Bored of 'Star Wars'? As a Screenwriter, I Can Tell You Why

Bored of 'Star Wars'? As a Screenwriter, I Can Tell You Why

Why does Disney’s modern era of ‘Star Wars’ leave so many fans indifferent at best and running away at worst? It isn’t just you – and it isn't a lack of explosions and lightsaber duels. In this episode, I take a close look at the new film ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ to diagnose a massive narrative crisis in not just it, but most ‘Star Wars’ projects post-George Lucas. By breaking this golden rule of commercial storytelling, Disney has ensured that audiences will continue to tune out and films like ‘Mandalorian and Grogu’ will continue to bomb. Today’s conversation is as much for storytellers looking to improve their craft as ‘Star Wars’ fanatics who are having trouble putting a finger on why so many of these stories aren’t moving them or the broader culture anymore. ON THE ITINERARY: * THE CONSEQUENCE CRISIS: Breaking down why modern ‘Star Wars’ stories feel like they’re spinning their wheels, and how avoiding real narrative stakes kills audience investment. * THE FORGOTTEN GOLDEN RULE: Unpacking the essential rule of commercial storytelling that Disney keeps breaking – and how violating it directly triggers profound audience fatigue. * THE SCREENWRITER'S DIAGNOSIS: A clinical look at the script-level choices that drain characters of true agency and leave zero room for permanent, impactful change. * LESSONS FOR CREATORS: How screenwriters, novelists, and storytellers of any kind can look at the erosion of a multi-billion-dollar franchise to protect and sharpen their own stakes. JOIN THE COMMUNITY! 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/ EXCLUSIVE BONUS EPISODE: "SCREENWRITERS: HOW TO SURVIVE HOLLYWOOD'S NO-WIN SCENARIO"I crashed and burned when I faced my first Kobayashi Maru test during the rewrite of a major spec feature sale... but you can learn from my mistakes. UNLOCK THE BONUS AT SUBSTACK: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/hollywood-screenwriting-development-hellUNLOCK THE BONUS AT APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-screenwriters-how-to-survive-hollywoods-no-win/id1807437928?i=1000772928000 LINKS: * Listen/Read "How 'Andor' Blows Up Star Wars' Obsession With Moral Absolutism": https://open.substack.com/pub/colehaddon/p/new-podcast-how-andor-blows-up-sta * Read "Luke Skywalker Isn't the Hero You Want Him to Be": https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/luke-skywalker-isnt-the-hero-you * Read "Lucasfilm’s Disregard for the O.G. Heir to the 'Star Wars' Empire Is Part of a Larger Entertainment Industry Problem": https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/the-og-heir-to-star-wars-empire-say * Read: "What Really Went Wrong With the 'Star Wars' Prequels...Maybe": https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/what-really-went-wrong-with-the-star 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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ * Cover art: 'The Mandalorian and Grogu'

The Brew | Why AI Destroys the Real Meaning of Filmmaking

Remember when we wanted to make films, not just generate them? Let’s dive into why AI filmmaking strips away the friction, chaos, and collaboration that also produces the greatest films. It also robs the process of its most important element — fun! We’re going to explore the corporate push to turn a bespoke, human art form into disposable, mass-produced, flat-pack junk — call it the IKEA-fication of cinema (and art)! I’ll be using plenty of examples from cinematic history — especially Steven Spielberg’s filmography — to support my case. Stick around for the last third, in which I dive into ‘The Pitt’, the ‘Scrubs’ sequel series, and a Booker Prize winner that made me scream. JOIN THE COMMUNITY! 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 PROCESS IS THE POINT: Why AI threatens to destroy the process that made me want to become a filmmaker in the first place and turn something bespoke and beautiful into disposable, mass-produced junk. * CHAOS, DESPERATION, AND DYSENTERY ARE YOUR FRIEND: A broken shark, Harrison Ford getting, disagreeable dinosaurs - how Steven Spielberg turns obstacles into great art. * ART WITHOUT COMFORT: Why easy art makes stories suck hard. * DOUG LIMAN’S 'BITCOIN': The sobering reality of a 20-day shoot inside a plain gray box. * IT’S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL: Why cutting out hundreds of people along the way makes our creative worlds — and our adventures — smaller. * WHAT WAS I THINKING WHEN I CALLED 'THE PITT' MEDITATIVE?: The thrilling, heart-racing late-Season 1 turn that completely changed my perspective on “The Pitt”. * 'SCRUBS': A CURE FOR MIDLIFE CRISES: Finding something beautiful to cling to in the nostalgia and trauma-laden world of the sequel series. * THE IMPENETRABLE PRIZE WINNER: What happened when I put a paragraph from a Booker Prize-winning into AI three times to try to make sense of what it was trying to say? * THE REITMAN PRINCIPLE: What makes great films — and great directors according to 'Juno' director Jason Reitman. 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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ * Cover art: Borrowed from the making of 'Jaws', which we'll discuss at length in this episode.

