Let's Make A Sci-Fi, Episode 2: World-Building (feat. Neill Blomkamp + Emily VanDerWerff)

Introducing: Let’s Make A Sci-Fi!: An eight-part adventure through the creative process as three comedians try writing a successful sci-fi pilot— with help from scientific experts and Hollywood screenwriting pros. by Let's Make A Horror

3 min listen

Episode 8 (Part 1): Progeny: The day is finally here. The sci-fi script is done and ready for all to judge. Introducing: Progeny. Progeny, Episode 1: Kirby, a low level worker aboard a massive generational spaceship containing the last humans in the universe makes contact with a mysterious vessel that claims to be from Earth, sent to bring them back. Featuring performances by Mark Meer (Mass Effect), Rainn Wilson (The Office), Suleka Mathew (Claws), Carly Pope (Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin), Ashleigh Ball (My Little Pony), Alessandro Juliani (BattleStar Galactica), Richard Newman (Transformers: Beast Wars), Barbara Pollard, and more. by Let's Make A Horror

60 min listen

Episode 1: Take Me Seriously (feat. Jem Garrard + Catherine Winder): Ryan, Mark, and Maddy talk to producers Catherine Winder (Star Wars) and Jem Garrard (Vagrant Queen) and learn how to identify great story ideas. Then, they pitch each other concepts for their science fiction pilot and land on a winning idea. by Let's Make A Horror

34 min listen

Episode 4: Science (feat. Neil deGrasse Tyson): The gang has their world and their characters, but is there enough science in the fiction? They pit their concept against all-star experts—astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, “Bad Astronomer'' Phil Plaitt, and Hollywood science advisor Mika McKinnon (Sharknado) — to determine whether the pilot makes scientific sense. And when the science doesn’t check out, they get the experts to create some that does. by Let's Make A Horror

28 min listen

Episode 2: World-Building (feat. Neill Blomkamp + Emily VanDerWerff): Ryan hosts a sci-fi movie marathon for inspiration. Director Neill Blomkamp (District 9) and critic Emily VanDerWerff (Vox) advise on how to create engrossing fictional worlds. The gang develop their universe and even design a spaceship—but is world-building the right place to start? by Let's Make A Horror

31 min listen

Introducing: Let's Make A Rom-Com: Can three comedians write a heartfelt rom-com script? Let’s Make A Rom-Com takes you inside a real writers’ room, where Maddy Kelly, Mark Chavez and Ryan Beil get (semi-)serious about love. Coming February 14 wherever you get your podcasts. by Let's Make A Horror

3 min listen

Episode 7: Scary Executives (feat. Paul Bae): Ryan, Mark, and Maddy send their script to an important, scary Hollywood executive for review. Podcaster-turned-TV writer Paul Bae drops by to reassure the comedians that they can survive the feedback process. With only days before actors read their script, executive producer Kerry Appleyard (Orphan Black) gives Ryan, Mark, and Maddy her notes—triggering major rewrites. by Let's Make A Horror

27 min listen

Episode 3: Characters (feat. Simon Barry): Ryan, Mark, and Maddy pitch their premise to showrunner Simon Barry (Continuum)—only to be told they have a big problem: they don’t have any characters. They explore what makes a compelling character with screenwriting professor Kat Montagu and fill their generational ship with… generations! They also crystalize their protagonist: Kirby. by Let's Make A Horror

29 min listen

Episode 6: Comedy (feat. Rainn Wilson): Ryan, Mark, and Maddy write their first draft, but after reading it aloud to each other they worry they’ve strayed galaxies far, far away from their serious goals. Comedy legend Rainn Wilson (Galaxy Quest, Star Trek: Discovery, The Office) helps the comedians find a balance between humour and hard science fiction. by Let's Make A Horror

29 min listen

Episode 5: Social Commentary (feat. Jose Molina): Before diving into their first draft, the comedians map out the plot of their pilot and try to untangle the deeper messages they want their script to tackle. Screenwriters Jose Molina (Firefly) and Neill Blomkamp (District 9) assist, sharing their secrets on writing sci-fi plots with real-world purpose. by Let's Make A Horror

26 min listen

Introducing: Let’s Make a Horror!: <p>Can three comedians get seriously scary? Mark Chavez, Maddy Kelly, and Ryan Beil attempt to not only write but also make a frightening short film—with help from Hollywood experts. Let's Make A Horror premieres October 11 wherever you get your podcasts.</p> by Let's Make A Horror

