Working Title: From Paper to Screen with Mark Elias

Susheel Daswani on Why Smart Money Bets on People

What makes someone back a film before there's a trailer, a cast, or anything to point to but an idea? Mark Elias sits down with Susheel Daswani—Silicon Valley tech investor and one of the earliest believers in We Could Be Heroes—to unpack what it really takes to be the first yes. They cover vision pitches vs. metrics pitches, why gaming culture and storytelling share the same DNA, the difference between "dumb money" and "smart money," and what success looks like when it isn't measured in returns. Because before a movie has a poster, it has a pitch. And someone has to lean in first.

Jonny Price (Wefunder) on Making Investors Part of the Story

You’ve got the script. Now how do you actually get it made? In this episode, Mark Elias sits down with Wefunder President Jonny Price to break down equity crowdfunding—and how filmmakers are raising real money by turning their audience into investors. They dive into what separates successful campaigns from the ones that stall, why momentum matters more than you think, and how to position your film as an opportunity people want to be part of. This isn’t about posting a page and hoping for the best. It’s about strategy, storytelling, and building a community before you ever ask for a dollar. If you’re serious about getting your project off the ground, this is where the work really begins. Working Title: From Paper to Screen is hosted by Mark Elias and produced and distributed by Merrick Studios. View all our episodes and more at wearemerrickstudios.com/working-title-pod [https://www.wearemerrickstudios.com/working-title-pod]

E.J. Foerster on Shopping a Script in Today’s Industry

You’ve finished the script. Now comes the hard part—getting it made. In Episode 4 of Working Title, Mark Elias sits down with director and producer E.J. Foerster (Forrest Gump, Gringa) to break down what it really means to “shop” a project. From packaging and attaching talent to building momentum and choosing a financing path, E.J. shares practical insights on how films actually move from script to screen. If you’ve ever asked, “What now?”—this episode is your roadmap.

Frank Hannah on Building a Story Through Rewrites

You’ve finished your first draft. Now what? In this episode of Working Title, Mark sits down with screenwriter Frank Hannah (The Cooler, Alpha’s) to break down what happens after draft one—when feedback starts coming in and the real work begins. They cover who to trust with notes, how to tell what feedback actually matters, and how to shape your script without losing the core of your story. If you’re in the rewrite phase, this is your roadmap forward. Working Title: From Paper to Screen is produced by Merrick Studios and hosted by Mark Elias. Join the conversation on Instagram @markelias [https://www.instagram.com/markelias/] and get the inside scoop at Merrick Studios+ [https://www.wearemerrickstudios.com/plus]. Join now and use the code: WELCOME for your first 3 months FREE.

Eric Wallace on Moving From Concept to Pages

An idea is exciting. Writing it is where things get real. In Episode 2 of Working Title, Mark Elias sits down with writer, producer, and showrunner Eric Wallace (The Flash) to explore the moment every project faces: when the idea is locked, and it’s just you and the page. Together, they break down what it actually takes to start writing—from building a bulletproof logline and outlining your story, to navigating doubt, discipline, and the pressure of the blank page. Eric shares practical tools and hard-earned lessons from decades in television, including how to know if you’re making real progress—even when the work doesn’t feel good yet. Because until there are pages… there is no movie.