Check out our premium TSL WORKSHOPS program here: https://tslworkshops.circle.so STORY ENGINE. Two words we so often dread, but let&#8217;s be honest: the engine of your story is what POWERS your movie. It&#8217;s make, or break. And today, we break down eight elements to test whether or not you are on your way to a feature…

263 | Feature Film Story Engine Checklist: 8 Elements to Turn a Situation Into a Movie (REBROADCAST)

core/audio

core/classic-editor

Podcast

Sean Ono Lennon: The Golden Egg of Empathy (AI Ethics with Anat Perry and Jason D’Cruz)

Johanna Samuels

824: Deadass Beekeeping and Beyond with Gecile Fojas and Anthony Virey 

Transmissions :: Fred Thomas

985. – Jerry Stahl

Newport Folk Festival 2026 Scene Report

Creative

Footer Legal

Main

NavBar

Sections

Topics

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Register to continue

Talkhouse

Alison Star Locke earned a B.F.A. in Filmic Writing from USC, where she won the Jack Nicholson Screenwriting Award. She began her career as a reality TV Story Producer and writing, directing and producing numerous shorts. After staying home to advocate and care for her daughter, who has autism, she returned to work to write and direct The Apology, her first feature, a psychological thriller starring Anna Gunn, Linus Roache and Janeane Garofalo and is available on Shudder, AMC+, Blu-Ray and VOD. Her comedy horror short, Pick Up Time, was laureled up at fests, including Nightmares, Renegade, etc. She recently produced the zombie horror/relationship drama short, Until the End. She lives with her husband and daughter in the LA area. Her work focuses mainly on motherhood, gender disparity, disability and having fun getting your rage out. You can find her on socials at @alisonstarlocke.

Alison Star Locke

Film

Feeding the Babadook in the Basement

Ben McKenzie is an actor (The O.C., Southland, Gotham) who has become a prominent critic of cryptocurrency through his book Easy Money (2023), and his recent documentary Everyone Is Lying to You for Money (2026).

Ben McKenzie

Is Not Music was founded by Xander Duell as a way to create the artistic infrastructure he couldn’t find in the industry. Is Not Music cultivates projects at the intersection of music, performance, and design. Grounded in collaboration and process, we champion artistic autonomy and ownership.

Is Not Music

Merrill Garbus is the frontperson of Tune-Yards, and a composer whose work includes scores for director Boots Riley’s film projects, most recently I Love Boosters.

Merrill Garbus

Music

Is Not Music.: A Conversation About Scams with Ben McKenzie and Merrill Garbus (Tune-Yards)

post

823: Interpol’s Daniel Kessler: Guitarist, Restaurateur, Spanish Food Freak