Producers Erica Lee and Blye Pagon Faust on the Future of Hollywood ('John Wick' - 'Spotlight' - 'Sicario' - 'LulaRich')

Welcome to 5AM StoryTalk! Today I'm joined by ERICA LEE (partner, Thunder Road Films; producer, the John Wick universe, Sicario, Monkey Man) and BLYE PAGON FAUST (partner, Story Force Entertainment; Oscar-winning producer, Spotlight, Belly of the Beast,“LulaRich”). They’re two of my favorite Hollywood, and I’ve asked them to discuss the state of the Hollywood film/TV industry – are they as scared as I am? – and their advice for screenwriters looking to break into the business today.A bonus episode is also available here. You’ll get more of Erica, Blye, and I discussing the state of Hollywood, how they know a project is right for them, and much, much more.Listen at Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-erica-lee-blye-pagon-faust-talk-the-future/id1807437928?i=1000709234905Listen at Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6LIAO70K7IJutEHA4z7EAf?si=ff6f81415d4c4d24Show notes. Erica, Blye, and I discuss the following (amongst many other things):What era they would choose to work in if given the chance to climb into a time-traveling DeLoreanThe impact of establishing themselves as producers in a still incredibly male-dominated industry, especially for Erica who works primarily in actionHow the film/TV landscape has transformed over the past 20 years…and not for the good, from the death of the mid-budget financier to the streamersErica’s initial reaction to the John Wick script when it was still called Scorn, how the film evolved, and her surprise at the extent of its successBlye’s difficult journey to getting Spotlight made, a film about the systemic cover-up of sexual abuse by priests against children that would go on to win the Best Picture OscarHow both Erica and Blye have had to dramatically pivot in how they pursue their careersThe power of the “undeniable” script and great ideas in generalAdvice for aspiring and emerging screenwriters and producersLinks:Learn more about Erica Lee hereLearn more about Blye Pagon Faust hereErica says We Are Marshall, written by my friend Jamie Linden, is one of the best she’s ever read. You can read it hereBlye says Liz Hannah’s screenplay for The Post is one of the best she’s ever read. You can read it hereYou can listen to my own conversation with Liz, who was a guest on the 5AM StoryTalk Podcast, hereSUBSCRIBE 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 APPLE⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5am-storytalk/id1807437928⁠⁠A 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.TIP 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/⁠⁠