Creative Principles

Michael Hirst discusses his love for historical fiction, where he’s known for ‘Vikings,’ ‘The Tudors,’ ‘Elizabeth’, and ‘Elizabeth: The Golden Age.’ In this interview, Hirst talks about the immersion of research, an open mind to the material, historical accuracy versus historical plausibility, and how poetry and footnotes can shape screenwriting. 'Vikings' is currently in it’s fifth season on the History Channel.

Writer-Director Sherwin Shilati discusses his new film, ‘People You May Know.’ In the movie, an introvert named Jed realizes he can become whomever he wants to be on the Internet. Shilati discusses how becoming a parent made him less overwhelmed to do his work, along with the debate of creating a film as a time stamp, and how to follow your own voice to accomplish your goals while working with people who you admire.

Writer-Director Jake Goldberger discusses his new film, ‘Almost Friends.’ In the movie, Freddie Highmore’s character Charlie is an unmotivated man in his mid 20s still living at home with his mother, who falls for a young woman who has a serious boyfriend. Goldberger discusses the importance of being both the writer and director, avoiding genres as well as expectations, and films that should not be pigeonholed.

Documentary filmmaker Jon Alpert talks about why he originally went to Cuba in the 1970s, the first time he met Fidel Castro, and what made him return again and again over the past fifty years. In this first-hand look, Alpert talks changing technology over the years, first-person versus third-person filmmaking, and the importance of having a good editor.

In this interview, documentary filmmaker Jacob Kornbluth talks about personal storytelling, archival material, why he was attracted to big ideas as a filmmaker and how to find the authentic moment. 'Saving Capitalism' follows former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich as he takes his book and his views to the heart of conservative America to speak about our economic system and present big ideas for how to fix it. The film is now streaming on Netflix.

Jon Lucas and Scott Moore talk about their writing partnership that led to 'The Hangover,' 'Four Christmases,' and 'Bad Moms.' In this interview, the writer-director team talk their writing team logistics, guys movies versus mom movies, knowing who your audience is, when a joke works, and why great concepts aren't that funny.

Zachary Cotler and Magdalena Zyzak discuss their new film, 'Maya Dardel.' In this interview, the writer-director team talk their literary influences, dying breeds of writers, complicated personalities for characters, and the importance of a strong female lead.

In this collection of interviews, the screenwriters and directors behind 'I.T.,' 'Lavender,' and 'Rupture' discuss the horror genre. These writers talk about collaboration, writing to direct, the realities of showbusiness, haunting as a metaphor, when the genre misfires, writing for female leads, Hitchcock-level tension, captivity movies, the power of fear, and why filmmaking is a disease.

In this collection of interviews, the screenwriters and directors behind 'The Diabolical,' 'Reversion' and 'Backtrack' talk about making horror films, the power of technology, the writing process, learning what you need or don't need, why smaller budgets mean greater freedom, original takes on old tropes, and when to let go of ideas.

Director Joe Lynch talks 'Mayhem,' starring Steven Yeun ('The Walking Dead') and Samara Weaving ('Ash Vs. Evil Dead'). In this interview, Lynch discusses his influences like 'A Clockwork Orange' and 'The Blob,' how he didn't storyboard for this new film, bad advice in the movie business, and the evolution of a director, along with his ongoing love for the horror-comedy genre.