Genre filmmaking is all about taking simple premises and turning them into high-impact scares.

GREG MCLEAN (writer-director of 'Wolf Creek' and 'Rogue') breaks down how to build relentless tension, develop iconic horror characters, and turn tight premises into unforgettable feature scripts.

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EXCLUSIVE BONUS EPISODE: ALIEN (1979)

Greg returns to break down a seminal piece of art from his own life that still informs every cinematic decision he makes today. A masterclass in horror.

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IN THIS EPISODE:

Greg McLean ('The Belko Experiment', 'Territory') breaks down genre filmmaking, building relentless tension, crafting iconic horror characters, discussing the film he wishes he could erase from his filmography, and turning tight premises into unforgettable scripts by manipulating audience psychology.

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CREDITS:

• 5AM StoryTalk acknowledges 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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Taking a vacation from the desk can be a recipe for disaster for a workaholic writer like me. Here’s why taking two weeks off triggered a massive 5:30 AM anxiety attack!

Fresh off a family holiday that forced me to confront my need for daily writing to stay sane, I'm breaking down my panic spiral over my career backlog, an update on my new feature spec notes and TV pilot commission, plus my thoughts on finally watching the first season of "Shrinking".

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ON THE ITINERARY:

• MY VACATION PANIC SPIRAL: Why stepping away from the desk for two weeks triggered a 5:30 AM anxiety attack about my career.
• WRITING AS MY MEDICINE: Daily pages aren't a choice for me — they're a requirement to keep me sane.
• SPEC & COMMISSION UPDATES: Where things stand with my new feature spec and the status of my TV pilot rewrite.

• DIVING INTO 'SHRINKING': My reaction to finally catching up on Apple TV's comedy-drama.
• BUKOWSKI’S BRUTAL TRUTH: A quote from the great poet to help you on your creative journey.

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 to help keep me caffeinated (translation: writing)⁠⁠⁠:

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• Bluesky⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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EMAIL:

⁠5AMStoryTalk@gmail.com

CREDITS:

• 5AM StoryTalk acknowledges 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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Starting a 2nd draft is one of the ultimate tests for screenwriters. Here’s why diving in too fast is a creative disaster!

Fresh off wrapping the first drafts of two scripts (a TV pilot commission and a feature spec), I'm breaking down how I find perspective on my work, as well as my specific strategies to prepare for my next draft that will hopefully help you elevate your story from a messy 1st draft to the best 2nd draft possible.

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Join the 10,000+ members of the 5AM StoryTalk community at Substack mastering the craft of storytelling (and the art of life) together: https://colehaddon.substack.com/

ON THE ITINERARY:

• THE ART OF THE PAUSE: Why finding perspective before you start a 2nd draft is the single most important step in the entire screenwriting workflow.
• THE REWRITING CIRCLE: How to curate a small, trusted circle of diverse readers – with diverse viewpoints – to stress-test your pages.
• FEATURE VS. TV PILOT REWRITES: The differences between rewriting specs and scripts you’ve been commissioned to write.
• ‘OBSESSION’ AND ‘BACKROOMS’ MELT MY BRAIN: Thoughts on these films, but especially the Rorschach Test that ‘Obsession’ has turned out to be for audiences.
• MIRAGE IN THE DESERT: A core memory of 'Lawrence of Arabia' with my son.
• THE JODI PICOULT APPROACH: The brutal truth about the first draft that completely reframes how you look at a blank page.

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 to help keep me caffeinated (translation: writing)⁠⁠⁠:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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

EMAIL:

⁠5AMStoryTalk@gmail.com

CREDITS:

• 5AM StoryTalk acknowledges 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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