EPISODE · Feb 12, 2026 · 1H 1M
Director Justin Simien | Predicting the Future by Telling the Truth in Your Art Today
from 5AM StoryTalk · host Cole Haddon
Screenwriter-director JUSTIN SIMIEN (Dear White People, Haunted Mansion, Hollywood Black) discusses his life and craft, truth-telling in your art, finding your voice as an artist in an industry that increasingly doesn’t want you to have one, and Hollywood’s problematic relationship with Black artists.Pay attention, screenwriters: This episode is an intimate look at breaking into and sustaining your career in Hollywood in-between deep dives into how personal perspective and identity shaped Justin’s work – which will hopefully encourage you to pour as much of yourself into your own art as he does.A BONUS EPISODE is available via Apple Podcasts or at Substack.Justin returns to break down a seminal film from his life – Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 science-fiction classic 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY.Justin offers a radical new take on the film that will blow your mind. I know it did mine. This is a masterclass in deconstructing films – especially sacred cows.Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/justin-simien-talks-2001-a-space-odyssey/id1807437928?i=1000748605227Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/justin-simien-2001-space-odysseyLINKSLearn more about Justin Simien: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_SimienWatch ‘Hollywood Black’ on MGM+: https://www.mgmplus.com/series/hollywood-blackRead Justin’s brilliant screenplay for ‘Dear White People’: https://assets.scriptslug.com/live/pdf/scripts/dear-white-people-2014.pdf?v=1729114894SUBSCRIBE TO THE ‘5AM STORYTALK NEWSLETTER’https://colehaddon.substack.com/You’ll gain access to both the 5AM StoryTalk newsletter and all episodes of this podcast – including exclusive bonus episodes in which my guests discuss seminal pieces of art from their lives. Ask questions in the comments section there, too!SUBSCRIBE TO THE ‘5AM STORYTALK PODCAST’ AT APPLEA paid subscription at Apple will get you access to all of my bonus episodes in which my guests return to break down a seminal artwork from their lives.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5am-storytalk/id1807437928TIP JARNot up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” here: https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddonSOCIAL MEDIAFollow Cole/5AM StoryTalk at…5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/Cole Haddon @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.socialThreads: https://www.threads.com/ColehaddonwashereEMAIL[email protected] StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.This podcast’s music is by Cary Brothers. https://www.carybrothers.com/
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Director Justin Simien | Predicting the Future by Telling the Truth in Your Art Today
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