Kathryn Zizek had never written a screenplay before. Then her debut script, DUE, won Kinolime's 2026 Script-to-Screen Competition. Now it's being made into a film! In this episode, John Schramm sits down with Kathryn to unpack exactly how she wrote an award-winning screenplay on her very first attempt. From finding the initial idea to building memorable characters and meaningful arcs, Kathryn walks through the writing process that helped her script rise above thousands of submissions.

Kinolime’s creative executive, Danny Murray, breaks down Backrooms’ ending explained, goes through exactly where the story begins to unravel and how a few key structural changes could have transformed the ending into something truly unforgettable.

Josh Schramm and Danny Murray sit down with Kinolime’s Social Media Director, Kole Landon Lee, to break down how social media is changing the path into the film industry. Kole, one of the biggest screenwriting influencers on Instagram, has built an online audience to connect with aspiring creators and cinema buffs, and shares how content creation can lead to real opportunities in screenwriting, filmmaking, and entertainment.

Hollywood isn't the only path anymore. How can indie filmmakers succeed in this new market? Fresh off the Cannes Film Festival, independent producer Mike Gabrawy joins the Kinolime Podcast to explain why the independent film market is thriving, why there's growing demand for original indie films, and what filmmakers need to do today to actually get their movies made.

Supergirl (1984) is one of DC Comics' biggest flops, in this video we ask the question: can it be fixed? With James Gunn's new DC Universe kicking off and Supergirl now on the big screen again, starring Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El, we thought it was the perfect time to revisit the original Supergirl (1984) and see what went so wrong. In this episode of Kinolime Fix-It, creative executive and screenplay reader Meara Owen-Griffiths breaks down why the original film starring Helen Slater never reached its full potential. We're not looking at budget, or special effects, we're looking at the screenplay itself.

We’ve curated the ultimate masterclass for screenwriters, from the Iceberg Theory to James Gunn’s unfinished screenplay secrets. This video packs 21 essential tips from industry pros, indie filmmakers, and hit-making writers to help you move from a finished draft to a career in active development.

Is Obsession a brilliant horror movie... or does it undermine its own message?? In this episode of the Kinolime Podcast, hosts Danny Murray and Meara Owen-Giffiths debate one of the year's most talked-about films: Obsession. While Danny enjoyed the movie far more than Meara did, both agree that the film raises fascinating questions about storytelling, theme, and character development. Together, they break down the film's central thesis, whether director Curry Barker successfully delivers on the message he's trying to convey, and how character construction can strengthen or completely undermine a story's themes. Whether you're a filmmaker, screenwriter, film student, or simply love movie analysis, this discussion dives into the storytelling choices that make audiences connect with a film…or leave feeling unsatisfied.

1850. The Arctic. Two men who despise each other. One missing expedition. And a discovery that will destroy everything they thought they knew. Prisoners of Air is a historical horror set against one of the most haunting real events in exploration history, the lost Franklin expedition. At its center is an unlikely partnership: Robert Goodsir, a pompous Navy doctor searching for his missing brother, and John Rae, a disgraced explorer the British establishment hates because he dared to believe Inuit testimony about what really happened to Franklin's men. What unfolds is a story about class, loyalty, survival, and the terrible cost of the truth. "I just felt like I was watching a scene from Game of Thrones." "Great writing, you don't have to work as hard — the script carries you." "Jack Nicholson said he needed five great scenes in a movie. This screenplay has five great scenes." The language is rich and the world is unforgiving — but if you push through it, this is one of the most rewarding scripts you'll read this year. Kinolime is an indie production studio where the community decides what gets made. You read the scripts, you vote, and the winner gets produced into a real film with up to a $15M production budget, a real director and a real release. THE WAIF (2024) is shooting this year with BAFTA-nominated director Stephen Fingleton. MOB MENTALITY (2025) just attached director William Groebe. The winner of this vote is next.

