Write Along with David and Cargill - podcast cover

Write Along with David and Cargill

C. Robert Cargill is a screenwriter, novelist, and former film critic. In this podcast, he's joined by film critic David Chen to discuss his advice from his two decades in the entertainment industry. Find more episodes of the show at writealongpodcast.com and email us at writealongpodcast@gmail.com
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Episodes

Ep. 60 – False Victory, First Defeat

David and Cargill discuss how to get through Act 2 and the Second Act Slump. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Email us with your questions/thoughts at writealongpodcast@gmail.com. Find more episodes of this show at writealongpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @writealongpod. Follow Cargill on Twitter @massawyrm. Follow David on Twitter @davechensky. Listen to Cargill’s other … Continue reading Ep. 60 – False Victory, First Defeat...

Apr 26, 2020

Ep. 59 – An entertainer when times are good or a distraction when times are bad

David and Cargill discuss how to keep on keeping’ on when external factors torpedo something you’re working on. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Email us with your questions/thoughts at writealongpodcast@gmail.com. Find more episodes of this show at writealongpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @writealongpod. Follow Cargill on Twitter @massawyrm. Follow David on Twitter @davechensky. Listen … Continue reading Ep. 59 – An entertainer when times are good or a distraction when times are bad...

Apr 10, 2020

Ep. 58 – Satirizing the Unsatirizable

David and Cargill discuss what it’s like to try to be creative in the midst of a pandemic, and how it can sometimes be difficult to satirize something as outlandish as real life. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Email us with your questions/thoughts at writealongpodcast@gmail.com. Find more episodes of this show at writealongpodcast.com. Follow … Continue reading Ep. 58 – Satirizing the Unsatirizable

Mar 27, 2020

Ep. 57 – The Ice Floe

Cargill and David discuss tips for getting a career writing about film. Follow David on Letterboxd Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Email us with your questions/thoughts at writealongpodcast@gmail.com. Find more episodes of this show at writealongpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @writealongpod. Follow Cargill on Twitter @massawyrm. Follow David on Twitter @davechensky. Listen to Cargill’s … Continue reading Ep. 57 – The Ice Floe...

Feb 14, 2020

Ep. 56 – If You Want To Make a Trilogy, You Probably Shouldn’t

Cargill and David discuss whether or not you should make a trilogy of films and whether paid editors are scams. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Email us with your questions/thoughts at writealongpodcast@gmail.com. Find more episodes of this show at writealongpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @writealongpod. Follow Cargill on Twitter @massawyrm. Follow David on Twitter … Continue reading Ep. 56 – If You Want To Make a Trilogy, You Probably Shouldn’t...

Feb 01, 2020

Ep. 55 – Cargill’s Four Favorite Films of 2019

Cargill and David discuss Cargill’s four favorite films of 2019. Listen to David’s top 10 films of 2019 Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Email us with your questions/thoughts at writealongpodcast@gmail.com. Find more episodes of this show at writealongpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @writealongpod. Follow Cargill on Twitter @massawyrm. Follow David on Twitter @davechensky. Listen … Continue reading Ep. 55 – Cargill’s Four Favorite Films of 2019...

Jan 14, 2020

Ep. 54 – Bangin’ on the door waiting for someone to let you in

Cargill and David discuss what the literary equivalent is of “make your own movie” and the pleasures and pains of the vanity press. Listen to our previous episode about this topic here. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts. Email us with your questions/thoughts at writealongpodcast@gmail.com. Find more episodes of this show at writealongpodcast.com. Follow us … Continue reading Ep. 54 – Bangin’ on the door waiting for someone to let you in...

Dec 15, 2019

Ep. 53 – You’d think there’d be a better communication system

Cargill and David discuss what happens when you work on a project that ends up getting made by someone else. Cargill’s tweet about Netflix’s Locke and Key Email us with your questions/thoughts at writealongpodcast@gmail.com. Find more episodes of this show at writealongpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @writealongpod. Follow Cargill on Twitter @massawyrm. Follow David on … Continue reading Ep. 53 – You’d think there’d be a better communication system...

Dec 06, 2019

Ep 52 – It’s struggling and it’s pain and it’s failure

Cargill and David discuss Christopher McQuarrie’s recent advice on whether or not you should try to “win the lottery” by submitting your script to a studio. McQuarrie has since taken down the Twitter thread but many reproductions exist online, including this one. Email us with your questions/thoughts at writealongpodcast@gmail.com. Find more episodes of this show … Continue reading Ep 52 – It’s struggling and it’s pain and it’s failure...

