Creative Principles

Drew Hancock's debut feature film, COMPANION, a dark and twisted tale of romance gone awry, stars Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid and marks Hancock's rise as a filmmaker.

After college, Hancock gained experience in production before thriving at Channel 101, creating shows like CAUTIONARY TALES OF SWORDS and acting in YACHT ROCK.

Determined to transition to film, Hancock wrote COMPANION. Initially attracting Zach Cregger (BARBARIAN) as director, Hancock was encouraged to helm the project himself. The film's success earned him a spot on Variety’s "10 Directors to Watch" list for 2025.

In this interview, we talk about the influence of Channel 101 on his career, the impact of live audience feedback, the creation of COMPANION and its marketing, his initial concept of "Barbie with bloodstains," and much more.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Lol Crawley is a cinematographer known for his work on films such as THE BRUTALIST, WHITE NOISE, and 45 YEARS; and he is particularly recognized for his frequent collaborations with director Brady Corbet.

His most recent work, THE BRUTALIST, follows a visionary architect and his wife who fled post-war Europe in 1947 to rebuild their legacy and witness the birth of the modern United States.

In this interview, we talk about his breakthrough with the film BALLAST, his cinematographic style and approach, working on THE BRUTALIST and the creative process behind it, and much more.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Jarin Blaschke is an acclaimed cinematographer best known for his work with director Robert Eggers. His striking, atmospheric visuals define films like THE WITCH, THE NORTHMAN, and THE LIGHTHOUSE which earned him an Academy Award nomination.

His latest work NOSFERATU, follows a gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in its wake.

In this interview, we talk about his relationship with Robert Eggers, storyboarding and pre-production, how they approach camera movement, lighting, and other technical aspects during filming, and much more.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Philip Gelatt is a writer, director, and producer best known for his contribution to Netflix’s animated anthology LOVE, DEATH & ROBOTS.

His most recent work, FIRST WORD ON HORROR, featuring Stephen Graham Jones, Paul Tremblay, Elizabeth Hand, Laird Barron, and Mariana Enriquez, is a fifteen-part documentary series that profiles five of the finest horror writers working today.

Across multiple episodes, each author discusses their life, their inspirations, their philosophies, and their writing techniques while reading one of their short stories.

In this interview, we talk about the process of creating FIRST WORD ON HORROR, the decision to use Substack as the primary platform for the series, insights into the horror genre and writing, and much more.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Morgan Neville is an acclaimed director and producer, known for his award-winning documentaries. His film WON'T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? remains one of the highest-grossing and best-reviewed documentaries ever.

His recent projects span TV and streaming platforms. His latest project SNL50: BEYOND SATURDAY NIGHT is a four-part docuseries honoring the legacy of SNL, with over 60 contributors, including SNL alumni, and spotlighting some of the show’s most iconic elements.

In this interview, we talk about the initial pitch for SNL50, the details of some of the episodes, particularly the writers' episode, his approach to documentary filmmaking, and more.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Drew Hancock's debut feature film, COMPANION, a dark and twisted tale of romance gone awry, stars Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid and marks Hancock's rise as a filmmaker.

After college, Hancock gained experience in production before thriving at Channel 101, creating shows like CAUTIONARY TALES OF SWORDS and acting in YACHT ROCK.

Determined to transition to film, Hancock wrote COMPANION. Initially attracting Zach Cregger (BARBARIAN) as director, Hancock was encouraged to helm the project himself. The film's success earned him a spot on Variety’s "10 Directors to Watch" list for 2025.

In this interview, we talk about the influence of Channel 101 on his career, the impact of live audience feedback, the creation of COMPANION and its marketing, his initial concept of "Barbie with bloodstains," and much more.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Kate Gersten is best known for her work on the Golden Globe winning series MOZART IN THE JUNGLE and the Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated comedy THE GOOD PLACE.

Her first feature film, THE LAST SHOWGIRL, based on her play A BODY OF WORK, premiered at TIFF earlier last year and stars Pamela Anderson, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Dave Bautista. The film is directed by Gia Coppola.

THE LAST SHOWGIRL follows a seasoned showgirl who must plan for her future when her show abruptly closes after a 30-year run.

In this interview, we talk about her journey as a writer, the adaptation of THE LAST SHOWGIRL from play to film, the process of casting Pamela Anderson as Shelley and her connection to the character, the inspiration for writing about showgirls, and much more.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Michelle Nader is a veteran showrunner, writer, and executive producer known for her work in comedy. She serves as showrunner and executive producer of ABC’s upcoming series SHIFTING GEARS, starring Tim Allen and Kat Dennings, marking her first project under an overall deal with 20th Television.

Michelle is also the showrunner of DELI BOYS, a Hulu comedy debuting in Spring 2025. Previously, she led 2 BROKE GIRLS and DOLLFACE, making her the first sole female showrunner for a Tim Allen show.

In this interview, we talk about the evolution of female roles in sitcoms, the changing trends in comedy, her current and upcoming projects, and much more.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Pat Casey and Josh Miller first met in junior high detention in Minnesota, forming a creative partnership that began with a local late-night cable variety show and the ultra-low-budget film HEY STOP STABBING ME!

Today, they’re best known as the writers of the blockbuster SONIC THE HEDGEHOG franchise for Paramount Pictures, including the latest film, SONIC 3, which introduces Shadow, voiced by Keanu Reeves.

In this interview, we talk about the development of their writing partnership, their work on the SONIC THE HEDGEHOG films, the process of writing for Jim Carrey, pop culture references in their work, and much more.

Want more? Steal my first book, INK BY THE BARREL - SECRETS FROM PROLIFIC WRITERS right now for free. Simply head over to www.brockswinson.com to get your free digital download and audiobook. If you find value in the book, please share it with a friend as we’re giving away 100,000 copies this year. It’s based on over 400 interviews here at Creative Principles. Enjoy!

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!

Jordan Weiss is the writer behind Hulu’s hit series DOLLFACE, a comedy about female friendships starring Kat Dennings, Brenda Song, Shay Mitchell, and Esther Povitsky. She also penned the script for Disney’s highly anticipated FREAKIER FRIDAY, the sequel to the iconic FREAKY FRIDAY.

Jordan’s feature directorial debut, SWEETHEARTS, a coming-of-age comedy starring Kiernan Shipka and Nico Hiraga, follows two college freshmen who pull a "Turkey Dump" and break up with their high school sweethearts over "Drunksgiving" - the one chaotic night before Thanksgiving in their hometown that puts their codependent friendship to the test.

In this interview, we talk about her experience working for Greg Daniels, landing her first staff writing job on HARLEY QUINN, developing and selling DOLLFACE, crafting unique and attention-grabbing writing samples, and her latest film SWEETHEARTS.

As a special note, this was part of our new LIVE interview series in partnership with Buzztown, a community for serious screenwriters, where students also participated in this interview. You can learn more or join the waitlist here:

forms.gle/RNaoVrdU9afWpykWA

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts? It only takes about 60 seconds and it really helps convince some of the hard-to-get guests to sit down and have a chat (simply scroll to the bottom of your iTunes Podcast app and click “Write Review"). Enjoy the show!