PopCraft: Screenwriting

PopCraft: Screenwriting

Let's autopsy the screenplays of your favorite films and TV shows. We'll talk the craft you can learn from their concrete examples, as well as the underlying theories and philosophies behind their storytelling structures. Hosted by Carl Albert. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

November 9, 2022 23 mins

Sorry about the sound issues! I've been having some tech problems, but they'll be fixed for next episode.


In this episode, Carl discusses the power of an opening image and just how to make a twist work.


Contact Carl @ popcraftpodcast@gmail.com


Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/popcraftscreenwriting

Discord: https://discord.gg/Q3e3WHdA

Carl's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carldalbert/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pop...

Mark as Played

In this episode, Carl discusses Slasher Structure and the power of suspense.


Get $30 off Arc Studio Pro @ https://arcstudiopro.com/popcraft


Contact Carl @ popcraftpodcast@gmail.com


Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/popcraftscreenwriting

Discord: https://discord.gg/Q3e3WHdA

Carl's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carldalbert/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@popcraftscreenwriting?lang=en

Website: https://shows.acast.com/62cf...

Mark as Played

In this episode, Carl introduces the new PopCraft Versus segment and talks about how Lord of the Rings: the Rings of Power and House of the Dragon compare using the MICE Quotient.


Get $30 off Arc Studio Pro @ https://arcstudiopro.com/popcraft


Contact Carl @ popcraftpodcast@gmail.com


Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/popcraftscreenwriting

Discord: https://discord.gg/Q3e3WHdA

Carl's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carldalb...

Mark as Played

In the season 2 premiere, Carl and Naomi Beaty discuss unlikeable protagonists and how Everything Everywhere All At Once grounds the viewer's experience with a traditional 3 Act Structure.


Get $30 off Arc Studio Pro @ https://arcstudiopro.com/popcraft


Contact Carl @ popcraftpodcast@gmail.com


Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/popcraftscreenwriting

Discord: https://discord.gg/Q3e3WHdA

Carl's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com...

Mark as Played

In the season finale, Carl and Austin talk about the different ways filmmakers have approached Spider-Man and why they made the decisions they did.

Contact Carl @ popcraftpodcast@gmail.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/popcraftscreenwriting
Discord: https://discord.gg/Q3e3WHdA
Carl's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carldalbert/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@popcraftscreenwriting?lang=en<...

Mark as Played
January 28, 2022 59 mins
In this episode, the holy trinity of C's -- Carl, Chasey and Caroline -- reunite to talk the (un)usual structure of Arcane Season 1. What worked, what didn't, and why is Carl such a hater?

Contact Carl @ popcraftpodcast@gmail.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/popcraftscreenwriting
Discord: https://discord.gg/Q3e3WHdA
Carl's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carldalbert/
Caroline&ap...

Mark as Played
January 21, 2022 23 mins
In this episode, Carl argues that adaptations should be considered separately from their source material.

Contact Carl @ popcraftpodcast@gmail.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/popcraftscreenwriting
Discord: https://discord.gg/Q3e3WHdA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carldalbert/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@popcraftscreenwriting?lang=en
Website: https://popcraftscreenwriting.buzzsprout....

Mark as Played
In this episode, Carl and Luke talk THE WITCHER 2x01, how mystery and suspense work in tandem, and the mistake of being too vague.

Full season 2 spoilers start 31:45 and end 43:45.

Contact Carl @ popcraftpodcast@gmail.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/popcraftscreenwriting
Discord: https://discord.gg/Q3e3WHdA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carldalbert/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@...

Mark as Played
December 17, 2021 35 mins
In this episode, Carl dives deep into the different kinds of plants and payoffs in storytelling.

Contact Carl @ popcraftpodcast@gmail.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/popcraftscreenwriting
Discord: https://discord.gg/Q3e3WHdA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carldalbert/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PopCraft
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@popcraftscreenwriting?lang=en
Website: https:/...

Mark as Played
In this episode, Carl and Chasey Ridgley talk the best show on TV -- SUCCESSION -- and what it has in common with procedurals. 

Contact Carl @ popcraftpodcast@gmail.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/popcraftscreenwriting
Discord: https://discord.gg/Q3e3WHdA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carldalbert/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PopCraft
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@popcraftscreenwritin...