Nov 23, 2019

Ep. 51 – A brief history of The Black List (GUEST: Franklin Leonard)

Franklin Leonard joins the Write Along podcast to discuss the history of The Black List and share tips for screenwriters looking to host their screenplays on The Black List website. Follow Franklin Leonard on Twitter Learn more about The Black List at its official website Email us with your questions/thoughts at writealongpodcast@gmail.com. Find more episodes … Continue reading Ep. 51 – A brief history of The Black List (GUEST: Franklin Leonard)...

Nov 09, 2019

Ep. 50 – One and a half cubes (GUEST: Vincenzo Natali)

David is joined by writer/director Vincenzo Natali (director of Cube, Splice, Westworld, Hannibal) to discuss tips for making a low-budget high-concept film. Be sure to check out Vincenzo’s newest film, In the Tall Grass, on Netflix. Cargill will be back for a regular episode next week. Listen to a feature-length commentary of Vincenzo’s latest film, In the Tall Grass, … Continue reading Ep. 50 – One and a half cubes (GUEST: Vincenzo Natali)...

Nov 03, 2019

Ep. 49 – How does this play out?

David and Cargill discuss their preferred PDF readers and give advice to a writer struggling to make his characters more interesting. Email us with your questions/thoughts at writealongpodcast@gmail.com. ind more episodes of this show at writealongpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @writealongpod. Follow Cargill on Twitter @massawyrm. Follow David on Twitter @davechensky. Listen to Cargill’s other … Continue reading Ep. 49 – How does this play out?...

Oct 26, 2019

Ep. 48 – A Private Movie Podcast

David and Cargill discuss how to encourage young writers and how to consume media about a genre you’re writing in. Email us with your questions/thoughts at writealongpodcast@gmail.com. ind more episodes of this show at writealongpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @writealongpod. Follow Cargill on Twitter @massawyrm. Follow David on Twitter @davechensky. Listen to Cargill’s other podcast … Continue reading Ep. 48 – A Private Movie Podcast...

Oct 19, 2019

Ep. 47 – What you want to avoid is the awkward English goodbye

David and Cargill share more tips on when best to begin and end scenes. Email us with your questions/thoughts at writealongpodcast@gmail.com. ind more episodes of this show at writealongpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @writealongpod. Follow Cargill on Twitter @massawyrm. Follow David on Twitter @davechensky. Listen to Cargill’s other podcast Junkfood Cinema. Listen to David’s other … Continue reading Ep. 47 – What you want to avoid is the awkward English goodbye...

Oct 04, 2019

Ep. 46 – Everyone has one good story in them

David and Cargill discuss what happens when you set unrealistic goals and the value of not giving up. Email us with your questions/thoughts at writealongpodcast@gmail.com. ind more episodes of this show at writealongpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @writealongpod. Follow Cargill on Twitter @massawyrm. Follow David on Twitter @davechensky. Listen to Cargill’s other podcast Junkfood Cinema. … Continue reading Ep. 46 – Everyone has one good story in them...

Sep 28, 2019

Ep. 45 – Music that sounds suspiciously like the music from ‘Drive’

David and Cargill discuss if/when to get permission for copyrighted content in your work. (Note: we aren’t legal experts and you should always speak to a lawyer if you have any questions) Email us with your questions/thoughts at writealongpodcast@gmail.com. ind more episodes of this show at writealongpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @writealongpod. Follow Cargill on … Continue reading Ep. 45 – Music that sounds suspiciously like the music from ‘Drive’...

Sep 20, 2019

Ep. 44 – Always deliver on your idea

David and Cargill discuss how to approach short stories, and share their favorites. Short stories mentioned: The Labyrinth by Jorge Luis Borges “Repent, Harlequin!” Said the Ticktockman by Harlan Ellison The Lottery by Shirley Jackson Email us with your questions/thoughts at writealongpodcast@gmail.com. ind more episodes of this show at writealongpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @writealongpod. … Continue reading Ep. 44 – Always deliver on your idea...

Sep 13, 2019

Ep. 43 – Give them a dog

David and Cargill discuss how to make a character likable and touch upon the difference between tropes and cliches. Email us with your questions/thoughts at writealongpodcast@gmail.com. ind more episodes of this show at writealongpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @writealongpod. Follow Cargill on Twitter @massawyrm. Follow David on Twitter @davechensky. Listen to Cargill’s other podcast Junkfood … Continue reading Ep. 43 – Give them a dog...

Sep 07, 2019

Ep. 42 – The Pauper Principle

David and Cargill talk the Pauper Principle and how it can be used to create a connection between your audience and a character in your story. See Cargill’s tweet that spawned this episode. Email us with your questions/thoughts at writealongpodcast@gmail.com. ind more episodes of this show at writealongpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @writealongpod. Follow Cargill on … Continue reading Ep. 42 – The Pauper Principle...

