StoryRay Podcast

M. Jamal Green

At the intersection of truth, culture and communication, media professional M. Jamal Green shares insights on storytelling craft, connection and the human condition.

  1. Trailer

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  2. Jul 7

    Prestige Screenwriting Contests Are Not Choosing The BEST Writers

    Are #screenwriting contests like Nicholl Fellowship and Sundance actually selecting the BEST writers and BEST screenplays?Every year, aspiring screenwriters spend money entering contests and fellowships hoping this will be the thing that finally opens the door.There is a major difference between saying a program has a specific taste and saying it objectively discovers the “best” writers.That difference matters.In this video, I talk about the cottage industry built around the dream of becoming a screenwriter, why “it’s all subjective” usually gets said AFTER the money has already been collected, and why writers should be careful not to confuse so-called prestige with truth.It is about seeing the reality of the game writers are paying to play.Let’s talk about it. For a deeper dive check out my post on Substack.

  3. Jun 23

    Why Movies Feel Different Now

    Why do so many movies and television shows today look fantastic but feel completely forgettable? I believe part of the answer begins with the screenplay. Too many modern screenplays are being shaped primarily to entertain one solitary reader instead of inspiring the actors, directors, cinematographers, designers, editors, composers, and other artists who must eventually bring the story to life. A screenplay can absolutely be enjoyable to read. But an enjoyable reading experience does not automatically become an enjoyable movie experience. Reading and watching are different. More importantly, movies are performed, photographed, designed, edited, scored, and interpreted into existence. In this video, I examine: • Why reader pleasure has become such a dominant priority• The difference between dramatic writing and prose• Why the promised transition from a reading draft to a true shooting draft often fails to happen• How overexplaining emotion can limit actors and other collaborators• Why a screenplay should inspire the people making the movie, not merely entertain the person evaluating it This is not an argument that good screenplays should be unpleasant to read. It is an argument about priorities. A pleasurable reading experience can be one quality of a strong screenplay. It should not replace the screenplay’s deeper purpose. Do you think modern screenplays have become too focused on the reading experience? Or does prose help bring the movie to life? Find me at Storyray.com

  4. Jun 21

    The Truth About Disclosure Day

    Disclosure Day may be technically well made, but did it actually leave us with anything meaningful?In this video, I talk about the difference between spectacle and storytelling, and why impressive CGI, AI-assisted visuals, and polished filmmaking are no longer enough by themselves. We live in a time when almost any image can be generated, simulated, or manufactured on demand. So the real question becomes: what did the story reveal about humanity?Before the movie, where did you stand? After the movie, did anything change?For me, the biggest issue with more and more modern Hollywood movies is not the craft. It is the absence of meaning. A story can look amazing and still feel empty if it has no real insight into the human condition.That is also the focus of StoryRay: helping connect stories, even ordinary ones, to something deeper.

  5. May 21

    Why Movies Don't Feel Alive Anymore

    A Screenplay can be fun to read and still make for a terrible movie. Why do so many modern movies and TV shows feel less engaging than they used to?One reason may be that screenplays are increasingly judged by how enjoyable they are to read, instead of how powerful they could be when performed.A screenplay is not a novel. It is not prose fiction. It is intended to inspire actors, directors, editors, designers, composers, and the entire collaborative process of film and television.In this video, I talk about how modern day script-readers may be pushing writers toward creating scripts that are pleasing on the page, but dramatically weaker on screen, especially when it comes to dialogue.A fun read does not always equal a good movie.And sometimes the script that feels plain on the page is the one that comes alive when actors finally put it up on its feet.Support StoryRay: $OmegaConquestMore from StoryRay.com #Screenwriting #Filmmaking #ScriptReader #StoryRay #MovieWriting #TVWriting #Dialogue #FilmCriticism

  6. May 12

    Rewriting Action Screenplay, Episode 4 | Ditch the Helicopter

    In Episode 4 of Rewrite In Motion, we continue using AI to illustrate the imagery in this Screenplay "Untitled Action Cop vs Stripper Thief". I discuss using some cliches to a story's advantage and why it's crucial to get rid of things like cell phones and helicopters in order to make chase scenes more dramatic. Feeling generous? Drop something in the Cashapp. Thanks for watching/listening.

  7. Apr 28

    I Used AI to Visualize My Screenplay | Rewrite in Motion Ep. 3

    Rewrite in Motion is back — and this time, we're getting visual. In Episode 3, we officially introduce the main character of "Untitled Action Cop vs. Stripper Thief "— and I used ChatGPT to generate AI images directly from scenes in the script. The results were honestly surprising. The images came out way more accurate to what I had in my head than I expected, and it completely changed how I see the visualization process for screenwriting. If you've ever tried to describe a scene and wished someone could just see what you're seeing, this episode is for you. This series is for: Screenwriters at any stageWriters and storytellers who want to see a real rewrite in progressAnyone curious about how AI tools like ChatGPT can be used in the creative writing processFans of action, crime, and stories that don't play it safeUntitled Action Cop vs. Stripper Thief is a work in progress — and you're watching it get built in real time. Subscribe so you don't miss an episode. Find me at: storyray.com #Screenwriting #RewriteInMotion #ChatGPT #AIImageGeneration #Screenplay #Storytelling #Writing #FilmWriting

  8. Apr 22

    The Truth About Vertical Microdramas Succeeding in U.S. Market?

    This episode highlights some considerations as to whether or not the Microdrama Vertical Series can succeed in the U.S. market? Or will they go the way of the Quibi bird once again?

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Trailer

About

At the intersection of truth, culture and communication, media professional M. Jamal Green shares insights on storytelling craft, connection and the human condition.

Information

  • Creator
    M. Jamal Green
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    33
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © M. Jamal Green
  • Show Website
    StoryRay Podcast