Erica Lee & Blye Pagon Faust (producers: John Wick / Spotlight / Sicario / Belly of the Beast)

Welcome to 5AM StoryTalk! Today I'm joined by ERICA LEE (partner, Thunder Road Films; producer, the John Wick universe, Sicario, Monkey Man) and BLYE PAGON FAUST (partner, Story Force Entertainment; Oscar-winning producer, Spotlight, Belly of the Beast,“LulaRich”). They’re two of my favorite Hollywood, and I’ve asked them to discuss the state of the Hollywood film/TV industry – are they as scared as I am? – and their advice for screenwriters looking to break into the business today.

A bonus episode, exclusive to 5AM StoryTalk’s amazing paid subscribers, is also available here. If you’re not yet a paid subscriber, you’ll get more of Erica, Blye, and I discussing the state of Hollywood, how they know a project is right for them, and much, much more.

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5AM StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.

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Show notes. Erica, Blye, and I discuss the following (amongst many other things):

• What era they would choose to work in if given the chance to climb into a time-traveling DeLorean
• The impact of establishing themselves as producers in a still incredibly male-dominated industry, especially for Erica who works primarily in action
• How the film/TV landscape has transformed over the past 20 years…and not for the good, from the death of the mid-budget financier to the streamers
• Erica’s initial reaction to the John Wick script when it was still called Scorn, how the film evolved, and her surprise at the extent of its success
• Blye’s difficult journey to getting Spotlight made, a film about the systemic cover-up of sexual abuse by priests against children that would go on to win the Best Picture Oscar
• How both Erica and Blye have had to dramatically pivot in how they pursue their careers
• The power of the “undeniable” script and great ideas in general
• Advice for aspiring and emerging screenwriters and producers
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Links:

• ⁠5AM StoryTalk newsletter⁠ (become a paid subscriber here to gain access to both the 5AM StoryTalk newsletter and podcast
• Learn more about Erica Lee here
• Learn more about Blye Pagon Faust here
• Erica says We Are Marshall, written by my friend Jamie Linden, is one of the best she’s ever read. You can read it here
• Blye says Liz Hannah’s screenplay for The Post is one of the best she’s ever read. You can read it here

• You can listen to my own conversation with Liz, who was a guest on the 5AM StoryTalk Podcast, here