Creative Principles

Ric Roman Waugh got his start as a stuntman. Working on films like ‘True Romance’ and ‘Days of Thunder,’ he got to know experts like Tony Scott and Jerry Bruckheimer, which led to him writing and directing films like ‘Felon,’ ‘Snitch,’ and ‘Shot Caller.’ Now, he’s in the director’s chair for the third installment of the Gerard Butler trilogy, ‘Angel Has Fallen.’ In the new film, “Secret Service Agent Mike Banning is framed for the attempted assassination of the President and must evade his own agency and the FBI as he tries to uncover the real threat.” Along with Butler, Morgan Freeman returns and additional cast includes Danny Huston and Piper Perabo. In this exclusive interview, Waugh discusses why he writes every single day, his focus on moral ambiguity in storytelling, advice from Jerry Bruckheimer, how to walk the line between franchise and stand-alone movie, why the theme of a script is everything in filmmaking, and he shares a few details about his upcoming apocalyptic film, ‘Greenland,’ which also stars Gerard Butler. If you enjoyed this interview, join thousands of viewers for the new YouTube series, Creative Principles, which dissects new films, series, and more: bit.ly/2FARJz5

“The Man in the High Castle” is based on Philip K. Dick’s science fiction novel depicting an alternative history where the Axis powers won World War II. Mercifully this is a “what if” scenario which meant Production Designer Drew Boughton and his team had to solve their own complex, hybrid equation of addition, subtraction and reconstruction to produce this new reality. It is literally world building. He completely remixed history by building three cultures that are somewhat familiar in history, but completely original and grafted onto modern society. Injecting the theme of “the banality of evil” underscores both the common threads and the unique variance between these three worlds. In this interview, Boughton shares his early love for building sets and creating backdrops, how the industry has changed with CGI, his love for the groundbreaking film ‘Blade Runner,’ how he begins his process with the director, and the many complications in creating a Nazi-centric series. If you enjoyed this interview, join thousands of viewers for the new YouTube series, Creative Principles, which dissects new films, series, and more: bit.ly/2FARJz5

Writer-Director Mike Gan was born in Beijing, China before moving to the United States. With two working immigrant parents, Gan spent much of his time in movie theaters to stay out of trouble. Now, he’s known for ‘No Evil,’ ‘Into the Dark,’ and the new thriller, ‘Burn.” ‘Burn’ stars Josh Hutcherson and Suki Waterhouse. According to IMDB, “When a gas station is held at gunpoint by a desperate man in need of cash, a lonely and unstable gas station attendant, tired of being overshadowed by her more outgoing co-worker, finds an opportunity to make a connection with the robber.” In this interview, Gan discusses when he realized he wanted to make films, his love for 90s movies, how to recognize the filmmaker in a movie, why he loves to make grounded or flawed characters, the greatness behind restrictions, and how a random article inspired the psychological plot behind ‘Burn.’ If you enjoyed this interview, join thousands of viewers for the new YouTube series, Creative Principles, which dissects new films, series, and more: bit.ly/2FARJz5

At a very early age, Wayne Roberts knew he wanted to be involved with filmmaking. Inspired by Tim Burton and Stanley Kubrick, he loved the idea of creating new worlds. But, outside of film, he was inspired by Ernest Hemingway and various other classic authors. Roberts’ is relatively new to the scene, but his first two films have made a big impact. In ‘Katie Says Goodbye,’ Olivia Cooke, Christopher Abbott, Mireille Enos, and Mary Steenburgen star in a film about a 17-year-old waitress-prostitute who wants a better life. In his latest film, ‘The Professor,’ Johnny Depp takes the lead opposite Rosemarie DeWitt in a comedy-drama about a college professor who takes a reckless turn in life once he discovers he’s been diagnosed with a terminal illness. In this interview, the writer-director talks about doing right by the characters, how a flash can turn into a full feature, the logistics of his creative process, the necessity of a powerful screenplay, why films should focus on emotion, and why it’s vital to avoid the trends of cinema. If you enjoyed this interview, join thousands of viewers for the new YouTube series, Creative Principles, which dissects new films, series, and more: bit.ly/2FARJz5

Nick Hamm loves working with actors. With a background in theater, he’s very familiar with proper blocking, on set relationships, and the dynamics of storytelling. The British director is perhaps best known for the Robert DeNiro film ‘Godsend,’ ‘Killing Bono,’ and now, ‘Driven.’ In his latest film, audiences are invited to uncover the story of John DeLorean, his vehicle creations, and his unusual involvement with big business, narcotics, and the FBI. The thriller comes from screenwriter Colin Bateman and stars Jason Sudeikis, Corey Stoll, Lee Pace, and Judy Greer. In this interview, Hamm discusses his transition from theater info filmmaking, the single most important thing he learned in the theater, what he looks for in a screenplay, how to play the top of the emotion, how to find thread in a complex narrative, and how the crew filmed in the aftermath of a hurricane. If you enjoyed this interview, join thousands of viewers for the new YouTube series, Creative Principles, which dissects new films, series, and more: bit.ly/2FARJz5

