The Story Series Podcast with Brandon Violette (For Writers Who Break The Rules)

Brandon Violette
  • 5.0 (40)
  • Arts
  • Updated Weekly

You don't build a writing career without breaking a few rules. The Story Series Podcast is a screenwriting and creativity show hosted by screenwriter Brandon Violette (Disney, Netflix, Pixar). Each week, Brandon sits down with writers, showrunners, filmmakers, authors, and creators for candid conversations about story structure, character development, pitching, and the creative mindset. Designed for writers and storytellers at any level, every episode delivers actionable techniques, clear takeaways, and honest, rule-breaking insights about what it really takes to: Tell better stories. Find your creative voice. Build a lasting career.

  1. 2d ago ·  Video

    Why Your Creative Career Shouldn't Be A Straight Line | Chris Gilligan

    Chris Gilligan is the creator and executive producer of Disney Jr.'s RoboGobo. A 35-year veteran of film, television and animation, Gilligan served as executive producer and director of Disney Jr.'s fairytale-inspired animated series Goldie & Bear. His other credits include James and the Giant Peach, Ice Age: The Meltdown, Frankenweenie, and Marvel's Spidey and his Amazing Friends.  IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS: • Why creative careers are never straight lines. • Adapting storytelling instincts across mediums. • Developing characters more deeply than the audience will ever see. • And why you shouldn't treat every "no" as the final rejection.  RESOURCES: • Chris Gilligan BECOME A BETTER STORYTELLER ✏️💥 Join my free weekly newsletter, The Rule Breaker's Dispatch, for writing insights from my conversations with screenwriters, showrunners and industry executives.  👉 Sign up at StorySeriesPodcast.com

    Why Your Creative Career Shouldn't Be A Straight Line | Chris Gilligan

  2. Aug 4 ·  Video

    Inside TV Development: Pitches, Play Patterns and Finding Your Twist | Lorna Withrington

    Lorna Withrington is a highly established and approachable Executive Producer and Development Executive specializing in acquisitions and creative development of animated content with leading global brand appeal. She has developed content for global and regional broadcast platforms such as Netflix, Apple, Nickelodeon, Disney, CBBC, Sky and Cartoon Network/Cartoonito. IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS: • How executives champion projects inside a company. • Why the twist can be the thing that gets a project over the line. • How executives choose writers for specific projects. • And why writers should know their creative "happy place".  RESOURCES: • Lorna Withrington FIND YOUR VOICE ✏️💥 I put together a free guide called The Rule Breaker's Guide to Finding Your Creative Voice. A brutally honest roadmap built from the lessons, mistakes, and breakthroughs I've collected as a professional writer. 👉 Get it for free at StorySeriesPodcast.com CONNECT: • Instagram • LinkedIn • YouTube

    Inside TV Development: Pitches, Play Patterns and Finding Your Twist | Lorna Withrington

  3. Jul 28 ·  Video

    Lucy Lost: How To Adapt A Novel For Animation | Helen Blakeman

    Helen Blakeman is a BAFTA and International Emmy Award-winning British writer, both of which she received for her TV screenplay adaptation of 'Dustbin Baby' (BBC/Kindle Entertainment). She is also the creator, lead writer and associate producer of the BAFTA nominated BBC series 'Hetty Feather', based on the best-selling children's novel by Jacqueline Wilson. Most recently, she is the co-writer on the upcoming animated feature film 'Lucy Lost' (Xilam). IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS: • Why Helen rewrites every book by hand before adapting it. • When a writer must leave the source material behind. • Writing emotionally complex stories for young audiences. • And how she's now greenlighting projects herself.  RESOURCES: • Lucy Lost • Helen on IMDB FIND YOUR VOICE ✏️💥 I put together a free guide called The Rule Breaker's Guide to Finding Your Creative Voice. A brutally honest roadmap built from the lessons, mistakes, and breakthroughs I've collected as a professional writer. 👉 Get it for free at StorySeriesPodcast.com CONNECT: • Instagram • LinkedIn • YouTube

    Lucy Lost: How To Adapt A Novel For Animation | Helen Blakeman

  4. Jul 22 ·  Video

    Before You Get A Literary Manager, Ask These Questions | Peter Katz

    Peter is the founder and CEO of Story Driven. As a manager, he supports the visions of trailblazing storytellers across the genre space and across mediums. He began his producing career in collaboration with some of the leading filmmakers of the genre space, including Tobe Hooper and Adam Wingard. Films he has produced have premiered at festivals around the world, including AFI Fest, The Rome Film Festival and Fantastic Fest. He is originally from San Diego, California. IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS: • Finding representation at the right career stage. • What to ask before signing with a manager. • Why your query letter is probably too long. • And the "market signals" that help writers stand out.  RESOURCES: • Peter Katz's Story Driven FIND YOUR VOICE ✏️💥 I put together a free guide called The Rule Breaker's Guide to Finding Your Creative Voice. A brutally honest roadmap built from the lessons, mistakes, and breakthroughs I've collected as a professional writer. 👉 Get it for free at StorySeriesPodcast.com CONNECT: • Instagram • LinkedIn • YouTube

