Emerging: How to Eventually Make it in Film & TV

As deadline season approaches, we're kicking off a new run of (slightly) shorter episodes focussing on productivity, accountability and the brass tacks of actually getting down to writing, as opposed to just talking about it. So what does one week into our new productivity goals look like? What excuses are we making for ourselves already? Within this week's more relaxed chat, there's a whole bunch...

If it's one thing a lot of writers aren't great at, it's keeping track of their progress and setting realistic writing goals. It's a fickle process - we've lost count of the amount of times we've failed to deliver on a personal target. So let's talk about it - not just how to set realistic goals, but how to hold yourself (and others) to account for the work we say we're going to do. And with both...

It's one of the hardest questions in writing - when is it time to give up? On a script, on an agent, or even on writing altogether? None of us are about to throw in the towel completely, but it's a punishing business filled with rejection; the question's bound to pop up every now and then. Or in Tray's case, weekly apparently. When is quitting okay? When do we know it's time to walk away from a sc...

A special little bonus this week - fresh from a 4 day trip to Edinburgh, Martin breaks down his main industry takeaways from the Edinburgh TV Festival. Including some sneaky little tidpits, some thoughts on diversity and a real first, a panel focussing on ESEA (East and South East Asian) lead stories. 📬 Get In Touch: Email us: TheEmergingPodcast@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram: @theemergingpod B...

As festival season well and truly kicks off with the Edinburgh TV Fest, we're looking at all the many different kinds of events, both big and small, and our top tips for getting the most out of the entry fee. Whether that's how you plan your time around the festival programme, the appeal of attending an industry focussed event (like Edinburgh) and why sometimes, going to a more local short film fe...

If writing is hard, rewriting can be even harder - especially if you're working on someone else's draft. But we're in luck, as this week we're joined by our first ever returning guest, fountain of industry knowledge Mr Mike Powell. A successful working screenwriter, Mike helps us understand the ins and outs of not only the most effective way to redraft your own work, but what it's like when you're...

Whether it's just studying screenplays you stole off the internet, or writing your own one man show, or even being taught how to write by the pros at Harvard, there's no one right way to learn the craft - and our guest this week would know, because he's done literally all of those things.  The sensationally lovely Thomas Burr is a writer, actor, dear friend and Harvard graduate (despite being...

Networking networking networking, all everyone ever talks about is networking. Everyone hates it, it can be pretty scary if you're not partiuclarly social, but it's very much the life blood of making it in this industry. So learning how to make it work for you is one of the most important skills you can build as a writer. And you're in luck - in this very advice heavy episode, we're pulling togeth...

Trying to 'emerge' as a writer is tough enough, sometimes you just need a shoulder to cry on or a bit of lasting encouragement to just keep going, so having a community of supportive, likeminded people around you is fairly vital. But communities don't just *happen* - how do we find our "tribe"? And why does it always feel so awkward? Especially for those of us who aren't the most confident sociall...

Research is both the ultimate procrastination tool, and the holy grail for making your characters and your worlds feel lived in and three-dimensional. So how much is enough? And what does meaningful research even look like anyway? Are we writing endless bulletpoints, watching stacks of movies, making stupid collages, or just cramming it into our brains in the hope that it'll all just sort of work...

One of the hardest truths about making it as a writer is that so much of your time will not actually be spent writing scripts. There's networking, building and maintaining relationships with helpful people, writing those dreaded applications and pitch documents, and obviously all the actual business stuff too - accounts, invoices, taxes... It can be a scary leap if you've never been a freelancer b...

It doesn't matter who you are or what level you're at, the film and TV industry feels like it's built on rejection. Every single one of us will experience it many many times. And it sucks. It hurts. It can make you question your work and your talent and your place in the world. But it's part of the process. So with that in mind, how do we deal with the constant kick-backs? Does it ever get easier,...

