5AM StoryTalk

Taking a vacation from the desk can be a recipe for disaster for a workaholic writer like me. Here’s why taking two weeks off triggered a massive 5:30 AM anxiety attack!Fresh off a family holiday that forced me to confront my need for daily writing to stay sane, I'm breaking down my panic spiral over my career backlog, an update on my new feature spec notes and TV pilot commission, plus my thoughts on finally watching the first season of "Shrinking".JOIN THE COMMUNITY! Join the 10,000+ members of the 5AM StoryTalk community at Substack mastering the craft of storytelling (and the art of life) together: https://colehaddon.substack.com/ON THE ITINERARY:MY VACATION PANIC SPIRAL: Why stepping away from the desk for two weeks triggered a 5:30 AM anxiety attack about my career.WRITING AS MY MEDICINE: Daily pages aren't a choice for me — they're a requirement to keep me sane.SPEC & COMMISSION UPDATES: Where things stand with my new feature spec and the status of my TV pilot rewrite.DIVING INTO 'SHRINKING': My reaction to finally catching up on Apple TV's comedy-drama.BUKOWSKI’S BRUTAL TRUTH: A quote from the great poet to help you on your creative journey.TIP JAR:Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” ⁠⁠⁠here to help keep me caffeinated (translation: writing)⁠⁠⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SOCIAL MEDIA:Follow 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]:5AM StoryTalk acknowledges 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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Starting a 2nd draft is one of the ultimate tests for screenwriters. Here’s why diving in too fast is a creative disaster!Fresh off wrapping the first drafts of two scripts (a TV pilot commission and a feature spec), I'm breaking down how I find perspective on my work, as well as my specific strategies to prepare for my next draft that will hopefully help you elevate your story from a messy 1st draft to the best 2nd draft possible. JOIN THE COMMUNITY! Join the 10,000+ members of the 5AM StoryTalk community at Substack mastering the craft of storytelling (and the art of life) together: https://colehaddon.substack.com/ON THE ITINERARY:THE ART OF THE PAUSE: Why finding perspective before you start a 2nd draft is the single most important step in the entire screenwriting workflow.THE REWRITING CIRCLE: How to curate a small, trusted circle of diverse readers – with diverse viewpoints – to stress-test your pages.FEATURE VS. TV PILOT REWRITES: The differences between rewriting specs and scripts you’ve been commissioned to write.‘OBSESSION’ AND ‘BACKROOMS’ MELT MY BRAIN: Thoughts on these films, but especially the Rorschach Test that ‘Obsession’ has turned out to be for audiences.MIRAGE IN THE DESERT: A core memory of 'Lawrence of Arabia' with my son. THE JODI PICOULT APPROACH: The brutal truth about the first draft that completely reframes how you look at a blank page. TIP JAR:Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” ⁠⁠⁠here to help keep me caffeinated (translation: writing)⁠⁠⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SOCIAL MEDIA:Follow 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]:5AM StoryTalk acknowledges 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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Why does Disney’s modern era of ‘Star Wars’ leave so many fans indifferent at best and running away at worst? It isn’t just you – and it isn't a lack of explosions and lightsaber duels. In this episode, I take a close look at the new film ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ to diagnose a massive narrative crisis in not just it, but most ‘Star Wars’ projects post-George Lucas. By breaking this golden rule of commercial storytelling, Disney has ensured that audiences will continue to tune out and films like ‘Mandalorian and Grogu’ will continue to bomb.Today’s conversation is as much for storytellers looking to improve their craft as ‘Star Wars’ fanatics who are having trouble putting a finger on why so many of these stories aren’t moving them or the broader culture anymore.ON THE ITINERARY:THE CONSEQUENCE CRISIS: Breaking down why modern ‘Star Wars’ stories feel like they’re spinning their wheels, and how avoiding real narrative stakes kills audience investment.THE FORGOTTEN GOLDEN RULE: Unpacking the essential rule of commercial storytelling that Disney keeps breaking – and how violating it directly triggers profound audience fatigue.THE SCREENWRITER'S DIAGNOSIS: A clinical look at the script-level choices that drain characters of true agency and leave zero room for permanent, impactful change.LESSONS FOR CREATORS: How screenwriters, novelists, and storytellers of any kind can look at the erosion of a multi-billion-dollar franchise to protect and sharpen their own stakes.JOIN THE COMMUNITY! Join the 10,000+ members of the 5AM StoryTalk community at Substack mastering the craft of storytelling (and the art of life) together: https://colehaddon.substack.com/EXCLUSIVE BONUS EPISODE: "SCREENWRITERS: HOW TO SURVIVE HOLLYWOOD'S NO-WIN SCENARIO"I crashed and burned when I faced my first Kobayashi Maru test during the rewrite of a major spec feature sale... but you can learn from my mistakes.UNLOCK THE BONUS AT SUBSTACK: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/hollywood-screenwriting-development-hellUNLOCK THE BONUS AT APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-screenwriters-how-to-survive-hollywoods-no-win/id1807437928?i=1000772928000LINKS:Listen/Read "How 'Andor' Blows Up Star Wars' Obsession With Moral Absolutism": https://open.substack.com/pub/colehaddon/p/new-podcast-how-andor-blows-up-staRead "Luke Skywalker Isn't the Hero You Want Him to Be": https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/luke-skywalker-isnt-the-hero-you Read "Lucasfilm’s Disregard for the O.G. Heir to the 'Star Wars' Empire Is Part of a Larger Entertainment Industry Problem": https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/the-og-heir-to-star-wars-empire-sayRead: "What Really Went Wrong With the 'Star Wars' Prequels...Maybe": https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/what-really-went-wrong-with-the-starTIP JAR:Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” ⁠⁠⁠here to help keep me caffeinated (translation: writing)⁠⁠⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SOCIAL MEDIA:Follow 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]:5AM StoryTalk acknowledges 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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cover art: 'The Mandalorian and Grogu'

Remember when we wanted to make films, not just generate them? Let’s dive into why AI filmmaking strips away the friction, chaos, and collaboration that also produces the greatest films. It also robs the process of its most important element — fun!We’re going to explore the corporate push to turn a bespoke, human art form into disposable, mass-produced, flat-pack junk — call it the IKEA-fication of cinema (and art)!I’ll be using plenty of examples from cinematic history — especially Steven Spielberg’s filmography — to support my case.Stick around for the last third, in which I dive into ‘The Pitt’, the ‘Scrubs’ sequel series, and a Booker Prize winner that made me scream.JOIN THE COMMUNITY! Join the 10,000+ members of the 5AM StoryTalk community at Substack mastering the craft of storytelling (and the art of life) together: https://colehaddon.substack.com/ON THE ITINERARY:THE PROCESS IS THE POINT: Why AI threatens to destroy the process that made me want to become a filmmaker in the first place and turn something bespoke and beautiful into disposable, mass-produced junk.CHAOS, DESPERATION, AND DYSENTERY ARE YOUR FRIEND: A broken shark, Harrison Ford getting, disagreeable dinosaurs - how Steven Spielberg turns obstacles into great art.ART WITHOUT COMFORT: Why easy art makes stories suck hard.DOUG LIMAN’S 'BITCOIN': The sobering reality of a 20-day shoot inside a plain gray box.IT’S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL: Why cutting out hundreds of people along the way makes our creative worlds — and our adventures — smaller.WHAT WAS I THINKING WHEN I CALLED 'THE PITT' MEDITATIVE?: The thrilling, heart-racing late-Season 1 turn that completely changed my perspective on “The Pitt”.'SCRUBS': A CURE FOR MIDLIFE CRISES: Finding something beautiful to cling to in the nostalgia and trauma-laden world of the sequel series.THE IMPENETRABLE PRIZE WINNER: What happened when I put a paragraph from a Booker Prize-winning into AI three times to try to make sense of what it was trying to say?THE REITMAN PRINCIPLE: What makes great films — and great directors according to 'Juno' director Jason Reitman.TIP JAR:Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” ⁠⁠⁠here to help keep me caffeinated (translation: writing)⁠⁠⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SOCIAL MEDIA:Follow 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]:5AM StoryTalk acknowledges 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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cover art: Borrowed from the making of 'Jaws', which we'll discuss at length in this episode.

