Ep 246 - Crafting Authentic Characters in Horror-Comedy with Cynthia Mersten

The Successful Screenwriter with Geoffrey D Calhoun: Screenwriting Podcast

Host: Geoffrey D. Calhoun, Author of The Guide For Every Screenwriter
Guest: Cynthia Mersten, Screenwriter and Script Summit Winner
In this episode, Geoffrey Calhoun sits down with Cynthia Mersten, 2022 Script Summit winner with her feature screenplay Bad Vibes. Cynthia shares the inspiration behind her unique horror-comedy script, which she describes as “Mean Girls with a little bit of murder.” They discuss her journey from script contests to signing with a manager and landing a feature writing assignment. Cynthia also opens up about her personal experiences that influenced Bad Vibes and how she infuses authenticity into her stories. This episode dives into the value of resilience and how to craft stories that resonate with audiences.
Takeaways:

• The Power of Personal Experience: Cynthia explains how she channels personal trauma and real-life events into her scripts, creating authentic and relatable characters.
• The Script Summit Journey: Cynthia describes how her winning script, Bad Vibes, led to representation and opened doors in the industry.
• Balancing Hybrid Genres: Tips on blending genres, like horror and comedy, and the challenges of finding the right balance to engage a diverse audience.
• The Importance of a Strong Portfolio: Cynthia emphasizes building a robust writing portfolio and focusing on growth rather than external validation.
• Resilience in the Screenwriting World: How to maintain a growth mindset and embrace failure as a learning tool.

Chapters:

• [00:00] - Introduction to the Guest and Overview of Bad Vibes
• [03:02] - Cynthia’s Personal Story Behind the Script
• [07:11] - Challenges of Writing Hybrid Genres
• [13:21] - The Role of Competitions and Resilience in Finding Success
• [22:02] - Advice for Aspiring Screenwriters

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