Working Title: From Paper to Screen with Mark Elias

Bert V. Royal on Turning an Idea Into a Movie

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Before a script, before a plan, before anything gets made—there’s just an idea. In Episode 1 of Working Title, Mark Elias sits down with writer Bert V. Royal (Easy A, Cruel Summer) to break down the messy, unpredictable process of ideation—how ideas form, how to pressure test them, and how to know when it’s time to stop thinking and start writing. They dig into:

  • The difference between a real story and “just a vibe”
  • Why writing fast can lead to better scripts
  • The danger of overthinking (and over-outlining)
  • How to spot a bad idea before wasting months on it
  • Why imagining the trailer might be the best test of all

    • Plus, Bert shares stories from writing Easy A in five days to revisiting ideas that took years to find their moment.

    Work Title: From Paper to Screen is hosted by Mark Elias and produced by Merrick Studios. Catch the show on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and at Merrick Studios+

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    Working Title: From Paper to Screen with Mark EliasBy Merrick Studios