If you’re struggling to master screenplay structure and finding that screenwriting guides aren’t making it easier like they promised, this episode of THE BREW (formerly 5AM RealTalk) is for you.

The bad news: those mass-marketed screenplay templates you’ve been told to follow are originality killers – and their “hacks” tend to turn you into a hack.

The good news: While there is no cheat code to becoming a great screenwriter, there is a way to learn structure on your own terms. The strategy I’m going to discuss today – in response to a listener’s question – can help you internalize it, more quickly identify your original voice, and cut out a lot of the creative angst that comes with the process.

The even better news? What I’m proposing is a lot more fun.

• ON THE ITINERARY:
• THE TEMPLATE TRAP: Why mass-marketed guides are producing a sea of “hacks” and knock-offs. 📉
• NARRATIVE AUTONOMY: How to develop your own screenplay template rather than filling in someone else’s blanks. 🧠
• THE MARKET REALITY: Why “hacks” get work, but original voices are the ones that develop real careers. 💰
• THE PICASSO PROTOCOL: Why you have to learn the rules like a pro so you can break them like an artist. 🎨
• RIP REALTALK: Why I’m pivoting to THE BREW and how I’m cleaning up the 5AM StoryTalk architecture. 💀

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/

🔒 EXCLUSIVE BONUS EPISODE: HOW TO FIX YOUR SH*TTY EXPOSITION

I break down why vomitous info dumps kill scripts, how to turn every scene into a power struggle (with detailed examples from one of the greatest filmmakers to ever live), and why you should never, ever put a “pope in a pool.”

🔑 UNLOCK THE BONUS AT SUBSTACK: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/screenwriting-exposition-fail-pope-in-a-pool

🔑 UNLOCK THE BONUS AT APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-how-to-fix-your-sh-tty-dialogue/id1807437928?i=1000756101768

LINKS:

• Read “What That Last Brownie Really Means in ‘Notting Hill’ from 5AM StoryTalk: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/what-that-last-brownie-really-means
• Read “Don’t Save the Cat...Put It in the Blender!” from 5AM StoryTalk: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/dont-save-the-catput-it-in-the-blender
• Read “50 Essential Scripts to Download and Study If You Want to Be a Screenwriter” from 5AM StoryTalk: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/50-essential-scripts-to-download

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

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• Cole Haddon @ Instagram⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/colehaddonwashere/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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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 ⁠⁠Cary Brothers⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.carybrothers.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

00:00 Welcome and Topic Setup

00:34 Rebranding The Brew

02:20 Why Templates Fail

04:32 Study Films Beat by Beat

05:50 Movies to Break Down

08:05 Build Your Own Intuition

10:30 Picasso Quote and Rules

11:46 Wrap Up and Next Episode