loader from loading.io

Zack Ford on Screenwriting, Hacking into Hollywood, and Making it to Sundance with Watcher

DreamPath Podcast

Release Date: 02/02/2022

RECAP - Oakley Takeaways, Lanagen Tribute Feedback, and Bryan and Jason Take a Break show art RECAP - Oakley Takeaways, Lanagen Tribute Feedback, and Bryan and Jason Take a Break

DreamPath Podcast

Bryan and Jason discuss takeaways from Bryan's chat with writer, producer, and food critic Bill Oakley. They also talk about the overwhelmingly positive response to the Mark Lanegan tribute episode. Finally, Bryan and Jason talk about taking a break from podcasting so they can focus on family and other creative endeavors.  

info_outline
Bill Oakley on The Simpsons, Writer's Block, and the Creative Freedom of Fast Food Reviews show art Bill Oakley on The Simpsons, Writer's Block, and the Creative Freedom of Fast Food Reviews

DreamPath Podcast

Bill Oakley is a Portland-based writer and producer known for his work on (where, with partner Josh Weinstein, he was executive producer and showrunner for the 7th and 8th seasons), , , and . He most recently served as a writer and producer on , , , and on HBO Max. Bill is also popular on Instagram and Twitter (@thatbilloakley), where he reviews fast food from the comfort of his car, and has been dubbed “The Gordon Ramsay of Fast Food" by The Wrap Entertainment News. He appears regularly on the History Channel’s “” and will appear on Netflix’s travel cuisine documentary this...

info_outline
RECAP - Bryan and Jason on Long Line Of Ladies, Thoughts on Ukraine, and Jason's New Music show art RECAP - Bryan and Jason on Long Line Of Ladies, Thoughts on Ukraine, and Jason's New Music

DreamPath Podcast

Bryan and Jason discuss takeaways from Bryan's chat with Rayka Zehtabchi and Shaandiin Tome, who co-directed the documentary short Long Line of Ladies, which premiered at Sundance and is now showing at SXSW. Bryan and Jason also talk about the situation in Ukraine and Jason talks about the music he has been writing and recording, which will be available in May. 

info_outline
Rayka Zehtabchi and Shaandiin Tome on Co-Directing Long Line Of Ladies show art Rayka Zehtabchi and Shaandiin Tome on Co-Directing Long Line Of Ladies

DreamPath Podcast

is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker who won the Academy Award for her film in 2019. is an Albuquerque-based filmmaker whose breakout, award-winning short film Mud (Hashtł’ishnii) premiered at Sundance Film Festival in 2018. Rayka and Shaandiin co-directed the documentary short , which premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, and will be featured at SXSW next week. Long Line of Ladies follows a girl and her tribal community as they prepare for her Ihuk, the once-dormant coming of age ceremony of the Karuk tribe of Northern California. What you will learn: How Rayka and Shaandiin found...

info_outline
A Tribute to Mark Lanegan (feat. Moby, Mark Pickerel, and Jeff Fielder) show art A Tribute to Mark Lanegan (feat. Moby, Mark Pickerel, and Jeff Fielder)

DreamPath Podcast

Bryan and Jason talk about the loss of Pacific Northwest indie rock legend Mark Lanegan, paying tribute to him and playing clips from interviews with musicians Moby, Mark Pickerel (formerly of the Screaming Trees), and Jeff Fielder, all of whom worked closely with Lanegan at various points in his career. 

info_outline
RECAP - Wladyka and Perkash Takeaways, Upright and Grateful, HBO Max Gems, and What's Next show art RECAP - Wladyka and Perkash Takeaways, Upright and Grateful, HBO Max Gems, and What's Next

DreamPath Podcast

Bryan and Jason discuss takeaways from Bryan's chat with Josef Kubota Wladyka, who wrote and directed Catch The Fair One (now on VOD), as well as takeaways from Bryan's chat with film producer Sunil Perkash, who produced Last Survivors (now on VOD). Bryan also talks about a recent illness which humbled him and made him grateful to be alive, Bryan tells Jason about two HBO Max shows he watched recently (Peacemaker and Station Eleven), and Bryan talks about his upcoming interview with Bill Oakley. 

info_outline
Sunil Perkash on Studio vs. Indie Films, and Producing Dystopian Thriller Last Survivors show art Sunil Perkash on Studio vs. Indie Films, and Producing Dystopian Thriller Last Survivors

