Watching the movie Sharknado, one has to wonder, “Who comes up with this? Who dreams up a tornado of sharks falling from the sky to wreck havoc on L.A., while chainsaw-wielding celebrities take to the streets and air to save the day?”

The answer: Thunder Levin. Thunder is a film and TV writer and director who became interested in movies back in high school. Before Sharknado, he worked on sci-fi films including Apocalypse Earth and Mutant Vampire Zombies from the Hood.

His approach to screenwriting is simple: write scripts for movies that he’d like to make. Over the course of his career, he’s explored both the serious side of science fiction and the fun, totally ridiculous side. These days, he’s on to something new: a rock musical complete with pirate zombies. Ready for a wild ride? Listen in.