    Before You Get A Literary Manager, Ask These Questions | Peter Katz

  5. Jul 15 ·  Video

    Your TV Pitch Might Work Better As An Audio Drama | Steve Krueger

    Steve Krueger is an Emmy-nominated writer, producer, and storyteller whose career has taken him from the writers' rooms of Hollywood comedies to the world of reality television, documentaries, and podcasts. His credits include Just Shoot Me, Punk'd, Laguna Beach, and Netflix's Dating Around, along with a wide range of projects for major networks and streaming platforms. Drawn to stories about culture, human behavior, and the occasional beautiful train wreck, Steve has spent more than two decades creating content that entertains, surprises, and sparks conversation. Drawn to stories about culture, human behavior, and the occasional beautiful train wreck, Steve has spent more than two decades creating content that entertains, surprises, and sparks conversation. When he's not developing new projects, he's usually talking about television, media, politics, or whatever strange corner of pop culture has captured his attention that week. IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS: • Steve's unbelievable Larry David story. • What he learned from David Mamet. • Turning an ambitious TV pitch into the sci-fi audio drama SUBTERRA. • And why "write what you know" can become a creative trap.  RESOURCES: • Check out the audio drama: "Subterra" FIND YOUR VOICE ✏️💥 I put together a free guide called The Rule Breaker's Guide to Finding Your Creative Voice. A brutally honest roadmap built from the lessons, mistakes, and breakthroughs I've collected as a professional writer. 👉 Get it for free at StorySeriesPodcast.com CONNECT: • Instagram • LinkedIn • YouTube

    Your TV Pitch Might Work Better As An Audio Drama | Steve Krueger

  6. Jul 8 ·  Video

    The Musical Rhythm Inside Every Script | Dave Ingham

    Dave Ingham is one of the most prolific TV writers working today. A background in animation and as a musician has led him to an innate understanding of story and structure. His credits include Lucas the Spider, The Sound Collector, Shaun the Sheep, The Secret Show, Kipper and the Clangers. He lives on the south coast of England, likes his tea and loves his Pedal Steel Guitar. IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS: • How songwriting shaped his approach to screenwriting. • Finding the rhythm, balance and silence inside every script. • Imposter syndrome and working with self-doubt. • And the habits that build a long freelance career.  RESOURCES: • Dave's IMDB UPCOMING SCREENWRITING WORKSHOP ⚔️ • THE HERO'S JOURNEY: FROM FILM TO TELEVISION with Brandon Violette. Using examples from my own career writing and developing animated series for Disney and Netflix, we'll dive into how one of the most enduring storytelling frameworks can be adapted across features and TV.  👉 Dates and Details at https://brandonviolette.com/workshops CONNECT ✏️💥 • Instagram • LinkedIn • YouTube

    The Musical Rhythm Inside Every Script | Dave Ingham

  7. Jul 1 ·  Video

    What It Takes To Make Your Own Indie Pilot: "Mermaid Mafia" | Christie Cate

    Christie Cate (she/her) is the creator and showrunner of Mermaid Mafia, an upcoming independent adult animated pilot produced through her company, Lumen Airy LLC. Inspired by the memory of her late mother, whose influence continues to shape both her life and creative pursuits, Christie founded Lumen Airy with a vision of bringing original stories and characters to audiences through animation. IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS: • The hidden costs of making your own indie pilot. • Moving from script to storyboard to animatics. • Betting on yourself instead of waiting for permission. • And how her mother's creative legacy influenced the project.  RESOURCES: • Mermaid Mafia on Instagram • Christie Cate UPCOMING SCREENWRITING WORKSHOP ⚔️ • THE HERO'S JOURNEY: FROM FILM TO TELEVISION with Brandon Violette. Using examples from my own career writing and developing animated series for Disney and Netflix, we'll dive into how one of the most enduring storytelling frameworks can be adapted across features and TV.  👉 Dates and Details at https://brandonviolette.com/workshops CONNECT ✏️💥 • Instagram • LinkedIn • YouTube

    What It Takes To Make Your Own Indie Pilot: "Mermaid Mafia" | Christie Cate

  8. Jun 22 ·  Video

    Reader Red Flags: The Biggest Screenplay Mistakes Hiding In Plain Sight | Naomi Beaty

    Naomi Beaty is one of the industry's top screenwriting consultants. As a former development executive at Madonna and Guy Oseary's Maverick Films, she worked on projects like Twilight, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, and The Stanford Prison Experiment. Later, she worked with Blake Snyder on his second Save the Cat book, and taught Save the Cat story structure workshops in Los Angeles. IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS: • How to fix the "boring protagonist" problem. • Why scenes work in outline but fall flat on the page. • Direct dialogue vs. on-the-nose dialogue. • And why writer's block just means you're asking the wrong questions. RESOURCES: • Naomi Beaty • The Screenplay Outline Workbook UPCOMING WORKSHOP IN JULY ⚔️ • THE HERO'S JOURNEY: FROM FILM TO TELEVISION. Using examples from my own career writing and developing animated series for Disney and Netflix, we'll dive into how one of the most enduring storytelling frameworks can be adapted across features and TV.  👉 Dates and Details at https://brandonviolette.com/workshops CONNECT ✏️💥 • Instagram • LinkedIn • YouTube

    Reader Red Flags: The Biggest Screenplay Mistakes Hiding In Plain Sight | Naomi Beaty
See All (82)

Trailer

5
out of 5
40 Ratings

About

You don't build a writing career without breaking a few rules. The Story Series Podcast is a screenwriting and creativity show hosted by screenwriter Brandon Violette (Disney, Netflix, Pixar). Each week, Brandon sits down with writers, showrunners, filmmakers, authors, and creators for candid conversations about story structure, character development, pitching, and the creative mindset. Designed for writers and storytellers at any level, every episode delivers actionable techniques, clear takeaways, and honest, rule-breaking insights about what it really takes to: Tell better stories. Find your creative voice. Build a lasting career.

Information

You Might Also Like