Our society has traded collective awe for isolating screens — and our art is paying the price.Psychologist DR. DACHER KELTNER knows a thing or two about awe as the director of the Berkeley Social Interaction Lab, author of the book ‘Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life’, and a key creative consultant on Pixar’s ‘Inside Out’.Awe is the psychological engine of human creativity, the very origin point of art, music, and the stories we use to make sense of our existence. Yet modern, hyper-individualistic society has systematically built a buffer between us and everyday wonder — making us lonelier, feeding our anxiety, and actively handicapping our imaginations.This conversation dives deep into the biological and cultural necessity of awe, the startling revelations recent studies show about how autistics experience awe, how a deficit of awe or even the manipulation of it can break down social cohesion and lead to the rise of dangerous leaders, and the terrifying ramifications for Hollywood and the arts as we navigate an era defined by the death of shared communal experiences.SCREENPLAY PERFORMANCE STUDIO: Today's episode is brought to you by Screenplay Performance Studio. Check them out and use the code 5AMStoryTalk to get $25 off. ⁠screenplayperformancestudio.com/5AMJOIN THE COMMUNITY!Join the 10,000+ members of the 5AM StoryTalk community at Substack mastering the craft of storytelling (and the art of life) together: https://colehaddon.substack.com/EXCLUSIVE BONUS EPISODE: JAN STEEN'S PAINTING 'MERRY COMPANY ON A TERRACE'Dacher returns to break down a seminal piece of art from his own life that helped set him on a quest to better understand human emotions.UNLOCK THE BONUS AT SUBSTACK: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/dacher-keltner-jan-steen-merry-company-on-a-terraceUNLOCK THE BONUS AT APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-dacher-keltner-talks-jan-steens-merry-company/id1807437928?i=1000769462790ON THE ITINERARY:THE BIAS OF SCIENCE: Why psychology ignored transcendent emotions for a century to focus on fear, impacting Western storytelling.THE CREATIVES' LAB: How artists, writers, and filmmakers can actively trigger states of awe to break through creative blocks and write deeper, more resonant stories. THE NEURODIVERGENT MIND: Breaking down groundbreaking new data from autistic scholar Hari Srinivasan that shatters harmful myths about neurodiversity and awe.THE CRISIS IN HOLLYWOOD: Why modern cinema is struggling to connect, and how a cultural deficit of wonder has sterile algorithms replacing creative risk-taking. THE DEATH OF THE LIVE AUDIENCE: From movie theaters to church pews, why we are collectively suffering from the loss of shared communal experiences.LINKS:Check out Dr. Dacher Keltner's book ‘Awe': https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/622175/awe-by-dacher-keltner/ 🎧📺✍️ 5AM StoryTalk's discussion 'Project Hail Mary' Is the Blueprint to Save Hollywood (and Our Future)': https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/project-hail-mary-blueprint-save-hollywood-our-futureHari Srinivasan's autism research blog: https://uniquelyhari.blogspot.com/TIP JAR:Not up for a paid subscription? You can also “buy me a coffee” ⁠⁠⁠here to help keep me caffeinated (translation: writing)⁠⁠⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SOCIAL MEDIA: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]:5AM StoryTalk acknowledges 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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Getting feedback on a script or novel shouldn't be so anxiety inducing. This episode of 5AM StoryTalk is the ultimate notes survival guide for screenwriters and authors receiving feedback – and a masterclass for producers, agents, and book editors looking to deliver critiques that actually inspire great revisions!👉 SCREENPLAY PERFORMANCE STUDIO: Today's episode is brought to you by Screenplay Performance Studio. Check them out and use the code 5AMStoryTalk to get $25 off. screenplayperformancestudio.com/5AMON THE ITINERARY:THE FIGHT-OR-FLIGHT RESPONSE: Breaking down the actual evolutionary psychology of why creative feedback triggers the exact same brain response as a physical attack.THE "MURDER" IMPULSE: Why many standard industry notes often derail a writer's momentum instead of helping the story.FILTERING THE GOLD: A step-by-step strategy for screenwriters and novelists to separate valuable insights from otherwise questionable note sessions.HOW TO GIVE NOTES (WITHOUT THE DRAMA): The exact blueprint for producers, agents, book editors, and peers to deliver devastating critiques in a way that actually inspires the creator.HOLLYWOOD VS. THE REST OF THE WORLD: The gap between how Hollywood notes are given and how they’re given elsewhere around the globe.THE SCREENWRITER VS. NOVELIST DIVIDE: How the feedback landscape can differ between the screenwriting and publishing worlds.THE EMOTIONAL CURE: My personal toolkit for cooling down, processing the anxiety, and turning a brutal notes session into a great script revision.JOIN THE COMMUNITY! Join the 10,000+ members of the 5AM StoryTalk community at Substack mastering the craft of storytelling (and the art of life) together: https://colehaddon.substack.com/LINKS:Read why this episode's sponsor, Screenplay Performance Studio, meets this podcast's human-made art standards for a digital tool: https://screenplayperformancestudio.com/privacy-policy.htmlRead "The Horror of 'Dracula': The Unbelievable True Story of the 2013 TV Series": https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/new-podcast-episode-the-horror-ofTIP JAR:Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” ⁠⁠⁠here to help keep me caffeinated (translation: writing)⁠⁠⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SOCIAL MEDIA:Follow 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]:5AM StoryTalk acknowledges 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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Are you overcomplicating your world-building? I’m breaking down why the most effective story worlds are built on simplicity — and why I opted (counterintuitively) to instead take a “maximalist” approach to my storytelling with my latest TV pilot script commission. The good news is, I finally heard from my producers what they think about the work I did, which I’m going to be filling you in about, along with an update on my new feature spec screenplay, and what I’ve been watching lately…like 'The Pitt’. Is it just me, or is it one of the most meditative shows on TV today? I’ll tell you what I mean by that and more in this latest edition of The Brew — an intimate 5AM StoryTalk series on the struggles and successes of life in the arts.JOIN THE COMMUNITY!Join the 10,000+ members of the 5AM StoryTalk community at Substack mastering the craft of storytelling (and the art of life) together: https://colehaddon.substack.com/ON THE ITINERARY:THE PILOT UPDATE: What's going on with my latest script commission? After almost five months, I finally got notes from my producers.DELICATE MAXIMALISM: Swinging for the fences with an oversized draft to find the project’s perfect shape.THE RARE NOTE: I got a note I've never received before. Find out what it was.THE WORLD-BUILDING SPECTRUM: From 'Star Wars 'to the grounded social dynamics of Amity Island in 'Jaws' - what do people not understand about the term 'world-building'?THE KILLER 50-PAGE PILOT: Tightening a 63-page script into a "tear-through" read.CELLULOID AT RADIO SPRINGS: 'Citizen Kane' and the "fucking brilliant" French epic 'Camille Claudel' on film.WHAT I THINK OF 'THE PITT': The unique conflict of a series that feels like "what television used to be".THE MINGUS PRINCIPLE: Making the complicated simple so the audience can internalize the world instead of analyze it.LINKS:Read "14 Perfect Minutes: Breaking Down the Opening of 'Jaws'": https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/14-perfect-minutes-breaking-downRead "How to World-Build Like a Wachowski": https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/on-screenwriting-how-to-world-buildRead "30 World-Building-Heavy Scripts to Download and Study": https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/30-world-building-heavy-scripts-toTIP JAR:Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” ⁠⁠⁠here to help keep me caffeinated (translation: writing)⁠⁠⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SOCIAL MEDIA:Follow 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]:5AM StoryTalk acknowledges 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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cover art: Stanford torus, painted by Donald E. Davis. Source: NASA.

Writers, stop trying to control the darkness and start letting it speak.Actor, filmmaker, and comic book creator DAVID DASTMALCHIAN (‘Dune’, ‘Late Night with the Devil’, ‘Murderbot’) joins me to discuss why the most dangerous thing an artist can do is try to "button up" the darkness. Through the lens of his life, career, and bold new graphic novel ‘Through’, we explore the thin line between creating a "fortress" of control and finding the courage to let your stories – and your life – remain beautifully unresolved.JOIN THE COMMUNITY!Join the 10,000+ members of the 5AM StoryTalk community at Substack mastering the craft of storytelling (and the art of life) together: https://colehaddon.substack.com/ON THE ITINERARY:AVOIDING ARCHETYPAL ANTAGONISTS: Why fully fleshed-out villains, like those in Frank Herbert’s Dune, are essential for a story to feel truly justified and human. THE MONSTER WITHIN: How the horror genre provides a safe place to confront not just the "dark outside the window," but the terrifying parts of ourselves we aren't comfortable talking about. THE CREATIVE VACUUM: Why the artist’s best work is done when seeking to overcome fear rather than being driven by it, moving from a state of hyper-vigilance to conscious presence. THE TRUTH ABOUT VULNERABILITY: A raw discussion on addiction, suicide attempts, and the "implosion" of self-control – and how these experiences become the clay for David’s meaningful art. BREAKING ‘THROUGH’: The creative and emotional origins of David’s new graphic novel from Z2 Comics and why it’s one of the most personal things he’s ever worked on.THE SABOTAGED ENDING: The last-minute phone call that dismantled a "perfect" conclusion to ‘Through’ because life – and art – is far more honest when it refuses to be buttoned up. RADICAL HOPE: How normalizing conversations about the morbid can help us face the "monstrous" within a capitalist culture that often buries the value of human wellbeing. 🔒 EXCLUSIVE BONUS EPISODE: HAROLD AND MAUDE (1971)David Dastmalchianb returns to discuss a seminal piece of art from his life – HAROLD AND MAUDE, the 1971 cult classic from legendary director Hal Ashby. This conversation is going to explain how David became the person – and artist – he is today.🔑 UNLOCK AT SUBSTACK: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/david-dastmalchian-harold-and-maude-mental-health🔑 UNLOCK AT APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-david-dastmalchian-talks-harold-and-maude/id1807437928?i=1000766143248LINKSLearn more about and purchase David Dastmalchian's graphic novel THROUGH: https://z2comics.com/products/david-dastmalchian-through-graphic-novel-collectors-cards-deluxe-editionWatch/Listen to David's podcast GRAVE CONVERSATIONS: https://www.youtube.com/@graveconversationsJOIN THE COMMUNITY!5AM StoryTalk is reader-supported. Help me keep the coffee brewing by becoming a free or paid subscriber at Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/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 to help keep me caffeinated (translation: writing)⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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]◼5AM StoryTalk acknowledges 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 ⁠⁠my dear friend Cary Brothers⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.carybrothers.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Are you thinking about writing a feature spec script? I’m breaking down the 4-part stress test I used to pick my first big-screen project in five years.Today on The Brew — an intimate 5AM StoryTalk series on the struggles and successes of life in the arts — I’m sharing the exact process I used to identify and fall in love with an idea that would also have commercial appeal. Whether you are a screenwriter, author, or graphic novelist, the logic remains the same — what is relevant to one medium has applications across all others.JOIN THE COMMUNITY!Join the 10,000+ members of the 5AM StoryTalk community at Substack mastering the craft of storytelling (and the art of life) together: https://colehaddon.substack.com/ON THE ITINERARY THIS WEEKTHE ARTIST’S INTERROGATION: Why you must constantly challenge your creative process and the way you pursue your art.THE PILOT POISON: How a decade of writing TV pilots "ruined" the feature-writing process by favoring aborted character journeys over definitive endings.THE BULLSEYE STRATEGY: A breakdown of the four-part stress test used to find the precise intersection of passion, commercial logic, theme, and sequel potential.THE "COMMERCIAL" MYTH: Why writing for a large audience is a moral case for cinema rather than "selling out".THE LAVA CAKE STRATEGY: Learning to hide your most serious, "grim" themes inside a high-octane "sugar cake" of entertainment.THE JAMES CAMERON SCHOOL OF GOAL-SETTING: Why setting ridiculously high goals ensures that even your failures land above everyone else's success.🔒 EXCLUSIVE BONUS EPISODE: "WEAPONIZING CURIOSITY IN SCREENWRITING: BUILDING THE NARRATIVE HOOK"🔑 UNLOCK THE BONUS AT SUBSTACK: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/weaponizing-curiosity-screenwriting🔑 UNLOCK THE BONUS AT APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-weaponizing-curiosity-in-screenwriting-building/id1807437928?i=1000763998965LINKS:Watch/Listen/Read "'Project Hail Mary' Is the Blueprint to Save Hollywood (and Our Future)": https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/project-hail-mary-blueprint-save-hollywood-our-futureWatch/Listen/Read "The Brew | 'Hustle Culture Is Killing Me'": https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/5am-realtalk-feb-23-i-cant-do-this?utm_source=publication-searchTIP JAR:Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” ⁠⁠⁠here to help keep me caffeinated (translation: writing)⁠⁠⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SOCIAL MEDIA:Follow 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]:5AM StoryTalk acknowledges 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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We’ve all said it: "They don’t make movies like they used to.” It's true, too...but Andy Weir's PROJECT HAIL MARY is the blueprint for how to fix the problem!This is the story of how my 11-year-old son — a kid raised on a steady diet of Marvel and Star Wars — ended up sobbing through a 28-year-old disaster flick and declaring it the best thing he’s ever seen. It’s also about why Hollywood is currently failing its audience, and how a science teacher lightyears from home in PROJECT HAIL MARY holds the key to saving the movie business and maybe even our future.If you’ve ever felt fatigued by superheroes and god-like beings, if you’re a screenwriter trying to work out what’s next, or if you’re wondering how a culture could so dramatically lose its way, this episode of 5AM StoryTalk is for you!ON THE ITINERARY:DECONSTRUCTIVE VS. CONSTRUCTIVE ART: The difference between art as a "mirror" and art as a "hammer."THE 11-YEAR-OLD LITMUS TEST: Lessons from ‘Deep Impact’ on why grounded human drama triggers "awe."THE SCIENCE OF MORAL BEAUTY: Exploring Dr. Dacher Keltner’s research on why acts of courage are emotional triggers.SUPERHERO FATIGUE: Why we must trade powerful beings for ordinary people facing certain death.ANDY WEIR'S ‘PROJECT HAIL MARY’: Why this story is the answer to: "Why don’t they make movies like they used to?"THE MIDDLE ROAD: Using the "grinder" of deconstruction to earn a transcendent ending.JOIN THE COMMUNITY!5AM StoryTalk is reader-supported. Help me keep the coffee brewing by becoming a free or paid subscriber at Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/LINKSListen/Watch/Read "Screenwriters Meg LeFauve & Joe Forte | Breaking Your Story (and Life)": https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/the-screenwriting-life-meg-lefauve-joe-forte?utm_source=publication-searchListen/Read "When Did We Stop Dreaming of a Better Future?": https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/new-podcast-did-science-fiction-help?utm_source=publication-searchLearn more about Dacher Keltner's study of awe: https://www.dacherkeltner.com/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 to help keep me caffeinated (translation: writing)⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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 acknowledges 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 ⁠⁠my dear friend Cary Brothers⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.carybrothers.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What happens when our cultural stories fail to tell the truth about where we’ve been and where we’re going? Independent immigration researcher and campaigner ZOE GARDNER joins me to challenge the dehumanizing narratives surrounding immigration, refugees, and borders. We dive deep into the intersection of policy, power, and the arts to uncover the systemic forces reshaping our global social landscape.ON THE ITINERARY:COLONIAL AMNESIA ON SCREENS: An exploration of why British TV and film’s reluctance to depict colonial history has fueled the ascent of Far-Right influence. THE CASTING DILEMMA IN BRITISH TV: A look at “color-blind” casting in period dramas and whether it risks erasing the very history we need to confront. THE FAR-RIGHT THREAT: How Nigel Farage and his Reform Party are weaponizing fear for power and profit. THE LABOR VACUUM: Why Keir Starmer’s Labor Party is failing by trying to appeal to the Right instead of the Left. THE TRUTH ABOUT IMMIGRATION: Understanding the reality of UK immigration today and why it is necessary for the country’s future. THE REVOLUTIONARY ACT: Why the struggle for justice is vital even when victory feels impossible – and the role of the artist in that fight. RADICAL HOPE: How a plumber-turned-MP is shattering the narrative that we have to choose between “sensible” and “hopeful” politics. 🔒 EXCLUSIVE BONUS EPISODE: JOAN BAEZ VS. BOB DYLANZoe Gardner returns to discuss a seminal moment in art that helped shape her worldview: the very public disagreement of musicians JOAN BAEZ AND BOB DYLAN over his responsibility (or lack thereof) to help change the world. Does an artist have a moral obligation to take a position when their voice matters so much? 🎸🔑 UNLOCK AT SUBSTACK: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/zoe-gardner-baez-vs-dylan🔑 UNLOCK AT APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/zoe-gardner-talks-joan-baez-vs-bob-dylan/id1807437928?i=1000761453682JOIN THE COMMUNITY!5AM StoryTalk is reader-supported. Help me keep the coffee brewing by becoming a free or paid subscriber at Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/LINKSDonate to Praxis, which supports migrants and refugees, particularly those experiencing destitution. Recommended by Zoe. https://www.praxis.org.uk/?form=FUNULBFMMCZRead Zoe's latest immigration report, which I highly recommend if you want to better understand UK immigration: https://zoegardner.net/assets/time-for-change.pdfRead "Independent Thematic Review of portrayal and representation of the UK in BBC content", referenced in this conversation: https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/documents/thematic-review-of-portrayal-and-representation.pdf Listen to "Sen. Fatima Payman on the Price of Defiance in Australian Politics" from 5AM StoryTalk (Sen. Payman is a former refugee turned politician): https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/podcast-fatima-payman-labor-party-australian-politics?utm_source=publication-searchTIP 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 to help keep me caffeinated (translation: writing)⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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]◼5AM StoryTalk acknowledges 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 ⁠⁠my dear friend Cary Brothers⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.carybrothers.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This is a Hollywood horror story about the dumbest thing to ever happen to me as a screenwriter - including the exact moment a room full of industry pros realized the embarrassing six-figure mistake that had been made.ON THE ITINERARYTHE “DRACULA” HANGOVER: Recovering from creating a TV series that turned into a "shit-show" while your career is technically booming. THE GOLDEN GOD TRAP: When “we love this script, you’re brilliant!” turns into a repetitive, unsolvable note. THE UNPAID EXTRA MILE: Navigating the "two-Step" pilot deal and why agents push you to work for free. THE LITMUS TEST: Getting trusted feedback from showrunners to confirm you aren't the crazy one. THE WINDOWLESS ROOM: The exact moment a "bad idea" revealed a six-figure misunderstanding. THE SIX-MONTH COST: The reality of wasting half a year on a project that never had a chance. JOIN THE COMMUNITY!5AM StoryTalk is reader-supported. Help me keep the coffee brewing by becoming a free or paid subscriber at Substack:https://colehaddon.substack.com/LINKSListen to "The Horror of 'Dracula': The Unbelievable True Story of the 2013 TV Series - Part 1" at Substack: "https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/new-podcast-episode-the-horror-ofListen to "The Horror of 'Dracula': The Unbelievable True Story of the 2013 TV Series - Part 1" at your favorite podcast player: https://pod.link/1807437928/episode/NWNkNTk0N2MtNDE5MC00YWZhLWE4NjktZDk3Zjc2MDM3MjVlTIP 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 to help keep me caffeinated (translation: writing)⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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]◼5AM StoryTalk acknowledges 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 ⁠⁠my dear friend Cary Brothers⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.carybrothers.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-00:00 Welcome and Tease01:14 Spooky Premise Setup01:57 Post Dracula Career02:53 New Adaptation Gig03:34 The One Note Scarier04:30 Free Drafts Pressure05:59 Meeting Goes Sideways06:49 Wait There Is a Ghost07:44 The Real Mix Up08:41 Wrap Up and Subscribe

