Crooked Stories Theater host Paul Knauer interviews two-time Emmy and Golden Globe winner Erik Bork (BAND OF BROTHERS, FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON) about evaluating and strengthening your story ideas.

The conversation centers on Erik's book—The Idea: The Seven Elements of a Viable Story for Screen, Stage or Fiction.

ERIK BORK'S WEBSITE: https://www.flyingwrestler.com/

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The Crooked Stories cast performs table reads of two shorts from writer Warren Duncan

Rats of a Feather: What's a love-struck rat to do?

Genre: Romcom/Animated

Crazy in Love: Can love find a way, even in the strangest of places?

Genre: Romcom

Format: Table Read

Paul Knauer, Executive Producer, Director

Warren Duncan, Writer

​Jason Burroughs, Sound Design

Rats of a Feather:

Eliza Runolfson, Narrator

​Jason Burroughs, Marty

Chris Head, Alfred

Matt Candelario, Forman

Ananya Barjatiya, Rita/Sofie

Crazy in Love:

Matt Candelario, Narrator

Ananya Barjatiya, Ruby

Chris Head, Henry

Eliza Runolfson, Older Woman/Female group leader

​Jason Burroughs, Dr. Miller/Male nurse/Cook/John/Middle-aged man

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"Nobody's ever put a nose out before."

A band of misfit knights are called to serve the kingdom's least capable Lord -- er, Lerd.

Genre: Screwball comedy

Paul Knauer, Executive producer

Paul Knauer, Director

Matt Candelario, Assistant director

Paul Knauer, Writer

Tyler Red, Sound engineer

Ed Harper, Composer

Cast

Matt Candelario, Sir Abbott

​Jason Burroughs, Earl Tartar

Harry Dyer, Lerd Paul

Patrick Warbutton, Sir Warbutton

​Jason Burroughs, Patrick Warbutton

Chris Head, Sir Chester

Jarret Griffis, Sir Simple

Eliza Runolfson, Sir Betty the Bone Crusher

Ed Harper, Sir Duncan

Jack Parker, Trumpeter

Dean Humphrey, Sir Edgar

Phoebe Ryvicker, Sir So Confused

Olivia Swad, Sir Jennifer Jean Mabeline

Paul Knauer, Host

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"Idiots. The lot of them."

A band of misfit knights are called to serve the kingdom's least capable Lord -- er, Lerd.

Genre: Screwball comedy

Paul Knauer, Executive producer

Paul Knauer, Director

Paul Knauer, Writer

Tyler Red, Sound engineer

Ed Harper, Composer

Cast

Matt Candelario, Sir Abbott

​Jason Burroughs, Earl Tartar

Patrick Warbutton, Sir Warbutton

​Jason Burroughs, Patrick Warbutton

Chris Head, Sir Chester

Jarret Griffis, Sir Who, Sir Simple, Sir Richard

Ed Harper, Sir Duncan

Jack Parker, Sir Everyone

Dean Humphrey, Sir Edgar

Ralph Duke, Sir What

Phoebe Ryvicker, Sir So Confused

Olivia Swad, Sir Jennifer Jean Mabeline

​Steve Parker, Sir Steve of Kansas

Paul Knauer, Host, Sir He

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"I told you how to survive the morning."

A delivery driver is pulled into a nightmare when a mysterious caller forces him to carry out a crime he can't escape.

Genre: Crime/Thriller

EXPLICIT: LANGUAGE

Paul Knauer, Executive producer

Paul Knauer, Director

Steve Hyde, Writer

Jakobi Kendrick, aka FunSizedJJ, Sound engineer

Ben Fearn, Composer

Cast

Chris Head, Marty

Jarret Griffis, Voice

Eliza Runolfson, Claire

​Jason Burroughs, Harlan

​Steve Parker, Officer

Paul Knauer, Host

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"I couldn’t let him arrest me."