What would you do to protect your family when the system that's supposed to protect you is the one hunting you down? Poachers follows Kayiizi, a tracker from northern Uganda, whose father is killed by the very rangers sworn to protect the land they both loved. What starts as grief becomes vengeance. Vengeance pulls him into a billion-dollar wildlife trafficking empire. And survival means working for the man destroying everything he stands for, unless he can find another way out. It's a story about moral compromise, loyalty, and what it costs to do the right thing when the wrong thing is the only option keeping your family alive. This table read brings two of those pivotal scenes to life, and the actors' reaction afterward says everything about why this script made the final three. Kinolime is an indie production studio where the community decides what gets made. You read the scripts, you vote, and the winner gets produced into a real film with up to a $15M production budget, a real director and a real release. THE WAIF (2024) is shooting this year with BAFTA-nominated director Stephen Fingleton. MOB MENTALITY (2025) just attached director William Groebe. The winner of this vote is next.

What if the deal that saved your life came back to collect — through your child? Due begins with a seventeen-year-old on the verge of death. In her darkest moment, she whispers one word: deal. She survives. Nine years later, the rent is due. Written by Kathryn Zizek — a new mother who drew from the disorientation of raising a newborn to fuel every scene — Due uses the terror of early motherhood as the canvas for something far darker. The black eyes of a looming anesthesiologist. A best friend who isn't quite right. The creeping feeling that nobody is listening, nobody believes you, and something is very, very wrong with your child. It's a horror story grounded in real fear. And it has a twist you won't see coming. "Those are things that could happen in your head — am I going crazy, or is this real?" "That vulnerability as a parent is so apparent here. Your whole job is just to keep them alive." "Write what you know. She used her real-life experiences to fuel every nuance — and you can feel it." Kinolime is an indie production studio where the community decides what gets made. You read the scripts, you vote, and the winner gets produced into a real film with up to a $15M production budget, a real director and a real release. THE WAIF (2024) is shooting this year with BAFTA-nominated director Stephen Fingleton. MOB MENTALITY (2025) just attached director William Groebe. The winner of this vote is next.

Hemingway's Iceberg Theory is one of the most talked-about screenwriting concepts out there, but what does it actually look like on the page? Danny and John break down the theory of omission and what it means for your screenplay: how to write subtext into dialogue, why your character's backstory shapes every scene even when it's never stated, and how restraint creates more tension than anything you could put on the nose.

The Kinolime Podcast sits down with Austin Kolodney, as he shares the career strategy behind moving from spec scripts to professional opportunities in Hollywood. Kolodney has written and directed projects for companies like Comedy Central, Funny Or Die, and Syfy, and wrote the feature film Dead Man’s Wire directed by Gus Van Sant.

The future of Warner Bros. is changing; so what can screenwriters learn from its past? With the potential merger between Warner Bros. and Paramount led by the Ellison family, Danny and John are breaking down the history of one of Hollywood’s most influential studios, and the movies that shaped modern storytelling. From classics like Casablanca, A Streetcar Named Desire, and Goodfellas to modern hits like Harry Potter, Superman, The Batman, and Sinners, Warner Bros. has helped define blockbuster storytelling across generations. In this episode, they take us through how Warner Bros. rose to power, the storytelling DNA behind its most iconic films, and the 10 Warner Bros scripts every screenwriter should study. If you've been looking for tips to make your scripts better, this is screenwriting 101!

New York City comedian, writer, and filmmaker Bret Raybould talks with the Kinolime podcast about craft, career drive, and the realities of independent filmmaking, from creative process and industry lessons learned to the practical challenges of moving a project forward. He discusses what indie filmmaking actually teaches you, including on-set problem-solving, working within budget limitations, and why every project sharpens your creative instincts far more than external validation ever could.

The Academy Awards 2026 are almost here! And with films like One Battle After Another, Sinners, Hamnet, Blue Moon, Frankenstein, Train Dreams, Marty Supreme, and Bugonia in the mix, this year’s race is anything but predictable. Kinolime sifts through the predictions across Best Picture, Director, Acting, and Screenplay categories while unpacking the Academy’s anti-union origins, how ‘Oscar’ got its name, and the power structure that still influences voting today.

Hollywood is full of myths and in this episode of The Kinolime Podcast, producer Chaya Amor breaks down the biggest Hollywood misconceptions holding filmmakers back. From indie vs. studio lore, to networking, grit, glamour, and storytelling truth, this conversation cuts through the noise with real-world insight from both sides of the industry. Whether you’re an emerging screenwriter or an experienced filmmaker, this episode reframes what success actually looks like and how to navigate it.