If you’re struggling to master screenplay structure and finding that screenwriting guides aren’t making it easier like they promised, this episode of THE BREW (formerly 5AM RealTalk) is for you.The bad news: those mass-marketed screenplay templates you’ve been told to follow are originality killers – and their “hacks” tend to turn you into a hack.The good news: While there is no cheat code to becoming a great screenwriter, there is a way to learn structure on your own terms. The strategy I’m going to discuss today – in response to a listener’s question – can help you internalize it, more quickly identify your original voice, and cut out a lot of the creative angst that comes with the process.The even better news? What I’m proposing is a lot more fun.ON THE ITINERARY:THE TEMPLATE TRAP: Why mass-marketed guides are producing a sea of “hacks” and knock-offs. 📉NARRATIVE AUTONOMY: How to develop your own screenplay template rather than filling in someone else’s blanks. 🧠THE MARKET REALITY: Why “hacks” get work, but original voices are the ones that develop real careers. 💰THE PICASSO PROTOCOL: Why you have to learn the rules like a pro so you can break them like an artist. 🎨RIP REALTALK: Why I’m pivoting to THE BREW and how I’m cleaning up the 5AM StoryTalk architecture. 💀JOIN THE COMMUNITY!5AM StoryTalk is reader-supported. Help me keep the coffee brewing by becoming a free or paid subscriber at Substack:https://colehaddon.substack.com/🔒 EXCLUSIVE BONUS EPISODE: HOW TO FIX YOUR SH*TTY EXPOSITIONI break down why vomitous info dumps kill scripts, how to turn every scene into a power struggle (with detailed examples from one of the greatest filmmakers to ever live), and why you should never, ever put a “pope in a pool.”🔑 UNLOCK THE BONUS AT SUBSTACK: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/screenwriting-exposition-fail-pope-in-a-pool🔑 UNLOCK THE BONUS AT APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-how-to-fix-your-sh-tty-dialogue/id1807437928?i=1000756101768LINKS:Read “What That Last Brownie Really Means in ‘Notting Hill’ from 5AM StoryTalk: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/what-that-last-brownie-really-meansRead “Don’t Save the Cat...Put It in the Blender!” from 5AM StoryTalk: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/dont-save-the-catput-it-in-the-blenderRead “50 Essential Scripts to Download and Study If You Want to Be a Screenwriter” from 5AM StoryTalk: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/50-essential-scripts-to-downloadTIP JAR:Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” ⁠⁠⁠here to help keep me caffeinated (translation: writing)⁠⁠⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SOCIAL MEDIA:Follow 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]:5AM StoryTalk acknowledges 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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠00:00 Welcome and Topic Setup00:34 Rebranding The Brew02:20 Why Templates Fail04:32 Study Films Beat by Beat05:50 Movies to Break Down08:05 Build Your Own Intuition10:30 Picasso Quote and Rules11:46 Wrap Up and Next Episode

"Every billion-dollar movie has tapped into something personal."Screenwriting isn't just a craft – it’s a psychological excavation. In this episode of 5AM StoryTalk, I sit down with Oscar-nominated screenwriter and co-host of ‘The Screenwriting Life’ MEG LeFAUVE (‘Inside Out’, ‘Captain Marvel’) and filmmaker JOE FORTE (‘The Man Who Saved Ben-Hur’) to pull back the curtain on the "sacred act" of storytelling.We move past the surface-level mechanics of scriptwriting to explore the high-stakes emotional work required to actually break and outline story. From the "clinical" necessity of a structural blueprint to the "molten lava" of personal truth that brings your structure to life, Meg and Joe share how to transform your deepest blind spots into universal narrative.This is a must-listen for screenwriters at all levels, artists who believe we find ourselves through what we create, and anyone dreaming of a future in Hollywood. Is the “screenwriting life” still worth it in 2026? You’re going to want to hear their answer!🔒 EXCLUSIVE BONUS EPISODE: SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (1952)Meg and Joe return to break down a seminal piece of art from their lives – one of the greatest films ever made, SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN. This is an opportunity to hear two master screenwriters – one of them being the co-host of one of your favorite screenwriting podcasts – deconstruct this masterpiece for screenwriters and all filmmakers to learn from.🔑 UNLOCK THE BONUS AT SUBSTACK: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/the-screenwriting-life-meg-lefauve-joe-forte🔑 UNLOCK THE BONUS AT APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-meg-lefauve-and-joe-forte-talk-singin-in-the-rain/id1807437928?i=1000756963956ON THE ITINERARY: SCRIPTS AS LITERATURE OR BLUEPRINT: The "clinical" necessity of structure versus visceral art. 📄 THE STRUCTURE STRUGGLE: Moving past the "vomit draft" into a layered, iterative approach. 🏗️ STEPPING OVER THE THRESHOLD: How a simple story note can trigger a psychological breakthrough. 🔥 BEHAVIOR VS. WORDS: Why actions are the ultimate "breadcrumbs" for a writer. 🥤 A PARADE FOR THE PROCESS: Why starting with a "parade" of appreciation is the secret to keeping the creative spark alive. 🎺LINKS:Listen to ‘The Screenwriting Life’: https://www.thescreenwritinglife.com/Listen to ‘The Screenwriting Life’ with yours truly as a guest: https://podcasts.apple.com/uy/podcast/185-why-tone-and-genre-plot-ft-cole-haddon/id1501641442?i=1000650005185Read a previous interview with Meg LeFauve published at the 5AM StoryTalk Newsletter:Learn about Joe Forte’s art: https://joeforte.com/TIP JAR:Not 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 MEDIA:Follow 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]:5AM StoryTalk acknowledges 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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you’ve ever felt the crushing weight of a culture that demands “content” but punishes audacity and ambition from its artists, this ep is for you. 💪Are you confused why 'Sinners' didn’t walk away with the Oscars’ biggest prizes? Unsure why the theatrical box office is in free fall? Or are you taking as few risks in your own work as the people you complain have ruined the artforms you love most?In this episode of The Brew – a 5AM StoryTalk "plog" about the artist's life – I’m getting into all of this, plus how I’ve begun to rebuild my creative and personal life after the breakdown I shared last time.ON THE ITINERARY:HUSTLE CULTURE FALLOUT: Last time, I talked about how hustle culture had led to a personal and professional breakdown...so, has anything changed for me? (Spoiler: Yes.) 🧠 CREATIVE RISK: Am I about to fall on my face with these new projects? 🎢 AUDACIOUS NEW FILMS: My reactions to the new films 'The Testament of Ann Lee' from Mona Fastvold and 'The Bride!; from Maggie Gyllenhaal. 🎬BOX OFFICE DECLINE: WTF, only 53% of Americans went to the theater last year?! 🍿2026 OSCARS: My reaction to the Academy Awards’ Best Director and Best Picture picks. 🏆OSCARS STILL SO WHITE: Why Ryan Coogler and 'Sinners' were never going to win Oscars (it's about race, but maybe not how you think) 🎰 UNPROTECTED CREATIVITY: Lady Gaga and what creating art and reckless, condomless sex have in common. 🫦 SUBSCRIBE 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 foundational 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/colehaddon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LINKSRead this episode as text at Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/why-sinners-lost-best-pictureRead Brooke Obie's essay "One Fetish After Another: PTA Exploits Black Women and Averts Revolution" here: https://blackgirlwatching.substack.com/p/one-battle-after-another-reviewSOCIAL 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]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-5AM 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. Sovereignty was never ceded.This podcast's music is provided by my brilliant friend Cary Brothers⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠https://www.carybrothers.com/00:00 Welcome and Topics00:46 Burnout and Reckoning02:16 Creativity Returns03:19 Back to the Cinema03:34 Testament of Ann Lee04:00 Maggie Gyllenhaal The Bride05:40 Why Theaters Matter08:51 Oscars Recap10:45 Why Sinners Lost13:29 Lady Gaga Quote15:03 Final Thoughts and Outro

