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 and living your life beyond the page!

So if you’ve ever felt guilty for not writing 24/7, this episode is your permission to embrace those side quests... They might just be the weird little secret push your writing needs to go from good, to totally inspiring and real.

📬 Get In Touch:

Email us: TheEmergingPodcast@gmail.com

Follow us on Instagram: @theemergingpod

Ben is @bmlrobins

Martin is @bananabreadfilm

Tray is @ByTrayepps

✨ Support the Show:

If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, 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 15th May.

Louis will be back with us soon, but in the meantime find links to all of his films at louischanfilms.com, and of course drop him a follow on Instagram @louischanwing.

📬 Get In Touch:

Email us: TheEmergingPodcast@gmail.com

Follow us on Instagram: @theemergingpod

Ben is @bmlrobins

Martin is @bananabreadfilm

Tray is @ByTrayepps

✨ Support the Show:

If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 to fire your agent), how often you actually get paid (and when to chase it), and what he's learned about staying afloat, and sane, in a totally chaotic, ever-changing industry.

Whether you're aiming for your first paid writing gig or just curious about what life’s like on the other side of “emerging,” this episode is all about honest advice and real talk - invaluable insight from someone who's actually doing it! Don't say we never give you anything nice.

And of course, if you want to follow Mike's career, he's @mikepscreenwrites on Instagram.

📬 Get In Touch:

Email us: TheEmergingPodcast@gmail.com

Follow us on Instagram: @theemergingpod

Ben is @bmlrobins

Martin is @bananabreadfilm

Tray is @ByTrayepps

✨ Support the Show:

If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 script reader, and how a 9-5 in acquisitions at Focus Features helped open the door for what is now a growing career as a working writer.

Mike is a total fountain of knowledge, so naturally we ended up talking for a very, *very* long time, making this just Part 1 of a truly informative chat about how to support yourself while writing, and how to build meaningful connections in the industry while doing so.

If you want to follow Mike's career, he's @mikepscreenwrites on Instagram.

📬 Get In Touch:

Email us: TheEmergingPodcast@gmail.com

Follow us on Instagram: @theemergingpod

Ben is @bmlrobins

Martin is @bananabreadfilm

Tray is @ByTrayepps

✨ Support the Show:

If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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: @theemergingpod

Ben is @bmlrobins

Martin is @bananabreadfilm

Tray is @ByTrayepps

✨ Support the Show:

If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 three of us, we've made more than a handful (with mixed results).

So this episode goes deep into the emotional and financial rollercoaster that is the short film world, and how our work there has impacted our careers to date. We go into detail about budgets, how we funded and crewed our films, the festivals they played and the impact they had, before finally committing to a hard answer on the debate - should I make a short film?

And if you want to see the shorts we talk about in this episode, you can below:

Highs (written and co-produced by Martin) - https://vimeo.com/710967979

The Last Jeff (written and directed by Ben) - https://filmshortage.com/dailyshortpicks/the-last-jeff/

Losing It (written and directed by Ben) - https://vimeo.com/1077530800

Dog In Translation (co-written and produced by Tray) - https://vimeo.com/603253010

🧰 Resources & Mentions:

• FilmFreeway – Submit to festivals
• Shooting People – UK network for filmmakers
• Festival Formula – Festival strategy consultants
• BFI Network Funding
• ShortFLIX (Creative UK and Sky)
• Mr. Tibbs Film Screenings

📬 Get In Touch:

Email us: TheEmergingPodcast@gmail.com

Follow us on Instagram: @theemergingpod

Ben is @bmlrobins

Martin is @bananabreadfilm

Tray is @ByTrayepps

✨ Support the Show:

If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So you've finally found a few hours in your day to actually sit down at your laptop and get some writing done, but what does that writing time actually look like? If writing is a muscle, does that mean you have to write *every single day*? And how much planning is too much planning?

From writing sprints, to procrastination playlists and why starting on page one is a nightmare, in this follow-up to our scheduling chat, we're diving into the details of our writing processes. How much we outline before writing a script, what sort of mood boards and playlists we make, and what screenwriting software are the most comfortable to use - y'know, the really exciting ins and outs of this very sexy profession.

As usual, every process is different and there isn't one way of doing things, so don't forget to send us any thoughts, feelings or questions - you're not alone!

🧰 Resources & Mentions:

• Scrivener
• Final Draft
• NaNoWriMo
• The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler
• Save The Cat by Blake Snyder
• Celtx

📬 Get In Touch:

Email us: TheEmergingPodcast@gmail.com

Follow us on Instagram: @TheEmergingPod

Ben: @bmlrobins

Martin: @bananabreadfilm

Tray: @ByTrayepps

✨ Support the Show:

If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who’s knee-deep in a “vomit draft” and needs a reminder they’re not alone.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How many of us struggle to get consistent writing done because life just keeps getting in the way? Two of us are parents to young children, one has a puppy (which is definitely the same thing), not to mention that we still need to make actual money too. We're not saying we've solved it (late nights and early mornings aren't easy!), but we have all found ways to mostly make it work, alongside money jobs and having families.

So this episode is all about breaking down how we schedule in that all important writing time and how we fit the practise around everything else life throws at us. From writing at 2am, to finding flow between errands and meltdowns, this one's all about exploring the emotional and logistical hurdles of being a writer with responsibilities. It’s a vulnerable one, touching on generational expectations, unsupportive family members, and the guilt of trying to carve out creative time. But it's also a love letter to perseverance, community, and the power of chasing your dream — even if it means writing pantsless.

And of course, it's totally different for everyone, so please do reach out and let us know how you make it work for you - you're not alone!

📬 Get In Touch:

Email us: TheEmergingPodcast@gmail.com

Follow us on Instagram: @theemergingpod

Ben is @bmlrobins

Martin is @bananabreadfilm

Tray is @ByTrayepps

🧰 Resources & Mentions:

• Curtis Brown Creative
• BBC Writersroom Open Call
• Scrivener
• Jim Carrey’s Commencement Speech (Maharishi University)
• Emerging with Beatty Smith – Part 1

✨ Support the Show:

If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review! And share it with a fellow emerging writer who needs a boost (or a laugh).

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.