The Screenplay Writers

Hi there. This is Agent Nick. You might also remember me as Intern Nick. I have taken the extraordinary measure of recording this episode on my own, because I need to find Nathan and Ryan immediately. Listen to this episode and you'll understand why. Ryan and Nathan, if you see this episode, please contact me. After you listen to it. Right after.

Nathan and Ryan reveal that they've been asked by several deep-pocketed backers to open and manage their own cafe—and they're doing it. They've decided to call it Café Screenplay. They are giving up the screenplay scene for the time being—likely forever. The plan? They're headed away for the next 11 weeks, during which time they'll be totally unreachable as they tour the finest coffee plantations and farms in Central and South America, sourcing the highest quality beans for Cafe Screenplay. Ryan and Nathan wanted to add that it's been an absolute pleasure bringing their knowledge of and passion for screenplays each and every week for the past two years. Stop by Cafe Screenplay if you're in Vancouver and enjoy 20 percent off a coffee with the purchase of a baked good or raw vegan item (minimum $3.50). While supplies last.

Nathan and Ryan reveal a few devastating obstacles they've been confronting and explain why their podcast episodes illogically jump from 91 to 99. The screenplay writing app they've been developing has been shelved, after they received multiple cease and desist orders from gigantic companies. Their junior producer Jack un-greenlit the two screenplays they thought were being produced. Clearly it's a really low time for them—”all is lost” you might say. They dissect "The Avengers: Endgame" in script surgery, and Ryan sadly presents “The Genius Teacher” in Logline Cage Match.

When someone has feedback on your screenplay, you best listen. It's called criticism, and often it contains something useful or insightful. At the very least, it's fuel for your fire, inspiring you write more and achieve great things that the criticizer could never dream of. The guys do script surgery on "Fighting with my Family," and Nathan pitches "The Red Pen From Beyond the Grave" in Logline Cage Match.

Financing is very important when it comes to taking screenplays to the big screen. Nathan and Ryan talk about their recent adventures in financing, having a noted and notable junior-producer-slash-financier named Jack greenlight two of their screenplays with sudden financing from independent means. The guys do script surgery on “Us,” the new Jordan Peele picture, which was fantastic and engaging, despite the short title. Ryan pitches “Means of Independence“ in Logline Cage Match.

In the midst of recording a much-requested episode about sound, Ryan and Nathan get a call from their friend Jack, a junior producer, who needs screenplays to park some money in, stat. They get a few ideas greenlit, which Jack is going to start junior-producing. The guys note that the incident was an example of a Hare's Rule: when a completed screenplay meets a phone call, that's good luck. Featuring Jack Hauen as the junior producer.

Nathan and Ryan talk about the many features and benefits of the screenplay-writing app they're building from scratch. It comes with 20 of the guys' screenplays pre-loaded on the app for users to edit and use, a value of around $1,000,000. They do script survey on Lego 2 and Ryan pitches his idea “Meccano“ in Logline Cage Match.

Nathan and Ryan talk about monologues and why you should avoid them at all costs as a screenplay writer. Hint: It's so that actors' egos don't get out of hand with all they attention monologues give them. They do script surgery on “Glass” and Ryan pitches his idea “The Unlicensed Dentist” in Logline Cage Match.

Nathan and Ryan talk to Nathan's friend, (unlicensed) Dr. Graeme, who makes a stunning announcement you'll have to hear to believe. They all talk about the importance of the CTP principle, which stands for ‘combining the passions.' Ryan and Nathan give the unlicensed doctor helpful life advice. Featuring Graeme Achurch as (unlicensed) Dr. Graeme.

Whether your screenplay needs CGI (computer-generated imagery) when it hits the big screen really depends on your imagination. If you have a huge imagination, you might need CGI. Nathan and Ryan talk about the screenwriting app that they're starting to create from scratch. They do script surgery on “Alita: Battle Angel,” and Ryan pitches his idea “The Startup Chronicles” in Logline Cage Match.

Nathan and Ryan analyze in great detail the 2019 Oscars, which will go down in history as one of the Oscars most engaging ceremonies. 

Who will win at the Oscars next Sunday. Nathan and Ryan run down nearly every category. You may be surprised by what they have to say, but you'll have to download this episode and listen to it to find out.

