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.

As part of Kinolime’s 2026 Writing Series, this episode breaks down how to trim your screenplay without losing story, character, or momentum. We cover cutting bloated scene description, unnecessary characters, exposition-heavy dialogue, and director-on-the-page writing to help your script read faster and hit the industry-standard 90–120 page range (about one minute per page). Trimming a screenplay isn’t just about cutting pages ; it’s about tightening pacing, improving the reader experience, and hitting the industry-standard. In this video, we cover: • How to cut 8–15 pages without hurting story or production • Trimming bloated scene description using real screenplay examples • Cutting unnecessary characters, dialogue, and exposition • Removing scenes and directorial writing that slow the read

The Kinolime team make their 2026 film predictions, weighing optimism against reality as studios bet big on sequels, franchises, and legacy IP. From box office rebounds to audience fatigue, the conversation breaks down which projections feel like safe bets, which feel risky, and what they signal for the future of theatrical releases. In This Video, We Cover: • Bold predictions for the 2026 theatrical slate • Which studio bets feel smart and which feel risky • Franchise fatigue versus audience demand • What these forecasts could mean for theaters in this year

Kinolime came to the rescue for this film. Danny and John discuss how Kinolime saved Eduard Mitra, the screenwriter behind Pushing Daisy, providing the funding he needed after applying on a whim never expecting to reach the top three, let alone win. In this episode: -- Kinolime to the Rescue: The competition’s funding was the critical factor that saved Eduard Mitra from going into personal debt to fund his script, Pushing Daisy. -- An Unexpected Win: Eduard entered the competition on a complete whim and did not expect to crack the top rankings, let alone win the entire contest. -- Rapid Production: The team has moved fast over the last two weeks, finalizing the cast and executing an intense 4-day set build. -- Next Steps: With the filming wrapped, the focus has now shifted to post-production and editing to finish the project

🏆 THE WINNERS Script of the Year: Mob Mentality by Eric Landau Short Film Winner: Pushing Daisy by Eduard Mitra (Coming Soon!) 📝 THE LIME LIST (Featured Screenplays) The Seahorse: A "film that hugs you" about a caretaker and a man slipping into dementia. The Mullers: A throwback college comedy full of father-daughter clichés. Dork Whore: An ex-army vet’s coming-of-age travel romp through Asia. 🎬 DANNY’S RECAP (Movies to Watch) 1. The Surfer: Nicholas Cage in an Aussie psychological nightmare. 2. Eephus: Field of Dreams for moving on from relationships. 3. Universal Language: Dry humor that transcends borders. 3. Left Handed Girl: Taiwanese family drama. 4. Baltimorons: Low-budget Xmas rom-com. 5. Blue Moon: Ethan Hawke in a 1943 existential crisis. 6. Familiar Touch: A unique lens on dementia. 7. It Ends: A horror road trip that morphs into meaning. 8. Vulcanizadora: Crazy buddy comedy. 9. Kokuho: An epic, multi-decade Japanese Kabuki saga.

High-stakes battle between Paramount, Warner Brothers, and Netflix: you may be asking what it actually means for filmmakers, theaters, and jobs. Here are some answers you'll get: → Why Warner Brothers is for sale and why everyone wants it → How Netflix’s short theatrical windows could accelerate theater closures → What Paramount’s “$6B in synergies” really means (layoffs) → Why the WGA is sounding the alarm on fewer jobs and fewer creative opportunities → How this merger could push the industry toward monopolized distribution or spark a new wave of self-distribution The future of filmmaking is being decided in real time, and creatives will feel the impact first.

Most people think producing is about glitz and glamor. It's not. We sat down with Chaya Amore—CMO of Kinolime, Producer and Creative Manager on One Day in October (HBO Max / Fox Entertainment), The Performance (2023), and The Vigil (2019) — to break down what production actually requires. What you'll learn: → Why producing is the intersection of business and creativity—and why you need both → The biggest misconception about what producers do → How to find your focus in filmmaking (writing, directing, producing, or something else) → What it takes to navigate real-world production challenges (including getting your crew out of a war zone) → How years of strategic work lead to moments like premieres with Steven Spielberg This isn't a theory. This is what producing looks like when the cameras stop rolling, and the real work begins.

