The Successful Screenwriter with Geoffrey D Calhoun: Screenwriting Podcast

Stuck on that rewrite? I got you. Grab The Rewrite Workbook and work through your screenplay one draft at a time.

Could AI let audiences rewrite a movie’s ending and what would that mean for screenwriters? Geoffrey D. Calhoun and co-host Kristy Leigh Lussier discuss the possibilities, the concerns, and the value of human storytelling.Then we tackle your screenwriting questions: Do characters have to be likable? How do you convey emotion without dialogue? Should you avoid adverbs? We also discuss juggling multiple scripts, writing across different mediums, and why we both use WriterDuet.

What You’ll Learn
Why audiences can connect with a character they don’t like.
How to convey emotion through behavior without micromanaging actors.
How specific action verbs bring energy to your scene descriptions.
What to consider when working on multiple screenplays.
How theater, film, and video games approach the character experience.
Why AI-generated endings raise questions about storytelling and creative control.
Key Moments
02:33 — AI filmmaking and the possibility of audience-generated endings.
09:59 — Bad screenwriting advice: every character must be likable.
12:30 — Should you work on more than one script at a time?
14:24 — Theater, film, and video game storytelling.
16:34 — Why we use WriterDuet.
21:44 — Adverbs, action verbs, and finding the right amount of description.

ConnectJoin our live screenwriting Q&A Fridays at 6 p.m. Eastern on Instagram. Bring your questions!
Instagram: @screenwriterpod
YouTube: @thesuccessfulscreenwriter
Screenwriting resources and membership: TheSuccessfulScreenwriter.com
#Screenwriting #ScreenwritingTips #CharacterDevelopment #WritingEmotion #AIInFilm #TheSuccessfulScreenwriter

Connect with Kristy Leigh Lussier
Instagram: @kantoka127
Watch her vertical drama: The Witch Wolf's Mate
Connect with Geoffrey D. Calhoun
Watch: Elsy
The Rewrite Workbook
Website: thesuccessfulscreenwriter.com
Instagram: @screenwriterpod
YouTube: @thesuccessfulscreenwriter

#screenwriting #filmmaking #writingtips #screenwriterlife #storytelling #filmindustry #indiefilm #writerslife

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The Rewrite Workbook is out now! I wrote it to simplify the rewrite process, so you can stop feeling overwhelmed by your draft and start making clear, focused improvements. Grab your copy on Amazon.

Are screenwriting “rules” helping your script or getting in the way? Geoffrey D. Calhoun and Kristy Leigh Lussier break down bad screenwriting advice, including character deaths, dramatic irony, rewriting, horror, first-draft self-doubt, and story pacing. Plus, Geoffrey talks about The Rewrite Workbook, his new tool for making the rewrite process simpler and more focused.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode
Why screenwriting rules should be treated as tools instead of laws
When killing a character can establish stakes without advancing the plot
How dramatic irony lets the audience know more than your protagonist
Why rewriting is where much of the real screenwriting work happens
How to keep moving when self-doubt hits during a first draft
Practical ways to identify and fix pacing problems
How horror writers create tension beyond jump scares
Key Moments
07:22 — Bad screenwriting advice and the danger of blanket rules
12:32 — Should the audience ever know more than the protagonist?
14:37 — Geoffrey introduces The Rewrite Workbook
19:25 — Do you really need multiple screenplay drafts?
28:39 — What is story pacing, and how do you fix it?

About the Hosts

Geoffrey D. Calhoun is a produced screenwriter, bestselling author, filmmaker, and host of The Successful Screenwriter Podcast. He is the author of The Guide for Every Screenwriter and The Rewrite Workbook and has spent more than 25 years developing his craft as a screenwriter.

Kristy Leigh Lussier is a screenwriter, filmmaker, producer, and co-host of The Successful Screenwriter Podcast, bringing her writing and production experience to honest conversations about the craft and business of filmmaking.

Resources Mentioned in the Episode
The Rewrite Workbook by Geoffrey D. Calhoun
Resident Evil
Maud
WriterDuet
Halloween

Have a screenwriting or filmmaking question? Join Geoffrey and Kristy live Fridays at 6 PM ET and drop your questions in the comments. They may answer yours on the next episode.

