Geoffrey and Kristy kick off with the 80s classic Monster Squad, then break down a great subtext moment from the new F1 film. They unpack “on-the-nose” dialogue vs character voice, when to cut redundancy, and how to spot predatory “producer” offers. Listener Q&A covers why watching movies improves your craft and whether short action lines beat long descriptive blocks.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode• How to spot and write effective subtext in quiet scenes
• A quick gut-check to avoid on-the-nose dialogue
• When longer action lines help vs hurt
• Red flags for scammy “producers” and safer platforms to consider
• A simple note-taking method to level up how you watch films
Key Moments00:23 Welcome with Kristy
01:04 Why Monster Squad still lands
03:46 F1 takeaways and a subtext masterclass
07:31 On-the-nose dialogue and finding voice
12:53 The 50 percent “producer” red flag
15:47 Vetting platforms and why Geoffrey trusts InkTip
20:19 Q&A Watching movies to get better
24:14 Q&A Short vs long action lines
29:04 Wins of the week and encouragement
About the GuestKristy Leigh Lussier is a screenwriter and producer with a background in development and story evaluation. She champions character-driven genre projects and mentors emerging writers.
About the HostWith films on network television, streaming platforms, and in theaters, Geoffrey D. Calhoun is a screenwriter, author of The Guide for Every Screenwriter, and a passionate mentor in the industry. He hosts The Successful Screenwriter podcast to empower writers and filmmakers at every level.
Resources Mentioned• The Monster Squad 1987
• The Lost Boys 1987
• Shane Black scripts for voice study
• F1 film as a subtext case study
• InkTip
• Coverfly mention and why vetting matters
• The Guide for Every Screenwriter
Connect with Geoffrey D. Calhoun
Website
TheSuccessfulScreenwriter.comInstagram @screenwriterpod
YouTube The Successful Screenwriter
Enjoyed the show? Share with a writer friend, and drop questions for our next live Q&A.
#Screenwriting #TheSuccessfulScreenwriter #AmWriting #FilmCommunity #IndieFilm #ScriptNotes #WritingTips #Dialogue #Subtext #Storytelling #WritersLife #MonsterSquad #ShaneBlack #LostBoys #MovieChat #FilmDiscussion #WritingCommunity #ScriptAdvice #OnTheNoseDialogue #ProtectYourWork
Explore Free Resources & Membership
👉 Visit TheSuccessfulScreenwriter.com for free tools, guides, and podcast extras.
Members unlock Virtual Geoffrey, the AI screenwriting assistant built to transform good drafts into great scripts.
Connect with Geoffrey
📸 Instagram:
@screenwriterpod▶️ YouTube:
The Successful ScreenwriterIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe. Share it with a fellow screenwriter who’d find it valuable!
