Emerging: How to Eventually Make it in Film & TV

Look at this - a whole extra 25 minutes with the supremely talented Hong Kong-born writer-director Calif Chong! We take Calif through the Last Call, learn all about the history of Stephen Chow, the most useful takeaways from Blake Snyder's Save the Cat AND how those creative goalposts are always moving, even after you've made your first feature. As with her full episode, Calif's incredibly wise and generous with her answers - if you want to follow her career, she's @califcnm on Instagram!📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I know we always say it whenever we have a guest on, but seriously, get ready for a true MASTERCLASS in today's episode from Calif Chong, a Hong Kong born writer-director who started in-house at HK's legendary TVB, before moving across the world to London (via Berlin), eventually making her first feature High Wire, which premiered at last year's BFI London Film Festival. Calif is incredibly generous, covering the ups and downs of making indie features, balancing it with her blossoming career as an assembly editor in high-end TV, and the challenge of language barriers as she relocated multiple times to find the right creative home. There's also a bit of talk about writing labs, since Calif is on this year's Gatecrashers lab for working-class genre writers. And as always, if you want to follow Calif's career, she's @califcnm on Instagram!📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Being original can feel like the most important thing in the world for a writer, but look around - most things aren't anymore. And while we're not saying rip off Hacks, or resign yourself to never having a truly novel idea ever again, it's important to not let the quest for originality get in the way of actually making stuff. It's your voice and your perspective that's important. So let's talk about ideas, how they happen, how we chase them, and why sometimes we feel like they're lacking. And while we're at it, let's talk about this podcast too, because we've definitely been running a little dry recently... Got any burning questions or ideas for topics? Drop us a line. 📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So many writers suffer from imposter syndrome, especially us Brits, it's hard to feel like you belong in an industry that doesn't feel like it's built for any of us. So we asked our resident American Mr Tray Epps to help break it down; where does he find his confidence, and how exactly does one "fake it til you make it"? Cue also a little bit of important tough love. This episode also features the story of our surprising celebrity run-in in Soho during the TV Foundation's First Draft event, and again how Tray's ability to quiet the negative voices in his head lead to an encounter to remember. 📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes the best way to learn how to write is to read how other people have done it. And we don't just mean the pros. We spend a lot of time reading each others work, scripts from friends, and the absolute smorgasbord of unproduced screenplays floating around on the internet, on top of the regular funnel of 'For Your Consideration' writing released every awards season. But what's the best way to approach reading a screenplay to get the most out of the experience? How long should it take? Where can I find scripts and how do I physically read them? All this and more within! And if you're trying to find the unproduced Michael Waldron Blacklist script we talk about, it's called 'The Worst Guy Of All Time, And The Girl Who Came To Kill Him' and like most things, it's probably out there somewhere if you look hard enough. 📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spring is finally here, and it's been a very busy Q1 for a bunch of different reasons; Martin's on a new scheme, Tray's spreading his networking wings, and Ben's producing(!), we're a long way from where we were a few months ago. But what does that mean for our writing resolutions? Staying on track with your goals can be hard - we set each other some pretty hefty resolutions back at the start of 2026, so here we are checking in. What's working, what's not, what have we written / worked on, what do we WISH we'd written / worked on, what are we missing, and most of all, are we *okay*? (the answer may surprise you)Checking in is important, so why not give it a go yourself?📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The podcast is a whole year old! And even though Martin refuses to admit it, it's definitely had a big impact on the way we approach our writing and networking. So this week we're looking back - not in a clip show way, but in a reflective way - and chatting through what we've learned, how we've changed and how the show has managed to re-shape us as writers.As a bonus, we also reached out to our previous guests and asked them the same question, so dotted throughout are voice notes from some of the industry's best and brightest, who have far more interesting and exciting things to say than we do!With thanks to Beatty Smith, Mike Powell, Olivia Ababio, Thomas Burr, Hanna Tatschl, Max Krupski, Sophie Park, Rachel Flynn, Emma Sheldrick and Yuan Hu for their insight. 📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Oscars and BAFTAs pass us all by once again, we're digging into awards season as a whole and the very concept of awards full stop. Do they matter? Is it actually the best films that win? How do you judge if something should win an award for writing? And will WE ever actually win one?Not only are we going through the Best Screenplay nominees and winners, we're also taking a look at our favourite bits of writing from the year that didn't get anywhere near an award - we don't have to let the Academy dictate the conversation!📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One final last 20 minute dive into the mind of fantastic filmmaker Yuan Hu, as we take him through the Last Call and he takes us through his best and worst creative advice, how to find motivation as a writer with inspiration from David Lynch, and why Paul Thomas Anderson is the GOAT. You can find Yuan on Instagram as @yuanwho, and watch his incredible work on his website yuan-hu[dot]com. Look out for the rest of our chat next week! 📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The second part of our long, wisdom-filled chat with filmmaker Yuan Hu leaves Spike Lee behind in favour of going deep into the development process. After nailing his first short and scoring an agent, Yuan soon found himself developing a feature film with Film4, so here he is explaining how it works. From that first meeting with the Film4 execs, to how long it took to build out the film's treatment, attaching a production company, and how it feels receiving round after round of notes. As always with Yuan, this is a super fascinating and to the point chat that covers a lot of ground - if you've ever been interested in the UK film development process, this is the episode for you. And do not miss Part 1 of this chat, which has some frankly ludicrous showbiz experiences. You can find Yuan on Instagram as @yuanwho, and watch his incredible work on his website yuan-hu[dot]com. Look out for the rest of our chat next week! 📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I know we always say it, but this week you really are in for a treat - celebrated director and reluctant writer Yuan Hu joins us for a fun deep dive into what's quickly become a very exciting career for him. First making commercial films for huge fashion brands and musicians like Little Simz, before a swift handbrake turn into narrative with short Sticks of Fury, which was immediately swiped up by BFI's London Film Festival, nabbing Yuan an agent in the process.But it all started when he took a chance on a trip to New York, and what soon became a blossoming mentorship from the legendary Spike Lee. As you'll soon find, this is only Part 1 of our chat with Yuan - there was so much good stuff, cutting it back felt mad! But in this chunk we're talking more specifically about mentors and early opportunities, and how Yuan certainly made the most out of working for big names like Spike Lee and Rankin. You can find Yuan on Instagram as @yuanwho, and watch his incredible work on his website yuan-hu[dot]com. Look out for the rest of our chat next week! 📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In maybe our most meta episode to date, this week we start procrastinating while talking about every writer's worst enemy - procrastination. It happens to us all, and sometimes it is unavoidable. So let's talk ways to not only understand why it's happening, but how to embrace procrastination too. Distractions are everywhere, and controversially, sometimes you need them (except when a deadline is literally staring you in the face obvs.)And ultimately remember that often procrastination is a sign of something bigger - a really big project that you care a lot about, or the exact inverse, a sign that what you're writing isn't really where your heart is. All of this and more in a shorter, messier, equally as fun little episode!And as always, if you have any insight, any questions, or just want to yell at us and tell us we're wrong, get in touch!📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are so many screenwriting and industry terms, sometimes it feels like people are just messing with us. But why does a one pager need to be one page? And where does an outline become a treatment? And when does THAT become a bible? And does any of it really matter?Ultimately, not really. But it's important to know what someone's asking for, and the right way to communicate. Especially if it turns out a producer might be asking you for a very very long document, without offering to pay you first. So get clued up as best you can, and never be afraid to ask about exactly what you're expected to deliver!BBC's scriptwriting glossary is a very useful resource (though as we mention, not entirely fool-proof): https://www.bbc.co.uk/writers/resources/scriptwriting-glossary/ And as always, if you have any insight, any questions, or just want to yell at us and tell us we're wrong, get in touch!📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We still don't have a little bell sound effect for The Last Call, but we DO have a whole extra 25 minutes with brilliant screenwriter Sophie Park, delving into the very nature of taking advice and how Kill Bill Vol. 2 can change your life.If you haven't caught up with our longer chat with Sophie yet, it's well worth a listen, and if you want to follow her wider journey, Sophie's @sophiejanepark on Instagram, and all of her films are available on her website sophiejanepark[dot]com📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Look! Another guest! This week we're joined by filmmaker turned editor turned screenwriter and fellow New Writers Collective alum Sophie Park, to talk through not only her own journey into writing, but also that overhanging anxiety we all feel about identifying as a writer. Like many of us, Sophie's had a bunch of different day jobs, from working in advertising scripting big budget social adverts, to cutting trailers and short films for MUBI, all of which have given her a pretty unique perspective on writing. If you want to follow Sophie's journey she's @sophiejanepark on Instagram, and all of her films are available on her website sophiejanepark[dot]com. The book we talk about is Jeff Hiller's incredible autobiography Actress of a Certain Age.📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It doesn't matter how established a writer you are, at some point you'll find yourself in a meeting being asked the immortal question "Yeah, but who is it for?". Audience doesn't always mean demographics (age, gender, location), it can run so much deeper - so this week we're digging into just how we figure out who our projects are for, and how involved they need to be in the writing process. Do you write for your audience directly? Or do you write from the heart and figure out who you're selling it to after? Which genres attract which audiences? And at what stage in the process do you need to have a really, super tight idea of exactly who's going to watch your film or TV show? All of this and more in a slightly shorter, but even punchier episode!📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you loved our chat with fascinating producer and entrepreneur Emma Kyung Mi Sheldrick, you're in luck - here's a whole extra 30 minutes of chat, as we take Emma through our (updated) Last Call, and accidentally go quite deep on AI and it's many uses in the film industry.As you'll soon find, Emma has a hand in a production start-up looking to use AI tools in a sensible and human-friendly way, and there's a very different and informative little section all about it buried in here. So dive in!If you want to follow what Emma's up to, she's @emma.kyungmi on Instagram, or check out her production company PLUS EIGHT TWO at plus-82[dot]com.📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're very very lucky to be joined by another killer guest this week in producer extraordinare Emma Kyung Mi Sheldrick, whose work (including famed short Tamagoyaki) has been split across the UK, South Korea and the US. Emma's as much an entrepreneur as she is a producer, and we go deep on not just the ways producers and writers overlap creatively, but how her many different side hustles factor into her filmmaking too.We also chat quite a bit about AI and vertical dramas too (Emerging gets topical!) so enjoy a slightly longer, but thanks to Emma - even more informed - episode than usual!If you want to follow what Emma's up to, she's @emma.kyungmi on Instagram, or check out her production company PLUS EIGHT TWO at plus-82[dot]com.📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's January, we're hitting the refresh button and with it, comes 2026's new year's resolutions - but with a twist. Rather than just looking at ourselves and where we think we should be, we're zooming out and asking our friends. So what're our resolutions for each other? How do we think we can help each other improve? Cue a surprisingly emotional and heartfelt episode about not only getting the most out of our writing practise, but how we can be kinder to ourselves too. How to back ourselves, and where we think we should be pushing each other. So why not get together with your writing community and lean on each other's insight a little more in 2026. 📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Xmas and the festive mess is over, so let's get writing! (if only it was that easy). This week we're back at our desks after 2 weeks of monstrous overeating, relentless childcare, and otherwise doing very little, so we're talking not only 2026 resolutions and our goals for the year ahead, but how we get back into the swing of things too. Taking time off is important, but getting back to work can feel incredibly daunting after the fact. So let's go slow, plan big, but be realistic. Use that January energy to try new things and new routines, but not completely reinvent the wheel either. What're your big plans for 2026?📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another year's nearly in the can, so we're looking back at 2025, and our professional wins and lessons learned from 12 months of continuing to emerge as a screenwriter in film and TV. Where did we succeed? What did we wish we did more of? And why is Tray still upset with Joe Barton? And to top things off, we're also looking back at our favourite movies and TV shows from 2025, and what we learned from them - not just about writing, but the industry too. See you in 2026!📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us at Emerging - and to celebrate, we figured we'd open a few presents, toss a few insults and unwrap our 4 favourite films and TV shows in this extra long special festive-themed episode!Yes, Tray breaks all of the formats, but we wouldn't have him any other way. Have a safe and relaxing festive break!📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another extra 15 mins with the brilliant Chloë Mi Lin Ewart as she takes on the all-important Last Call! So what's the best and worst writing advice she's ever received? What's the TV show that most deserves to be erased from existence forever? And why is E.T. the best movie ever made? And if you didn't catch our full episode with Chloe, all about her emerging journey, have a listen - it's a real fun time. 📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever wondered what happens on the fabled Channel 4 Screenwriting scheme? Or how one goes straight from that to signing with Mr Casarotto himself? This week's guest Chloë Mi Lin Ewart is not only full of answers, but great chat too. A veteran of SO MANY schemes, from 4Screenwriting, to The Residency and the BBC, Chloë's now a very successful writer with credits on Beyond Paradise, All Creatues Great and Small, and her own series very nearly on the horizon. So it's safe to say