Bulletproof Screenwriting™ Podcast - podcast cover

Bulletproof Screenwriting™ Podcast

Bulletproof Screenwritingwww.bulletproofscreenwriting.tv
The Bulletproof Screenwriting Podcast shows you how to make your screenplays bulletproof. Weekly interviews with Oscar® and Emmy® award winning screenwriters, story specialists, best-selling authors, Hollywood agents and managers, and industry insiders. We cover every aspect of the screenwriting process. This is the screenwriting podcast for the rest of us. No fluff. No BS. Just straight talk that will help you on your screenwriting journey.

Some of the past guests include 3X Oscar® Winning Writer/Director Oliver Stone, Eric Roth (Dune, Forest Gump), Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead), Richard Linklater (Boyhood, Slacker) James V. Hart (Dracula, Hook), John August (Big Fish, Aladdin), Jim Uhls ( Fight Club), Peter Rader (Waterworld), Diane Drake (What Women Want), Daniel Knauf (Carnival, Blacklist), Derek Kolstad (John Wick) and Pen Densham (Robin Hood, Backdraft) to name a few.

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Episodes

BPS 425: The Power of the Cut: Storytelling Secrets from Michael Trent

A film editor’s job is much like the work of a sculptor. You take a massive block of material—raw footage—and with a series of delicate, precise cuts, you shape it into something cohesive, something meaningful. In today’s episode, we welcome Michael Trent, a master of cinematic storytelling who has spent his career assembling some of Hollywood’s most unforgettable films. From the war-torn beaches of Saving Private Ryan to the eerie corridors of The Hatred, his work is the unseen hand that guides...

Jun 26, 202543 minEp. 425

BPS 424: From Short to Feature The Filmmaker’s Journey with Michael G. Kehoe

On today’s episode, we welcome Michael G. Kehoe, a filmmaker who turned a whisper of an idea into the resounding voice of a feature film. From Brooklyn to Hollywood, from an eight-year-old boy watching his mother direct community theater to a director commanding his own set, Michael’s journey is one of persistence, heartbreak, and sheer creative will.In this profound conversation, Michael G. Kehoe shares the winding road of his career, one marked by passion and loss. A pact among friends, the br...

Jun 19, 20251 hr 15 minEp. 424

BPS 423: From Instagram Mysteries to Indie Horror The Bold Experiments of Joe Kowalski

When the winds of curiosity rustle the mind and stir the soul, they often bring with them storytellers—those rare beings who don’t just recount events but breathe life into them. On today's episode, we welcome Joe Kowalski, a young filmmaker from Cleveland whose creative spirit dances between shadows and light, weaving stories through film, mystery, and innovation. Joe Kowalski is a filmmaker, game designer, and storyteller whose projects explore new ways to experience narrative across media. In...

Jun 12, 20251 hr 10 minEp. 423

BPS 422: The Unscripted Journey of Steven Bernstein From Cinematographer to Storyteller

What if the greatest stories of our lives are the ones we never meant to write? On today’s episode, we welcome Steven Bernstein, a man whose journey through the world of cinema has been anything but predictable. A writer at heart, a cinematographer by accident, and a director by destiny, his career is a living testament to the art of surrendering to the unknown. From his early days at the BBC to the sets of Hollywood blockbusters, his story unfolds like an unplanned masterpiece—one that ultimate...

Jun 05, 202559 minEp. 422

BPS 421: Behind the Scenes of Sharknado Turning Sci-Fi Madness into Storytelling Gold with Andrew Shaffer

The mind is a curious trickster, delighting in dreams where logic pirouettes in absurdity. In today's extraordinary episode, we welcome Andrew Shaffer, a humorist and New York Times bestselling author whose wit slices through the storms of reality with a twinkle in his eye and a chainsaw in hand. From the earliest pages of his life, Andrew Shaffer was destined to dance with the ridiculous and sublime. As a child, he devoured horror and science fiction with a ravenous appetite, only to find himse...

May 29, 202527 minEp. 421

BPS 420: Out of Time and the Back to the Future DeLorean Documentary with Steve Concotelli

Today on the show we have documentary filmmaker Steve Concotelli, the director of OUTATIME: Saving the DeLorean Time Machine. Out of Time is the documentary about the restoration of the screen used Back to the Future DeLorean Time Machine.We discuss how the film came to be, his Kickstarter campaign, getting the rights from Universal, working with Back to the Future co-creator, producer and overall Godfather Bob Gale and how he distributed his little indie doc.Here’s some more info on Steve. Stev...