As an actor, improvisor, and photographer, Jason Winer took an adventurous route that led to his work as a director. Winer is known for his work on ‘Arthur,’ ‘New Girl,’ ‘The Crazy Ones,’ ‘Life in Pieces,’ and for directing the pilots for both ‘Modern Family’ and ‘Don’t Trust the B—— in Apartment 23.’ His latest film, ‘Ode to Joy’ is a fresh take on the romantic comedy. Starring Martin Freeman and Morena Baccarin, the story actually comes from a segment on Chicago’s “This American Life.” The official summary reads, “Charlie suffers from cataplexy, a symptom of narcolepsy that causes sudden bouts of paralysis whenever he experiences strong emotions - in particular, joy. He develops a variety of techniques to deny himself too much pleasure and happiness, but they're put to the ultimate test when he falls in love.” In this interview, Winer discusses his route to the director’s chair, why technical aspects can wait, how directing television helped him make decisions quickly, the complications of the studio business, the importance of camaraderie on set, and how to make an original obstacle in a genre film. If you enjoyed this interview, join thousands of viewers for the new YouTube series, Creative Principles, which dissects new films, series, and more: bit.ly/2FARJz5

“We never knocked on a door. We built our own house,” said the writing team behind ‘The Peanut Butter Falcon.’ Newcomers Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz wanted to create a Mark Twain-inspired story set in the outer banks of North Carolina. In the latest film, Zak runs away from his care home to pursue his dreams of becoming a wrestler. The film stars Shia LaBeouf, Dakota Johnson, Bruce Dern, John Hawkes, Thomas Haden Church, and Zack Gottsagen in the lead role. In this exclusive interview, the team discusses building your own industry, how to write a low budget feature, the necessity to be able to tell stories at various lengths, why you should use what you have to tell a story, how a proof of concept - like ‘Whiplash’ - can get a film made, and how a willingness to fail leads to success. If you enjoyed this interview, join thousands of viewers for the new YouTube series, Creative Principles, which dissects new films, series, and more: bit.ly/2FARJz5

Writer-director Aaron Harvey was drawn to film at an early age. Inspired by complex characters with unique arcs, the creator often starts with a thematic idea, then moves into character. His new film stars Luke Grimes (Yellowstone) and Frank Grillo (Captain America), but he’s also known for ‘The Neighbor’ and’ Catch .44.’ For ‘Into the Ashes,’ “Nick Brenner believed he had safely escaped his violent, criminal history. But his old crew hasn't forgotten about him or the money he stole, and when they take what Nick now values the most - his wife - he has nothing left to lose. Confronted by the town sheriff, who is also his father-in-law, Nick must decide if he will stay on his new path or indulge in his need for revenge and force his enemies to pay for what they have done.”
 In this interview, Harvey discusses paying homage to favorite films like ‘Taxi Driver,’ why he doesn’t subscribe to the Syd Field method of screenwriting, why he chose to be the writer and director for his storytelling, the pros and cons of making shorts, and his appreciation for the craft of filmmaking. If you enjoyed this interview, join thousands of viewers for the new YouTube series, Creative Principles, which dissects new films, series, and more: bit.ly/2FARJz5

We originally spoke with James Vanderbilt for his film ‘Truth’ in Episode 50, along with his other films such as ‘Zodiac,’ ‘Basic,’ ‘The Amazing Spider-Man,’ and ‘Independence Day: Resurgence.’ In Vanderbilt’s latest film, ‘Murder Mystery,’ Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston team up again for the romantic comedy. The Netflix original re-creates the classic who-done-it murder mystery. In this interview, the screenwriter talks about his 10-year journey to bring ‘Murder Mystery’ to audiences, his love for mystery, how to make an original movie without IP, the importance of genre deconstruction, how he battles procrastination, and a future project he’s working on with John Cena and The Rock. If you enjoyed this interview, join thousands of viewers for the new YouTube series, Creative Principles, which dissects new films, series, and more: bit.ly/2FARJz5

Eric Newman got his start as a PA on the comedy, 'Wayne’s World.' Working his way into the role of Producer, Newman took on jobs like ‘Dawn of the Dead,’ ‘Children of Men,’ ‘In Time,’ ‘RoboCop,’ and ‘Hemlock Grove.’ Then, in 2017, he started to use his knowledge to write scripts for ‘Narcos’ and ‘Narcos: Mexico.’ For the sequel to Netflix’s ‘Narcos,’ Newman and company wanted to create something familiar, but original to the Pablo Escobar world. Specifically, the newest version discusses the rise of the Guadalajara Cartel as an American DEA agent learns the dangers of targeting Narcos in Mexico. In this exclusive interview, Newman discusses the importance of authenticity, why steadfast rules to writing are irrelevant, why it pays to have zero expectations, the importance of ‘The Godfather,’ why surprises are worse than bad news, and the rise of the anti-hero in American cinema. If you enjoyed this interview, join thousands of viewers for the new YouTube series, Creative Principles, which dissects new films, series, and more: bit.ly/2FARJz5