“20 years ago, it was possible to sell a film/TV pitch based on a badass title alone. Today? I have an A-list actor attached and still can't get paid.” 🎬✍️In this episode of 5AM STORYTALK, I pull back the curtain on the back-breaking, soul-crushing work that is development in modern Hollywood 🎬. By way of a personal anecdote from my 20 years as a professional screenwriter and TV creator – involving a prestige limited series and one of my favorite actors – I break down what it’s like to be a screenwriter in 2026 ✍️.It’s a world where screenwriters are expected to break entire seasons, create visual decks, and attach A-list talent—all for free—only to be told by studios that the work has barely begun.ON THE ITINERARY:THE DEATH OF DEVELOPMENT: How studios offloaded financial risk onto the shoulders of writers 📉.THE ATTACHMENT TRAP: What happens when an A-list star joins your project and the studio still refuses to trigger a paycheck 🪤.THE SPEC TRAP: Why writing for free is an "exploitative and abusive" cycle that even established writers struggle to break 🔄.SURVIVAL TACTICS: How to protect your creative heart (and your bank account) when the industry demands your soul on spec ❤️‍🩹.BONUS EPISODE: "Why You Shouldn't Trust Hollywood Agents" I explore the institutional inability of agents to be honest with their clients, featuring a hell of an example from my own career. This is an essential listen to help navigate your relationship with your agents – especially as your career in Hollywood takes off 🚀. Exclusive to Apple and Substack listeners.🎧 APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-why-you-shouldnt-trust-hollywood-agents/id1807437928?i=1000753843560✍️ SUBSTACK: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/fucked-up-amount-of-work-hollywood-screenwritingLINKS:Read the essay “The F*cked Up Amount of Work It Takes to (Not) Sell Something in Hollywood” at Substack 🔗Another useful essay/podcast episode you should catch – “How to Survive the Sad, Uncertain Life of an Artist”: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/new-podcast-episode-how-to-survive?utm_source=publication-search 🎭SUBSCRIBE 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 acknowledges 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/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Emmy-nominated musician and comedian, actress, and TV creator RIKI LINDHOME (Garfunkel and Oates, 'Wednesday', 'Knives Out') discusses the "freedom of no opportunities", how failing at the traditional Hollywood audition circuit forced her to invent a singular, transgressive career on her own terms, and her new comedy album 'No Worries If Not' and one-person musical 'Dead Inside' that fearlessly, darkly, hilariously explore her fertility journey.Pay attention, artists and dreamers: This episode is a masterclass in turning desperation into innovation and the deeply personal into creative triumph. It suggests a roadmap for building a career in a "new artist economy" where corporate gatekeepers are no longer the only way in.A BONUS EPISODE is available via Apple Podcasts or at Substack.Riki returns to break down a seminal piece of art from her life—the legendary 1975 musical A CHORUS LINE.In an essential listen for the dreamers out there, Riki explains how this musical - and film - provided the blueprint for her own artistic trajectory. It’s a deep dive into the brutal reality of putting it all on the line and how this specific story continues to influence every fearless piece of art she creates today.Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-riki-lindhome-talks-a-chorus-line/id1807437928?i=1000752367424Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/riki-lindhome-a-chorus-line-bonusON THE ITINERARYTHE CATEGORIZATION TRAP: Not fitting into a specific box sounds like a good thing, but it handicapped Riki’s early career as an actress and forced her to innovate in exciting ways. 🧬THE FREEDOM OF NO OPPORTUNITIES: Why a "vacuum" of interest became the essential catalyst for Garfunkel and Oates, which set Riki’s career in a radical new direction. 📢FIRING THE "COOL POLICE": The psychological shift required to stop seeking permission and start making "embarrassing," honest, and transgressive art. 👮‍♂️THE NEW ARTIST’S ECONOMY: Knowing when to stop chasing the industry's version of your career and start creating on your own terms. 🏛️TRANSFORMING TRAUMA: The origins of her new album ‘No Worries If Not’ and one-person musical ‘Dead Inside’, and how she processed a traumatizing fertility journey through comedy. 🕯️ANATOMY OF A SONG: We dig deep into the stories behind and execution of several songs from ‘No Worries If Not’LINKSLearn more about Riki Lindhome: https://www.rikilindhome.com/Listen to 'No Worries If Not': https://open.spotify.com/album/5RmyBjMFTOJnn5OflPKfL5?si=5KaWLsu7SDaTkKauVd9XOASUBSCRIBE 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 acknowledges 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/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Are you spending more time chasing the work than actually creating it? In this Feb. 24, 2026 episode of The Brew, things get uncomfortable. I’m pulling back the curtain on the artist's gig economy and admitting things I’ve hidden from my closest friends for years. If you’ve ever screamed "I can’t do this anymore" into the void of an 80-hour work week, this one is for you. I hope it helps.On the itinerary this week:How did I end up working 80 hours a week as an artist (screenwriter, novelist, essayist, and podcaster)?!The 21st century hustle culture/gig economy is killing creative livesMy father’s greatest gift to me…or was it a curse?The imbalance of time spent chasing screenwriting work and actually screenwritingA podcast too farCh-Ch-Ch-Changes because I can’t fake being happy anymoreI finally got out to the movies – and ‘Marty Supreme’ was just what I neededExcept that line ‘You’ll never be happy’ hits me hardHenry Miller and what artists get about the life more abundantSUBSCRIBE 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 foundational 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/colehaddon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LINKSRead 'Portrait of an Artist as a Young Liar' about my first year in LA, when I reinvented myself as an arts journalist: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/portrait-of-an-artist-as-a-young?utm_source=publication-searchRead/listen: 'The Horror of 'Dracula': The Unbelievable True Story of the 2013 TV Series - Part 1' about the nightmare that was my first produced TV series: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/new-podcast-episode-the-horror-of?utm_source=publication-searchSOCIAL 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]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-5AM 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. Sovereignty was never ceded.This podcast's music is provided by my brilliant friend Cary Brothers⁠⁠. ⁠⁠https://www.carybrothers.com/

FATIMA PAYMAN is a former refugee who became one of the youngest senators ever elected to the Parliament of Australia—where she has courted controversy on more than a few occasions. Today, the Senator joins me for some 5AM StoryTalk, and it’s one hell of a conversation.We tackle the decline of freedom of speech in Australia, the role of multiculturalism in the country’s art and identity, and whether the current Labor government is actually up to the challenges posed by the 21st century. A BONUS EPISODE is available via Apple Podcasts or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at ⁠Substack⁠.Sen. Fatima Payman returns to break down a seminal artwork from her life – the Rage Against the Machine song ‘Killing in the Name’ from the rock band’s 1992 self-titled debut album.The Senator reveals for the first time the role this radical political song played in her decision to leave Australia’s Labor Party and become an Independent senator instead.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-sen-fatima-payman-talks-rage-against-the/id1807437928?i=1000749709502Substack: ⁠https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/fatima-payman-rage-against-the-machine-killing-in-the-nameListen to the song here: https://open.spotify.com/track/59WN2psjkt1tyaxjspN8fp?si=549a5e1f2d5e4fdcThis is an extraordinary chat about the impact of art on the individual and, in this case, a political party.LINKSLearn more about Sen. Fatima Payman: https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=300707Learn more about Sen. Payman’s decision to leave the Labor Party: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-04/fatima-payman-quits-labor-after-palestinian-vote-furore/104056278Learn about the rise of the Far Right in Australia: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/the-rise-of-far-right-extremism-australia-2025/8skg4ekweLearn more about ‘Killing in the Name’ here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_in_the_NameSUBSCRIBE 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.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 provided by ⁠⁠Cary Brothers⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.carybrothers.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

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/⁠⁠⁠

5AM RealTalk is a 5AM StoryTalk plog where Cole Haddon - veteran screenwriter (creator, 'Dracula') and novelist ('Psalms for the End of the World') - discusses the highs and lows of his life as an artist and human being living and creating in Australia.On the itinerary today (Feb. 10, 2026):America in the shitter, the death of neoliberalism, and racism on the march in AustraliaArtists answer the call...or would if not for billionairesStill waiting for notes on my pilotWhat happened to all the personal projects I hoped to tackle during my break from this podcast?Awards season screeners - wah wahThe problem with ‘28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’, if there is oneThe death of nuance and subtlety in cinema according to NetflixFilm students who can’t watch films anymoreWhy you should resist the instinct toward ‘content’-style storytellingWes Craven’s philosophy about horrorHorror’s triumphant year in 2025 (i.e., ‘Sinners’, ‘Frankenstein’, ‘Weapons’, and more)The impact of real-life horror on my work (and yours?)SUBSCRIBE 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 foundational 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/colehaddon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LINKSRead 'The Film Students Who Can No Longer Sit Through Films' at The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/01/college-students-movies-attention-span/685812/SOCIAL 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]⁠⁠⁠⁠-5AM 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. Sovereignty was never ceded.This podcast's music is provided by my brilliant friend Cary Brothers⁠⁠. ⁠https://www.carybrothers.com/

