Geoffrey and Kristy tackle some of the worst “rules” floating around screenwriting circles. They break down why advice like “the audience must always be ahead of your characters” or “every line of dialogue needs action underneath it” can actually limit your voice and make your script feel stiff. They dig into Predator: Badlands, Prey, and the new Deathstalker, talk about empathy for monsters, building lore that feels lived in, and how theme and character relationships elevate genre. Then they answer questions on action description, page density, and when it actually makes sense to bend or break format. If you’ve ever felt boxed in by conflicting advice, this episode clears the fog and shows you how to keep scripts clean and professional without losing your style<br /><br />What You’ll Learn in This Episode<br /><ul><li>Why some “never do this” rules are just personal preferences</li><li>How to choose whether the audience is ahead of, equal to, or behind your characters</li><li>When dialogue stands fine on its own</li><li>How to keep action lines tight while still revealing character</li><li>How to bend format without looking sloppy</li></ul>Key Moments<br />00:20 300th episode giveaway teaser<br />00:57 Predator: Badlands, empathy for a Predator, and theme talk<br />08:30 Breaking down the “audience must be ahead” myth<br />11:59 Why dialogue doesn’t always need action underneath<br />20:48 When breaking format is smart instead of sloppy<br /><br />About the Guest<br />Kristy Leigh Lussier is a screenwriter, director, and producer focused on character driven storytelling. She brings a director’s eye to structure, performance, and theme, and she joins Geoffrey in the weekly livestreams to help writers level up their craft.<br /><br />About the Host<br />With films on network television, streaming platforms, and in theaters, Geoffrey D. Calhoun is a screenwriter, author of The Guide for Every Screenwriter, and a mentor dedicated to helping writers grow. He hosts The Successful Screenwriter podcast to support filmmakers at every level.<br /><br />Resources Mentioned in the Episode<br />Predator: Badlands<br />Prey<br />Deathstalker<br />Pearl Harbor (screenplay example)<br />Star Wars Episode III fight scene<br /><br />Connect with Kristy<br />Kristy on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kantoka127/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@kantoka127</a><br />Kristy’s vertical drama: <a href="https://www.reelshort.com/episodes/episode-1-the-witch-wolf-s-mate-68ed9142610032f6310d58cf-kauyyta9u7?play_time=1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Witch Wolfs Mate</a><br /><br />Connect with Geoffrey D. Calhoun<br />Website: <a href="https://www.thesuccessfulscreenwriter.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">thesuccessfulscreenwriter.com</a><br />Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/screenwriterpod" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@screenwriterpod </a><br />YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@thesuccessfulscreenwriter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@thesuccessfulscreenwriter</a><br /><br />If this episode helped you rethink some of the “rules,” subscribe, leave a quick review, and share it with a writer who needs to hear it. Screenshot this episode, tag @screenwriterpod, and tell us one writing “rule” you’re ready to let go of. And keep an eye on Instagram for the 300th episode giveaway.<br /><br />#screenwriting #screenwritingpodcast #screenwritingtips #amwriting #scriptnotes #indiefilm #PredatorBadlands #Deathstalker #writingadvice<br /><br /><br /><br />🎬 <a href="https://thesuccessfulscreenwriter.aweb.page/p/fc9d2bc4-9176-499e-8f59-5d3335ea791f?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadlPzJbP0uPfCDBAcvM3ayhgLKxvH-olZWPzK5-ZiB2p1qe1BEAB0_xQpwAbA_aem_SXvELLCRzge8AFd2L3YCxg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Get Free Script Leads</a> — be the first to know which producers are requesting scripts and accepting submissions.<br /><br />If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Share it with a fellow screenwriter who’d find it valuable!