#Screenwriting #ScreenwritingTips #WritingTips #Filmmaking # ScreenwritingPodcast Tags:  Geoffrey D Calhoun, Kristy Leigh Lussier, The Successful Screenwriter, The Rewrite Workbook

Connect with Kristy Leigh Lussier
Instagram: @kantoka127
Watch her vertical drama: The Witch Wolf's Mate
Connect with Geoffrey D. Calhoun
Watch: Elsy
The Rewrite Workbook
Website: thesuccessfulscreenwriter.com
Instagram: @screenwriterpod
YouTube: @thesuccessfulscreenwriter

#screenwriting #filmmaking #writingtips #screenwriterlife #storytelling #filmindustry #indiefilm #writerslife

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Geoffrey D. Calhoun and Kristy Leigh Lussier explore what happened when Geoffrey entered Screenwriting Reddit to offer writers free advice without promoting himself or selling anything. His posts quickly reached thousands of writers—but a message encouraging compassion also attracted hostility from the community’s self-appointed gatekeepers.They break down why some online writing communities become toxic, how anonymous critics continually move the goalposts, and why writers need to protect their confidence. Geoffrey and Kristy also discuss the surprising release of Coyote vs. Acme, Jason Statham’s unusual fight-contract rules, when a screenplay prologue works, and why a 30-minute short film may need to become a feature.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
What happened when Geoffrey infiltrated Screenwriting Reddit
Why compassion matters in online screenwriting communities
How writers can protect themselves from toxic feedback
Why studios shelve completed movies for financial reasons
How to avoid using a prologue as an exposition dump
Why an overly long short film may work better as a feature
Key Moments:

02:27 – How Coyote vs. Acme escaped the studio shelf
08:41 – The unusual rules behind Jason Statham’s fight scenes
09:45 – Geoffrey infiltrates Screenwriting Reddit
12:26 – When the Screenwriting Reddit trolls arrived
16:15 – Knowing your value when critics attack
24:10 – Avoiding the exposition and monologue trap
24:48 – Why a 30-minute short film may need to become a feature

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
Screenwriting Reddit
Coyote vs. Acme
Batgirl
Mutiny
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Halloween
The Lord of the Rings
Rabbit Trap
Screenplay prologues and cold opens
Short-film structure
Online screenwriting communities

Connect with Kristy Leigh Lussier
Instagram: @kantoka127
Watch her vertical drama: The Witch Wolf's Mate
Connect with Geoffrey D. Calhoun
Watch: Elsy
The Rewrite Workbook
Website: thesuccessfulscreenwriter.com
Instagram: @screenwriterpod
YouTube: @thesuccessfulscreenwriter

#screenwriting #filmmaking #writingtips #screenwriterlife #storytelling #filmindustry #indiefilm #writerslife

Please share this podcast with your community!

Geoffrey D. Calhoun and Kristy Leigh Lussier break down one of the easiest ways to spot weak screenwriting: dialogue nobody would actually say. They share practical ways to write more authentic conversations before answering listener questions about first drafts, fixing scenes, formatting flashbacks, and whether a writer should ever give up on the dream.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why generic dialogue can immediately weaken a screenplay
How listening to real conversations can improve your character dialogue
Why every scene needs its own purpose, objective, and forward momentum
How to keep moving when a scene is slowing down your first draft
How to approach flashbacks and scene numbering in a screenplay
Why screenwriting formatting has become less rigid over the years
Why your filmmaking career may not look the way you originally imagined
How writers and directors can start creating with the resources they have right now.

Key Moments:

01:24 – Breaking down character-driven storytelling in recent movies
06:03 – The generic dialogue screenwriters need to stop using
10:30 – Kristy's techniques for developing authentic character voices
12:36 – What every scene needs to accomplish
15:26 – Why Geoffrey stopped using Final Draft
16:53 – When should you give up on your dream of writing and directing?
19:57 – Redefining what it means to be a writer and director today

About the Co-host:
Kristy Leigh Lussier is a screenwriter, filmmaker, and creative collaborator who works across multiple genres including horror and drama. She has experience in independent film production, writing, and on-set collaboration, and regularly shares insights into the filmmaking process with the screenwriting community.

