BPS 150: Screenwriting Masterclass with Oscar® Nominee John Sayles

BPS 150: Screenwriting Masterclass with Oscar® Nominee John Sayles

Author: Bulletproof Screenwriting November 24, 2021 Duration: 1:33:26
Today on the show we have legendary independent filmmaker and Oscar® nominated screenwriter John Sayles.

John Sayles is one of America's best known independent filmmakers, receiving critical acclaim for films including Eight Men Out (1988), Lone Star (1996) and Men with Guns (1997). He's also written screenplays for mainstream films such as Passion Fish (1992), Limbo (1999), The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008) and did a draft of Jurassic Park (1993) for Steven Spielberg.

John has been named by American critic Roger Ebert as

"one of the few genuinely independent American filmmakers",

which John modestly denies!

John has directed over 20 films and written well over 100 screenplays throughout his career. Two of his early films, The Return of the Seacaucus Seven (1978) and Baby Its You (1982), were selected by the United States National Film Registry for preservation in 2012. John was born outside Scranton, Pennsylvania and graduated from Williams College.

John is a talented screenwriter as well as director; he made his first professional short film TSR: Thirty Seconds Over Reims (1971) after winning a talent competition with a script for the film. John's work often touches on social issues – including unemployment, inner-city violence and war – which John believes make excellent material for stories due to complex personal relationships involved with these topics.

John also discusses his career path, including his decision to become a screenwriter, the difficulties he faced working as a screenwriter in Hollywood and his experience of writing for other directors such as Steven Spielberg.

John and I had an amazing conversation that was full of knowledge bombs. It was truly like being in a filmmaking and screenwriting masterclass, hence the title of the episode.

Sit back, relax and get ready to take some notes. Enjoy my epic conversation with John Sayles.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bulletproof-screenwriting-podcast--2881148/support.

Ever find yourself staring at a blank page, wondering how the stories you love actually got made? Bulletproof Screenwriting™ Podcast digs into that process with the people who live it. Each week, we sit down for honest, detailed conversations that pull back the curtain on the craft and business of telling stories for the screen. You’ll hear from Oscar® and Emmy® award-winning writers, not just about their triumphs, but about the drafts that failed and the specific problems they had to solve. We also talk with best-selling authors who have adapted their work, seasoned Hollywood agents and managers who know what sells, and various industry insiders who provide a clear-eyed view of how things really work. This isn't about abstract theory or motivational fluff. It's a practical resource built on real experience, covering every aspect of the screenwriting process from that initial spark of an idea to navigating the complexities of the marketplace. The goal is straightforward: to provide you with actionable insights and straight talk that can strengthen your work and clarify your path forward. Whether you're just starting out or have a few scripts under your belt, this podcast offers a grounded perspective on the journey, one concrete discussion at a time. Tune in for a dose of reality and craft from those who have been in the trenches and emerged with stories to tell.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 500

Bulletproof Screenwriting™ Podcast
Podcast Episodes
BPS 327: Can Short Films Make Any Money? with Kim Adelman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:54
Kim Adelman began her producing career with the indie feature, Just Friends. She then launched the Fox Movie Channel's short film program, where the 19 shorts she produced won 30+ awards and played over 150 film festival…
BPS 326: Horror Filmmaking Masterclass with Danny Draven [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:12:44
Danny Draven is an award-winning director and producer of genre films. After receiving his film degree in Boston, he moved to Hollywood and worked his way up through the ranks until he began producing and directing sci-f…
BPS 324: Screenwriting the 80's Classic Cocoon with Tom Benedek [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:10
Tom Benedek is a screenwriter known for his work in the film industry. He was born on March 16, 1949, in Los Angeles, California, USA. Benedek has written several screenplays for movies across various genres. One of his…
BPS 323: How to Raise Your Filmmaker IQ with John Hess [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:00
Today on the show we have director, Youtuber, and founder of the legendary Filmmaker IQ John Hess. I have been a huge fan of John's for quite some time. The videos he creates for Filmmaker IQ are, by far, some of the bes…
BPS 321: Inside the Golden Age of Hollywood with George Stevens Jr. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:54
George Stevens, Jr. has achieved an extraordinary creative legacy over a career spanning more than 60 years. He is a writer, director, producer, playwright and author. He has enriched the film and television arts as a fi…
BPS 319: Directing The Last Exorcism with Daniel Stamm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:57:17
Daniel Stamm was born and raised in Hamburg, Germany, where as a teenager, he was the host of a radio show and editor of a youth magazine. He toured with a theater, studied drama, and published a play before he went to B…