Write the Cult, But Make It Believable | Jennie McMurtry on Story, Risk, and Rewriting the Villain

05/20/25 • 54 min

What makes a story resonate—and what’s the cost of writing one that doesn’t play it safe? In this episode, Jennie McMurtry joins Mishu to talk about screenwriting in the indie world, from crafting high-stakes pilots to rewriting cult thrillers that feel unnervingly plausible. They chat about the pressure of self-producing, learning when to ask for money (and when to call in favors), and the liberating joy of writing unhinged women, flawed villains, and characters that push back against lazy tropes.

Jennie is a Chicago-based screenwriter, story editor, and founder of the Chicago Film Events community. She’s honed her craft through Second City, iO, and mentorships with writers like Shonda Rhimes and Brent Forrester. Through her community work and collaborations, Jennie helps filmmakers navigate the indie ecosystem, advocate for paid writing, and spotlight emerging women-led projects. Her writing is character-driven, politically aware, and proudly allergic to cliché.

We talk about:
→ Rewriting villains with actual interiority
→ What cults and pyramid schemes teach us about narrative structure
→ Indie pricing psychology: why you should budget for yourself
→ Finding the line between creative risk and responsible representation and the impactful documentary Code of The Freaks
→ Why your “bad” first draft is probably doing its job

Learn more about Jennie’s work and community building via Chicago Film Events @chicagofilmevents and download her app.
Official Website: www.jenniefromnebraska.com
Instagram at @jenniefromne, and @abbyneedsafriend.
YouTube at @jenniefromnebraska.

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

Previous Episode

The Edit Is Where You Lose Your Mind (and Maybe Find the Movie) | Kyle Leland on Structure, Fear, and Finishing

What happens when you stop trying to be Wes Anderson and start figuring out what’s actually yours to say? In this episode, filmmaker, writer and editor Kyle Leland Cullerton joins Mishu for a refreshingly candid conversation about fear, delusion, and creative self-awareness. They talk about the high-stakes neurosis of editing, the discipline of outlining, and why learning to tolerate imperfection might be the only way to finish anything worthwhile.

Kyle grew up in Chicago’s Boystown neighborhood and got his start working on the studio film Wanted at just 17. Since then, he’s directed nearly 30 shorts and music videos, won over 20 awards for his series Hammersmith, and had a 48 Hour Film Project short screen internationally at the 2018 Festival de Cannes. His work has appeared in campaigns for the Cubs, Blackhawks, Bud Light, and Subaru.

We get into:
→ Why subtext is the real emotional currency of a scene
→ The terror of the first draft—and the secret weapon of the outline
→ Why a good edit requires a little bit of madness
→ Wrestling with imposter syndrome and calling it commitment
→ Making short films that actually feel like you

🎟 Buy tickets for the 3rd annual Screen Time showcase at the Davis Theater (May 29): Eventbrite link

Learn more at vimeo.com/kalopsiafilms
Follow Kyle on Instagram at @kyle_leland_

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

Next Episode

Stop Writing for the Audience—Start Telling the Truth | Jordan Tragash on Structure, Discomfort, and the Unraveling

What happens when a filmmaker stops writing from the outside in—and starts building stories from the subconscious out? In this episode, Jordan Tragash joins Mishu for a conversation that gets into experimental structure, emotional disorientation, and the creative tension between clarity and chaos. They explore the value of discomfort, the illusions of control, and why Jordan has no interest in telling you what his films are about.

Jordan is a writer-director and creative producer named “One To Watch” by The Guardian in 2024 after the release of his debut feature BAM!, which earned audience awards at Wicked Queer and nominations at Rome Independent and Fresno Reel Pride. His previous shorts include By A Thread (Pentimenti Emerging Filmmaker Award) and Only Strangers Sleep In My Bed, which has amassed over 100k YouTube views. A Wesleyan grad with degrees in Theater and Economics, Jordan works between New York, Chicago, and LA, integrating market insight and emotional intelligence into his uniquely absurd, character-focused work.

We talk about:
→ Writing from personal discomfort, fear, and absurdism
→ Rebuking three-act structure—and what happened in his writers’ group when he did
→ Audience interpretation vs. authorial control
→ What it means to build “the vibe” without giving up rigor
→ Why he’ll never tell you what a film is about

Watch Jordan’s feature film BAM! now on Tubi, or rent it on Amazon Prime and Apple TV+.
Follow him on Instagram at @jtragash and track his next project Cinghiale at @cinghialefilm.

Listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.