I’m Cole Haddon - screenwriter, novelist, and comic book writer - and this is a trailer for Season 3 of 5AM StoryTalk! If you're as confused by the 21st century as I am, then you've come to the right place. Every week at this podcast, I'm going to be joined by some of the world's biggest artists and intellectuals so that we can try to make sense of what's going on in our culture. I’m talking where we've been, where we've ended up, and where we're going – all through the lens of art and storytelling.This season’s guestlist is still shaping up, but right now I can safely say I’ll be joined by:Meg LeFauve (screenwriter, both ‘Inside Out’ films)Justin Simien (writer-director, ‘Dear White People’, ‘Bad Hair’, and ‘Hollywood Black’)Riki Lindhome (actress, musician, comedian, and TV creator)Senator Fatima Payman (Australian politician)Dr. Dacher Keltner (psychologist specializing in the benefits of awe on our mental health)Zoe Gardner (UK immigration and asylum researcher and campaigner)Tim Rogers (Aussie rock legend; front man of You Am I)BONUS EPISODESThe conversations don’t just end when these episodes do, though. Every 5AM StoryTalk interview is accompanied by a bonus ep in which my guests return to discuss at length a seminal piece of art from their lives. I like to think of each of these as mini-master classes, though what they teach you isn’t always as obvious as what the subject matter might suggest.CREDITSThe 5AM StoryTalk Podcast is hosted, written, and produced by Cole Haddon.It’s recorded on Djarra Country. I’d like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of that land and pay respects to Elders past and present. Sovereignty was never ceded.Cary Brothers provides soundtrack: https://www.carybrothers.com/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]

5AM RealTalk is a 5AM StoryTalk plog where I discuss the highs and lows of my life as a screenwriter/novelist and human being.On the itinerary today: I turned in my pilot script! - producer reaction/notes anxiety - final podcast episode of 2025 - the Bondi Beach terror attack hits close to home for me - the murder of Rob and Michele Reiner - Bret Easton Ellis on why he writes - by contrast, why Rob Reiner made films - trying to make the world a better place than it really is - all kinds of gratitude to you, you, and you in the back - when 5AM StoryTalk will be back.SUBSCRIBE 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 foundational 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/colehaddon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LINKSRead 'Rob Reiner's Murder and the Decline of Cultural Empathy in 2025' from 5AM StoryTalk: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/rob-reiner-murder-cultural-empathy-2025Social Media:Follow 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]⁠⁠⁠-5AM 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 provided by my brilliant friend Cary Brothers⁠⁠. https://www.carybrothers.com/

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE is one of the most beloved Christmas films ever made. But the real reason behind the holiday classic’s enduring popularity isn’t what you might think it is - and it ensures you can never get bored of it Spoiler: It’s not because life is all that wonderful.This is an audio essay about growing up and older, grief, and why we’re all George Bailey.If you’re a storyteller, you’re going to glean plenty from this episode, too.SUBSCRIBE 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/colehaddon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LINKSEarly ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXsu5XArEUwListen to Cinco Paul’s 5AM StoryTalk bonus episode, in which he breaks down his favorite scene from ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ at Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-cinco-paul-talks-its-a-wonderful-life/id1807437928?i=1000738755558Listen to Cinco Paul’s 5AM StoryTalk bonus episode, in which he breaks down his favorite scene from ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ at Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/bonus-episode-cinco-paul-talks-itsRead my essay ‘Where The Love Light Gleams (Or: Christmas as Ritualized Trauma)’ at 5AM StoryTalk: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/where-the-love-light-gleams-or-christmas?utm_source=publication-searchWatch ‘30 Hard-to-Find Christmas TV Specials Free on YouTube’ at 5AM StoryTalk: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/30-hard-to-find-christmas-tv-specials?utm_source=publication-search Read ‘'Die Hard' Is the Only Christmas Movie That Bridges America's Political Divide’ at 5AM StoryTalk: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/die-hard-is-the-only-christmas-movie?utm_source=publication-search Read ‘One Surreal Christmas Day: When Bing Crosby Met David Bowie’: One Surreal Christmas Day: When Bing Crosby Met David Bowie’: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/one-surreal-christmas-day-in-1977?utm_source=publication-searchSOCIAL 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/

What do Hallmark Christmas films reveal about the state of our world? Why do millions of people turn to these stories every December for comfort and connection?Power Ranger – ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops’ agent – one of the best parts about Christmas. Today, I’m joined by actress (and dear friend) ERIN CAHILL. In this deeply intimate episode of 5AM StoryTalk, we go far beyond the IMDB credits. We explore the "spirituality of acting," the concept of art as a life of service, and why her latest film, 'Christmas at the Catnip Café', holds a special place in her heart.Expect non-stop laughs, profound insights into the creative life, and a look at what the holidays truly mean when the cameras stop rolling.BONUS EPISODEA bonus ep with Erin is available via Apple Podcasts or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at ⁠Substack⁠. In it, we discuss a seminal piece of art from her life: William Shakespeare’s “THE SEVEN AGES OF MAN” MONOLOGUE from ‘As You Like It’. You might know it as the ‘all the world’s a stage’ monologue. As a child, it changed how Erin looked at acting.Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-erin-cahill-talks-shakespeares-the-seven-ages-of-man/id1807437928?i=1000740139937Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/bonus-episode-erin-cahill-talks-shakespearesSUBSCRIBE 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/colehaddon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LINKSLearn more about Erin Cahill: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erin_CahillWatch the trailer to ‘Christmas at the Catnip Café’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiEk71bRse4SOCIAL 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/

5AM RealTalk is a 5AM StoryTalk plog where I discuss the highs and lows of my life as a screenwriter/novelist and human being.On the itinerary today: I bought a house in Australia! – 35% off 5AM StoryTalk Newsletter & Podcast yearly subscriptions – my favorite Christmas movie – Joey Ramone on what punk really means – sayonara, Hollywood – ‘The Bishop’s Wife’ is a perfect film, fight me – how I ended up Down Under – caring really is punk, thank you very much, James Gunn – SE London the greatest place to live on Earth? – the real meaning of Christmas – it’s not socialism, you idiot – conservative misreadings of Christmas movies crack me up – don’t be a dick.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 foundational 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/colehaddon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LINKSWatch 'The Bishop's Wife': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o9SskdQWzwListen to 'Schmigadoon' creator Cinco Paul discuss 'It's a Wonderful Life' at the 5AM StoryTalk Podcast: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/bonus-episode-cinco-paul-talks-its?utm_source=publication-searchRead more about my thoughts regarding Cary Grant's two greatest performances (including 'The Bishop's Wife'): https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/cary-grant-was-far-more-than-just?utm_source=publication-searchWatch 30 hard-to-find Christmas TV specials for free at 5AM StoryTalk (personally curated by me): https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/30-hard-to-find-christmas-tv-specials?utm_source=publication-searchSUBSCRIBE 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!SOCIAL 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/⁠⁠

The 'Despicable Me' films — 'The Secret Life of Pets' — 'Schmigadoon!'. This week, I'm joined by screenwriter CINCO PAUL whose credits include these titles and many, many more. We’re about to discuss his life, craft, and becoming the writer he always wanted to be 25 years into his career.This is is an incredibly illuminating deep dive into professional success and how that can sometimes become a cage. Cinco and I are also going to get very granular about screenwriting craft, more so than maybe any other episode in 5AM StoryTalk's history.Pay attention, screenwriters: This is a masterclass in staying true to your artistic voice while navigating the highest levels of Hollywood.A BONUS EPISODE is available via Apple Podcasts or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at ⁠Substack⁠. Screenwriters, do not pass this up! Cinco returns to discuss a foundational piece of art from his life Frank Capra’s 1946 masterpiece, IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE.Specifically, we dig into the 'telephone scene' where George Bailey professes his love to Mary Hatch. If you want to understand how to write subtext, longing, and life-changing character beats, this analysis is essential listening.Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-cinco-paul-talks-its-a-wonderful-life/id1807437928?i=1000738755558Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/bonus-episode-cinco-paul-talks-itsLINKSLearn more about Cinco: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinco_Paul_and_Ken_DaurioRead the pilot script to 'Schmigadoon!': https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Schmigadoon-It-Starts-On-The-Page.pdfSUBSCRIBE 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/⁠⁠

This week, I'm joined by an Australian musician whose career I’ve been following since I first interviewed him in a Detroit club 20 years ago. I’m talking about BEN LEE here, and  we’ll be discussing his music (from the 20th anniversary of his seminal album 'Awake Is the New Sleep' to his stunning new single 'The Fall of America'), the death of the American myth that once inspired us to chase our dreams, and our complicated relationships with the country we once called home.This episode includes Ben performing 'The Fall of America', so no need to hunt that down elsewhere. You can follow along with the lyrics found here: https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/benlee/thefallofamericaacoustic.htmlA BONUS EPISODE with Ben is available via Apple Podcasts or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at ⁠Substack⁠. In it, we discuss a foundational piece of art from his life - the iconic short story 'THE BALLOON' by Donald Barthelme, first published in The New Yorker in 1966.Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-ben-lee-talks-donald-barthelmes-the-balloon/id1807437928?i=1000738078697Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/bonus-episode-ben-lee-talks-donaldLINKSLearn more about Ben Lee: https://www.ben-lee.com/If you live in Australia, Ben is on tour from January to May 2026. Find his show list here: https://www.ben-lee.com/tour-datesListen to 'The Fall of America': https://open.spotify.com/album/6t1Rkg2CTLX5aeL6b5NRoS?si=VeQojEbUTeaaVZwkKvUNdgRead Donald Barthelme's 'The Balloon': https://engl211-ux1.community.uaf.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/432/2021/01/The-Balloon-Donald-Barthelme.pdfSUBSCRIBE 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/⁠⁠

5AM RealTalk is a 5AM StoryTalk plog where I discuss the highs and lows of my life as a screenwriter/novelist and human being.On the itinerary today: Thanksgiving in the wrong part of the world – two Frankensteins: Guillermo del Toro’s 2025 film and the BBC mini-series 'Frankenstein: The True Story' from 1973 – why screenwriters should study del Toro’s version – your racist uncle now thinks pedophilia is okay, too – disrespecting Hammer horror while exploiting it – intergenerational trauma in art and life – Victor von Frankenstein as history’s first tech bro? – what billionaires and serial killers have in common – Madonna – the self as a work of art – a bad year, but good news at least.LINKSRead “Girl, You’ll Be a F*cking Woman Soon” at the 5AM StoryTalk Newsletter: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/girl-youll-be-a-fucking-woman-soonWatch ‘Frankenstein: The True Story’ on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzUI8ZcQTykSUBSCRIBE 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/⁠⁠

Author - design advocate - cyborg anthropologist (yes, I said cyborg anthropologist!). This week, I'm joined by AMBER CASE and we’ll be talking about what’s gone wrong with how we interact with our technology, how craft, aesthetic, and consequently beauty have largely vanished from what we use in our everyday life, and how both issues affect our psychological and cultural health. Most importantly, we’ll be talking about how to fix this.A BONUS EPISODE with Amber is available via Apple Podcasts or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at ⁠Substack⁠. In it, we discuss a foundational piece of art from her life — the film 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968). This part of our conversation is very much a continuation of what you listen to today; what I mean is, it’s less a cinematic breakdown and more of a breakdown of the culture that produced the film and then…changed (and, of course, Amber’s personal experience of all that).Apple: https: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-amber-case-talks-2001-a-space-odyssey/id1807437928?i=1000736919146Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/bonus-episode-amber-case-talks-2001LINKSLearn more about Amber Case and her work: https://www.caseorganic.com/Learn more about The Calm Tech Institute, which Amber founded: https://www.calmtech.institute/Watch Amber's 'We Are All Cyborgs Now' TEDTalk: https://www.ted.com/talks/amber_case_we_are_all_cyborgs_nowLearn about the reMarkable Paper Pro, which is Calm Tech-certified. (And no, I’m not advertising for it; I’m just excitedby what I’ve learned about it). https://remarkable.com/products/remarkable-paper/proWatch the ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oR_e9y-bka0You might also enjoy this 5AM StoryTalk Podcast episode - 'When Did We Stop Dreaming of a Better Future?': https://pod.link/1807437928/episode/MTMzZDQ3OTQtNmI4Ny00OGMzLTg1MDgtZTViODQ4Mzg0NTNi?view=apps&sort=popularitySUBSCRIBE 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/⁠⁠