After mentioning it in almost every episode to date, this week we finally talk openly about racism and diversity in the film and TV industry - from the uncomfortable truths everyone knows but rarely says out loud, to the internal battles we face as emerging writers navigating it all. We actually sat down to talk about rejection (more on that next week) so this one's a little more free-form than no...

It might sound wild, but sometimes our best and most meaningful work happens completely subconsciously. How many times have we sat down to write something profound and deeply thematically powerful, only to be crushed by the weight of what we're trying to do? So this week, we're (as Tray would say) "deeping it", to dig down into the overarching themes of our scripts, the intention behind them, and...

The age old question, I need a creative writing degree, or even a Masters to be a successful writer? Well, you're in luck because our guest this week has both and IS a successful writer, so has a thing or two to say about education... The brilliant Hanna Tatschl, a working screenwriter and playwright from Dublin with credits across TV, theatre, and film, takes us through their unique journey into...

It's a competitive industry where everyone seems to be hustling 24/7, so taking time off can often feel like a risk (or even a failure). Fear of missing out is real. So this week, we’re talking about rest - the kind that’s actually meaningful and necessary. We dig into our own fears around taking breaks, the pressure to be constantly producing, and the myth that real writers write every single day...

Writing can be a very solitary pursuit, but it doesn't have to be! Just listen to actor turned screenwriter turned friend of the podcast (and fellow New Writers Collective alum) Max Krupski, who's really found his feet (and a lot of success) working as part of a number of different writing teams and duos. Maybe it's because he's also objectively the nicest man in Britain, but Max has some great in...

Getting notes on your screenplay can be a pretty bruising experience, no matter who they're from, whether it's a friend, a loved one, another writer or a high ranking TV exec. But as you've probably heard, it's a truly vital part of the writing process, and something that everyone, no matter how emerged or successful, has to endure. So let's talk about it - the good, the bad and the ugly of both g...

Knowing when to stand up and back yourself as a writer is tricky business, especially when our chances to connect with producers and agents and people who can actually move our careers are few and far between. Too early, and neither you, nor your work will be ready, but wait too long and you might miss your shot. Which is why this week we're sitting down with close friend, former development assis...

Side quests aren't just for gamers - this week we're all in the same place for once(!), digging deep into all the other stuff we do outside of screenwriting (from stand-up and improv, to travelling and reading comic books) that feeds our creativity, keeps us sane, and ultimately, makes us better at what we do. Writing doesn't happen in a bubble, and there's a lot to be said for getting out there a...

It's a competitive industry, so maybe sometimes the only way to stand out from the crowd is to actually make stuff. Martin's close friend and collaborator Louis Chan (director of Highs, writer of Sticks of Fury and A LOT of other shorts) joins him for a quick chat about maintaining that creative hustle, and how his latest film Patience came to be. Patience will be out via Omeleto on YouTube from 1...

So you've climbed the mountain, got an agent and started getting commissions - but what is it actually like to work as a screenwriter in the British film and TV industry? Friend of the podcast Mike Powell is back, diving even deeper into the realities of day-to-day life as a professional screenwriter; what the job actually looks like, how to navigate the ups and downs (including when and when not...

One of the hardest things to figure out while writing is how to support ourselves financially, whether that's getting a job in the film and TV industry, or somewhere very, very different. Thankfully, this week supremely talented working screenwriter Mike Powell joins us to give some pointers, taking us through his early days interning in post-production at Elstree Studios, his time as a freelance...

Have you heard about Ryan Coogler's unprecedented ownership deal with Warner Bros for his new movie Sinners? Tray takes 10 minutes to go deep on what it means for writers and creatives of colour going forward, and how the Creed and Black Panther filmmaker may have just changed the industry for the better. 📬 Get In Touch: Email us: TheEmergingPodcast@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram: @theemergingp...

What does it really take to make a short film, and is it even worth it? As emerging writers, we're often told to just get out there and "make something", but will throwing your time (and often money) into making shorts actually benefit your career as a writer and get you noticed? From making shorts on a zero budget, to crowdfunding projects and getting the greenlight from TV studios, between the t...