Nathan and Ryan talk about the surprising lack of challenges they experience crossing the border despite being prolific screenplay writers. They never get asked for their business Visas, which they have dutifully acquired. The guys do script surgery on "Poppins Returns” and Ryan pitches “Solo 2: Falcon Rises: Mechanic's Dream” in Logline Cage Match.

Distribution is critical when it comes to screenplays. Otherwise, how will anyone see your pages? The guys do script surgery on “Roma” and Nathan pitches “The Lightning Soldier” in Logline Cage Match.

At some point, every screenplay writer asks her or himself, or her or him friends, “What about festivals?” In episode, we answer that question. The guys do script surgery on “Shoplifters” and Ryan reads his idea for a skiing comedy mystery, “The Skiing Bandit,” in Logline Cagematch.

Writing effective phone calls in a screenplay is the calling card of a successful screenplay writer. With the popularity of phones these days, you simply can't avoid developing this skill. The guys do script surgery on “Bumblebee” and Ryan pitches his idea “The Neverending Conversation” in Logline Cage Match.

Why are table reads so important to the screenwriting process? Because they present a rare opportunity to bring the cast together around one huge table—and around the screenplay. (Note: The best table reads are done around oval tables.) The guys do script surgery on “Welcome to Marwen” and Ryan pitches his idea “Frosty the Hitman” in Logline Cage Match.

Nathan and Ryan check in with their new manager, Nick, who recently became a manager. They chat about all the progress he's made managing their screenplay writing career. Big things ahead! Featuring Nick Zarzycki as Manager Nick.

Nathan and Ryan reach out to Double Agent Nick—one of their new year's resolutions—to find out what he's been up to over the past 30 episodes. Turns out he wants to become a manager. They run their idea “Snorkelman” by him and he likes it, and becomes their manager. Featuring Nick Zarzycki as Manager Nick.

It's Christmas day! Happy Christmas. Nathan and Ryan are gathered around the fire with close family, recording a holiday podcast about their movies of the year—past and present. They also do script surgery on "Aquaman" and Ryan pitches his idea "Snorkelman" in Logline Cage Match.

Fight scenes are so important to most action movies. The thing you need to think about when you're writing them and filming them is how to capture them on the page and on the screen. The guys do script surgery on “Creed 2” and Ryan pitches his idea “Boxer Jumper” (working title only) in Logline Cage Match.

Writing for kids is something every screenwriter does at one point in her or his career. Nathan and Ryan talk about the keys to making your script work for this genre and audience, including two essential Hare's Rules: You gotta dumb it down, and kids don't get references. They do script surgery on Ralph Breaks the Internet (Wreck-it Ralph 2), and Nathan pitches his idea “Kid Tax” in Logline Cage Match.

The meet cute is an essential scene that appears in most genres. It's the moment the main character meets his or her romantic love interest. Most effective meet cutes involve the throwing or dropping of paper, or the meeting of in-laws. Nathan and Ryan do script surgery on "Widows," and Ryan pitches his new idea “Burger Time” in Logline Cage Match.

If you've written or read a screenplay lately, you've probably come across parentheticals. They're those bits of direction before dialogue that inform directors what the heck to do. Without them, directors wouldn't have a clue—and for that reason they're among the top seven things to master when writing screenplays. The guys do script surgery on “The Crimes of Grindelwald,” and Nathan presents “Nathan Canadian” in Logline Cage Match.

What's a MacGuffin? What do you do with it? How does it inform your screenplay? A MacGuffin can be anything and do anything. Let us explain. The guys do script surgery on "Johnny English Part 3" and Ryan reads his pitch, “Mr. Words of the Year,” in Logline Cage Match.

Continuing their surprising and very important conversation about storage, the guys talk about cloud-based solutions. That's where you store files in a place other than your computer's own hard drive. Something to think about as you craft your screenplays. The guys do script surgery on “Susperia” and, in Logline Cage Match, Ryan pitches Nathan his idea "Space Diner."

How and where you store your computer files is a big part of being a successful screenplay writer. If you lose your files, you're done for. The guys do script surgery on “Beautiful Boy,” and Nathan pitches his thriller-horror “The Killer from the TV” in Logline Cage Match. Ryan proposes a more successful name, “Big Scream TV.”

It's simple screenplaywriting 102: your main character better go through some sort of change on her journey through your script. The most impactful journey? A full rebirth. Remember this Hare's Rule: A character's mental and spiritual rebirth can be driven by a physical transformation. The guys do script surgery on “Halloween” and Ryan reads his idea “Killer Cold” in Logline Cage Match. Special thanks to special guest Graeme Achurch.

Ryan has a really bad cold, so Nathan call his go-to guru, an unlicensed underground medical health advocate named Graeme. Graeme prescribes Ryan a specific brand of Himalayan salt water and advises he buy Nathan gifts cards from any retailer or restaurant. Featuring Graeme Achurch on vocals.

All screenwriters have to deal with rejection, even the best of us. In life and in screenplay writing, it's something we have to confront and move past. Good lesson. Nathan and Ryan do script surgery on “The Nun” and Ryan pitches “Worlds Collide” in Logline Cage Match.

To be a successful screenplay writer, you need to have a system to manage your time, team and resources. Nathan goes through all the apps he uses for that purpose, while Ryan discusses the course he is taking. The guys do script surgery on “The House with a Clock in Its Walls,” which brings up a Hare's Rule: Be literal with your title. Nathan pitches “Two Lawyers, One Case“ in Logline Cage Match.

Screenplay writers need to deal with criticism. They need to be able to take it, they need to be able to give it—constructively. The only way to make your screenplay writing better is to listen to criticism, then ignore it and forge your own path. The guys introduce their Ice Cream Sandwich criticism method. They do script surgery on “A Star is Born” and Ryan pitches “The Last Netminder” in Logline Cage Match.

Passion is why we get up in the morning to try to make a lot of money writing critically acclaimed blockbuster screenplays that linger in the popular consciousness. Bottom line: it's all about passion—and so is the bottom line. Nathan and Ryan discuss the Hare's Rule "Put passion on the page, or flop." They perform script surgery on "Peppermint" and Nathan pitches his dramatic thriller "The Teacher's Pet: Revenge (or Return) of the Pet" in Logline Cage Match.

Compared to screenplays, books are not fun to read. Screenplays are the highest art form, while books are heavy and long. But sometimes, if you're lucky, you'll find a book that contains an idea that inspires you to craft your own original and legally distinct screenplay. The guys do script surgery on “The Spy Who Dumped Me” and Nathan pitches his idea “The Professor's Pet” in Logline Cage Match.

It's important to know how to address sound in screenplays, since it often translates to what filmgoers hear when the screenplay comes to life on screen. Nathan announces he is going back to school to study computer programming and Ryan reveals he is on the hunt for a new co-host to replace him. They perform scirpt surgery on "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again." Ryan pitches his idea “The Cabin-Makers Gambit” in Logline Cage Match.

How you publicize your screenplay and yourself are critical factors in your success. You need to consider what the ad campaign will be for your work of art while you are crafting every character, every plot point. The guys do script surgery on “Elf” and discuss their idea “The Plush Carpeteer” in Logline Cage Match.

Nathan and Ryan record their first ever live recording of the Screenplay Writers Podcast. Thanks to all who came out and actively participated in the recording through the many questions and positive feedback you gave us when the microphones were not recording. The guys attempted to do script surgery, and took loglines from the audience for a live, spontaneous and exciting Logline Cage Match session. You won't want to miss this live recording!

The guys talk about their upcoming live recording of the Screenplace Writers Podcast, which they have been planning for nine months but forgot to tell anyone about until this episode. Ryan pitches his idea “Smoke Haze,” inspired by wildfire smoke. The guys do script surgery on “Crazy Rich Asians” and revisit Ryan's idea "Little Miss Journalist" in Logline Cage Match Update. They note a Hare's Rule: Your title should have three words and they should all be very descriptive.

Not every screenplay takes place in the city, suburbs or shopping mall, some take place amid nature. Writing about nature is fun, and to do it successfully you must look up from the page every once in a while to see the beauty that surrounds you. Nathan and Ryan rehash the first annual Screenplay Writers Camp from last weekend, which was a huge success, though there was only one other camper there. They do script surgery on Sorry to Bother You, and Ryan pitches his new idea, Fatigue.

Voice is one of the most important topics when it comes to screenplays. You should think long and hard about voice before and during the screenplay-writing process. Nathan and Ryan talk excitedly about their upcoming Screenplay Writers Camp. They perform script surgery on Eighth Grade and Nathan pitches “Hospital-ity” in Logline Cage Match.

The climax is one of the top six or seven scenes of a screenplay, so you really need to have a think about it before you write it. Nathan and Ryan reveal details of their upcoming annual Screenplay Writers Camp Retreat, coming up in just a couple weeks. Let us know if you're interested in camping and talking screenplays. They do script surgery on "Mission Impossible 5," and Ryan pitches his idea “The Drop” in Logline Cage Match. Thanks to James Andrews for contributing ideas to this episode.

Flashbacks are a big, big part of many screenplays. They take the reader back in time, to tell him or her why the main character(s) are the way they are. The best place for flashbacks is at the very beginning or the very end of a screenplay—or both. The guys do script surgery on “Love, Simon,” and Ryan pitches his idea “Crazy Birds” in Logline Cage Match.

It's episode 52, our one-year anniversay of weekly episodes! The SPWs get “intense” in this episode on “intensity.” Nathan gives an update on his bid to be elected as a judge for the South Surrey Screenplay Writers Festival, and reveals his Hare's Rule: The right channel is all channels. The guys do script surgery on “Blockers” and Nathan pitches his idea “GeneroCity” in Logline Cage Match.

In a successful screenplay, nearly every page has an element of surprise, whether it's the dialogue or simply a character jumping out from behind a door. Or incorporate a jack-in-the-box, which is a Hare's Rule. The guys do script surgery on “Game Night” and Ryan pitches his idea “Goth Doctor” in Logline Cage Match.

Up high, down low, or right in the middle—from which perspective will you write your screenplay from? The guys do scirpt surgery on "Solo" and Nathan pitches his idea "Revolving Door."

Sports screenplays are all about athletics, and about crafting an inspirational speech from the coach to deliver to her or his players around three-quarters of the way through the screenplay. And also about the training montage. Nathan and Ryan do script surgery on “Dodgeball,” and Ryan pitches his idea, “Life Hacker,” a MacGuyver for modern times.

Summer blockbuster season is here and the guys are excited. Every year around this time they begin work on their own blockbuster screenplays, which they spend the summer blockbuster season writing and refining. They discuss an indispensible Hare's Rule, how you set up your workspace informs how you set up your headspace. They do script surgery on “The Incredibles” and Ryan pitches his idea “The Narcitect” in Logline Cage Match.

Intern Nick joins Nathan and Ryan for a chat, during which he lets them know that he recently was offered a job as a low-level intern with Mark Ruffalo's agent. Ryan gets an idea while they're talking to Intern Nick for a screenplay: “Double Agent Undercover Nick,” about a Hollywood-basedundercover double agent. It would be a biopic, probably starring George Clooney.  

Nathan and Ryan talk to Agent Nick again. They tell Nick they aren't going ahead with his script that he pitched them last week, but they are writing one called “Speedboat Secondary.” They offer Nick a job as an intern on the podcast, after he reveals he doesn't like being an agent for movies anymore. Nick accepts. He is now known as Intern Nick.

Nathan and Ryan discuss grit, and why it's so important to screenplays. While recording this episode, they get a spontaneous accidental phone call from Agent Nick. They waste no time in pitching him new ideas, including “Snap, Crackle, Drugs”—an unflinching biopic about the Rice Krispie brothers. Nick later pitches they guys on an idea of his own, “Speedboat Sales," which they green light without hesitation.

Nathan and Ryan recorded this episode on a plane, flying home from Minneapolis-St Paul, where they were not able to meet up with junior producer Jack. They talk about the essential elements that make rom-coms work: scenarios that are amusing, interesting, engaging and surprising, or the three “i”s. They do script surgery on “Fever Pitch.” In Logline Cage Match, Ryan pitches his idea, “The Translator.”