“Screenwriters: I want you to PUT THE CAT IN THE BLENDER instead.” 🐱🌪️'Save the Cat: The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need' has done catastrophic damage to Hollywood storytelling and the moviegoing experience in the 21st century—but after 20 years as a professional screenwriter, I have a solution that might just help with your next script.In this episode of 5AM STORYTALK, I break down why the industry’s obsession with formulas has led to "bored shrugs" from audiences and how Ryan Coogler’s SINNERS offers a better path for spec scripts. ✍️🎬ON THE ITINERARY:THE FORMULA TRAP: Why the "Save the Cat" beats have created a sea of predictable, lifeless cinema 📉.THE SPEC SCRIPT SOLUTION: How to make a massive splash by ignoring the "rules" and finding your own voice ❤️‍🔥.PUT THE CAT IN THE BLENDER: My specific strategy for taking traditional structure and turning it into something authentic and surprising 🔄.SINNERS VS. THE SYSTEM: How Ryan Coogler broke the rules to create one of the most talked-about specs in years 🧛‍♂️.LINKS'How Do You Like Them Apples?! (or: Why Screenwriting Books Can Be Harmful)' from 5AM StoryTalk: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/how-do-you-like-them-apples-or-why?utm_source=publication-search'The Problem with How We Write (and Think) About Location' from 5AM StoryTalk: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/the-problem-with-how-we-write-about?utm_source=publication-search'How to Write Better Dialogue (While Becoming a Better Person)': https://pod.link/1807437928/episode/MGIwN2FiMTMtNWExMC00OGM2LTlhMjMtY2FjZmQ0MGY1Yzk5?view=apps&sort=popularitySUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK NEWSLETTER'⁠https://colehaddon.substack.com/⁠A free subscription the 5AM StoryTalk newsletter gets you access to hundreds of arts, screenwriting, and writing articles. A paid subscription gets you access to 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 APPLE⁠ https://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/⁠⁠

On the itinerary today: 'Sinners', at last — Denis Villeneuve agrees with me — are scripts just blueprints, or can they be literature? — what artists and magicians have in common — the limits of the screenwriting form — what I’ve learned from Walter Hill, William Goldman, and Celine Song — but also, Terrence Malick, Christopher Nolan, J.C. Chandor, and Richard Linklater and Kim Krizan — writing pilot scripts — TV creator and showrunner Emma Frost gives me a panic attack — the role of Nick Cave’s lyrics and David Bowie’s ‘Diamond Dogs’ in my screenwriting evolution — everyone’s favorite poet-curmudgeon, Alan Moore — and cinema as visual poetry.5AM RealTalk is a 5AM StoryTalk plog where I discuss the highs and lows of my life as a screenwriter/novelist and human being.SUBSCRIBE 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/colehaddon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LINKS'Resource: Hundreds of Screenplays All in One Place' from 5AM StoryTalk: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/resource-hundreds-of-screenplays?utm_source=publication-search'Christopher Nolan's 'Oppenheimer' Script Blows Up All the Rules' from 5AM StoryTalk: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/christopher-nolans-oppenheimer-script?utm_source=publication-search'Denis Villeneuve, 'Dune', and the Problem with Dialogue Today' from 5AM StoryTalk: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/denis-villeneuve-dune-and-the-problem?utm_source=publication-searchScript: 'The Driver': https://assets.scriptslug.com/live/pdf/scripts/the-driver-1978.pdf?v=1729115014Script: 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid': https://assets.scriptslug.com/live/pdf/scripts/butch-cassidy-and-the-sundance-kid-1969.pdf?v=1729114880Script: 'Past Lives': https://assets.scriptslug.com/live/pdf/scripts/past-lives-2023.pdf?v=1729114969Script: 'Taxi Driver': https://assets.scriptslug.com/live/pdf/scripts/taxi-driver-1976.pdf?v=1729115004Script: 'The Tree of Life': https://assets.scriptslug.com/live/pdf/scripts/the-tree-of-life-2011.pdf?v=1729115042Script: 'All Is Lost': https://assets.scriptslug.com/live/pdf/scripts/all-is-lost-2013.pdf?v=1729114856Script: 'Oppenheimer': https://assets.scriptslug.com/live/pdf/scripts/oppenheimer-2023.pdfScript: 'Before Sunrise': https://indiegroundfilms.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/before-sunrise-numbered.pdfSOCIAL 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/⁠⁠

Author - screenwriter - podcaster - and trailblazing journalist. Today on the 5AM StoryTalk Podcast, I’m joined by EMILY ST. JAMES and we’ll be talking about her transition from beloved TV critic to the 'Yellowjackets' writers’ room, the fluidity of memory when it comes to our childhoods and relationships, and her beautiful new novel 'Woodworking' (which left me bawling and cautiously hopeful). This conversation moved me in unexpected ways I wasn’t quite prepared for, and I hope it does the same to you.A BONUS EPISODE with Emily is available via Apple Podcasts or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at ⁠Substack⁠. In it, she and I discuss a foundational piece of art from her life — the “X-Files” Season 3 episode, 'Jose Chung's From Outer Space'. Many people - including us - believe it's one of the best eps of TV ever produced. In it, we'll continue to dig into the role of memory in narrative and her novel, 'Woodworking'.Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5am-storytalk/id1807437928Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/bonus-episode-emily-st-james-talksLINKSLearn more about Emily St. James: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_St._JamesRead more about and order 'Woodworking': https://www.amazon.com/Woodworking-Emily-St-James/dp/163893147XSubscribe to Emily's newsletter 'Episodes': https://episodes.ghost.io/Read Emily's article 'How a New Hit Action Movie Explains Our Politics of Indifference', which discusses the John Wick franchise: https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/03/31/john-wick-gun-violence-00089665Read about the 'X-Files' episode 'Jose Chung's From Outer Space': https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_Chung%27s_From_Outer_SpaceSUBSCRIBE 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/⁠⁠

A lawyer who has helped transfer $5.5 billion from corporations to their victims - an author - the co-founder and chair of Digital Rights Watch. Today, I'm joined by LIZZIE O'SHEA and we'll be discussing her digital rights activism, (which impacts the rights of artists), the value of art in changing political conversations, and how to fight back against everything in the 21st century. I dare you not to be inspired to action by this episode.A BONUS EPISODE with Lizzie is available via Apple Podcasts or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at ⁠Substack⁠. In it, she discusses a foundational piece of art from her life - Gustave Courbet’s perpetually controversial 1866 painting, L'ORIGINE DU MONDE (THE ORIGIN OF THE WORLD, in English). This is a brilliant conversation about the freedom of expression and censorship over the past 160 years.Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-lizzie-oshea-talks-gustave-courbets-lorigine/id1807437928?i=1000733645524Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/bonus-episode-lizzie-oshea-talksLINKSLearn more about Lizzie O'Shea: https://lizzieoshea.com/Learn more about Digital Rights Watch: https://digitalrightswatch.org.au/Check out Gustave Courbet's 'L'Origine du monde': https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%27Origine_du_mondeSUBSCRIBE 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/⁠⁠

5AM RealTalk is a 5AM StoryTalk plog where I discuss the highs and lows of my life as a screenwriter/novelist and human being.On the itinerary today: finding my characters’ voices fast with a writing trick you might want to try – breakfast with musician Tim Rogers (front man of Australian rock band YouAmI) – why artists need artists in their lives – how I answered when my therapist asked me what gives my life meaning – what art and church have in common – writing is rewriting – Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another’ – Charles Lane’s ‘Sidewalk Stories’ – Studio Ghibli’s ‘Grave of the Fireflies’ – and Rick Rubin and the practice of being an artist.SUBSCRIBE 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/colehaddon⁠⁠⁠LINKSCheck out what musician Tim Rogers is up to at Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timrogersofficial/?hl=enCheck out Charles Lane's 'Sidewalk Stories' for free on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fePUqYN3nFgHelp children in crisis around the globe by donating to Save the Children. You don't have to watch 'Grave of the Fireflies' to be motivated to do so, though the film deserves your attention anyway. https://www.savethechildren.net/Social Media:Follow 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]⁠-5AM 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 provided by my brilliant friend Cary Brothers⁠⁠.

'The Exorcism of Emily Rose' - 'Sinister' - 'Doctor Strange' - 'The Gorge' - 'The Black Phone' and 'Black Phone 2'. Today, I'm joined by SCOTT DERRICKSON, the director of these horror and action blockbusters and more. He co-wrote many of them, too. I think it’s safe to say this is his most candid and revealing interviews ever; it’ll change how you understand so much of his work.A BONUS EPISODE with Scott is also available via Apple Podcasts or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at ⁠Substack⁠. In it, he breaks down the first 20 minutes of a seminal piece of art from his life - Dario Argento's classic 1977 horror film SUSPIRIA, which provides a kind of secret origin to Scott's filmmaking identity. It's also an opportunity to hear a horror master interrogate another horror master's work.Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scott-derrickson-talks-suspiria-1977/id1807437928?i=1000732588425Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/bonus-episode-scott-derrickson-talks-Aside from the personal, you should expect a lot of amazing craft insights in this episode, -about Scott’s creative process, themes that show up in his work, and his third acts. You’re also going to learn a ton about how he’s maintained his independence in Hollywood since he directed 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' in 2008 – which informs how he ended up directing the psychologically personal film Sinister and ultimately walked away from directing 'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness'.I’ve described some of my conversations as master classes in storytelling – but none of them compares to this one with Scott Derrickson.LINKS:Learn more about Scott Derrickson: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_DerricksonWatch the trailer for 'The Exorcism of Emily Rose': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VukhuFy4qtcWatch the trailer for 'Sinister': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apghx7q9oeYWatch the trailer for 'Doctor Strange': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7gvFravm4AWatch the trailer for 'Black Phone 2': https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=DdR-gzFZoDkRead "125 Horror Scripts for You to Download and Study" from the 5AM StoryTalk Newsletter: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/125-horror-scripts-to-download-andListen to "The Horror of 'Dracula': The Unbelievable True Story of the 2013 TV Series" here: https://pod.link/1807437928/episode/NWNkNTk0N2MtNDE5MC00YWZhLWE4NjktZDk3Zjc2MDM3MjVl?view=apps&sort=popularitySUBSCRIBE 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/⁠⁠