An emotionally-stunted loner’s hard-charging goldfish forces him to confront his fears about the outside world.

Genre: Absurdist Comedy Series

Paul Knauer, Executive producer/Writer/Director

Tyler Red, Sound design

Ed Harper, Composer

Cast

Matt Candelario, Stanley

Eliza Runolfson, Stella

Patrick Warbutton, Albert (Practical)

Jason Burroughs, Albert (Vocalizations)

Alana Rodriguez, Ellie

Chris Head, Landlord

Olivia Swad, Gina White

Dean Humphrey, Stage Hand

Matt Candelario, Patrick Warbutton

Paul Knauer, Himself

Matt Candelario, Joe Black

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"Sometimes a goldfish can bring out the worst in you."

An emotionally-stunted loner’s hard-charging goldfish forces him to confront his fears about the outside world.

Genre: Absurdist Comedy Series

Paul Knauer, Executive producer/Writer/Director

Tyler Red, Sound design

Ed Harper, Composer

Cast

Matt Candelario, Stanley

Eliza Runolfson, Stella

Jason Burroughs, Albert Vocalizations/Shopkeeper

Alana Rodriguez, Ellie

Natasha Kee, Josephine

Dan O’Rourke, Radio Newsman

Paul Knauer, Himself

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The Crooked Stories cast performs table reads of three shorts from writer Paul Knauer.

Ole Bess' Bait Shop: "Finally hooked her, mama."

Wanna catch something big? Choose the right bait.

Genre: Creature Horror/Comedy

How Paul Died: "Last night, I dreamt I died."

It's Paul's last day. But, how will he go?

Genre: Comedy

Who Killed the Cat?: "Muffin was the only thing I loved."

Somebody did it.

Genre: Horror/Comedy

Format: Table Read

Paul Knauer, Executive Producer, Director

Paul Knauer, Writer

Jason Burroughs, Sound Design

Ole Bess' Bait Shop

Jason Burroughs, Narrator

Chris Head, Howard

Olivia Swad, Vera

Drew Hudson, Bruno

How Paul Died

Drew Hudson, Narrator

Chris Head, Paul

Olivia Swad, Christine

Jason Burroughs, Dan, Leonard

Who Killed the Cat?

Chris Head, Narrator

Jason Burroughs, Bert

Olivia Swad, Muriel

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"There are 44 trillion known species with only 3% of the cosmos explored. But, we’re the aliens."

First contact. In an Apple Store.

Genre: Absurdist Comedy Short/Sketch

Paul Knauer, Executive producer/Writer

Gary Howell, Director

Jason Burroughs, Sound design

Ed Harper, Composer

Cast

(in order of Appearance)

Dan O’Rourke, Radio Newsman

Jason Burroughs, General/Member of Press

Harry Dyer, Jerry Seinfeld/Newman

Drew Hudson, Reporter #1/Member of Press

Jack Parker, Reporter #2

Matt Candelario, Fox News Reporter

Olivia Swad, MSNOW Reporter

Chloe Cavelle, Fashion Weekly Reporter

Paul Knauer, Member of Press

Gary Howell, Apple Store Employee/Member of Press

Ralph Duke, Member of Press

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The Crooked Stories cast performs table reads of two dramatic shorts from writer Kathy Cranford.

Buono Fortuna: "All she requires is an offering, you know. What would it hurt?"

Imploring an ancient legend, a fisherman's desperate plea for good fortune goes awry.

The Price She Paid: "That doesn’t change what comes now."

During a road trip, a couple looks back on their life.

Format: Table Read

Genre: Drama

Paul Knauer, Executive Producer, Director

Kathy Cranford, Writer

Jason Burroughs, Sound Design

Buono Fortuna

Eliza Runolfson, Narrator

Matt Candelario, John

Jarret Giffis, Dub, Henry, TV News Anchor

The Price She Paid

Matt Candelario, Narrator

Eliza Runolfson, Rita

Jarret Giffis, Dave

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