Steven Canals found screenwriting an escape to a difficult childhood in the 1980s Bronx. While working on a documentary in high school, a classmate was shot and killed. The horrific event encouraged Canals to pursue a life of educational and inspiring storytelling. Inspired by movies like 'Flashdance,' 'The Terminator,' and 'The Color Purple,' the screenwriter knew he wanted to create an authentic story to help others feel seen and heard. Eventually, he created a series about the never-before-seen world of New York’s ball culture world. In 'Pose,' the story looks at the juxtaposition of various segments life and society in 1987 New York City. The story interweaves between a luxurious world, the downtown social and literary scene, and the iconic ball culture world that showcases Black, Latin, gay and trans culture. In this exclusive chat, Canals describes his childhood, the responsibility of a storyteller, what it’s like to get your work rejected over 150 times, why he knew his story should be a series rather than a movie, and why he needed a "disruptor" to push his story to mainstream audiences. If you enjoyed this interview, look for the print version on Creative Screenwriting’s website, and join thousands of viewers for the new YouTube series, Creative Principles, which dissects new films, series, and more: bit.ly/2FARJz5

“Deadlines take away writer’s block,” said screenwriter Chris Mundy. The writer started his career writing for Rolling Stone, before he made the transition into film and television. Known for ‘Cold Case,’ ‘Criminal Minds,’ ‘Hell on Wheels,’ ‘Low Winter Sun,’ ‘Bloodline,’ and the hit new series ‘Ozark.’ For ‘Ozark,’ Mundy is fascinated with the character of Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman). The father of the series, a man who launders money for his survival, is the type of person focused on logic rather than emotion, almost to a fault. In this interview, Mundy discusses the similarities between magazine profiles and characters, how the writers keep the Byrde family in new predicaments, why Marty isn’t necessarily an anti-hero, and what’s the importance of understanding where you lack knowledge about your series. Find out more about Ozark in our interview with Alyson Feltes in Episode 124. And, if you enjoyed this interview, join thousands of viewers for the new YouTube series, Creative Principles, which dissects new films, series, and more: bit.ly/2FARJz5

Wendy Chuck got her education on the job. Lessons like “don’t take anything too personally” and “collaborating on ideas” helped her find her footing as she learned to share ideas, create wardrobes, costumes, and designs. Chuck’s early assignments included ‘Varsity Blues,’ ‘Election,’ ‘About Schmidt,’ ‘Bad Santa,’ ‘Sideways,’ ‘The Descendants,’ ‘Nebraska,’ ‘Spotlight,’ ‘Downsizing,’ and now, Matthew Weiner’s ‘The Romanoffs.’ For the hit Amazon mini-series, the ‘Mad Men’ creator wrote an anthology of 8-episodes that revolve around descendants of the Russian Royal Family. The star-studded cast includes Diane Lane, Aaron Eckhart, John Slattery, Corey Stoll, and Christina Hendricks. For this interview, Chuck discusses questions to ask actors about wardrobe preferences, the design opportunity of a lifetime, the importance of preparation, her most difficult character, and the importance of taking time off. If you enjoyed this interview, join thousands of viewers for the new YouTube series, Creative Principles, which dissects new films, series, and more: bit.ly/2FARJz5

After leaving his career as a criminal prosecutor to volunteer with rescue animals, Glen Zipper eventually found his way to producing films so he could better defend issues he believed in. Rather than describing himself as an advocate filmmaker, Zipper is someone who likes to highlight issues, uncover injustices, and simply discover the truth. That said, he’s also uncovered tales about Bill Murray, Elvis Presley, Pauline Kael, and now Muhammad Ali. Directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day), HBO's ‘What’s My Name’ is an interesting documentary, because it’s a story completely told from the voice of Ali. There are no talking heads, but rather, Ali telling his story over the decades through sound bites and clips. In this interview, Zipper discusses the responsibility of a documentary platform, his fascination with dogs, what attracts him to a project, building a story brick-by-brick, and why Muhammad Ali will always be a fixture in American history. If you enjoyed this interview, join thousands of viewers for the new YouTube series, Creative Principles, which dissects new films, series, and more: bit.ly/2FARJz5

Like many costume designers, Claire Anderson got her start in theater. After experiencing “creative exhaustion” on a film, she fell in love with the industry and actually bumped into someone who offered her work at the BBC. Fast forward and now Anderson has worked on two projects from Neil Gaiman books. Both ‘American Gods’ and ‘Good Omens’ are interesting genre pieces, where the audience expects a great deal from production. In the latest series, Amazon’s take on ‘Good Omens,’ audiences are invited to see Michael Sheen, David Tennant, Jon Hamm, and Frances McDormand in a tale of comedic Armageddon angels, demons, and an 11-year-old Antichrist. In this interview, Anderson discusses her start in the industry, how to dress over 380 speaking characters, creating wardrobes from a good script, making outfits stylish yet comfortable, and the importance of rest between creative pursuits. If you enjoyed this interview, join thousands of viewers for the new YouTube series, Creative Principles, which dissects new films, series, and more: bit.ly/2FARJz5