Since I was little, all I wanted was to do was grow up to write stories for the screen. But when my first TV series was green lit to series, it was a gut punch almost as bad as finding out someone I love had died. Find out why in the exciting, soul-crushing conclusion of the four-part podcast story "The Horror of 'Dracula': The Unbelievable True Story of the 2013 TV Series".What you're about to listen to is a cautionary tale for screenwriters – and artists, in general – about what can happen when all your dreams come true. There's a reason why 'DRACULA' (2013), which starred Jonathan Rhy Meyers and a boatload of other brilliant actors, became infamous in two different countries' TV industries.If you haven't listened to Parts 1, 2, and 3, start there: Part 1: ⁠⁠https://pod.link/1807437928/episode/NWNkNTk0N2MtNDE5MC00YWZhLWE4NjktZDk3Zjc2MDM3MjVl?view=apps&sort=popularity⁠⁠⁠Part 2: ⁠https://pod.link/1807437928/episode/ZGVkNTYwZWEtYmM3OC00ZjBhLThlYzctZjNmZjQ1MDQ3MGJi?view=apps&sort=popularity⁠Part 3: ⁠⁠⁠https://pod.link/1807437928/episode/MDg1N2MzMTEtY2Q3Yi00ZmM0LTliZGItNDBiZTQ0MWMxMDk1?view=apps&sort=popularity⁠⁠⁠LINKS:Watch the trailer for 'Dracula' (2013): ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCT9o4oFXNI&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fcolehaddon.substack.com%2F⁠⁠⁠Learn more about the series at Wikipedia: ⁠⁠⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dracula_(2013_TV_series)⁠⁠⁠Read more about my experiences on 'Dracula' at Substack: ⁠⁠⁠https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/5am-storytalk-reflections-will-the⁠⁠⁠SUBSCRIBE 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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What could lead me to try to REPEATEDLY try to quit the first TV series I ever created - 'DRACULA' (2013)? If you thought things went to a dark place in Part 2, you ain't seen nothing yet!Today brings you Part 3 of a four-part real-life horror story I often describe as a cautionary tale for screenwriters – and artists, in general – about what can happen when all your dreams come true.I'm talking about the unbelievable true story of the development and pitch, sale, pilot script, and greenlight for NBC and Sky's 2013 series 'Dracula' starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers and a bunch of brilliant actors. A story so terrifying it became infamous in two different countries’ TV industries.If you haven't listened to Parts 1 and 2, start there: Part 1: ⁠https://pod.link/1807437928/episode/NWNkNTk0N2MtNDE5MC00YWZhLWE4NjktZDk3Zjc2MDM3MjVl?view=apps&sort=popularity⁠⁠Part 2: https://pod.link/1807437928/episode/ZGVkNTYwZWEtYmM3OC00ZjBhLThlYzctZjNmZjQ1MDQ3MGJi?view=apps&sort=popularityListen to Part 3 here: ⁠⁠https://pod.link/1807437928/episode/MDg1N2MzMTEtY2Q3Yi00ZmM0LTliZGItNDBiZTQ0MWMxMDk1?view=apps&sort=popularity⁠⁠Listen to Part 4 here: ⁠⁠https://pod.link/1807437928/episode/OTEwMDNmZTYtYTUzZS00YTk4LWJjM2ItMzljYTczNzdlODlm?view=apps&sort=popularity⁠⁠LINKS:Watch the trailer for 'Dracula' (2013): ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCT9o4oFXNI&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fcolehaddon.substack.com%2F⁠⁠Learn more about the series at Wikipedia: ⁠⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dracula_(2013_TV_series)⁠⁠Read more about my experiences on 'Dracula' at Substack: ⁠⁠https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/5am-storytalk-reflections-will-the⁠⁠SUBSCRIBE 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/⁠⁠⁠⁠

On the itinerary today: how the writing muscle changes (negatively?) with age - my failed first novel - the importance of carving out thinking time amongst everything we juggle as artists and human beings - am I a workaholic? (thanks, Dad!) - springtime in Australia - Samantha Harvey's novel Orbital - Soviet director Sergei Bondarchuk and his four-part War and Peace films - Mosfilm on YouTube - and David Milch and fighting for our mass culture.5AM RealTalk is a 5AM StoryTalk plog where I discuss the highs and lows of my life as a screenwriter/novelist and human being - what I'm struggling with in my work, what's inspiring me, what's causing me to lose sleep. Links:Check out Mosfilm at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Mosfilm_engCheck out Cary Brothers' music here: https://www.carybrothers.com/Listen to 'The Horror of 'Dracula': The Unbelievable True Story of the 2013 TV Series' here: https://pod.link/1807437928/episode/NWNkNTk0N2MtNDE5MC00YWZhLWE4NjktZDk3Zjc2MDM3MjVl?view=apps&sort=popularitySUBSCRIBE 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/⁠⁠

What could lead me to try to quit the first TV series I ever created - 'DRACULA' (2013) starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Oliver Jackson Cohen, and Jessica De Gouw?!Today brings you Part 2 of a four-part real-life horror story I often describe as a cautionary tale for screenwriters – and artists, in general – about what can happen when all your dreams come true.A story so terrifying it became infamous in two different countries’ TV industries.I'm talking about the unbelievable true story of the development and pitch, sale, pilot script, and greenlight for NBC and Sky's 2013 series 'Dracula'. If you've ever aspired to work in Hollywood, this is a must listen. Maybe it'll help you avoid the fate that befell me when I finally "made it".If you haven't listened to Part 1, start there: https://pod.link/1807437928/episode/NWNkNTk0N2MtNDE5MC00YWZhLWE4NjktZDk3Zjc2MDM3MjVl?view=apps&sort=popularityListen to Part 3 here: ⁠https://pod.link/1807437928/episode/MDg1N2MzMTEtY2Q3Yi00ZmM0LTliZGItNDBiZTQ0MWMxMDk1?view=apps&sort=popularity⁠Listen to Part 4 here: ⁠https://pod.link/1807437928/episode/OTEwMDNmZTYtYTUzZS00YTk4LWJjM2ItMzljYTczNzdlODlm?view=apps&sort=popularity⁠LINKS:Watch the trailer for 'Dracula' (2013): ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCT9o4oFXNI&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fcolehaddon.substack.com%2F⁠Learn more about the series at Wikipedia: ⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dracula_(2013_TV_series)⁠Read more about my experiences on 'Dracula' at Substack: ⁠https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/5am-storytalk-reflections-will-the⁠SUBSCRIBE 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/⁠⁠⁠

How could a straight-to-series greenlight go so wrong for the first TV series I ever created?!Today brings you the first part of a four-part real-life horror story I often describe as a cautionary tale for screenwriters – and artists, in general – about what can happen when all your dreams come true.A story so terrifying it became infamous in two different countries’ TV industries.I'm talking about the unbelievable true story of the development and pitch, sale, pilot script, and greenlight for NBC and Sky's 2013 series 'DRACULA' starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers and a boatload of other brilliant actors. If you've ever aspired to work in Hollywood, this is a must listen. Maybe it'll help you avoid the fate that befell me when I finally "made it".Listen to Part 2 here: https://pod.link/1807437928/episode/ZGVkNTYwZWEtYmM3OC00ZjBhLThlYzctZjNmZjQ1MDQ3MGJi?view=apps&sort=popularityListen to Part 3 here: https://pod.link/1807437928/episode/MDg1N2MzMTEtY2Q3Yi00ZmM0LTliZGItNDBiZTQ0MWMxMDk1?view=apps&sort=popularityListen to Part 4 here: https://pod.link/1807437928/episode/OTEwMDNmZTYtYTUzZS00YTk4LWJjM2ItMzljYTczNzdlODlm?view=apps&sort=popularityLinks:Watch the trailer for 'Dracula' (2013): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCT9o4oFXNI&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fcolehaddon.substack.com%2FLearn more about the series at Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dracula_(2013_TV_series)Read more about my experiences on 'Dracula' at Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/5am-storytalk-reflections-will-theSUBSCRIBE 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/⁠⁠

'100 Bloody Acres' - 'Scare Campaign' - 'Late Night with the Devil'. Today, I'm joined by Australian writer-directors of these fantastic horror films - THE CAIRNES BROTHERS. We're going to discuss their unique blend of horror, comedy, and drama, growing up in the 80s on a mix of Hollywood and Ozploitation films, the breadth of what a horror film can be today in part because of Aussie filmmakers, and what the brothers describe as the genre renaissance taking place in Australian cinema today.A BONUS EPISODE with the Cairnes Brothers is also available via Apple Podcasts or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at ⁠Substack⁠. In it, Colin and Cameron discuss a seminal piece of art from her life — the film THE STUNT MAN (1980). Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-episode-the-cairnes-brothers-talk-the-stunt-man/id1807437928?i=1000728350318Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/bonus-episode-the-cairnes-brothersLinks:Learn more about the Cairnes Brothers and their films here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_and_Cameron_CairnesTrailer for ‘100 Bloody Acres’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJyVEQBCIf0Trailer for ‘Scare Campaign’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbu_HmAPoC0Trailer for ‘Late Night with the Devil’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvt-mauboTcTrailer for ‘The Stunt Man’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xov9tGwLgJMSUBSCRIBE 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/⁠⁠

This week on the 5AM StoryTalk Podcast, we’re joined by KAREN HORNE — DEI pioneer and former Senior VP of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion North America for Warner Bros. Discovery. Karen and I are going to dig into her life, how she became such a voice for representation and DEI in Hollywood, and the economics of diversity behind and in front of the camera. Let’s throw out the political hyperboles and outright lies and try to understand this issue — and what’s at stake — better together.A BONUS EPISODE with Karen is also available via Apple Podcasts or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at ⁠Substack⁠.Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-karen-horne-talks-the-cultural-economic-impact/id1807437928?i=1000724941764Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/bonus-episode-karen-horne-talks-theIn it, we skip discussing a seminal piece of art not from Karen’s life (which is what I usually do with such bonus content), and instead take a look at the cultural and economic impact of three seminal pieces of diverse art in Hollywood’s history that she selected — ‘A Different World’, Barbie, and Sinners. Of course, we’ll touch on many more, from ‘The Cosby Show’ to ‘Fresh Off the Boat’ and Black Panther. How did/does centering non-cishet white characters and themes impact the success of these films and TV series?Subscribe to the ⁠⁠5AM StoryTalk newsletter⁠⁠: ⁠https://colehaddon.substack.com/⁠Get access to this podcast episode, the bonus episode, and hundreds of other arts and culture articles, essays, and educational resources.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/colehaddonLinks:You might find 5AM StoryTalk’s episode with producer Mike Jackson interesting; in it, he bluntly discusses his feelings about Hollywood’s attitudes toward diversity and representation following George Floyd’s murder and then again after Donald Trump’s reelection: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0X6bgskARdOvYaD3p3XYV4?si=f0a84c7b000c4f51Read the Writers Guild of America’s Inclusion & Equity Report 2025 here: https://origin.www.wga.org/uploadedfiles/the-guild/inclusion-and-equity/2025_wga_inclusion_report.pdfRead USC Annenberg’s Inclusion Initiative’s study “Progress? What progress? Inclusion in Hollywood is limited and lacking” here: https://annenberg.usc.edu/news/research-and-impact/progress-what-progress-inclusion-hollywood-limited-and-lackingRead USC Annenberg’s Inclusion Initiative’s study “Gender, Race/Ethnicity & Box Office Performance: Do Films with Female and/or Underrepresented Protagonists Make as Much Money as Films with White Male Leads?” here: https://mcusercontent.com/62568938b3a09a6ef20bd8b14/files/77137e04-bc80-acc6-3460-6e323c3572aa/Film_Financial_Performance_Final.pdfSocial Media:Follow Cole at…⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠https://www.threads.com/@colehaddonwashere⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.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.

