From pharmaceuticals to feature screenwriting, Bob Dawson has taken an unconventional path into script writing. A relative newcomer to the craft, he has already completed four feature length screenplays and earned recognition on the festival and screenplay competition circuit.

Bob approaches writing with the same discipline that defined his previous career. Research, structure, and preparation come before the first page, an approach that has shaped both his process and his early success.

His latest screenplay, Peace, Undone, is a period true crime drama set in early 1900s Alberta, Canada. Inspired by a real six person mass shooting that remains largely unknown outside the region, the script is grounded in solid historical research, bringing forgotten events and overlooked lives back into the spotlight.

In this episode, we discuss making a late career transition into screenwriting, building a repeatable writing process, and balancing historical accuracy with cinematic storytelling.

In this episode, we spotlight Brother Hold Your Light, a moving short film by Los Angeles filmmaker and Army veteran Cary Garbutt.

The film follows a homeless jazz musician haunted by the loss of his child. Living on the streets of Los Angeles, he forms an unexpected bond with a young girl. Through a series of quiet encounters, their connection becomes a path toward healing, helping him move from isolation and grief toward renewed human connection.

Cary discusses the inspiration behind the film, his interest in stories about resilience and overlooked lives, and how his own experiences shaped this intimate exploration of loss, memory, and hope. Together, we examine the power of small acts of recognition, and the way connection can help illuminate even the darkest moments.

Born into a military family and raised between the United States and Germany, Thaddeus Paulk grew up in a world defined by constant movement and reinvention. After serving more than four years in the U.S. Air Force with Security Forces, including deployments to Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, he spent the next chapter of his life driving trucks across the United States and Canada, eventually logging more than one million miles on the road.

In this episode of Writers Spotlight, Paulk discusses how his life experiences, from the military to working as a chef, inspired his screenplay King of the Road. He reflects on the cinematic moments he witnessed throughout his journey that ultimately became turning points, pushing him toward writing.