Aug 23, 2019

Ep. 41 – Old wisdom, shared perfectly

David and Cargill talk about why voiceover generally isn’t a good idea for horror films, and why your film or story doesn’t need to have revolutionary new ideas to share with the world to be great. See Cargill’s tweet that spawned this episode. Email us with your questions/thoughts at writealongpodcast@gmail.com. ind more episodes of this show … Continue reading Ep. 41 – Old wisdom, shared perfectly

Aug 16, 2019

Ep. 40 – They’re fine with it

David and Cargill talk about how to approach a screenplay when your villain is the protagonist. Email us with your questions/thoughts at writealongpodcast@gmail.com. ind more episodes of this show at writealongpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @writealongpod. Follow Cargill on Twitter @massawyrm. Follow David on Twitter @davechensky. Listen to Cargill’s other podcast Junkfood Cinema. Listen to … Continue reading Ep. 40 – They’re fine with it...

Aug 09, 2019

Ep. 39 – Bury it in conflict

David and Cargill talk about the best way to do “info-dumps.” Email us with your questions/thoughts at writealongpodcast@gmail.com. ind more episodes of this show at writealongpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @writealongpod. Follow Cargill on Twitter @massawyrm. Follow David on Twitter @davechensky. Listen to Cargill’s other podcast Junkfood Cinema. Listen to David’s other podcast the Slashfilmcast. … Continue reading Ep. 39 – Bury it in conflict...

Aug 03, 2019

Ep. 38 – When your PB&PL stand fails

David and Cargill discuss the importance of writing for an audience and why artistic narcissism is one of the biggest sins a writer can commit. Check out Cargill’s tweets spawning this conversation here and here. Email us with your questions/thoughts at writealongpodcast@gmail.com. ind more episodes of this show at writealongpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @writealongpod. … Continue reading Ep. 38 – When your PB&PL stand fails...

Jul 26, 2019

Ep. 37 – The struggle, not the reward

David and Cargill discuss why many faith-based/Evangelical films aren’t any good, and what makes a good Christian film. Email us with your questions/thoughts at writealongpodcast@gmail.com. ind more episodes of this show at writealongpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @writealongpod. Follow Cargill on Twitter @massawyrm. Follow David on Twitter @davechensky. Listen to Cargill’s other podcast Junkfood Cinema. … Continue reading Ep. 37 – The struggle, not the reward...

Jul 19, 2019

Ep. 36 – Stay for the romance

David and Cargill discuss how to pace scenes and how to get in and out of them. Later, they chat about Danny Boyle’s new film Yesterday and what we can learn about paying off premises. Read Cargill’s tweet that prompted this discussion. Email us with your questions/thoughts at writealongpodcast@gmail.com. ind more episodes of this show at writealongpodcast.com. … Continue reading Ep. 36 – Stay for the romance

Jul 13, 2019

Ep. 35 – Days of rest

David and Cargill discuss why mental health should be the number one priority of all writers, and why Cargill lives nocturnally. Email us with your questions/thoughts at writealongpodcast@gmail.com. ind more episodes of this show at writealongpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @writealongpod. Follow Cargill on Twitter @massawyrm. Follow David on Twitter @davechensky. Listen to Cargill’s other … Continue reading Ep. 35 – Days of rest...

Jul 06, 2019

Ep. 34 – The sin of Moses

David and Cargill discuss the rules you can’t break in Hollywood scripts, and when it might be acceptable to try. Here’s Cargill’s tweet that prompted this episode. Email us with your questions/thoughts at writealongpodcast@gmail.com. ind more episodes of this show at writealongpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @writealongpod. Follow Cargill on Twitter @massawyrm. Follow David on … Continue reading Ep. 34 – The sin of Moses...

Jun 29, 2019

Ep. 33 – The moral of the story

David and Cargill respond to an email about how to write when you feel like you have nothing to say. Email us with your questions/thoughts at writealongpodcast@gmail.com. Find more episodes of this show at writealongpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @writealongpod. Download or play below:

Jun 22, 2019

Ep. 32 – There is a car chase

David and Cargill discuss how to write fights and action scenes. Email us with your questions/thoughts at writealongpodcast@gmail.com. Find more episodes of this show at writealongpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @writealongpod. Download or play below:

Jun 15, 2019

Ep. 31 – An Unlikable Protagonist

David and Cargill discuss the characteristics of an unlikable protagonist, and why/how it’s different than an anti-hero. Email us with your questions/thoughts at writealongpodcast@gmail.com. Find more episodes of this show at writealongpodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @writealongpod. Download or play below:

Jun 08, 2019
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