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.

Subscribe to the 5AM StoryTalk newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

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