she's become a total expert at seizing every opportunity that's come her way!So join us for another long and winding chat through Chloë's emerging journey, from her start as a working class, Eurasian actor on soaps like Coronation Street, to breaking through with her first few pilot spec scripts. And if you want to follow Chloë's career, she's coincidentally found under @chloeewart on Instagram too! 📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BAFTA-nominated screenwriter Joe Barton, creator of Black Doves, The Lazarus Project and the upcoming Amadeus (among so many others) is back with us to answer the all-important Last Call. So what's the best and worst writing advice he's ever received? What's the first story he ever wrote? And why does he love Love Actually so much?And if you didn't catch our even fuller chat with Joe, all about his emerging journey, from when and how he signed with his agent, to how he found success writing movies like The Ritual and shows like Giri-Haji, listen back! It's genuinely a great chat. 📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a fun one - we convinced BAFTA-nominated screenwriter Joe Barton, creator of Black Doves, Giri/Haji and Sky's upcoming Amadeus (among so many others) to join us for a chat about his own emerging journey!From his first few jobs on McFly's long forgotten vampire movie and a MySpace original series (yes, MySpace once made TV), to how he signed with his agent, his experiences in LA, and how his work on films like The Ritual hit differently to writing for TV, there're A LOT of great insights from Joe's career buried in here. Join us later in the week for his answers to The Last Call too... With thanks again to Joe for joining us the night before the Black Doves Season 2 shoot kicked off(!), if you want to follow his career and support a plucky young upstart, he's @joebarton_ on Instagram, and his new show AMADEUS lands on Sky on 21st December. 📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A special bonus chat this week - inspiring producer, filmmaker, production co-ordinator and all-round multi-hyphenate Sonia Wargacka sits down with Ben to talk about her very new, very different talent agency Powerhouse and how she hopes to change the world of agenting for the better. If you want to follow Sonia's progress, she's @leaveitwithsonia on Instagram, and her agency is @this.is.powerhouse!📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of our favourite parts of every guest episode is The Last 10, (ironically) 12 quickfire questions that help us get to know other writers on a far more personal level. So it felt only fair that we take the challenge ourselves too.As a bit of a disclaimer, this episode was recorded way back in March 2025, just as the show was starting to take shape, so we might sound a little more youthful / a little less jaded. Or the opposite, listen and find out!And here are the fabled Last 10 questions if you want to try them at home yourself:1. **What was the first story you ever wrote?**2. **What film or TV show made you say, "I want to be a writer"?**3. **What’s the best and worst piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?**4. **What’s a common mistake you see emerging writers make?**5. **If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice when starting out, what would it be?**6. **What’s the most life-changing film or TV show you’ve ever watched?** 7. **What’s the worst film or TV show you secretly love?** 8. **What’s a film or TV show that perfectly captures how you feel about life?** 9. **What film haven’t you seen that you tell everyone that you have?**10. **If you could erase one film or TV show from existence, what would it be and why?**11. **If your life were a film, what would it be called and who would direct it?** 12. **What does ‘making it’ as a writer mean to you?**Why not send us your answers as a voice note!📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get ready for a total masterclass in putting yourself out there and getting noticed from this week's guest - actor turned writer turned screenwriting influencer Rachel Flynn. A Bronze Page Award winner, Rachel's a credited TV writer, a celebrated playwright and part of the core creative team behind two made-for-TV features too. So naturally Martin's incredibly jealous. As you'll know if you've seen her Instagram Reels and/or TikToks, Rachel's not only very experienced and knowledgable about the industry, but a big ol' laugh too, so this proved to be a very fun (even longer than normal) chat covering everything from social media, to organising your time, and even a bit of smutty Chicago-based fan fiction. Enjoy!As always, if you want to follow Rachel's career (and see more of that wicked screenwriting based content), she's @rflynn7 on Instagram. 📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In ironically our most dis-organised record to date (Martin had a Diet Coke with lunch and... well, don't drink caffeine kids), we're talking about the many varied spreadsheets and programs that we use to keep our heads together. Because if you don't have a system for tracking all those half-finished scripts, competition deadlines, notes from producers, and random people we met at various networking events that we swear we’ll email back, the chaos might just swallow you whole. So here comes some exciting organisation chat - digital rolodexes, project slates, contact matrixes, not a stone unturned. How do *you* stay organised? 📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How many times have we been told not to direct on the page, or not write songs into our scripts? Don’t open with a dream, or someone waking up. Formatting is the be all