The Cultural Necessity of Awe | Psychologist Dacher Keltner

Our society has traded collective awe for isolating screens — and our art is paying the price. Psychologist DR. DACHER KELTNER knows a thing or two about awe as the director of the Berkeley Social Interaction Lab, author of the book ‘Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life’, and a key creative consultant on Pixar’s ‘Inside Out’. Awe is the psychological engine of human creativity, the very origin point of art, music, and the stories we use to make sense of our existence. Yet modern, hyper-individualistic society has systematically built a buffer between us and everyday wonder — making us lonelier, feeding our anxiety, and actively handicapping our imaginations. This conversation dives deep into the biological and cultural necessity of awe, the startling revelations recent studies show about how autistics experience awe, how a deficit of awe or even the manipulation of it can break down social cohesion and lead to the rise of dangerous leaders, and the terrifying ramifications for Hollywood and the arts as we navigate an era defined by the death of shared communal experiences. SCREENPLAY PERFORMANCE STUDIO: Today's episode is brought to you by Screenplay Performance Studio. Check them out and use the code 5AMStoryTalk to get $25 off. ⁠screenplayperformancestudio.com/5AM [http://screenplayperformancestudio.com/5AM] JOIN THE COMMUNITY!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/ EXCLUSIVE BONUS EPISODE: JAN STEEN'S PAINTING 'MERRY COMPANY ON A TERRACE' Dacher returns to break down a seminal piece of art from his own life that helped set him on a quest to better understand human emotions. UNLOCK THE BONUS AT SUBSTACK: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/dacher-keltner-jan-steen-merry-company-on-a-terrace UNLOCK THE BONUS AT APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-dacher-keltner-talks-jan-steens-merry-company/id1807437928?i=1000769462790 ON THE ITINERARY: * THE BIAS OF SCIENCE: Why psychology ignored transcendent emotions for a century to focus on fear, impacting Western storytelling. * THE CREATIVES' LAB: How artists, writers, and filmmakers can actively trigger states of awe to break through creative blocks and write deeper, more resonant stories. * THE NEURODIVERGENT MIND: Breaking down groundbreaking new data from autistic scholar Hari Srinivasan that shatters harmful myths about neurodiversity and awe. * THE CRISIS IN HOLLYWOOD: Why modern cinema is struggling to connect, and how a cultural deficit of wonder has sterile algorithms replacing creative risk-taking. * THE DEATH OF THE LIVE AUDIENCE: From movie theaters to church pews, why we are collectively suffering from the loss of shared communal experiences. LINKS: * Check out Dr. Dacher Keltner's book ‘Awe': https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/622175/awe-by-dacher-keltner/ * 🎧📺✍️ 5AM StoryTalk's discussion 'Project Hail Mary' Is the Blueprint to Save Hollywood (and Our Future)': https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/project-hail-mary-blueprint-save-hollywood-our-future * Hari Srinivasan's autism research blog: https://uniquelyhari.blogspot.com/ TIP JAR: Not up for a paid subscription? You can also “buy me a coffee” ⁠⁠⁠here to help keep me caffeinated (translation: writing)⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SOCIAL MEDIA: * 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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Notes Survival Guide for Screenwriters & Authors

