ Deri Tyton.  Today we chop it up with screen/tv writer/actor/producer, Tyrell Crawford.  We kick this episode off with Tyrell because he's the true definition of what "FAITH" look likes in the entertainment industry.  

In this session, we discuss:

1) Too Structure or Not Too Structure?

2) His Process on Writing Loglines, Treatments, & Screenplays

3) What's his "GOAL & GOLD" on this journey for a screenwriting career.

The Film Mechanics w/ Deri Tyton Podcast begins with foundational elements in the screenwriting process.

Deri Tyton covers Screenplay Rewriting in the screenwriting process after you write your screenplay, which is:

1) Where do you begin in the rewriting process?

2) What to look for when rewriting the screenplay?

3) How to level up and do stress-free rewrites?

Be sure to get your copy of The Film Mechanics Screenwriting Workbook: A Screenwriting Process That Sells!

The Film Mechanics w/ Deri Tyton Podcast begins with foundational elements in the screenwriting process.

Deri Tyton covers Screenplay Formatting in the screenwriting process before you write your screenplay, which are:

1) What is a screenplay?

2) What are the four basic elements of a screenplay?

3) How can you sharpen your screenplay?

Be sure to get your copy of The Film Mechanics Screenwriting Workbook: A Screenwriting Process That Sells!

The Film Mechanics w/ Deri Tyton Podcast begins with foundational elements in the screenwriting process.

Deri Tyton covers Writing Treatments in the screenwriting process before you write your screenplay, which are:

1) What is a screenplay treatment?

2) What goes into a treatment?

3) Why Write a treatment?

Be sure to get your copy of The Film Mechanics Screenwriting Workbook: A Screenwriting Process That Sells!

The Film Mechanics w/ Deri Tyton Podcast begins with foundational elements in the screenwriting process.

Deri Tyton covers Screenwriting Outlines in the screenwriting process before you write your screenplay, which are:

1) What is a screenplay outline?

2) How to write a screenplay outline?

3) Can I sell a screenplay outline?

Be sure to get your copy of The Film Mechanics Screenwriting Workbook: A Screenwriting Process That Sells!

The Film Mechanics w/ Deri Tyton Podcast begins with foundational elements in the screenwriting process.

Deri Tyton covers Screenwriting Structure in the screenwriting process before you write your screenplay, which are:

1) What is screenwriting structure?

2) Who created the screenwriting structure?

3) Why is screenwriting structure so important?

4) How does one write in screenwriting structure?

Be sure to get your copy of The Film Mechanics Screenwriting Workbook: A Screenwriting Process That Sells!

The Film Mechanics w/ Deri Tyton Podcast begins with foundational elements in the screenwriting process.

Deri Tyton covers how to compose a logline in the screenwriting process before you write your screenplay, which are:

1) What is a logline?

2) What are the main four (4) components of a logline?

3) What are some creative ways to keep your logline genre-specific?

4) What are some basic rules to follow?

5) Why do you write a logline?

Be sure to get your copy of The Film Mechanics Screenwriting Workbook: A Screenwriting Process That Sells!

The Film Mechanics w/ Deri Tyton Podcast begins with foundational elements in the screenwriting process.

Deri Tyton covers how to develop and build a character's world in the screenwriting process before you write your screenplay, which are:

1) Why build the world?

2) How to build the world?

3) When You Should Destroy Your World?

4) How To Save Your World?

5) Will Your World Survive?

Be sure to get your copy of The Film Mechanics Screenwriting Workbook: A Screenwriting Process That Sells!

The Film Mechanics w/ Deri Tyton Podcast begins with foundational elements in the screenwriting process.

Deri Tyton covers how to develop and build your character(s) in the screenwriting process before you write your screenplay, which are:

1) What is a Character?

2) Why Write a Backstory?

3) What are Archetypes?

4) What are the two (2) Journeys your protagonist/antagonist will take?

5) How to apply your Character Arc?

Be sure to get your copy of The Film Mechanics Screenwriting Workbook: A Screenwriting Process That Sells!

The Film Mechanics w/ Deri Tyton Podcast begins with foundational elements in the screenwriting process.

Deri Tyton covers the next two (2) steps in the screenwriting process before you write your screenplay, which are:

1) What is your Theme?

2) What is the screenplay Genre?

3) What's your screenplay Tone?

Be sure to get your copy of The Film Mechanics Screenwriting Workbook: A Screenwriting Process That Sells!