and end all. But how many of these so called “rules” actually matter, and how many can we break without coming across as obnoxious?It's a fine line, so this episode's all about digging into those unwritten rules of screenwriting: where they come from, why they exist, and when it’s okay (or even smart) to ignore them completely. We chat about the balance between structure and creativity, the fear of “doing it wrong,” and how trusting your voice might be the real key to great writing.If you’ve ever second-guessed a bold choice or felt boxed in by screenwriting formulas, we're here for you! 📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As emerging writers, we spend so much time working on how to present our scripts, we don't always think about the other (sometimes even more important bit), how do we present ourselves?So let's talk image - everything from our writer bios and CVs, to how we dress, and how we come across in person, in meetings and at networking events. If someone's only meeting you for 10 minutes, what image of you do you want them to come away with? We also dig into what makes a good writer bio (and what doesn’t - get Chat GPT out of your head right now), how to talk about your work without cringing (*cries in British*), and how to balance coming across as a pro with not sounding like a robot. It's hard work, but remember the hard and fast rule - pretend you're a rich, white American and you'll immediately feel more confident.📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Burnout is real, it's a sexy word right now, millenials everywhere seem to be suffering from it *constantly*. And we’ve all hit that point, when you want to write, but your brain and body just say "curl up in a ball and give up on the world". So let's talk about it, what burnout looks like, why it creeps up on us, and how we can find a way through it without completely grinding to a halt.As emerging writers, that feeling that we have to be working all the time is all too real. Whether that's writing, networking, applying for schemes, or just staying visible. But what happens when that constant pressure starts to break us down? We're sharing our own (very current) experiences of burnout, that guilt of slowing down, and some practical ways to reset, recharge, and still move forward (even when you’re running on empty).📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the 4Screenwriting deadline well and truly vanquished, this week we're asking ourselves not only "what's next?" but more importantly, "what are we even doing with our lives/careers?" We're zooming out and looking at the bigger picture, setting goals, both short term and long term. It can be so easy as emerging writers to just move from scheme to scheme on autopilot, chasing the opportunities dangled right in front of us. But sometimes we need to take a step back and look at the bigger picture - where do we ultimately want to be as writers, and how do we actually get there? Schemes and competitions can be the perfect stepping stone for such goals, but we run the risk of not taking full advantage of them or wasting time and energy on the wrong ones, if we don't have a proper idea of what we're actually trying to achieve. Feel free to join in, and let us know what you're planning between now and the end of the year, and what you want to achieve in 2026. 📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Staying focussed as a writer is hard, especially when you're single-parenting, or coming up against a lot of pressure from your money job. So how do we deal with these short term disruptions, and not let them totally throw us off pace? Falling off the productivity wagon can be a big loss for writers, and getting back on is easier said than done. So here's an episode for anyone who, like Tray, has had a bit of a week of it. Especially as deadline season refuses to slow down, sometimes even making the tiniest amount of progress is worthy of celebration. If you want to join us on this accountability journey, drop us an email or a DM and let us know how you're getting on.📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've all been there, you spend months and months refining the perfect idea into a (passable) screenplay, only for some hotshot Hollywood type to release a Netflix show using almost the exact same concept. So what happens next? Do we throw it all out and start again? Or do we rest assured that our voice is strong and different enough that the world can have multiple takes on the same basic plot?Naturally these are the things bothering us most as we approach the final few weeks before the 4Screenwriting deadline, as all three of us start to question whether we're writing the right thing at the right time. Are we putting all this time and effort into the right project? If you want to join us on this accountability journey, drop us an email or a DM and let us know how you're getting on.📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Being confident is such an important part of being a writer, but most of us will struggle to say a nice thing about a script we're currently working on. So how do we find that inner confidence and back our own work? How many times have you read or re-read one of your own scripts and in that moment, actually been your own favourite writer for a change?All this and more, as the deadline gets closer and we crack on with our drafts, keep each other productive and accountable, and try to enjoy and embrace our own work, warts and all. And if you want to join us on this accountability journey, drop us an email or a DM and let us know how you're getting on.📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As deadline season approaches, we're kicking off a new run of (slightly) shorter episodes focussing on productivity, accountability and the brass tacks of actually getting down to writing, as opposed to just talking about it. So what does one week into our new productivity goals look like? What excuses are we making for ourselves already?Within this week's more relaxed chat, there's a whole bunch of helpful (and hopefully inspiring) little tidbits about burnout and writing too much too fast, as well as how to approach starting over with an old idea, repurposing it for a different time or medium. And if you want to join us on this accountability journey, drop us an email or a DM and let us know your writing goals for this Autumn/Fall season.📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If it's one thing a lot of writers aren't great at, it's keeping track of their progress and setting realistic writing goals. It's a fickle process - we've lost count of the amount of times we've failed to deliver on a personal target. So let's talk about it - not just how to set realistic goals, but how to hold yourself (and others) to account for the work we say we're going to do.And with both the new school year and deadline season rapidly approaching (say hello to that annual 4Screenwriting deadline creeping up in October!), now's as good a time as any to start challenging ourselves and setting new goals. In the second half of this episode, we actually put in place some very credible writing targets too, so why not do the same?Join us on this (hopefully) productive journey!📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's one of the hardest questions in writing - when is it time to give up? On a script, on an agent, or even on writing altogether? None of us are about to throw in the towel completely, but it's a punishing business filled with rejection; the question's bound to pop up every now and then. Or in Tray's case, weekly apparently. When is quitting okay? When do we know it's time to walk away from a script (at least for now)? When do we know something's just not going to happen? At what point does our work ethic shift from tenacity, to just good old fashioned denial? Consider this episode both a pep talk and a bit of a reality check (for all of us!) 📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A special little bonus this week - fresh from a 4 day trip to Edinburgh, Martin breaks down his main industry takeaways from the Edinburgh TV Festival. Including some sneaky little tidpits, some thoughts on diversity and a real first, a panel focussing on ESEA (East and South East Asian) lead stories. 📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As festival season well and truly kicks off with the Edinburgh TV Fest, we're looking at all the many different kinds of events, both big and small, and our top tips for getting the most out of the entry fee. Whether that's how you plan your time around the festival programme, the appeal of attending an industry focussed event (like Edinburgh) and why sometimes, going to a more local short film fest might actually serve your career better. Naturally this episode pairs really well with our chat about Networking too, so definitely give that a listen if you haven't already!📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If writing is hard, rewriting can be even harder - especially if you're working on someone else's draft. But we're in luck, as this week we're joined by our first ever returning guest, fountain of industry knowledge Mr Mike Powell. A successful working screenwriter, Mike helps us understand the ins and outs of not only the most effective way to redraft your own work, but what it's like when you're brought in as a professional to redraft someone else's too.As usual with Mike, there's *a lot* of other info here, covering everything from his approach to researching a project, to how he holds himself in meetings, as well as the inside track on working with producers, and finally - the last 10. It's such a gold mine of great advice and useful experience. And if you want more from Mike, dig through our archive and you'll find his two parter Industry Jobs and Getting Paid, which are both full of equally vital nuggets of advice and info. If you want to follow Mike's career, he's also @mikepscreenwrites on Instagram. 📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whether it's just studying screenplays you stole off the internet, or writing your own one man show, or even being taught how to write by the pros at Harvard, there's no one right way to learn the craft - and our guest this week would know, because he's done literally all of those things. The sensationally lovely Thomas Burr is a writer, actor, dear friend and Harvard graduate (despite being from the Welsh valleys!) with an unbelievable amount of learning experiences under his belt for someone so young (approximately 14 years old give or take a decade). From taking his play Collar to the Edinburgh Fringe to striking gold with his first ever TV script, Thomas has some incredible stories to tell that perfectly encapsulate just how windy the path to success - and how varied our way into learning the craft of screenwriting - often is. If you want to follow Thomas's career, you can find him on Instagram as @thomasjosefburr! 📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Networking networking networking, all everyone ever talks about is networking. Everyone hates it, it can be pretty scary if you're not partiuclarly social, but it's very much the life blood of making it in this industry. So learning how to make it work for you is one of the most important skills you can build as a writer.And you're in luck - in this