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Screenwriters: Don't Save the Cat...Put It in the Blender Instead!
“Screenwriters: I want you to PUT THE CAT IN THE BLENDER instead.” 🐱🌪️
'Save the Cat: The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need' has done catastrophic damage to Hollywood storytelling and the moviegoing experience in the 21st century—but after 20 years as a professional screenwriter, I have a solution that might just help with your next script.In this episode of 5AM STORYTALK, I break down why the industry’s obsession with formulas has led to "bored shrugs" from audiences and how Ryan Coogler’s SINNERS offers a better path for spec scripts. ✍️🎬
ON THE ITINERARY:
- THE FORMULA TRAP: Why the "Save the Cat" beats have created a sea of predictable, lifeless cinema 📉.THE SPEC SCRIPT SOLUTION: How to make a massive splash by ignoring the "rules" and finding your own voice ❤️🔥.PUT THE CAT IN THE BLENDER: My specific strategy for taking traditional structure and turning it into something authentic and surprising 🔄.SINNERS VS. THE SYSTEM: How Ryan Coogler broke the rules to create one of the most talked-about specs in years 🧛♂️.
LINKS
- 'How Do You Like Them Apples?! (or: Why Screenwriting Books Can Be Harmful)' from 5AM StoryTalk: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/how-do-you-like-them-apples-or-why?utm_source=publication-search
- 'The Problem with How We Write (and Think) About Location' from 5AM StoryTalk: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/the-problem-with-how-we-write-about?utm_source=publication-search
- 'How to Write Better Dialogue (While Becoming a Better Person)': https://pod.link/1807437928/episode/MGIwN2FiMTMtNWExMC00OGM2LTlhMjMtY2FjZmQ0MGY1Yzk5?view=apps&sort=popularity
SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK NEWSLETTER'
https://colehaddon.substack.com/
A free subscription the 5AM StoryTalk newsletter gets you access to hundreds of arts, screenwriting, and writing articles. A paid subscription gets you access to all episodes of this podcast – including exclusive bonus episodes in which my guests discuss seminal pieces of art from their lives. Ask questions in the comments section there, too!
SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK PODCAST' AT APPLE https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5am-storytalk/id1807437928
A paid subscription at Apple will get you access to all of my bonus episodes in which my guests return to break down a seminal artwork from their lives.
TIP JAR
Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” here: https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Cole/5AM StoryTalk at…
5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/
Cole Haddon @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/Colehaddonwashere
-
5AM StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.
This podcast's music is by Cary Brothers. https://www.carybrothers.com/
View all episodes
By Cole Haddon“Screenwriters: I want you to PUT THE CAT IN THE BLENDER instead.” 🐱🌪️
'Save the Cat: The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need' has done catastrophic damage to Hollywood storytelling and the moviegoing experience in the 21st century—but after 20 years as a professional screenwriter, I have a solution that might just help with your next script.In this episode of 5AM STORYTALK, I break down why the industry’s obsession with formulas has led to "bored shrugs" from audiences and how Ryan Coogler’s SINNERS offers a better path for spec scripts. ✍️🎬
ON THE ITINERARY:
- THE FORMULA TRAP: Why the "Save the Cat" beats have created a sea of predictable, lifeless cinema 📉.THE SPEC SCRIPT SOLUTION: How to make a massive splash by ignoring the "rules" and finding your own voice ❤️🔥.PUT THE CAT IN THE BLENDER: My specific strategy for taking traditional structure and turning it into something authentic and surprising 🔄.SINNERS VS. THE SYSTEM: How Ryan Coogler broke the rules to create one of the most talked-about specs in years 🧛♂️.
LINKS
- 'How Do You Like Them Apples?! (or: Why Screenwriting Books Can Be Harmful)' from 5AM StoryTalk: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/how-do-you-like-them-apples-or-why?utm_source=publication-search
- 'The Problem with How We Write (and Think) About Location' from 5AM StoryTalk: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/the-problem-with-how-we-write-about?utm_source=publication-search
- 'How to Write Better Dialogue (While Becoming a Better Person)': https://pod.link/1807437928/episode/MGIwN2FiMTMtNWExMC00OGM2LTlhMjMtY2FjZmQ0MGY1Yzk5?view=apps&sort=popularity
SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK NEWSLETTER'
https://colehaddon.substack.com/
A free subscription the 5AM StoryTalk newsletter gets you access to hundreds of arts, screenwriting, and writing articles. A paid subscription gets you access to all episodes of this podcast – including exclusive bonus episodes in which my guests discuss seminal pieces of art from their lives. Ask questions in the comments section there, too!
SUBSCRIBE TO THE '5AM STORYTALK PODCAST' AT APPLE https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5am-storytalk/id1807437928
A paid subscription at Apple will get you access to all of my bonus episodes in which my guests return to break down a seminal artwork from their lives.
TIP JAR
Not up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” here: https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Cole/5AM StoryTalk at…
5AM StoryTalk @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/
Cole Haddon @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/Colehaddonwashere
-
5AM StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.
This podcast's music is by Cary Brothers. https://www.carybrothers.com/