DreamPath Podcast

Film producer Sunil Perkash developed major studios hits like starring Brendon Frasier, Alicia Silverstone, Sissy Spacek and Christopher Walken, , starring Sandra Bullock, and Disney’s blockbuster hit , starring Amy Adams, which grossed $340 million, and received multiple oscar and golden globe nominations. Sunil then produced , starring Angelina Jolie and grossing $300 million. He is currently in post production on , a sequel to ENCHANTED for Disney Plus starring Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey. His most recent indie film is , starring Alicia Silverstone, Stephen Moyer and Drew Van Acker....

info_outline
Josef Kubota Wladyka on Writing, Directing, and Producing Catch The Fair One, Starring Kali Reis show art Josef Kubota Wladyka on Writing, Directing, and Producing Catch The Fair One, Starring Kali Reis

DreamPath Podcast

Josef Kubota Wladyka is a screenwriter, director, and producer. His episodic television credits as a director include the netflix series , , and , among others. Josef’s most recent feature film, , which he wrote, directed, and produced, was released in select theaters and on VOD on February 11 by IFC Films. Executive Produced by and Produced by Academy Award winner , Catch The Fair One stars , playing a former champion boxer who sets off on a dangerous quest into the criminal underworld of sex trafficking to find her kidnapped sister. Kali developed the story for Catch The Fair One with...

info_outline
RECAP - Kinnear, Ford, Sundance Takeaways, %#&* Joe Rogan, and What's Next show art RECAP - Kinnear, Ford, Sundance Takeaways, %#&* Joe Rogan, and What's Next

DreamPath Podcast

Bryan and Jason discuss takeaways with from Bryan's chat with artist manager/concert promoter Ken Kinnear and screenwriter Zack Ford. Bryan talks about his experience covering the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, recapping some films he saw at the festival. Bryan and Jason dive into the Joe Rogan/Spotify controversy. And Bryan previews his upcoming interview with movie producer Sunil Perkash, who produced Salt starring Angelina Jolie, Enchanted Starring Amy Adams, and The Last Survivors, starring Drew Van Ackle, Stephen Moyer, and Alicia Silverstone, which was released to theaters and VOD on...

info_outline
Zack Ford on Screenwriting, Hacking into Hollywood, and Making it to Sundance with Watcher show art Zack Ford on Screenwriting, Hacking into Hollywood, and Making it to Sundance with Watcher

DreamPath Podcast

Zack Ford is a New York-based screenwriter who sold his first screenplay right out of New York University’s Tisch School of Arts. The screenplay, originally entitled Scribbleface, would become Scar 3D, the first stereoscopic 3D horror film. Zack’s film, , premiered at Sundance 2022 and was recently purchased by IFC Films for theatrical and VOD distribution. Directed by and starring Maika Monroe and Karl Glusman, is about a young American woman who moves into an apartment with her fiancé in Bucharest, Romania, only to be tormented by the feeling that she is being stalked by an unseen...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

Zack Ford is a New York-based screenwriter who sold his first screenplay right out of New York University’s Tisch School of Arts. The screenplay, originally entitled Scribbleface, would become Scar 3D, the first stereoscopic 3D horror film. Zack’s film, Watcher, premiered at Sundance 2022 and was recently purchased by IFC Films for theatrical and VOD distribution. Directed by Chloe Okuno and starring Maika Monroe and Karl Glusman, Watcher is about a young American woman who moves into an apartment with her fiancé in Bucharest, Romania, only to be tormented by the feeling that she is being stalked by an unseen watcher in an adjacent building. This all happens while a serial killer is terrorizing the city. 

What you will learn:

  • What first sparked Zack’s interest in screenwriting at age 6, how he wrote his first screenplay at age 12, entered a screenplay in the Nicholl screenwriting competition at age 16, and sold his first screenplay right out of NYU. 
  • How Zack struggled in the industry after his first produced film, Scar 3D, was panned by critics, inspiring him to hack into Hollywood by creating a fake agency and submit screenplays under pen names. Zack’s Script Magazine article about this journey is linked under Resources below.
  • How Watcher finally got produced, years after writing it, after being optioned multiple times, going into production, and then being shut down due to covid, before finally getting produced during the pandemic in Romania. 
  • Zack describes his work flow and writing process, which typically results in six completed screenplays per year.  
  • How Zack’s approach to outlining has evolved over the years. 
  • Where Zack would like to see himself professionally over the next few years.  
  • What projects Zack is working on and is attached to in 2022.  

Resources: