The Screenplay Writers

A twist is when something happens that is different from what you expected. Nathan and Ryan brainstorm a screenplay concept called “Heart Bros.” They note that they probably have good news coming up very soon, since Ryan sent his screenplay for “In Memoriam” to his friend Agent Nick who has close ties—an uncle—in the movie industry. Ryan and Nathan reveal their favourite screenplay-writing software: Google Drive. Logline Cage Match: “The Puck Thrower.”

“If you don’t have a good idea, you’re out to lunch.”

We’re sponsored by Firehall Coffee! Where we just started working as coffee bean roasters. Very, very exciting.

The guys do Script Surgery on “Steel Magnolias,” which has tons of positive joy in it, which is why they talk about it in this episode. It reminds Nathan of the supportive, creative community at Firehall Coffee. Nathan reads his pitch for “Space Baseball” in Logline Cage Match, and hits a big, big homer.

This episode is NOT brought to you by Steam Engine Coffee. And neither was the last episode, so please disregard that. There was a miscommunication—we thought we were sponsored by them, but we were not. 

Anyway, Ryan and Nathan talk about the small, literal fire they put out in the roastery. They have a lot to say about joy because that’s what they are all about. They do script surgery on “Inside Out,” which requires a degree in microbiology to understand. Ryan pitches “Ultimate Doggo” in Logline Cage Match.

We got a sponsor! This episode is brought to you by Steam Engine Coffee, which is the most awesome place to work at and get coffee at in Vancouver, B.C. We should know, we roast the beans there.

Resolution is the end of a movie, or how it all turns out, in screenplay writers parlance. Ryan and Nathan’s favourite resolutions are when characters come back on-screen while the credits roll. That’s the best! They do script surgery on “Stepbrothers,” and Logline Cage Match with “Total Eclipse of Rick.”

When people are fighting in a screenplay, you’ve might have conflict. When they really, really don’t get along, you definitely have conflict. Nathan and Ryan discuss how to incorporate conflict in your screenplay elegantly. They do script surgery on “Guardians of the Galaxy Volume II,” noting the extreme amount of conflict in it. Nathan pitches his intriguing and timely idea “Little Miss Journalist” in Logline Cage Match.

When you get that feeling in your stomach that something's just not right—that's probably tension in your screenplay. And that’s a good thing. The formula for tension in screenplays is that you want to raise it. Nathan and Ryan perform script surgery on "Dunkirk." In Logline Cage Match, Ryan pitches his screenplay “Thirty-something Chessmaster,” inspired by actual inspiring events.

British, American, Canadian or French—what type of spelling do you use when writing a screenplay? Nathan and Ryan tackle the question head-on. Ultimately they reveal the answer: “Depends.” They conduct script surgery on “The English Patient,” and Nathan gives his unfiltered opinions on Ryan's latest idea, “Apples and Oranges,” in Logline Cage Match.

Dialogue is what characters say to each other, which makes it a big, big part of most screenplays. Ryan assures Nathan that he’s a great dialogue guy, even if he isn’t much of a conversationalist in person. They do script surgery on “Lilo and Stitch” and Ryan presents his screenplay “JFKFC.” Nathan loves it.

A movie without flow is like a martini glass without a stem: preposterous. Nathan and Ryan address the importance of screating an elegant flow with deer-like momentum in your screenplay. They break down the sandiness of “Mad Max” (the newer one), Ryan reveals his “Edge of Your Seat” test, and they discuss why screenplay writers should never have standing desks. They plan to do script surgery on Wonder Woman, but it doesn’t need any. Nathan pitches his slam-dunk screenplay concept, “Diva and the Devil.” Ryan agrees to be an equal partner in bringing it to life and in all proceeds from its sale.

Setting is sort of like where a screenplay takes place, influencing everything from the buildings to the weather to the clothing characters wear. Ryan and Nathan do script surgery on “Baby Driver,” and discuss the screenplay in progress “Gym Rats” in Logline Cage Match. Ryan notes that he is also now a freelance podcast music producer, available for anyone who needs a soundtrack, theme song or bumpers for their podcast. Reasonable rates.