May 22, 202558 minEp. 420

BPS 419: Going Undercover and Directing for VICE with Natalia Leite

Today’s guest is writer/director Natalia Leite. This director is one of the bravest filmmakers I’ve ever met. Her work on the VICE documentary ‘ Life as a Truck-Stop Stripper was breathtaking. Not only did she direct the piece but one of the subjects in the film as well. Take a look below at her amazing work.Everyone knows what charming places strip clubs can be, but perhaps there is no club so charming as one in Moriarty, New Mexico—a truck stop with taxidermy and the bras of former employees o...

May 15, 202550 minEp. 419

BPS 418: Drugs, Sex and Higher Love with Slamdance Winner Hasan Oswald

Today on the show we have Slamdance Grand Jury winning filmmaker Hasan Oswald. Hasan's story is pretty inspiring. He did exactly what I preach all the time, he picked up a camera and began to tell his story. He made his first short film that was later tweeted by Stephen Fry, and the National Geographic came calling to work on their film Hell on Earth: The Fall of Syria and the Rise of ISIS. He has since covered the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, drug trafficking, and homelessness in Philadelph...

May 08, 20251 hr 11 minEp. 418

BPS 417: How I Got My Film Directing Off The Ground with Sean Mullin

Sean Mullin is an award-winning filmmaker. His critically-acclaimed feature film debut as a writer/director — Amira & Sam — won the top prize at numerous festivals and was distributed theatrically by Drafthouse Films. He’s the co-writer/co-producer of the film, Semper Fi – alongside Oscar-nominated director Henry-Alex Rubin (Murderball) and Oscar-nominated producer David Lancaster (Whiplash). Lionsgate released the film theatrically in 2019. He’s the writer/director of a feature-length docum...

May 01, 202548 minEp. 417

BPS 416: The Brutal and Honest Reality of Self-Distributing a Film Today with Jeff MacIntyre

Today on the show we have 18 time Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Jeff MacIntyre. Jeff is the director of the new film The Great Cookie Comeback. Famous Wally Amos introduced us to his famous cookie in 1975. It was love at first bite! 🍪 Then...he lost it all to a big corporation. For 30 years, Wally’s been hustling to get it back. At 82, facing huge personal and financial challenges, can he make his new cookie as famous as his first? Nobody deserves a Great Cookie Comeback like Wally Amos! Jeff wa...

Apr 24, 20251 hr 25 minEp. 416

BPS 414: Billie Eilish and Truth to Filmmaking with RJ Cutler

Our guest today, RJ Cutler opened up 2021 with his raw, emotional, and remarkable new documentary Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry. He’s a phenomenal documentary and TV director and producer with nearly thirty years of experience in the business. The $2 million dollars documentary film which was directed, written, and produced by Cutler centered around singer-songwriter teen sensation and Grammy Award artist, Billie Eilish --- Revealing the creation process of Eilish's debut studio alb...

Apr 10, 20251 hr 2 minEp. 414

BPS 413: The Problem with Abusive Film Sets with Greg Hemmings

Let me introduce to you all, filmmaker and award-winning film-preneur, Greg Hemmings – Chief storyteller and CEO of Hemmings House Pictures limited. I wanted to address the serious problem of verbal abuse interns and other crew persons face on film sets from directors, producers, or others in charge.Why would I invite a CEO to discuss this topic? Well, Gerg’s company, Hemmings House Pictures creates content that inspires positive action. Their essence is to spread kindness and positivity within ...

Apr 03, 20251 hr 8 minEp. 413

BPS 412: How to Create a Compelling Documentary with Julie Cohen & Betsy West

Today on the show we have Oscar® nominated documentarians Betsy West & Julie Cohen.Betsy West (Director/Producer) is an Academy Award®-nominated Emmy winning director/producer of RBG (Magnolia, Participant, CNN Films, 2018), along with Julie Cohen. Most recently, she and Cohen directed My Name is Pauli Murray (Participant/Amazon Studios), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2021.Betsy was executive producer of the MAKERS PBS/AOL documentary and digital series about the modern wo...