About the Host:
With films on network television, streaming platforms, and in theaters, Geoffrey D. Calhoun is a screenwriter, author of The Guide for Every Screenwriter, and a passionate mentor in the industry. He hosts The Successful Screenwriter podcast to empower writers and filmmakers at every level.

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:
Indie Gathering International Film Festival
Screenplay dialogue and character development
Final Draft screenwriting software
Independent filmmaking
Vertical filmmaking and mobile-first storytelling

Connect with Kristy Leigh Lussier
Instagram: @kantoka
Watch Kristy’s vertical drama: The Witch Wolf's Mate.

Connect with Geoffrey D. Calhoun
Watch Geoffrey's Vertical Thriller: Elsy
Website: thesuccessfulscreenwriter.com
Instagram: @screenwriterpod
YouTube: @thesuccessfulscreenwriter
#ScreenwritingPodcast
#ScreenwritingTips #Screenwriting #WritingDialogue #Screenplay #Filmmaking #IndieFilmmaker #Scriptwriting #TheSuccessfulScreenwriter  #WritingCommunity

Connect with Kristy Leigh Lussier
Instagram: @kantoka127
Watch her vertical drama: The Witch Wolf's Mate
Connect with Geoffrey D. Calhoun
Watch: Elsy
The Rewrite Workbook
Website: thesuccessfulscreenwriter.com
Instagram: @screenwriterpod
YouTube: @thesuccessfulscreenwriter

#screenwriting #filmmaking #writingtips #screenwriterlife #storytelling #filmindustry #indiefilm #writerslife

Please share this podcast with your community!

Discover how an ordinary break room transformed into a post-apocalyptic set for Geoffrey’s new vertical thriller, Elsy. In this episode, Geoffrey and Kristy sit down with filmmaker and Vault Studio founder George Ansara to explore his journey from commercial videography to launching one of Michigan’s top independent film studios. Go behind the scenes of Elsy’s intense five-day shoot, and learn the keys to indie film success: preparation, collaboration, and community. George reveals how Vault Studio empowers creators with affordable, professional spaces, while Geoffrey and Kristy share insights on producing indie films and the power of filmmakers supporting each other.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:
How George Ansara built Vault Studio into a filmmaker-first production facility
Behind-the-scenes stories from filming Elsy
How Geoffrey designed an entire film set using 3D modeling and AI visualization
Why adaptable production spaces save time, money, and stress on independent productions
The producer's perspective on keeping a five-day shoot running smoothly
Why collaboration not competition is the key to growing the independent film community
George's work with the Detroit 48 Hour Film Project and supporting local filmmakers
Help us spread the word and support indie filmmaking! Our new vertical thriller Elsy premieres soon, and the first trailer is live now on Instagram.

Watch the Elsy trailer now on Instagram Here

Watch the trailer, share it to your stories, comment with your theories, and tag a friend who loves mystery, suspense, and post-apocalyptic storytelling. Every share helps us reach new viewers and brings more attention to independent filmmaking.

About the Host
With films on network television, streaming platforms, and in theaters, Geoffrey D. Calhoun is a screenwriter, author of The Guide for Every Screenwriter, and a passionate mentor in the industry. He hosts The Successful Screenwriter Podcast to empower writers and filmmakers at every level.

Connect with Geoffrey D. Calhoun
Website: https://thesuccessfulscreenwriter.com
Instagram:@screenwriterpod
YouTube: @thesuccessfulscreenwrite

Connect with Kristy Lee Lussier
Instagram: @kantoka127

Connect with George Ansara
Vault Studio: 
Vault Studio Podcast

#Screenwriting #Filmmaking #IndieFilm #IndependentFilm #FilmProduction #MichiganFilm #VaultStudio #VerticalSeries #Elsy #DetroitFilm #48HourFilmProject #Screenwriter #Storytelling #TheSuccessfulScreenwriter

Connect with Kristy Leigh Lussier
Instagram: @kantoka127
Watch her vertical drama: The Witch Wolf's Mate
Connect with Geoffrey D. Calhoun
Watch: Elsy
The Rewrite Workbook
Website: thesuccessfulscreenwriter.com
Instagram: @screenwriterpod
YouTube: @thesuccessfulscreenwriter

#screenwriting #filmmaking #writingtips #screenwriterlife #storytelling #filmindustry #indiefilm #writerslife

Please share this podcast with your community!