In Episode 308, Geoffrey D. Calhoun and co-host Kristy Leigh Lussier dig into one of the biggest shifts happening in film right now: the rise of YouTubers as box office draws. Using Iron Lung as a case study, they unpack how creator-driven films are outperforming studio releases, why Hollywood is resisting transparency around indie success, and what this power shift means for filmmakers. They also tackle persistent screenwriting myths about page numbers and beat timing, break down writer’s block from a neurological perspective, and have a candid conversation about how AI should and should not be used in the writing process.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
Why YouTubers are now the real box office stars
How Iron Lung succeeded as a low-budget, single-location indie
The truth about page numbers, beat sheets, and rigid structure rules
Why writer’s block is often a physical response, not a creative failure
How AI can support writers without replacing them
Key Moments
00:20 – Seeing Iron Lung and why it works as contained horror
04:22 – YouTubers as the new movie stars and marketing engines
10:16 – The myth of hitting exact beats on exact page numbers
22:23 – How AI should be used to help writers, not replace them
About the Cohost Kristy Leigh Lussier is a filmmaker, producer, and screenwriter working in today’s independent film space. She brings a grounded, real-world perspective to writing craft, production realities, and industry shifts, especially where new media and traditional filmmaking collide.
About the Host With films on network television, streaming platforms, and in theaters, Geoffrey D. Calhoun is a screenwriter, author of The Guide for Every Screenwriter, and a passionate mentor in the industry. He hosts The Successful Screenwriter podcast to empower writers and filmmakers at every level.
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