Mar 27, 202555 minEp. 412

BPS 411: Beyond the Script: Gordy Hoffman’s Guide to Emotional Storytelling

Life, they say, is a story we tell ourselves—a script of experience, moments, and emotions woven into a narrative only we can claim as our own. On today’s episode, we welcome Gordy Hoffman, a screenwriter, director, and the mind behind the BlueCat Screenwriting Competition. His journey through the labyrinth of storytelling has been marked by profound lessons in creativity, resilience, and the delicate art of telling tales that move the human heart.As he shares his insights, one thing becomes evi...

Mar 20, 20251 hr 5 minEp. 411

BPS 410: Why Most Independent Films NEVER Make Any Money

I've been thinking about doing this podcast for a long time. In the tradition of Why Filmmakers are Always So Damn Broke & What They Can Do to Change It this episode is going to be a cold bucket of water over your head if you are not ready for it. In the insane world, we are all living in today, filmmakers need to break out of the mindset that we are living in the golden age of indie cinema.The rules have changed dramatically since the 90s and even more so in the last 8 months of the COVID p...

Mar 13, 20251 hr 13 minEp. 410

BPS 409: How to Make Indie Films That Make REAL Money with J. Horton

Today on the show we have filmmaker and Filmtrepreneur J. Horton. Jason has been in the film industry for as long as I have and has been making movies ever since. What sets him apart from other filmmakers is that he actually makes a living making his films.Jason figured out the formula that would allow him to make a living doing what he loves to do. He produces low-budget feature films and uploads them to Amazon Prime . He collects TVOD and SVOD revenue. His key is volume. This year alone he pro...

Mar 06, 20251 hr 10 minEp. 409

BPS 408: The Patronized Self-Distribution (PSD) Model with Zach Lona and Anthony Gibson

Our guests today are filmmakers and developers, Zach Lona and Anthony Gibson. Zach is the founder of Chicago-based film production company, Eleusinian Productions studio that invented the Patronized Self-Distribution (PSD) model. The Patronized self-distribution (PSD) uses NFTs essentially as an alternative film distribution model from traditional Hollywood distribution. It hoists and redefines the status of independent films to that of fine art while targeting the film’s specific audience (art ...

Feb 27, 20251 hr 9 minEp. 408

BPS 407: Unforgettable Storytelling Phillip Andrew on Creativity, Leadership, and Resilience

On today's episode, we dive into the fascinating world of creativity, resilience, and the art of storytelling with Phillip Andrew, a multi-talented producer, motivational speaker, and DJ from Los Angeles. From his humble beginnings in Michigan to his relentless pursuit of opportunities in Hollywood, Phillip's journey is a testament to the power of determination, adaptability, and the enduring impact of great stories.Phillip reminisced about his early days navigating the entertainment industry, s...

Feb 20, 202555 minEp. 407

BPS 406: Unveiling the Art of Screenwriting A Journey with Kristin Overn

There’s a certain magic in the way creativity stirs the soul, and on today’s episode, we welcome Kristin Overn, a seasoned producer and the visionary behind the PAGE International Screenwriting Awards. With a career steeped in the art of storytelling, Kristin has spent years cultivating opportunities for writers to transform their ideas into scripts that resonate across the industry.Kristin’s journey began in the theater world, studying playwriting and directing at Northwestern University. Her l...

Feb 13, 202556 minEp. 406

BPS 405: How to Shoot 360 Video & Actually Make Money with Josh Gibson

Today, we welcome Josh Gibson, a pioneer in the realm of 360-degree video and the founder of 360 Video Academy. With a deep understanding of immersive storytelling, he guides us through the labyrinth of this ever-evolving technology, revealing its profound potential beyond mere entertainment.At first, 360 video may seem like an extension of traditional filmmaking, but as Josh Gibson explains, it is not just about capturing an image—it is about placing the viewer inside a world. Unlike convention...

Feb 06, 202555 minEp. 405

BPS 404: Hollywood Directing: How to Choose the Right Lens for Your Shot with Gil Bettman

In today’s episode, I wanted to give you a sneak peek of one of the best selling filmmaking courses on Udemy right now, Hollywood Film & Television Directing Masterclass with former guest and master film instructor Gil Bettman . On the show, you’ll hear a lesson on how you can AMP UP your static shots by choosing the right lenses. Enjoy! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bulletproof-screenwriting-podcast--2881148/support ....

