Beneath The Lantern (A 90 sec Novela) | Good To See You | Ep 215

This episode opens with an improvised serialized scene called “The Rusted Lantern” — a short noir novella-style reading performed live — then unfolds into a wide-ranging, candid conversation about auditions, writing, producing indie films, creative burnout, social-media monetization, sobriety, pacing your career, and practical tips for makers trying to get work done with limited time and money. The trio (Jen Bartels, Caitlin Brodnick, Isaac Abrams) balance a playful creative exercise with honest, useful career talk for actors, writers, creators and anyone making art in the modern media ecosystem.Episode highlights and expanded description- Live novella performance: Isaac prompts an AI-style 90-second soap-opera novella; the group performs multiple takes of a moody scene set in a corner table at “The Rustic Lantern.” - Performance craft & acting advice: After the reading the hosts debrief on cold reads, self-tape auditions, the tension between following explicit direction vs. owning the moment, and strategies for staying present in auditions. - Writing & making your own work: The hosts discuss how to move from performer to creator — startup routines for writing a script or short, how to attack a seemingly overwhelming feature project (write the small scene you can’t stop thinking about), using collaboration and iterative drafts, and practical tools (writer-duet workflows, co-writing in a room, and the value of deadlines).- Indie filmmaking realities: Low-budget production advice — how to make content when money is scarce- Encouraging closing: the hosts emphasize longevity in creative careers — the importance of craft, tenacity, and staying connected to why you started. They invite listeners to submit novella prompts, short scenes, and theme-song ideas for future episodes.video chapters00:00 — Opening banter & show settling (names, tone) 02:50 — Novella setup: prompt, characters, and format explained 03:50 — First full read: “The Rusted Lantern” — take one (moody intro) 06:15 — Key reveal: leather case, Cassandra Hale photograph, stakes established 07:10 — Cliffhanger note & “To be continued” title card 07:40 — Take two: refined performance, additional screen-direction beats 11:10 — Performance debrief: cold reads vs acting-from-truth, practical audition tactics 13:30 — Audition horror stories and director/room etiquette (what to expect) 16:00 — Writing advice: micro-goals, “write the scene you can’t stop thinking about” technique 18:10 — Indie film logistics: crew, budget tiers, attaching names & fundraising realities 21:30 — Monetization talk: social clout, viral jingles, content reuse issues and legal basics 24:15 — Vertical platforms vs long-form: pros, cons, and creative strategies 27:40 — Personal check-in: sobriety, routines, naps, and creative energy management 31:05 — Genre tastes, movie talk, and quick career anecdotes (commercials, background work) 34:20 — Creative collaboration: building teams, finding faithful collaborators vs “traders” 37:50 — Tools & workflow: writing software, co-write sessions, timeline tips for busy creators 40:30 — Closing: production ideas, call for submissions (theme songs, novella prompts), final banter#Podcast #Improv #Screenwriting #IndieFilmmaking #AuditionTips #VerticalVideo #CreativeBurnout #Sobriety #ContentCreationClosing note and inviteWe close by inviting listeners to submit short novellas, two-line scene prompts, theme-song demos, or project ideas — whether you’re an actor, writer, director or first-time creator. We’ll sample listener submissions, read prompts on air, and possibly develop serialized shorts based on the best seeds. If you want to contribute, email [email protected] or DM the show on Instagram with your clip or idea.Thanks for listening — if this episode sparked even one idea or made you feel less alone in the hustle, subscribe and drop a rating.