Emerging UK-based screenwriters Tray Epps, Martin F. Wong and Ben Robins chat, debate, moan and celebrate the emotional and financial rollercoaster that is trying to build a career as a working writer in the film and television industry. Alongside a revolving door of (much more successful) guests, they discuss everything from how to approach agents, to which writing competitions are worth applying to and everything inbetween, in a funny, down-to-earth and practical way. Join us on this journey - you are not alone! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Sep 29, 2026 · 54:59
Where do you see yourself in the next five years? It's a big, boring, frustrating question that gets asked a lot, sadly because it has a bit of weight. Especially when you're a…
Sep 22, 2026 · 33:33
Summer's over, so we're not only wrapping up Martin's production stories from the set of his new short LICKS, we're also taking a look at the upcoming Autumn scheme deadlines -…
Sep 15, 2026 · 32:39
Even as writers, occasionally we crawl out from behind our oversized desks and trade our scripts for a camera to actually try and make something - which is exactly what both…
Sep 8, 2026 · 47:54
Sometimes it's more fun to "share the load" as Samwise Gamgee would say, so this week we're talking collaboration - what it means to share the writing responsbilities on a script…
Sep 1, 2026 · 46:18
Tray and Ben are back from the Edinburgh TV Festival, wrapping up what they saw, who they saw and what they should do next - from following up with new connections, to making the…
Aug 25, 2026 · 41:22
It's August and Tray and Ben are on their way to the last ever Edinburgh TV Festival - the only problem is, neither of them have prepared. At all. Not even a little bit. So this…
Aug 11, 2026 · 46:24
How fast can you write? Sometimes, whether we like it or not, we're gonna have to move fast. Whether that's coming up with ideas on the fly or turning around a fresh draft "ASAP"…
Aug 4, 2026 · 46:55
When you've always got too much to do, how do you plan your work and projects to make sure you're prioritising what's important? It's one of the ultimate questions every emerging…
Jul 30, 2026 · 12:53
A whole bonus 15 minutes with brilliant writer, producer and social media chatterer Karla Williams Posiuniene, as we take her through the last call and get some top tips about…
Jul 28, 2026 · 1:07:32
This week's guest will be verrrrry familiar to anyone who regularly finds themselves watching screenwriting content on TikTok - Karla Williams Posiuniene has made a name for…
Jul 21, 2026 · 41:15
How're you doing with your scheduling? This week, Ben's moving house and everything's very much up in the air - so we figured we'd take a look back at how we map out our time…
Jul 15, 2026 · 58:53
We're (over) half way through the year, so what better time to catch up with everything that's been going on in the last quarter to support and celebrate each other - lord knows…
Jul 9, 2026 · 22:14
If like us, you need more John Jackson in your life, here's a whole extra half an hour with your new favourite working TV writer, as we cover everything from specific advice for…
Jul 7, 2026 · 1:17:31
This week we're going all-in on longevity as we sit down with the exceedingly successful John Jackson, a true journeyman TV writer with credits stretching back 25 years, on…
Jul 2, 2026 · 30:05
More great advice from our new favourite agent Jack Gilchrist, as we dive into the Last Call and get very specific about query emails, School of Rock and why more creatives…
Jun 30, 2026 · 1:27:38
After talking about our preferences and the challenges of getting an agent last week (and for a good year prior), today we've actually managed to corner one to answer all of our…
Jun 23, 2026 · 1:03:25
We've been talking about looking for agents for as long as we've been writing, but with the British industry where it is right now, we've started asking ourselves - do we…
Jun 18, 2026 · 28:02
We all need more Louis in our life, so here's another bonus chunk of our elongated chat with the very exciting emerging filmmaker as we take him through the Last Call. From how…
Jun 16, 2026 · 1:22:05
An episode a long time in the making - today we're (finally) joined by the ridiculously exciting writer, director, Martin collaborator and true Simpsons connoisseur Louis Chan,…
Jun 9, 2026 · 45:31
Have you taken any time off recently? Well, this week we finally are. And rather than leaving you with a big ol' blank nothing where an episode should be, we're digging through…
Jun 4, 2026 · 17:35
If an hour and a bit wasn't enough Janice for your ears, here's a whole bonus 20 minutes with the brilliant Janice Okoh, as we walk her through the Last Call. Even more laughs,…
Jun 2, 2026 · 1:08:59
The absolute gold standard of writing guests in today's episode, as we welcome hugely celebrated playwright AND the BAFTA winning creator of BBC's Just Act Normal, Janice Okoh,…
