From Advertising To Action: Screenwriter Jeremy Drysdale's Journey Through Hollywood's Changing Landscape The Fandom Portals podcast

From Advertising to Action: Screenwriter Jeremy Drysdale's Journey Through Hollywood's Changing Landscape

5d ago 48:49

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Episode Summary:
In this episode of The Fandom Portals Podcast, Aaron sat down with veteran screenwriter Jeremy Drysdale—whose credits span the cult film Grand Theft Parsons, the video game Battlefield 2, and the real‑time thriller In the Line of Duty. Jeremy shares his unconventional journey from ad copywriter to Hollywood, his blueprint for crafting unputdownable scripts, and why he’s pushing the boundaries of traditional screenwriting.

Topics:

Unconventional Entry: How a pact and some inginuity became Grand Theft Parsons
Genesis of Ideas: Moving from advertising scripts to original screenplays
Cross‑Medium Writing: Key differences between film, TV, and non‑linear game narratives
Structural Secrets: Jeremy’s “bastardized Save the Cat” + step‑outline method
Real‑Time Filmmaking: Crafting tension in In the Line of Duty
Research Habits: Relying on Google for gritty realism
On‑Set Dynamics: Why writers are often sidelined in production
Breaking Conventions: The daring “no scene headings” approach in Casual Violence
Industry Insight: Navigating the middle‑budget market and the fight to sell original IP

Key Takeaways:

Proactivity Pays: Jeremy flew to Nashville unannounced to secure life‑rights—landing his first feature
.
Foundation First: A detailed step outline ensures story beats hit before a single line of dialogue is written.
Medium Matters: Film, TV, and games demand distinct structures—streaming TV frees writers from rigid act breaks.
Script Reader Savvy: Scripts are first judged by readers trained in “classic” structure—know their expectations.
Creative Experimentation: Removing scene headings can speed reading and modernize script flow—if you’ve earned the trust to try it.
Sales Reality: “If I don’t sell it, it doesn’t exist—just on my hard drive.” Original IP remains a tough sell despite market demand.

Call to Action:
Love insider writing secrets? Subscribe to The Fandom Portals Podcast, and join our mailing list at fandomportalspodcast.com for monthly news and exclusive deep dives into your favorite fandoms!

Apple Podcast Tags:
Screenwriting, Film Writing, TV Writing, Video Game Writing, In the Line of Duty, Grand Theft Parsons, Battlefield 2, Save the Cat, Real‑Time Film, Writing Process, Hollywood, Geek Freaks Network, Fandom Portals Podcast, Script Structure, Original IP

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Chapters

1. From Advertising to Action: Screenwriter Jeremy Drysdale's Journey Through Hollywood's Changing Landscape (00:00:00)

2. Meet Jeremy Drysdale: Writer and Creator (00:00:15)

3. The Grand Theft Parsons Origin Story (00:03:55)

4. Screenplay Writing Process Revealed (00:08:47)

5. Differences Between Film, TV and Games (00:13:41)

6. In the Line of Duty: Script to Screen (00:21:08)

7. Breaking Rules in Screenwriting (00:35:52)

8. The Future of Original Screenplays (00:43:15)

42 episodes