3 min listen

Episode 6: The Break Up (feat. Greg Behrendt): It's crisis time. Now that the comedians have figured out how to bring their couple together, it's time to tear them apart. To dive deep into romantic conflict, Maddy, Mark, and Ryan call up two very different experts: divorce lawyer Melanie Bragg and comedian, Sex & The City writer, and author of “He's Just Not That Into You” Greg Behrendt. The comedians then collaboratively write a scene where things take an especially sour turn. by Let's Make A Horror

26 min listen

Episode 8 (Part 2): We Made a Sci-Fi: Mark, Maddy, and Ryan listen to the table read of their pilot. They reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and what was the most embarrassing. They also pitch each other on what genre they’ll tackle next. by Let's Make A Horror

27 min listen

Episode 1: What’s Love Got to Do With It? (feat. Billy Mernit + Addison Duffy): Maddy, Mark, and Ryan get ready to fall in love with a whole new genre. They speak to Billy Mernit, Hollywood story analyst and author of “Writing the Romantic Comedy”, to learn the rom-com’s tried-and-true formula. They also consult United Talent Agency’s Addison Duffy to discover what kinds of rom-coms audiences and agents are loving. (Santa? Spies? Superspreaders?) With insights into both profits and passion, the writers pitch each other on rom-com concepts. by Let's Make A Horror

32 min listen

Episode 5: Romantic Dialogue (feat. Phoebe Robinson): The gang consult comedian, actor, podcaster, and renowned wit Phoebe Robinson (2 Dope Queens, Everything's Trash) on how to write genuine and genuinely good romantic dialogue. Reading out their real love letters to past and present partners inspires Maddy, Mark, and Ryan on what NOT to do. The comedians fight through absolutely crushing levels of vulnerability and read aloud scenes where Greg and Catalina begin to fall in love. There's banter! There's chemistry! There's... Zeta Trigonometry!? by Let's Make A Horror

28 min listen

Episode 4: Side Characters (feat. Karan Soni): Actor and sidekick extraordinaire Karan Soni (Always Be My Maybe, Deadpool) advises on what makes a compelling supporting character… and flexes his Salma Hayek connection. Maddy, Mark, and Ryan develop their movie’s entire romantic world, pitching each other on quirky best friends (and friends of friends) and picking out the perfect setting, before sitting down to outline their script. by Let's Make A Horror

33 min listen

Episode 3: The Meet Cute (feat. Billy Mernit): With their romantic leads (kind of!) fleshed out, the comedians each try writing the genre's most iconic staple: the meet cute. Maddy hosts a rom-com movie marathon for inspiration. Mark discovers the term's unexpected origins. Story analyst Billy Mernit ("Writing the Romantic Comedy") returns to demystify how important the "cute" is in a potent "meet cute." Finally, the comedians read their romantic run-ins aloud to test their characters' chemistry. by Let's Make A Horror

29 min listen

Episode 2: The Couple (feat. Kirsten “Kiwi” Smith): The comedians turn to rom-com royalty Kirsten "Kiwi" Smith (10 Things I Hate About You, Legally Blonde, She's the Man) to help refine their pitch. They also develop their romantic leads, Greg and Catalina. But are they failing to see a few key rom-com red flags…? by Let's Make A Horror

31 min listen

Episode 8 (Part 1): His Ex-Girlfriend is Salma Hayek: Description: You've listened to the process, and now it's time to listen to the pitch. It’s “His Ex-Girlfriend is Salma Hayek.” Did these three comedians come up with a fresh and funny rom-com? If you were an Hollywood exec, would you greenlight it? Listen and judge for yourself! Featuring the performances by Lili Beaudoin (Catalina), Malik Elassal (Greg), Ronald Dario (Mark), Anita Rochon (Breathe), Taz Van Rassell (Park Cop), Aaron Read (Date Guy), and Kevin Lee (Zeta Trigonometry) by Let's Make A Horror

25 min listen

Episode 8 (Part 2): We Made a Rom-Com: Maddy, Mark, and Ryan sit down with their producers Dave and Chris to discuss the process of making “His Ex-Girlfriend is Salma Hayek”. They listen to clips from the pitch and Maddy divulges why this process was especially emotional for her. by Let's Make A Horror

