Creative Principles

Laura Eason is a producer, screenwriter, and playwright. She most recently served as showrunner and executive producer of the new STARZ drama series THREE WOMEN. Her writing and producing credits for TV include the Showtime drama THE LOUDEST VOICE and four seasons of Netflix's five-time Emmy-nominated best drama series HOUSE OF CARDS.

Her latest work, THREE WOMEN, follows an intimate, moving, uplifting portrait of real women reclaiming their lives for themselves.

In this interview, we talk about her journey from theater to television, how she adapted to screenwriting, her experiences as a showrunner, and advice to young writers, emphasizing the importance of life experience, persistence, and embracing a diverse range of creative opportunities.

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!

Colin Jeffrey is the Chief Creative Officer of Doner and Co-Founder of Wolfgang. Under his leadership, Doner was named an Ad Age A-List Standout Agency in 2023. At Wolfgang, Colin has created acclaimed campaigns for brands like Adidas, Panda Express, and NBCUniversal.

Recognized as one of the most creative minds in advertising, Colin has appeared on AdWeek’s Creative Top 100 list and Business Insider’s Most Creative People in Advertising rankings.

In this interview, we talk about the impact of AI on the creative process, the need for versatile content that works across different platforms, the rise of branded content and product placement, the increasing importance of nostalgia and IP in advertising, 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!

Michael Costigan is a film and television producer based in Los Angeles. He is a partner at Aggregate Films, a production company he founded with Jason Bateman which creates film, television, documentary, and unscripted programming across all platforms.

In this interview, we talk about the development process of BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, challenges and opportunities in the current landscape, the importance of originality and character-driven storytelling, advice for aspiring writers and producers, and much more.

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

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!

Sean McBride is the Chief Creative Officer of Arnold Worldwide, a globally recognized creative agency. He is the creative guru behind our favorite progressive commercials starring Flo and Dr. Rick.

Sean’s work has been repeatedly recognized by every major advertising award show there is, including Cannes, D&AD, One Show, Communication Arts, Clio, New York Festivals, London International, and many others.

In this interview, we talk about the transition to advertising as a natural fit for his writing skills, his journey to working at Arnold, the evolution of his writing style, from more serious copy to comedic work, the process of determining what is funny, including personal judgment and audience feedback, the ongoing evolution of the advertising industry 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!

Mark Sanderson is a screenwriter, author, script consultant, and lecturer. His career spans sketch comedy, writing for MTV, and over two dozen screenwriting assignments, including 17 produced films with worldwide distribution.

Mark’s films have premiered on networks like Lifetime, SyFy, Fox, and HBO Canada, and stream on platforms like Tubi, Amazon, and Apple+.

With a long history of working with award-winning filmmakers, producers, and actors, Mark has built a distinguished career. Named one of Screencraft's "25 People Screenwriters Should Follow on Twitter," he shares insights through Film Courage, YouTube, and his book, A SCREENWRITER'S JOURNEY TO SUCCESS, which has earned 56 five-star reviews on Amazon.

In this interview, we talk about initial expectations vs. reality post-film school, writing partnerships and solo ventures, his book A SCREENWRITER'S JOURNEY TO SUCCESS, 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!

Joshua Zetumer serves as the showrunner, executive producer, and head writer of FX’s SAY NOTHING, an adaptation of the New York Times best-selling and National Book Critics Circle Award for Non-Fiction winning book SAY NOTHING: A TRUE STORY OF MURDER AND MEMORY IN NORTHERN IRELAND by Patrick Radden Keefe.

Zetumer has also written on a number of global box office hits, including ROBOCOP from director Jose Padilha and the action thriller PATRIOTS DAY about the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013 and the subsequent terrorist manhunt.

The FX’s limited series SAY NOTHING is a gripping story of murder and memory in Northern Ireland during The Troubles. Spanning four decades, the series opens with the shocking disappearance of Jean McConville, a single mother of ten who was abducted from her home in 1972 and never seen alive again.

