Let's Make A Horror

CBC

From the team that brought you the Webby award-winning Let's Make A Sci-Fi, a New Yorker Best Podcast of 2022, and the hilariously heartfelt Let's Make A Rom-Com, comes season three: Let's Make A Horror. This time, comedians Mark Chavez, Maddy Kelly, and Ryan Beil will make you laugh while they try to make you scream. Over 10 episodes, Mark, Maddy, and Ryan will learn what it takes to make truly frightening horror, interviewing Hollywood writers, directors, and enthusiasts; probing their deepest fears; and eventually taking a stab at writing and directing their own shocking short film. read less

Our Editor's Take

Let's Make A Rom-Com is a hilarious podcast all about romantic comedies. In this show, comedians Maddy Kelly, Mark Chavez, and Ryan Beil open their writers' rooms to the audience. The podcast details the creative process of writing and how to create a good love story. The comedians try to create the ideal formula for their own rom-com. This CBC show is from the same writers who host the Let's Make a Sci-fi podcast.

The hosts invite Hollywood experts on the podcast to aid in their writing process. Kirsten "Kiwi" Smith of Legally Blonde and 10 Things I Hate About You appears on Let's Make A Rom-Com. She shares funny moments from her career and some horror stories that still give her the chills. The podcast hosts accept criticism from their guests and listen to their advice. In another episode, they talk with author and rom-com expert Billy Mernit about the classic "meet cute."

The podcast hosts also discuss the importance of side characters with guest Karan Soni. Soni chats about how the characters' best friends can make or break a story. This Let's Make A Rom-Com episode helps the hosts add necessary B-plots to their stories. In one episode, Phoebe Robinson helps them better their romantic dialogue. The podcast hosts read real love letters from their own lives.

The hosts also discuss classic dialogue mistakes. Greg Behrendt helps with this element in the episode "The Break Up." He teaches the writers how to drive space between characters once they come together. Finally, Ol Parker joins the show to help the hosts find the ideal "Grand Romantic Gesture." Once the characters break up, it requires something big to bring them back together. These gestures help create that must-have climactic moment in every rom-com.

Each Let's Make A Rom-Com guest helps the hosts refine their pitch and continue on their path to making a great rom-com. Once the pitch is complete, the podcast hosts perform it. This series may be fun listening for romantic comedy fans.

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Introducing: Let’s Make A Sci-Fi!

Introducing: Let’s Make A Sci-Fi!

An eight-part adventure through the creative process as three comedians try writing a successful sci-fi pilot— with help from scientific experts and Hollywood screenwriting pros.

Season 3

Introducing: Let’s Make a Horror!

Introducing: Let’s Make a Horror!

Can three comedians get seriously scary? Mark Chavez, Maddy Kelly, and Ryan Beil attempt to not only write but also make a frightening short film—with help from Hollywood experts. Let's Make A Horror premieres October 11 wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode 1: Horror 101 (feat. Eduardo Sánchez)

Episode 1: Horror 101 (feat. Eduardo Sánchez)

Mark, Maddy, and Ryan learn the basics of horror movie making from legend, The Blair Witch Project director Eduardo Sánchez. The comedians also discuss their own love/hate relationship with the genre, their biggest fears, and establish the rules for this season’s spooky project.

Episode 2: The Idea (feat. Gillian Flynn)

Episode 2: The Idea (feat. Gillian Flynn)

Mark, Maddy, and Ryan hold an Ouija seance in the graveyard before calling up Gone Girl writer Gillian Flynn, who advises the hosts on how to recognize a great idea and coaches them on two tenants of great horror: suspense and twists. Back in the writers’ room, Mark, Maddy, and Ryan pitch each other their horror movie concepts and pick their winning idea.

Episode 3: How to Scare an Audience (feat. Matt Gourley)

Episode 3: How to Scare an Audience (feat. Matt Gourley)

Film idea in hand, it’s time for the hosts to study the art of scares—with a horror film fest sleepover! Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend co-host Matt Gourley gives Mark, Maddy, and Ryan’s sleepover its spine-tingling syllabus. After exploring the genre, indie horror director Gary Michael Schultz prepares the hosts for the realities of DIY filmmaking.

Episode 4: Comedy and Horror (feat. Ronny Chieng)

Episode 4: Comedy and Horror (feat. Ronny Chieng)

After spooky stories disintegrate into laughs, the hosts explore the thin boundary between horror and hilarity with Daily Show correspondent and comedian Ronny Chieng, who also shares what it was like to be murdered by AI doll M3GAN. Mark, Maddy, and Ryan also put on their producer hats and start planning their short film.

Episode 5: Horror Directing (feat. Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein)

Episode 5: Horror Directing (feat. Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein)

Mark, Maddy, and Ryan have their idea, but who’s going to helm it? Director duo Adam Stein and Zach Lipovsky talk about directing as a team—and the big stunt they pulled to land directing Final Destination 6. The hosts debate whether they’ll direct together or appoint one director.

Episode 6: Horror Acting (feat. Rose McIver)

Episode 6: Horror Acting (feat. Rose McIver)

Doubting their horror acting abilities, the comedians write and practice reading horror dialogue with actor Rose McIver (Ghosts, iZombie, The Lovely Bones), who leads a crash course in horror performances. With unexpected help from rom-coms, Rose teaches the hosts how to go from gushy to gory. This interview was recorded before the SAG-AFTRA strike.

