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#291 – Crafting Horror and Humanity: Behind the Scenes with The Night Visitor’s Blu Topalli and Peter Stass
Manage episode 510316392 series 167817
On today’s episode of Spun Today, host Tony Ortiz sits down with the powerhouse creative duo Blarime ‘Blu’ Topalli and Peter Stass—veteran writers, filmmakers, and the minds behind the atmospheric new horror podcast, The Night Visitor. Together, they dive deep into the art of collaboration, exploring how blending backgrounds in gothic fiction, comedy, screenwriting, and visual effects leads to stories that both thrill and provoke thought.
Blu brings her experience from working on iconic projects like Titanic and My Big Fat Greek Wedding, along with her love of gothic literature and psychological horror. Peter, meanwhile, draws on a rich foundation in comic book art, screenwriting, and his unique ability to straddle the worlds of humor and terror. In this conversation, they open up about their creative process, the magic of partnership without ego, and why the best horror uncovers truths about ourselves—not just our fears.
Whether you’re a writer, creator, or simply love a good story, this is an episode about the craft of storytelling, the power of cathartic genres like horror and comedy, and how chasing creative risk—rather than playing it safe—can lead to truly original work. Stay tuned for inspiration, behind-the-scenes stories, and a masterclass in creative chemistry.
The Spun Today Podcast is a Podcast that is anchored in Writing, but unlimited in scope. Give it a whirl.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/spuntoday
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spuntoday/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@spuntoday
Website: http://www.spuntoday.com/home
Newsletter: http://www.spuntoday.com/subscribe
Links Referenced in this Episode
Get The Night Visitor wherever you listen to your shows! https://thenightvisitor.com/
Check out The Night Visitor on IG: https://www.instagram.com/nightvisitorpodcast
Follow Peter: https://www.instagram.com/peter_stass/ &
Blu: https://www.instagram.com/xoblu/
Starlog Magazines: https://www.ebay.com/b/Starlog/280/bn_7023436548
Fangoria Magazines: https://www.ebay.com/b/Fangoria-Magazines/280/bn_36838342
Bronzeville Podcast: https://www.waylandproductions.com/bronzeville/
Check out Stephen King’s Book: On Writing - https://amzn.to/430UbZo
Check out Steven Pressfield’s book: The War or Art – https://amzn.to/48GhBH9
Get your Podcast Started Today!
https://signup.libsyn.com/?promo_code=SPUN
(Use Promo code SPUN and get up to 2-months of free service!)
Check out all the Spun Today Merch, and other ways to help support this show! https://www.spuntoday.com/support
Check out my Books
Make Way for You – Tips for getting out of your own way
Melted Cold – A Collection of Short Stories
http://www.spuntoday.com/books/ (e-Book, Paperback & Hardcover are now available).
Fill out my Spun Today Questionnaire if you’re passionate about your craft. I’ll share your insight and motivation on the Podcast: http://www.spuntoday.com/questionnaire/
Shop on Amazon using this link, to support the Podcast: https://amzn.to/4km592l
Shop on iTunes using this link, to support the Podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewTop?genreId=38&id=27820&popId=42&uo=10
Shop at the Spun Today store for Mugs, Notebooks, T-Shirts and more: https://spuntoday-shop.fourthwall.com/
Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
Outro Background Music: https://www.bensound.com
Spun Today Logo by: https://www.naveendhanalak.com/
Sound effects are credited to: http://www.freesfx.co.uk
Listen on: ApplePodcasts | Spotify | Pocket Casts | YouTube | Website
302 episodes
Manage episode 510316392 series 167817
On today’s episode of Spun Today, host Tony Ortiz sits down with the powerhouse creative duo Blarime ‘Blu’ Topalli and Peter Stass—veteran writers, filmmakers, and the minds behind the atmospheric new horror podcast, The Night Visitor. Together, they dive deep into the art of collaboration, exploring how blending backgrounds in gothic fiction, comedy, screenwriting, and visual effects leads to stories that both thrill and provoke thought.
Blu brings her experience from working on iconic projects like Titanic and My Big Fat Greek Wedding, along with her love of gothic literature and psychological horror. Peter, meanwhile, draws on a rich foundation in comic book art, screenwriting, and his unique ability to straddle the worlds of humor and terror. In this conversation, they open up about their creative process, the magic of partnership without ego, and why the best horror uncovers truths about ourselves—not just our fears.
Whether you’re a writer, creator, or simply love a good story, this is an episode about the craft of storytelling, the power of cathartic genres like horror and comedy, and how chasing creative risk—rather than playing it safe—can lead to truly original work. Stay tuned for inspiration, behind-the-scenes stories, and a masterclass in creative chemistry.
The Spun Today Podcast is a Podcast that is anchored in Writing, but unlimited in scope. Give it a whirl.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/spuntoday
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spuntoday/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@spuntoday
Website: http://www.spuntoday.com/home
Newsletter: http://www.spuntoday.com/subscribe
Links Referenced in this Episode
Get The Night Visitor wherever you listen to your shows! https://thenightvisitor.com/
Check out The Night Visitor on IG: https://www.instagram.com/nightvisitorpodcast
Follow Peter: https://www.instagram.com/peter_stass/ &
Blu: https://www.instagram.com/xoblu/
Starlog Magazines: https://www.ebay.com/b/Starlog/280/bn_7023436548
Fangoria Magazines: https://www.ebay.com/b/Fangoria-Magazines/280/bn_36838342
Bronzeville Podcast: https://www.waylandproductions.com/bronzeville/
Check out Stephen King’s Book: On Writing - https://amzn.to/430UbZo
Check out Steven Pressfield’s book: The War or Art – https://amzn.to/48GhBH9
Get your Podcast Started Today!
https://signup.libsyn.com/?promo_code=SPUN
(Use Promo code SPUN and get up to 2-months of free service!)
Check out all the Spun Today Merch, and other ways to help support this show! https://www.spuntoday.com/support
Check out my Books
Make Way for You – Tips for getting out of your own way
Melted Cold – A Collection of Short Stories
http://www.spuntoday.com/books/ (e-Book, Paperback & Hardcover are now available).
Fill out my Spun Today Questionnaire if you’re passionate about your craft. I’ll share your insight and motivation on the Podcast: http://www.spuntoday.com/questionnaire/
Shop on Amazon using this link, to support the Podcast: https://amzn.to/4km592l
Shop on iTunes using this link, to support the Podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewTop?genreId=38&id=27820&popId=42&uo=10
Shop at the Spun Today store for Mugs, Notebooks, T-Shirts and more: https://spuntoday-shop.fourthwall.com/
Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
Outro Background Music: https://www.bensound.com
Spun Today Logo by: https://www.naveendhanalak.com/
Sound effects are credited to: http://www.freesfx.co.uk
Listen on: ApplePodcasts | Spotify | Pocket Casts | YouTube | Website
302 episodes
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