Mark as Played
In this episode, Carl and his red-headed Aiel siblings Luke and Kathryn talk the new hit fantasy series, THE WHEEL OF TIME.

Contact Carl @ popcraftpodcast@gmail.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/popcraftscreenwriting
Discord: https://discord.gg/Q3e3WHdA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carldalbert/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PopCraft
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@popcraftscreenwriting?l...

Mark as Played
In this episode, Carl brings on Intolerable Cruelty's writer Robert Ramsey to talk melodrama,  noir, and the Coen Bros. 

Contact Carl @ popcraftpodcast@gmail.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/popcraftscreenwriting
Discord: https://discord.gg/Q3e3WHdA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carldalbert/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PopCraft
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@popcraftscreenwriting?...

Mark as Played
In this episode, Carl brings on two fellow screenwriters and USC alums, Caroline Puts and Chasey Ridgley, to talk about the good, the bad, and the Duncan Idaho of Dune: Part 1. 

Contact Carl @ popcraftpodcast@gmail.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/popcraftscreenwriting
Discord: https://discord.gg/Q3e3WHdA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carldalbert/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PopCraft
Ti...

Mark as Played
November 5, 2021 39 mins
In this episode, Carl breaks down how Dune shares exposition and adapts the first part of a so-called unadaptable novel.

Contact me @ popcraftpodcast@gmail.com 

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/popcraftscreenwriting
Discord: https://discord.gg/Q3e3WHdA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carldalbert/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PopCraft
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@popcraftscreenwriting?lang=e...

Mark as Played
In this episode, Carl brings on Namir Khaliq from Imagine Entertainment to talk about midpoints, story structures, subversion, and how Parasite remains utterly traditional.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/popcraftscreenwriting
Discord: https://discord.gg/Q3e3WHdA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carldalbert/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PopCraft
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@popcraftscreenwriting?lan...

Mark as Played
In this episode, Carl brings on fellow screenwriter/podcaster Al Horner to discuss who the real main character of Midnight Mass is and why Mike Flanagan gets away with subversive storytelling.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/popcraftscreenwriting
Discord: https://discord.gg/Q3e3WHdA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carldalbert/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PopCraft
Website: https://popcraftscreenwriti...

Mark as Played
In this episode, Carl discusses how writing can be both a craft and subjective at the same time. He also loses his mind.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/popcraftscreenwriting
Discord: https://discord.gg/Q3e3WHdA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carldalbert/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PopCraft
Website: https://popcraftscreenwriting.buzzsprout.com
Into The Woods by John Yorke: https://www.amazon.c...

Mark as Played
In this episode, Carl and Hannah talk scares, suspense, heartbreak, and how to make multiple timelines more than a gimmick.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/popcraftscreenwriting
Discord: https://discord.gg/Q3e3WHdA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carldalbert/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PopCraft
Website: https://popcraftscreenwriting.buzzsprout.com
Hannah's Twitter: https://twitter.com/norma...

Mark as Played
September 24, 2021 39 mins

In this episode, Carl explains Hollywood's 3 Act Structure and how Star Wars fits into it.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/popcraftscreenwriting

Discord: https://discord.gg/Q3e3WHdA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carldalbert/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PopCraft

Website: https://popcraftscreenwriting.buzzsprout.com

3 Act Structure: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thre...

Mark as Played

In this episode, Carl brings on the show's first guest, Hannah Ceselski, to talk romance, character arcs, and fuck-off hermits.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/popcraftscreenwriting

Discord: https://discord.gg/Q3e3WHdA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carldalbert/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PopCraft

Website: https://popcraftscreenwriting.buzzsprout.com

Hannah's Twitter: https://twitter.com/normalsexy...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    24/7 News: The Latest

    The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

    Therapy Gecko

    An unlicensed lizard psychologist travels the universe talking to strangers about absolutely nothing. TO CALL THE GECKO: follow me on https://www.twitch.tv/lyleforever to get a notification for when I am taking calls. I am usually live Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays but lately a lot of other times too. I am a gecko.

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

    The Bobby Bones Show

    Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.