25 min listen

Episode 7: Grand Romantic Gestures (feat. Ol Parker): Once you've broken your couple up, how do you bring them back together? With a grand romantic gesture, of course. But in the world of grand romantic gestures, how grand is too grand? How romantic is too romantic? When Mark's mad lib game doesn't quite help, the hosts bring in a true romantic comedy MVP: writer and director Ol Parker (Ticket to Paradise, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again). They're just three comedians, standing in front of a Hollywood pro, asking him to help them finish their rom-com. by Let's Make A Horror

28 min listen

Episode 1: Horror 101: Mark, Maddy, and Ryan return to their writers' room, ready to take on a new genre: horror. To set themselves on the right path, they chat with a horror legend, The Blair Witch Project director Eduardo Sánchez. The comedians also discuss their own love/hate relationship with horror, their biggest fears, and establish the rules for this season’s spooky project. by Let's Make A Horror

34 min listen

Episode 5: Horror Directing (feat. Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein): Mark, Maddy, and Ryan have their idea, but who’s going to helm it? Director duo Adam Stein and Zach Lipovsky talk about directing as a team—and the big stunt they pulled to land directing Final Destination 6. The hosts debate whether they’ll direct together or appoint one director. by Let's Make A Horror

35 min listen

Episode 2: The Idea (feat. Gillian Flynn): Mark, Maddy, and Ryan hold an Ouija seance in the graveyard before calling up Gone Girl writer Gillian Flynn, who advises the hosts on how to recognize a great idea and coaches them on two tenants of great horror: suspense and twists. Back in the writers’ room, Mark, Maddy, and Ryan pitch each other their horror movie concepts and pick their winning idea. by Let's Make A Horror

40 min listen

Episode 6: Horror Acting (feat. Rose McIver): Doubting their horror acting abilities, the comedians write and practice reading horror dialogue with actor Rose McIver (Ghosts, iZombie, The Lovely Bones), who leads a crash course in horror performances. With unexpected help from rom-coms, Rose teaches the hosts how to go from gushy to gory. This interview was recorded before the SAG-AFTRA strike. by Let's Make A Horror

30 min listen

Episode 4: Comedy and Horror (feat. Ronnie Chieng): After spooky stories disintegrate into laughs, the hosts explore the thin boundary between horror and hilarity with Daily Show correspondent and comedian Ronny Chieng, who also shares what it was like to be murdered by AI doll M3GAN. Mark, Maddy, and Ryan also put on their producer hats and start planning their short film. by Let's Make A Horror

38 min listen

Episode 10: Let’s Make a Horror LIVE: Mark, Maddy, and Ryan perform a live version of the podcast with guest Tricia Black (What We Do In The Shadows, Pretty Hard Cases) at Comedy Bar as part of the Just for Laughs Toronto comedy festival. by Let's Make A Horror

43 min listen

Episode 3: How to Scare an Audience (feat. Matt Gourley): Film idea in hand, it’s time for the hosts to study the art of scares—with a horror film fest sleepover! Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend co-host Matt Gourley gives Mark, Maddy, and Ryan’s sleepover its spine-tingling syllabus. After exploring the genre, indie horror director Gary Michael Schultz prepares the hosts for the realities of DIY filmmaking. by Let's Make A Horror

31 min listen

Bonus: Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud | The Exorcist's Staying Power: Although critics are slamming the new Exorcist movie, it's still number one at the box office. Horror fans Jen Sookfong Lee and Matt Hart make the case for the original Exorcist, and weigh in on why we love to be scared at the movies. Every day, Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud brings you the most urgent, joyful, captivating discussions in all of arts, pop culture, and entertainment. Commotion is where you go for a thoughtful and vibrant chat working through the big culture stories. More episodes are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/8ysgbI4K by Let's Make A Horror

16 min listen

Episode 7: Chaos Week (feat. Doug Jones): Mark, Maddy, and Ryan have finished their script just in the nick of time. But 8 days before they shoot their film, everything goes wrong. Maddy moves across the country, Mark goes blind, and the director of photography winds up in the hospital! As the comedians assemble their crew and head out to the cabin, can they break this curse? They also enlist legendary monster actor Doug Jones (Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water, Hocus Pocus) to ensure that their ghoul is sufficiently scary. by Let's Make A Horror

34 min listen

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Let's Make A Sci-Fi, Episode 2: World-Building (feat. Neill Blomkamp + Emily VanDerWerff)

Let's Make A Sci-Fi, Episode 2: World-Building (feat. Neill Blomkamp + Emily VanDerWerff)

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