Warner Brothers Discovery (WBD), home of the famous Warner Brothers Studios, responsible for recent hits like Barbie and franchises like Harry Potter and DC Comics (Batman, Superman, etc.), might be up for sale… again. Danny and John sit down to discuss this from a few different angles, how it impacts movie lovers and filmmakers, and who David Ellison is.

What is the anatomy of a “makeable” or “sellable” movie? Join John Schramm (Head of Development) and Danny Murray (Creative Executive) as they discuss some recent industry buzz about how movies are driving streaming revenue. Cha-ching! Tune in to explore why providing closure at the end of your film matters - and how to use visual imagery to guide your audience there.

Gather ‘round as our very own Meara Owen-Griffiths (Creative Executive) sits down with Writer and Director of Portal to Hell, Woody Bess, to discuss their favorite Horror films across the decades. Hear about the defining influence of the Saw franchise, the two golden ages of Horror films, and their early picks for the 2020’s.

Many successful screenwriters will emphasize the importance of writing with emotional honesty, developing characters and conflicts, and showing rather than telling. However, we usually don’t get to experience the writer’s journey - the day-to-day grind, the self-doubt, and the moments of divine inspiration. During today’s episode, Danny Murray (Creative Executive) and Meara Owen-Griffiths (Creative Executive) sit down with Kole Lee, writer of COME, a submission of the 2025 Short Films Competition and, coincidentally, Kinolime’s Social Media Manager. They’ll discuss Kole’s writing process, his script, and their favorite moments from COME

With our first round of voting for our top 26 short films underway, Kinolime Head of Development, John Schramm, sits down with Stephen Fingleton, Director of The Waif (the winning script of our inaugural feature film competition) and The Survivalist (2015), to learn about his writing process, tips & tricks, and the importance of practice. Hear about rumored rituals from directors like Quentin Tarantino, David Lynch, and others!

During periods of uncertainty, film helps us articulate what our intuition is trying to tell us. In One Battle After Another, Paul Thomas Anderson tackles themes of generational differences, contemporary polarization, and a sense of collapsed idealism. Join Danny Murray (Creative Executive) and John Schramm (Head of Development) as they debate the movie that many are calling a defining film - the movie of the decade, maybe?

There’s endless levers to pull in filmmaking. Whether you consider the furniture, what your characters wear, the time period, plot, antagonist, and more, the decisions that go into making a great film are endless. How can you embrace “less is more” and focus on the fundamentals of screenwriting to create a great story? John Schramm, Kinolime’s Head of Development, and Danny Murray, Kinolime’s Creative Executive, share their top 5 Tips for screenwriting in this episode.

From creative to production, and even financing, there’s a lot to do if you want to make a film, and it’s rarely ever obvious where to start. With the submission deadline for Kinolime’s Short Film Competition (Sept. 18 / info below) only days away, Studio Head John Schramm sits down with Mike Gabrawy, Producer of Hotel Mumbai (2018), Resident Evil (2002), and Independence Day (1996), to discuss the process and hopefully ease some of that anxiety.

We know the summer box office from great hits like Jaws, Jurassic Park, and Barbie, but what’s happened recently? Sure, cinema has cyclicality like any other industry, but is there something else that’s impacting the movie-goer experience? Join Kinolime’s Creative Executive, Danny Murray, and Kinolime Studio Executive John Schramm as they dissect what’s happening to the summer movie season.

How do we talk about the taboo topic of race in film while still creating a space for engagement and dialogue? Our community members discuss the most recent Kinolime optioned script and one of the runner-ups in our 2025 Feature Competition, Cooperville, written by Andre Ford. What happens when a series of racially charged disappearances leads a detective and a young group of people to a mysterious town with a shocking secret?