Getting feedback on a script or novel shouldn't be so anxiety inducing. This episode of 5AM StoryTalk is the ultimate notes survival guide for screenwriters and authors receiving feedback – and a masterclass for producers, agents, and book editors looking to deliver critiques that actually inspire great revisions! 👉 SCREENPLAY PERFORMANCE STUDIO: Today's episode is brought to you by Screenplay Performance Studio. Check them out and use the code 5AMStoryTalk to get $25 off. screenplayperformancestudio.com/5AM [http://screenplayperformancestudio.com/5AM] ON THE ITINERARY: * THE FIGHT-OR-FLIGHT RESPONSE: Breaking down the actual evolutionary psychology of why creative feedback triggers the exact same brain response as a physical attack. * THE "MURDER" IMPULSE: Why many standard industry notes often derail a writer's momentum instead of helping the story. * FILTERING THE GOLD: A step-by-step strategy for screenwriters and novelists to separate valuable insights from otherwise questionable note sessions. * HOW TO GIVE NOTES (WITHOUT THE DRAMA): The exact blueprint for producers, agents, book editors, and peers to deliver devastating critiques in a way that actually inspires the creator. * HOLLYWOOD VS. THE REST OF THE WORLD: The gap between how Hollywood notes are given and how they’re given elsewhere around the globe. * THE SCREENWRITER VS. NOVELIST DIVIDE: How the feedback landscape can differ between the screenwriting and publishing worlds. * THE EMOTIONAL CURE: My personal toolkit for cooling down, processing the anxiety, and turning a brutal notes session into a great script revision. JOIN THE COMMUNITY! 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/ LINKS: * Read why this episode's sponsor, Screenplay Performance Studio, meets this podcast's human-made art standards for a digital tool: https://screenplayperformancestudio.com/privacy-policy.html * Read "The Horror of 'Dracula': The Unbelievable True Story of the 2013 TV Series": https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/new-podcast-episode-the-horror-of 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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Brew | Overcomplicating your world-building? •.producer notes on my TV pilot • 'The Pitt', at last

Are you overcomplicating your world-building? I’m breaking down why the most effective story worlds are built on simplicity — and why I opted (counterintuitively) to instead take a “maximalist” approach to my storytelling with my latest TV pilot script commission. The good news is, I finally heard from my producers what they think about the work I did, which I’m going to be filling you in about, along with an update on my new feature spec screenplay, and what I’ve been watching lately…like 'The Pitt’. Is it just me, or is it one of the most meditative shows on TV today? I’ll tell you what I mean by that and more in this latest edition of The Brew — an intimate 5AM StoryTalk series on the struggles and successes of life in the arts. JOIN THE COMMUNITY! 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 PILOT UPDATE: What's going on with my latest script commission? After almost five months, I finally got notes from my producers. * DELICATE MAXIMALISM: Swinging for the fences with an oversized draft to find the project’s perfect shape. * THE RARE NOTE: I got a note I've never received before. Find out what it was. * THE WORLD-BUILDING SPECTRUM: From 'Star Wars 'to the grounded social dynamics of Amity Island in 'Jaws' - what do people not understand about the term 'world-building'? * THE KILLER 50-PAGE PILOT: Tightening a 63-page script into a "tear-through" read. * CELLULOID AT RADIO SPRINGS: 'Citizen Kane' and the "fucking brilliant" French epic 'Camille Claudel' on film. * WHAT I THINK OF 'THE PITT': The unique conflict of a series that feels like "what television used to be". * THE MINGUS PRINCIPLE: Making the complicated simple so the audience can internalize the world instead of analyze it. LINKS: * Read "14 Perfect Minutes: Breaking Down the Opening of 'Jaws'": https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/14-perfect-minutes-breaking-down * Read "How to World-Build Like a Wachowski": https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/on-screenwriting-how-to-world-build * Read "30 World-Building-Heavy Scripts to Download and Study": https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/30-world-building-heavy-scripts-to 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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ * Cover art: Stanford torus, painted by Donald E. Davis. Source: NASA.