Jan 30, 20258 minEp. 404

BPS 403: Cinematic Masterclass with Philip Bloom

Today on the show we have a legend in the filmmaking blogosphere, award-winning cinematographer Philip Bloom. Philip is a world-renowned filmmaker who, for the past 10 years of his 27-year career has specialized in creating incredible cinematic images no matter what the camera. He started blogging back in the early 2000s before anyone was really doing it. I personally have been following him for years. Philip even got an opportunity to shoot for the Jedi Master himself George Lucas. Enjoy my con...

Jan 23, 20251 hr 23 minEp. 403

BPS 402: Behind the Curtain of Blackmagic Design with President Dan May

If you are an avid listener of this podcast you know how much I LOVE Blackmagic Design products. From giving away Davinci Resolve for free to releasing a 4K Pocket Camera with RAW, Blackmagic is truly in the corner of every filmmaker. Their motto is…“Power to the people!”I always wanted to know how and why they make such amazing products for filmmakers at such ridiculously affordable prices. Today’s guest, Dan May – President of Blackmagic Design, would be the man to ask. I go deep into the weed...

Jan 16, 20251 hr 4 min

BPS 401: iPhone Filmmaking & Cinematography with Jason Van Genderen

Today on the show I have iPhone filmmaking master and TEDTalk Speaker Jason Van Genderen. I've wanted to have Jason on the podcast for a long time. He is a true inspiration to anyone who wants to pick up a camera and tell a story. He has made an industry out of professional shooting with iPhones for corporate clients, on commercials, music videos, and short films. Here's some more info on our guest.No script, storyboard or crew. No exposure to focus controls. A resolution of 640 x 480 pixels and...

Jan 09, 20251 hr 1 minEp. 401

BPS 400: How I Made $100K+ Selling Stock Footage with James Forsher

Today on the show we have the Stock Footage Yoda James Forsher. James has nearly forty years of experience in producing, writing, and directing documentaries and television commercials. Forsher's productions, ranging from half-hour shows to feature-length documentaries, have aired on the Discovery Channel, The Movie Channel, Cinemax, A & E, and PBS.Forsher's productions range from this year's hour-long show Elvis and the Girl from Vienna back to his 1977 documentary Conrad Hilton: Insight in...

Jan 03, 20251 hr 3 minEp. 400

BPS 399: FBI Witness Relocation Interview with Boris The Cinematographer from Shooting for the Mob

Today we have a very special episode. My guest is coming from an undisclosed location somewhere in Los Angeles. His code name is BORIS: The Cinematographer. We changed his voice and image for his protection. Boris was my cinematographer on the film I almost directed for the mob. I met him while prepping the infamous feature film discussed in my book Shooting for the Mob . Here's a summary on the book:A bipolar gangster, a naive, young film director, and Batman. What could go wrong? Alex Ferrari ...

Dec 27, 20241 hr 15 minEp. 399

BPS 398: Inside the World of Cooke Optics with Les Zellan

Today on the show we have the chairman of the legendary Cooke Optics empire. For over 100 years, Cooke has been at the centre of the filmmaking business. We've been listening to the community of which we are a part. We lead by introducing new products such as /i Technology, and we remember our success is built on a simple idea – do what the filmmaker needs.From Cooke Optics website:Our factory in Leicester, England has generations from the same family working side by side. That experience is un-...

Dec 19, 202459 minEp. 398

BPS 397: The Art of Low-Budget Cinematography with Suki Medencevic, A.S.C

Today I welcome back returning champion award-winning cinematographer Suki Medencevic A.S.C. I brought Suki back on the show to discuss Covid-19 and what Hollywood will look like after it passes, how to approach low-budget filmmaking from the cinematography side, and his game-changing cinematography course Light and Face – The Art of Cinematography from IFH Academy .This workshop will walk you through how to light the most important and emotional subject you could put in front of your lens, the ...

Dec 12, 20241 hr 13 minEp. 397

BPS 396: How to Become an Indy Mogul with Ted Sim

Today on the show we have host, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and president of Aputure Ted Sim. Ted is the host of the Indy Mogul Podcast and Youtube Channel. He took over the reins of the legendary Indy Mogul Youtube channel last year and has really created some amazing content.Ted Sim is a Los Angeles filmmaker, originally from Baltimore, MD. Though he has been living in California since 2009, he has traveled to over 45 different countries for work and to meet with local filmmakers from all around ...

Dec 05, 20241 hr 31 minEp. 396
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