Telling the story of various Irish Republican Army (IRA) members, SAY NOTHING explores the extremes some people will go to in the name of their beliefs, the way a deeply divided society can suddenly tip over into armed conflict, the long shadow of radical violence for all affected, and the emotional and psychological costs of a code of silence.

In this interview, we talk about his personal background and influences, the decision to take on projects like ROBOCOP and PATRIOT'S DAY, the opportunity to return to personal filmmaking with SAY NOTHING, The balance between creative control and collaboration with directors and actors, and much more.

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

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!

Ellie leads the creative team at GLOW, working with high-profile entertainment clients such as Warner Brothers, HBO Max, Paramount+, Showtime, NBA, The Roku Channel, and more. She's also worked as Global Creative Manager at Netflix working on original projects including documentaries, unscripted, comedy, and kids and family content.

She created campaigns and helped build audiences for a variety of films and series, lifting social followings across the board. Lloyd’s creative efforts spanned the expansive Netflix library and included work for THE CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA, DON’T F**K WITH CATS, ROLLING THUNDER REVUE: A BOB DYLAN STORY BY MARTIN SCORSESE, and TALL GIRL.

In this interview, we talk about breaking into entertainment marketing, balancing visual and writing skills, adapting to different mediums and channels, pitching and adaptability, 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!

"We wrote spec scripts. We sat in a Borders bookstore with an out-of-date agent directory and wrote query letters," says Alison Schapker, remembering her earliest days trying to break into television. "It couldn't have been more cold calling than what we were doing."

Alison Schapker is a television writer and producer who has worked on genre-defining shows like CHARMED and ALIAS, and most recently served as showrunner on WESTWORLD. Now, she's at the helm of DUNE: PROPHECY, one of science fiction's most anticipated series.

DUNE: PROPHECY stars Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, and Travis Fimmel. The TV series, which is still mostly under wraps, is set in the 'Dune' universe which centers on the lives of the Bene Gesserit.

In this interview, we explore the evolution from writer to showrunner, the challenges of adapting the beloved source material, crafting the perfect writers' room with a strict "no-asshole policy," and how therapy and management books shaped her approach to leadership. We also dive deep into the world of the Bene Gesserit and what it means to bring the enigmatic order's origins to the screen.

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!

Douglas Vigliotti is the author of four books, including ARISTOTLE FOR NOVELISTS and TOM COLLINS: A ‘SLIGHTLY CROOKED’ NOVEL.

In his latest book, ARISTOTLE FOR NOVELISTS, Douglas Vigliotti shows you exactly how to write a novel using the tried-and-true principles that have been used since antiquity to tell great stories. These timeless principles are the foundation on which any story can be written. Whether you are writing your first or tenth novel, ARISTOTLE FOR NOVELISTS has something to offer any serious writer of fiction.

To learn more, go to his website: https://douglasvigliotti.com/aristotle-for-novelists

In this interview, we talk about the challenges of making a living as a writer, his book ARISTOTLE FOR NOVELISTS and how he applied Aristotelian principles to the art of novel writing, the key principles of novel writing, 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!

Dallas Jenkins is the creator, producer, director, and writer of the international hit series THE CHOSEN. He launched his career producing the independent feature HOMETOWN LEGEND at the age of 25 and shepherded it to distribution by Warner Brothers. In the nearly 20 years since then, he has directed and produced over a dozen feature and short films for companies such as Universal, Pureflix, Hallmark Channel, and Amazon.

Pete Holmes is an American comedian, actor, and writer best known for his self-deprecating humor and exploration of spirituality, relationships, and personal growth. He gained popularity with his stand-up comedy and as the creator and star of THE PETE HOLMES SHOW on TBS, which brought his unique and candid humor to late-night TV.

In their latest work, THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER, nobody is ready for the mayhem and surprises that ensue when six of the worst youngsters disrupt the town's yearly Christmas performance.

In this interview, we talk about Dallas’ passion for the book and his long-held dream of adapting THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER into a movie, advice for aspiring filmmakers, Pete’s recent role in WOMAN OF THE HOUR, and thoughts on balancing faith and creativity.

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!