This is a Hollywood horror story about the dumbest thing to ever happen to me as a screenwriter - including the exact moment a room full of industry pros realized the embarrassing six-figure mistake that had been made.

ON THE ITINERARY

• THE “DRACULA” HANGOVER: Recovering from creating a TV series that turned into a "shit-show" while your career is technically booming.
• THE GOLDEN GOD TRAP: When “we love this script, you’re brilliant!” turns into a repetitive, unsolvable note.
• THE UNPAID EXTRA MILE: Navigating the "two-Step" pilot deal and why agents push you to work for free.
• THE LITMUS TEST: Getting trusted feedback from showrunners to confirm you aren't the crazy one.
• THE WINDOWLESS ROOM: The exact moment a "bad idea" revealed a six-figure misunderstanding.
• THE SIX-MONTH COST: The reality of wasting half a year on a project that never had a chance.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY!

5AM StoryTalk is reader-supported. Help me keep the coffee brewing by becoming a free or paid subscriber at Substack:https://colehaddon.substack.com/

LINKS

• Listen to "The Horror of 'Dracula': The Unbelievable True Story of the 2013 TV Series - Part 1" at Substack: "https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/new-podcast-episode-the-horror-of
• Listen to "The Horror of 'Dracula': The Unbelievable True Story of the 2013 TV Series - Part 1" at your favorite podcast player: https://pod.link/1807437928/episode/NWNkNTk0N2MtNDE5MC00YWZhLWE4NjktZDk3Zjc2MDM3MjVl

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

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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 ⁠⁠my dear friend Cary Brothers⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.carybrothers.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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00:00 Welcome and Tease

01:14 Spooky Premise Setup

01:57 Post Dracula Career

02:53 New Adaptation Gig

03:34 The One Note Scarier

04:30 Free Drafts Pressure

05:59 Meeting Goes Sideways

06:49 Wait There Is a Ghost

07:44 The Real Mix Up0

8:41 Wrap Up and Subscribe