May 26, 2026 · 40:33
And so we reach the marathon of all screenwriting undertakings - the original, arguably the most fun, but certainly the most complex - the feature film. Why is it so hard? Why…
May 19, 2026 · 43:12
TV Pilots are arguably the best bang for your buck as an emerging writer - shorter, lower stakes, highly unlikely to get made anyway, and every competition is positively frothing…
May 12, 2026 · 51:35
It's one of Martin's favourite bits of advice - go off and make a short. But how do you even begin to start? What makes writing a short film totally different (and arguably, far…
May 7, 2026 · 26:41
Look at this - a whole extra 25 minutes with the supremely talented Hong Kong-born writer-director Calif Chong! We take Calif through the Last Call, learn all about the history…
May 5, 2026 · 1:17:30
I know we always say it whenever we have a guest on, but seriously, get ready for a true MASTERCLASS in today's episode from Calif Chong, a Hong Kong born writer-director who…
Apr 28, 2026 · 37:14
Being original can feel like the most important thing in the world for a writer, but look around - most things aren't anymore. And while we're not saying rip off Hacks, or resign…
Apr 21, 2026 · 48:47
So many writers suffer from imposter syndrome, especially us Brits, it's hard to feel like you belong in an industry that doesn't feel like it's built for any of us. So we asked…
Apr 14, 2026 · 45:38
Sometimes the best way to learn how to write is to read how other people have done it. And we don't just mean the pros. We spend a lot of time reading each others work, scripts…
Mar 31, 2026 · 55:48
Spring is finally here, and it's been a very busy Q1 for a bunch of different reasons; Martin's on a new scheme, Tray's spreading his networking wings, and Ben's producing(!),…
Mar 25, 2026 · 38:43
The podcast is a whole year old! And even though Martin refuses to admit it, it's definitely had a big impact on the way we approach our writing and networking. So this week…
Mar 18, 2026 · 47:05
As the Oscars and BAFTAs pass us all by once again, we're digging into awards season as a whole and the very concept of awards full stop. Do they matter? Is it actually the best…
Mar 13, 2026 · 21:25
One final last 20 minute dive into the mind of fantastic filmmaker Yuan Hu, as we take him through the Last Call and he takes us through his best and worst creative advice, how…
Mar 11, 2026 · 35:16
The second part of our long, wisdom-filled chat with filmmaker Yuan Hu leaves Spike Lee behind in favour of going deep into the development process. After nailing his first short…
Mar 4, 2026 · 58:57
I know we always say it, but this week you really are in for a treat - celebrated director and reluctant writer Yuan Hu joins us for a fun deep dive into what's quickly become a…
Feb 18, 2026 · 33:38
In maybe our most meta episode to date, this week we start procrastinating while talking about every writer's worst enemy - procrastination. It happens to us all, and sometimes…
Feb 11, 2026 · 54:20
There are so many screenwriting and industry terms, sometimes it feels like people are just messing with us. But why does a one pager need to be one page? And where does an…
Feb 6, 2026 · 24:57
We still don't have a little bell sound effect for The Last Call, but we DO have a whole extra 25 minutes with brilliant screenwriter Sophie Park, delving into the very nature of…
Feb 4, 2026 · 51:09
Look! Another guest! This week we're joined by filmmaker turned editor turned screenwriter and fellow New Writers Collective alum Sophie Park, to talk through not only her own…
Jan 28, 2026 · 32:55
It doesn't matter how established a writer you are, at some point you'll find yourself in a meeting being asked the immortal question "Yeah, but who is it for?". Audience doesn't…
Jan 23, 2026 · 28:48
If you loved our chat with fascinating producer and entrepreneur Emma Kyung Mi Sheldrick, you're in luck - here's a whole extra 30 minutes of chat, as we take Emma through our…
Jan 21, 2026 · 1:21:06
We're very very lucky to be joined by another killer guest this week in producer extraordinare Emma Kyung Mi Sheldrick, whose work (including famed short Tamagoyaki) has been…
Jan 14, 2026 · 41:45
It's January, we're hitting the refresh button and with it, comes 2026's new year's resolutions - but with a twist. Rather than just looking at ourselves and where we think we…
Jan 7, 2026 · 45:14
Xmas and the festive mess is over, so let's get writing! (if only it was that easy). This week we're back at our desks after 2 weeks of monstrous overeating, relentless…
Dec 31, 2025 · 43:58
Another year's nearly in the can, so we're looking back at 2025, and our professional wins and lessons learned from 12 months of continuing to emerge as a screenwriter in film…
Dec 24, 2025 · 1:29:53