very advice heavy episode, we're pulling together all of our (and some of our guest's) top tips on the best ways to work the room and meet people/build your network in a meaningful way. From how long to spend talking to each person, to how to approach a conversation, which faux pas to avoid and how long you should wait before following up. Plus a few bonus funny stories for good measure. Always remember: Don't be a dick. Don't be a creep. Be chill baby. 📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabredfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trying to 'emerge' as a writer is tough enough, sometimes you just need a shoulder to cry on or a bit of lasting encouragement to just keep going, so having a community of supportive, likeminded people around you is fairly vital. But communities don't just *happen* - how do we find our "tribe"? And why does it always feel so awkward? Especially for those of us who aren't the most confident socially, it can be a pretty daunting prospect. Join us for a very sincere and open chat about putting ourselves out there not just as writers, but as people too; looking for not just a network, but friendship. It's not always easy (even the American struggles!) but having a kind and honest space to share work, have a moan and seek guidance could not be more important on this journey!And if you don't know where to start, WE HAVE A DISCORD, so come on over and share your favourite turtleheading joke - https://discord.com/invite/Sa6TNJzs 📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabredfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Research is both the ultimate procrastination tool, and the holy grail for making your characters and your worlds feel lived in and three-dimensional. So how much is enough? And what does meaningful research even look like anyway? Are we writing endless bulletpoints, watching stacks of movies, making stupid collages, or just cramming it into our brains in the hope that it'll all just sort of work itself into the script in the end? It's safe to say we all have our different methods, so please do let us know what works for you (you never know, it might be the missing piece of the puzzle for someone else!), and if you are finding yourself getting lost down endless research rabbitholes - we've got you covered with some top tips on how to avoid it too. 📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabredfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the hardest truths about making it as a writer is that so much of your time will not actually be spent writing scripts. There's networking, building and maintaining relationships with helpful people, writing those dreaded applications and pitch documents, and obviously all the actual business stuff too - accounts, invoices, taxes...It can be a scary leap if you've never been a freelancer before, so this episode is all about demystifying that administrative balancing act. How much time we spend writing vs. all the other essential bits of trying to find work as a writer? What's the difference between PAYE, a sole trader and being a limited company? What if I'm an introvert and *really* hate networking?All this and more, in Tray's favourite episode to date (seriously, it's all he talks about). (Producers Note - We do mention this in the show itself, but if you're looking for actual financial advice, please seek out a professional accountant and don't just listen to these three self-taught podcasters!)📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabredfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It doesn't matter who you are or what level you're at, the film and TV industry feels like it's built on rejection. Every single one of us will experience it many many times. And it sucks. It hurts. It can make you question your work and your talent and your place in the world. But it's part of the process.So with that in mind, how do we deal with the constant kick-backs? Does it ever get easier, and is there a way to turn it into something positive?Consider this episode a safe space to have a good vent about one of the worst parts of being an emerging writer; we share some personal rejection stories, plenty of tips for overcoming those dreaded writing rejection blues and as usual, try to make us all feel a little bit less alone. If you enjoyed this episode, please do share far and wide - let's revel in how much rejection sucks together. 📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabredfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After mentioning it in almost every episode to date, this week we finally talk openly about racism and diversity in the film and TV industry - from the uncomfortable truths everyone knows but rarely says out loud, to the internal battles we face as emerging writers navigating it all.We actually sat down to talk about rejection (more on that next week) so this one's a little more free-form than normal, but we do pick at a lot of ongoing worries. Particularly that tension between knowing the system is unequal but still wondering if it's just that we're not quite up to standard as writers. We also talk about the pressure to self-censor (even on this very podcast) vs. being honest about our experiences, and of course how race and identity shape not only the stories we tell, but the way we’re allowed to tell them.BESEA Rising Waves statement on ESEA Representation in UK television can be found here - https://www.risingwaves.org/?p=1692📬 Get In Touch:Email us: [email protected] us on Instagram: @theemergingpodBen is @bmlrobinsMartin is @bananabreadfilmTray is @ByTrayepps✨ Support the Show:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.