In today's plog, we discuss: white supremacist marches around the world - Charlie Kirk's assassination - Karen Attiah getting fired for directly quoting Kirk - Jimmy Kimmel canceled by the U.S. government and a cowardly corporation - the risk to artists for speaking up IRL and in their work - what's the point anyway? - Amazon 'reconstructing' Orson Welles' 'The Magnificent Ambersons' using AI - Paolo Sorrentino's 'Parthenope' - French expressionism at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne - and how much my kids (and I) love 'KPop Demon Hunters'.5AM RealTalk is a 5AM StoryTalk plog where I discuss the highs and lows of my life as a screenwriter/novelist and human being - what I'm struggling with in my work, what's inspiring me, what's causing me to lose sleep. Links:Read "The Magic and Mystery of Ephemeral Things" at the 5AM StoryTalk Newsletter: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/the-magic-and-mystery-of-ephemeralIn this plog, I mention it was the 20th anniversary of me arriving in Hollywood. You can read about my hilarious first year in L.A. as an aspiring screenwriter here: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/portrait-of-an-artist-as-a-young?utm_source=publication-searchSUBSCRIBE 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/⁠⁠

HOW DO WE SURVIVE AS ARTISTS TODAY? Not just in 2025, but going forward, too, as the world’s creative industries become ever more perilous places to forge careers thanks to fun things like AI, corporate greed, and fascism. How do you keep on keeping on despite all the uncertainty that comes with an artist's life? How do you become the artist you want to be given such terrible odds?To help, I'm going to give you FIVE ESSENTIAL FINANCIAL AND LIFESTYLE TIPS that I wish someone had provided me with when I decided I would become a professional artist. These tips will take you from your first job to financially, emotionally, and creating enduring the increasingly difficult life of an artist in the 21st century.Links:Read ‘Q&A: Screenwriter Scott Rosenberg Has Some Thoughts About 'Beautiful Girls'’ from 5AM StoryTalk: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/q-and-a-screenwriter-scott-rosenberg?utm_source=publication-searchRead ‘This Is How You Introduce Characters: Breaking Down the Opening of 'Beautiful Girls'’ from 5AM StoryTalk: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/this-is-how-you-introduce-charactersRead the 5AM StoryTalk artist-on-artist conversation with screenwriter and The Screenwriting Life co-host Meg LeFauve: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/q-and-a-inside-outs-meg-lefauve-on?utm_source=publication-searchRead the 5AM StoryTalk artist-on-artist conversation with screenwriter, novelist, and comic book writer Marc Guggenheim: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/q-and-a-showrunner-marc-guggenheim?utm_source=publication-searchRead an editorial screenwriter Harley Peyton wrote for 5AM StoryTalk about what he learned from his time in the ‘Twin Peaks’ writers’ room: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/in-the-writers-room-where-it-happened?utm_source=publication-searchSUBSCRIBE 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/⁠⁠

Historian of science, monster consultant, and author of the brilliant new book '⁠Humans: A Monstrous History⁠'. Today I'm joined by DR. SUREKHA DAVIES, and we'll talking the perception of category breakers as monsters in history and storytelling and how our relationship to these 'monsters' helped invent race, gender, and nations along the way. This conversation couldn’t be more relevant to our world today – from migrant crises, to trans rights, to Gaza.A BONUS EPISODE with Surekha is also available via Apple Podcasts or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at ⁠Substack⁠. In it, Surekha discusses a seminal piece of art from her life — the iconic 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' episodes, 'THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS' Parts 1 and 2, which involve one of her favorite fictional monsters…the Borg.Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-dr-surekha-davies-talks-star-trek-tngs-the-best/id1807437928?i=1000723059163Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/bonus-episode-surekha-davies-talksLINKS:Learn more about Dr. Surekha Davies and buy ‘Humans: A Monstrous History’ here: https://www.surekhadavies.org/Watch the trailer for ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’: ‘The Best of Both Worlds’ Parts 1 and 2 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RPxUenDwSE&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fcolehaddon.substack.com%2FIn my conversation with Surekha, I mention my artist-on-artist conversation with historian, author, and screenwriter Alex von Tunzelmann. You can read that here: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/q-and-a-historian-and-screenwriter?utm_source=publication-searchSUBSCRIBE 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/⁠⁠

5AM RealTalk is a 5AM StoryTalk plog where I discuss the highs and lows of my life as an artist and human being - what I'm struggling with in my work, what's inspiring me, what's causing me to lose sleep. In today's episode, we get to know each other a little better, I muse about the artist's "waiting game" and the anxiety that brings, I talk about some personal stuff that's leading to something like writer's block (or rather, sluggishness), and I celebrate the release of my sister Kam Redlawsk's children's book Yumi and the Monster. Links for everything below.Links:Learn more about and buy a copy of Kam Redlawsk's Yumi and Monster here: https://www.kamredlawsk.com/yumi-and-monsterRead about my decision to permanently leave the United States here: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/a-eulogy-for-everything-we-neverCome back in a couple of days to check out "50 Essential Scripts to Download and Study If You Want to Be a Screenwriter" as soon as it's published at the 5AM StoryTalk newsletter.SUBSCRIBE 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/⁠⁠

Today I'm joined by KELLY FREMON CRAIG – screenwriter and director of coming-of-age films 'The Edge of Seventeen ' (2016) and the Judy Blume adaptation 'Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret' (2023). Her direction is never showy, and yet always specifically her; her dialogue and character work is always authentic and crackling and very often unexpectedly moving; and her screenplays are a legitimate joy to read. Enjoy this conversation about her filmmaking craft, how she writes with her body not just her head, and her quest to write something true.A BONUS EPISODE with Kelly is also available via Apple Podcasts or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at ⁠Substack⁠: In it, Kelly discusses a seminal piece of art from her life — 'BROADCAST NEWS' (1987), which was written and directed by her mentor James L. Brooks. I’m thrilled with her pick, as it’s a comedy-drama the likes of which I wish Hollywood would make more of (kind of like Kelly’s work).Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-kelly-fremon-craig-talks-broadcast-news/id1807437928?i=1000723997400Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/bonus-episode-kelly-fremon-craigSubscribe to the ⁠⁠5AM StoryTalk newsletter⁠⁠: ⁠https://colehaddon.substack.com/⁠Get access to this podcast episode, the bonus episode, and hundreds of other arts and culture articles, essays, and educational resources.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/colehaddonLinks:Learn more about Kelly Fremon Craig here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_Fremon_CraigWatch the trailer for The Edge of Seventeen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aw9hlZ2uiIIWatch the trailer for Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzRzojHC3iERead Kelly’s screenplay for The Edge of Seventeen here: https://assets.scriptslug.com/live/pdf/scripts/the-edge-of-seventeen-2016.pdf?v=1729115014Read Kelly’s screenplay for Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. here: https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Are-You-There-God-Its-Me-Margaret-Read-The-Screenplay.pdfWatch the trailer for Broadcast News here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXYq-X3E7AgListen to “Cool City” by Cary Brothers here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct9vw9FYoaQSocial Media:Follow Cole at…⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠https://www.threads.com/@colehaddonwashere⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.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.

I’m Cole Haddon - screenwriter, novelist, and comic book writer - and this is a trailer for Season 2 of 5AM StoryTalk! If you're as confused by the 21st century as I am, then you've come to the right place. Every week at this podcast, I'm going to be joined by some of the world's biggest artists and intellectuals so that we can try to make sense of what's going on in our culture. I’m talking where we've been, where we've ended up, and where we're going – all through the lens of art and storytelling.This season’s guests include filmmakers Kelly Fremon Craig, Scott Derrickson, Radio Silence, Cinco Paul, and the Cairnes Brothers, cyborg anthropologist Amber Case, digital rights activist Lizzie O’Shea, DEI pioneer Karen Horne, screenwriter, author, and podcast host Emily St. James, historian and author Dr. Surekha Davies, and actress and dear friend Erin Cahill – who’s going to pop up around the holidays to help me make sense of why Hallmark Christmas movies have become so important to so many.The conversations don’t just end when these episodes do, though. Every 5AM StoryTalk interview is accompanied by a bonus ep in which my guests return to discuss at length a seminal piece of art from their lives. I like to think of each of these as mini-master classes, though what they teach you isn’t always as obvious as what the subject matter might suggest.You’re going to have to become a paid supporter to listen to this bonus material, though.Over at Apple, you can also become a paid subscriber at the ⁠⁠5AM StoryTalk Newsletter⁠⁠, where you’ll also get access to all of my podcast episodes days, sometimes weeks early, as well as hundreds of arts and culture articles, essays, and educational resources I’ve published there: ⁠https://colehaddon.substack.com/⁠The 5AM StoryTalk Podcast is hosted, written, and produced by Cole Haddon. Cary Brothers provides soundtrack; you can learn more about him and listen to and buy his music at his website here: https://www.carybrothers.com/5AM 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.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 Media:Follow Cole at…⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠https://www.threads.com/@colehaddonwashere⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/colehaddonwashere⁠⁠Email:[email protected]

Today, I'm joined by MIKE JACKSON, co-founder of the Get Lifted Film Co. (with John Legend and Ty Stiklorious), the Emmy-winning producer of films and TV series like ‘Underground’, ‘Rhythm + Flow’, ‘Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey’, ‘Southside with You’, 'Atlanta's Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children', the 2019 ‘Jesus Christ Superstar Live and Concert’ event, and so many more, and the host of a great podcast of his own called Why Not Me? (which you can find a link to below). Mike's films, TV, and documentaries are almost all socially conscious, very often preoccupied by social justice, and, with just a few exceptions, explore the entirety of the Black American experience — good, bad, beautiful, painful, joyous.A BONUS EPISODE is also available here, at Apple, or at ⁠Substack: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-mike-jackson-talks-kwame-brathwaites-photography/id1807437928?i=1000720457523Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4fM1PRRvvKVZw6AE2WUCke?si=dc972ff8c4834be7Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/bonus-episode-mike-jackson-talks⁠In it, Mike discusses two seminal pieces of art from his life — Kwame Brathwaite’s photographs of the Jackson 5 and Muhammad Ali, both taken on the coast of Africa in 1974. Show notes. Mike and I discuss the following and much more:The pivotal moments in his early life in Philadelphia that led him to “lean into” his Black identity as an adult and artistThe decisions that led to him forming Get Lifted Film Co. with John Legend and Ty StikloriousThe TV series 'Underground' and its culture-motivated cancelation, the release of the Obamas romantic drama 'Southside of You' just months before Trump was elected, and the role of documentaries at Get Lifted as a way to shine a light on issues and subjects that should be celebratedHis candid thoughts on the performative “diversity” that was embraced by Hollywood before and after George Floyd’s murder and the state of the film/TV business today for filmmakers who seek to tell more diverse storiesLinks:Listen to Mike’s podcast Why Not Me? here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-not-me-with-mike-jackson/id1751395437Learn more about Kwame Brathwaite here: https://kwamebrathwaite.com/Brathwaite's Ali photo here: https://kwamebrathwaite.com/artworks/5030-kwame-brathwaite-ali-gray-day-on-the-congo-1974-c.-printed-2017/Brathwaite's Jackson 5 photo here: https://kwamebrathwaite.com/artworks/5130-kwame-brathwaite-untitled-jacksons-on-boat-from-goree-island-1974-c.-printed-2018/SUBSCRIBE 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/⁠⁠