A very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us at Emerging - and to celebrate, we figured we'd open a few presents, toss a few insults and unwrap our 4 favourite films…
Dec 19, 2025 · 17:31
Another extra 15 mins with the brilliant Chloë Mi Lin Ewart as she takes on the all-important Last Call! So what's the best and worst writing advice she's ever received? What's…
Dec 17, 2025 · 1:10:26
Ever wondered what happens on the fabled Channel 4 Screenwriting scheme? Or how one goes straight from that to signing with Mr Casarotto himself? This week's guest Chloë Mi Lin…
Dec 12, 2025 · 15:39
BAFTA-nominated screenwriter Joe Barton, creator of Black Doves, The Lazarus Project and the upcoming Amadeus (among so many others) is back with us to answer the all-important…
Dec 10, 2025 · 51:37
This is a fun one - we convinced BAFTA-nominated screenwriter Joe Barton, creator of Black Doves, Giri/Haji and Sky's upcoming Amadeus (among so many others) to join us for a…
Dec 5, 2025 · 33:32
A special bonus chat this week - inspiring producer, filmmaker, production co-ordinator and all-round multi-hyphenate Sonia Wargacka sits down with Ben to talk about her very…
Dec 3, 2025 · 1:10:46
One of our favourite parts of every guest episode is The Last 10, (ironically) 12 quickfire questions that help us get to know other writers on a far more personal level. So it…
Nov 26, 2025 · 1:20:35
Get ready for a total masterclass in putting yourself out there and getting noticed from this week's guest - actor turned writer turned screenwriting influencer Rachel Flynn. A…
Nov 12, 2025 · 47:59
In ironically our most dis-organised record to date (Martin had a Diet Coke with lunch and... well, don't drink caffeine kids), we're talking about the many varied spreadsheets…
Nov 5, 2025 · 40:08
How many times have we been told not to direct on the page, or not write songs into our scripts? Don’t open with a dream, or someone waking up. Formatting is the be all and end…
Oct 29, 2025 · 57:03
As emerging writers, we spend so much time working on how to present our scripts, we don't always think about the other (sometimes even more important bit), how do we present…
Oct 21, 2025 · 41:21
Burnout is real, it's a sexy word right now, millenials everywhere seem to be suffering from it *constantly*. And we’ve all hit that point, when you want to write, but your brain…
Oct 14, 2025 · 41:41
With the 4Screenwriting deadline well and truly vanquished, this week we're asking ourselves not only "what's next?" but more importantly, "what are we even doing with our…
Oct 7, 2025 · 54:43
Staying focussed as a writer is hard, especially when you're single-parenting, or coming up against a lot of pressure from your money job. So how do we deal with these short term…
Sep 30, 2025 · 32:57
We've all been there, you spend months and months refining the perfect idea into a (passable) screenplay, only for some hotshot Hollywood type to release a Netflix show using…
Sep 23, 2025 · 39:54
Being confident is such an important part of being a writer, but most of us will struggle to say a nice thing about a script we're currently working on. So how do we find that…
Sep 16, 2025 · 34:32
As deadline season approaches, we're kicking off a new run of (slightly) shorter episodes focussing on productivity, accountability and the brass tacks of actually getting down…
Sep 9, 2025 · 41:42
If it's one thing a lot of writers aren't great at, it's keeping track of their progress and setting realistic writing goals. It's a fickle process - we've lost count of the…
Sep 2, 2025 · 55:57
It's one of the hardest questions in writing - when is it time to give up? On a script, on an agent, or even on writing altogether? None of us are about to throw in the towel…
Aug 28, 2025 · 21:55
A special little bonus this week - fresh from a 4 day trip to Edinburgh, Martin breaks down his main industry takeaways from the Edinburgh TV Festival. Including some sneaky…
Aug 26, 2025 · 42:24
As festival season well and truly kicks off with the Edinburgh TV Fest, we're looking at all the many different kinds of events, both big and small, and our top tips for getting…
Aug 19, 2025 · 1:13:23
If writing is hard, rewriting can be even harder - especially if you're working on someone else's draft. But we're in luck, as this week we're joined by our first ever returning…
Aug 12, 2025 · 1:09:23
Whether it's just studying screenplays you stole off the internet, or writing your own one man show, or even being taught how to write by the pros at Harvard, there's no one…
Aug 5, 2025 · 51:01
Networking networking networking, all everyone ever talks about is networking. Everyone hates it, it can be pretty scary if you're not partiuclarly social, but it's very much the…
Jul 29, 2025 · 48:01
Trying to 'emerge' as a writer is tough enough, sometimes you just need a shoulder to cry on or a bit of lasting encouragement to just keep going, so having a community of…
Jul 22, 2025 · 46:53
Research is both the ultimate procrastination tool, and the holy grail for making your characters and your worlds feel lived in and three-dimensional. So how much is enough? And…
Jul 15, 2025 · 42:14
One of the hardest truths about making it as a writer is that so much of your time will not actually be spent writing scripts. There's networking, building and maintaining…
Jul 8, 2025 · 1:04:52
It doesn't matter who you are or what level you're at, the film and TV industry feels like it's built on rejection. Every single one of us will experience it many many times. And…
Jul 1, 2025 · 49:57
After mentioning it in almost every episode to date, this week we finally talk openly about racism and diversity in the film and TV industry - from the uncomfortable truths…
Jun 24, 2025 · 59:34
It might sound wild, but sometimes our best and most meaningful work happens completely subconsciously. How many times have we sat down to write something profound and deeply…
Jun 17, 2025 · 1:07:21
The age old question, I need a creative writing degree, or even a Masters to be a successful writer? Well, you're in luck because our guest this week has both and IS a successful…
Jun 10, 2025 · 44:55
It's a competitive industry where everyone seems to be hustling 24/7, so taking time off can often feel like a risk (or even a failure). Fear of missing out is real. So this…
Jun 3, 2025 · 1:15:16
Writing can be a very solitary pursuit, but it doesn't have to be! Just listen to actor turned screenwriter turned friend of the podcast (and fellow New Writers Collective alum)…
May 27, 2025 · 55:23
Getting notes on your screenplay can be a pretty bruising experience, no matter who they're from, whether it's a friend, a loved one, another writer or a high ranking TV exec.…
May 20, 2025 · 1:04:05
Knowing when to stand up and back yourself as a writer is tricky business, especially when our chances to connect with producers and agents and people who can actually move our…
May 13, 2025 · 46:34
Side quests aren't just for gamers - this week we're all in the same place for once(!), digging deep into all the other stuff we do outside of screenwriting (from stand-up and…
May 11, 2025 · 18:29
It's a competitive industry, so maybe sometimes the only way to stand out from the crowd is to actually make stuff. Martin's close friend and collaborator Louis Chan (director of…
May 7, 2025 · 50:59
So you've climbed the mountain, got an agent and started getting commissions - but what is it actually like to work as a screenwriter in the British film and TV industry? Friend…
Apr 29, 2025 · 48:19
One of the hardest things to figure out while writing is how to support ourselves financially, whether that's getting a job in the film and TV industry, or somewhere very, very…
Apr 28, 2025 · 11:54
Have you heard about Ryan Coogler's unprecedented ownership deal with Warner Bros for his new movie Sinners? Tray takes 10 minutes to go deep on what it means for writers and…
Apr 22, 2025 · 1:01:36
What does it really take to make a short film, and is it even worth it? As emerging writers, we're often told to just get out there and "make something", but will throwing your…
Apr 15, 2025 · 41:29
So you've finally found a few hours in your day to actually sit down at your laptop and get some writing done, but what does that writing time actually look like? If writing is a…
Apr 8, 2025 · 40:00
How many of us struggle to get consistent writing done because life just keeps getting in the way? Two of us are parents to young children, one has a puppy (which is definitely…
Apr 1, 2025 · 46:08
Getting an agent or manager is one of the biggest milestones for an emerging screenwriter, but how do you actually make it happen? Do you need representation to break into the…
Mar 26, 2025 · 49:12
How many times have you been told you have to move to LA to "make it" as a screenwriter? Well, brilliant writer and friend of the podcast Beatty Smith did just that, and lived to…
Mar 26, 2025 · 50:32
Do you have an empty Instagram you don't know how to fill? Are you still grinding away on Twitter/X pretending it can still be saved? Social media isn't exactly the easiest thing…
Mar 26, 2025 · 42:56
Are you sick of staring at yet another screenwriting competition or scheme, wondering if it’s actually worth the entry fee (or the endless application questions)? Well join the…
Mar 26, 2025 · 35:09
A big hello/what's up/how's it going from Martin F. Wong, Tray Epps and Ben Robins, three emerging writers based in the UK, unpacking the uncensored realities of "making it" as a…
Mar 11, 2025 · 0:50
A quick little teaser to get the feed going. 4 episode premiere coming soon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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