Episode 7: Chaos Week (feat. Doug Jones)

Episode 7: Chaos Week (feat. Doug Jones)

Mark, Maddy, and Ryan have finished their script just in the nick of time. But 8 days before they shoot their film, everything goes wrong. Maddy moves across the country, Mark goes blind, and the director of photography winds up in the hospital! As the comedians assemble their crew and head out to the cabin, can they break this curse? They also enlist legendary monster actor Doug Jones (Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water, Hocus Pocus) to ensure that their ghoul is sufficiently scary.

Episode 8: Post Production (feat. Nahnatchka Khan)

Episode 8: Post Production (feat. Nahnatchka Khan)

Mark, Maddy, and Ryan enter the editing suite only to realize what they shot is NOT WORKING! They speak to comedy turned horror director Nahnatchka Khan (Totally Killer, Always Be My Maybe) about how to save a struggling film after you’ve already shot it. Recognizing the crucial role music plays, the hosts ask their friend Emmett to help score their film.

Episode 9: The Debrief

Episode 9: The Debrief

Did you remember to Close and Lock the Patio Door? Mark, Maddy, and Ryan’s short film is out NOW! Go to patiodoormovie.com to watch the film. On this episode they discuss all of the behind the scenes drama, what worked in the film and what didn’t, and they try to answer the biggest question of this season: Did they make a scary movie??? Watch Close and Lock the Patio Door on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGktkCwaJSc

Episode 10: Let’s Make a Horror LIVE

Episode 10: Let’s Make a Horror LIVE

Mark, Maddy, and Ryan perform a live version of the podcast with guest Tricia Black (What We Do In The Shadows, Pretty Hard Cases) at Comedy Bar as part of the Just for Laughs Toronto comedy festival.

Season 2

Introducing: Let's Make A Rom-Com

Introducing: Let's Make A Rom-Com

Can three comedians write a heartfelt rom-com script? Let’s Make A Rom-Com takes you inside a real writers’ room, where Maddy Kelly, Mark Chavez and Ryan Beil get (semi-)serious about love. Coming February 14 wherever you get your podcasts.

Let's Make A Rom-Com, Episode 1: What’s Love Got to Do With It? (feat. Billy Mernit + Addison Duffy)

Let's Make A Rom-Com, Episode 1: What’s Love Got to Do With It? (feat. Billy Mernit + Addison Duffy)

Maddy, Mark, and Ryan get ready to fall in love with a whole new genre. They speak to Billy Mernit, Hollywood story analyst and author of “Writing the Romantic Comedy”, to learn the rom-com’s tried-and-true formula. They also consult United Talent Agency’s Addison Duffy to discover what kinds of rom-coms audiences and agents are loving. (Santa? Spies? Superspreaders?) With insights into both profits and passion, the writers pitch each other on rom-com concepts.

Let's Make A Rom-Com, Episode 2: The Couple (feat. Kirsten “Kiwi” Smith)

Let's Make A Rom-Com, Episode 2: The Couple (feat. Kirsten “Kiwi” Smith)

The comedians turn to rom-com royalty Kirsten "Kiwi" Smith (10 Things I Hate About You, Legally Blonde, She's the Man) to help refine their pitch. They also develop their romantic leads, Greg and Catalina. But are they failing to see a few key rom-com red flags…?

Let's Make A Rom-Com, Episode 3: The Meet Cute (feat. Billy Mernit)

Let's Make A Rom-Com, Episode 3: The Meet Cute (feat. Billy Mernit)

With their romantic leads (kind of!) fleshed out, the comedians each try writing the genre's most iconic staple: the meet cute. Maddy hosts a rom-com movie marathon for inspiration. Mark discovers the term's unexpected origins. Story analyst Billy Mernit ("Writing the Romantic Comedy") returns to demystify how important the "cute" is in a potent "meet cute." Finally, the comedians read their romantic run-ins aloud to test their characters' chemistry.

Let's Make A Rom-Com, Episode 4: Side Characters (feat. Karan Soni)

Let's Make A Rom-Com, Episode 4: Side Characters (feat. Karan Soni)

Actor and sidekick extraordinaire Karan Soni (Always Be My Maybe, Deadpool) advises on what makes a compelling supporting character… and flexes his Salma Hayek connection. Maddy, Mark, and Ryan develop their movie’s entire romantic world, pitching each other on quirky best friends (and friends of friends) and picking out the perfect setting, before sitting down to outline their script.

Let's Make A Rom-Com, Episode 5: Romantic Dialogue (feat. Phoebe Robinson)

Let's Make A Rom-Com, Episode 5: Romantic Dialogue (feat. Phoebe Robinson)

The gang consult comedian, actor, podcaster, and renowned wit Phoebe Robinson (2 Dope Queens, Everything's Trash) on how to write genuine and genuinely good romantic dialogue. Reading out their real love letters to past and present partners inspires Maddy, Mark, and Ryan on what NOT to do. The comedians fight through absolutely crushing levels of vulnerability and read aloud scenes where Greg and Catalina begin to fall in love. There's banter! There's chemistry! There's... Zeta Trigonometry!?

Let's Make A Rom-Com, Episode 6: The Break Up (feat. Greg Behrendt)

Let's Make A Rom-Com, Episode 6: The Break Up (feat. Greg Behrendt)

It's crisis time. Now that the comedians have figured out how to bring their couple together, it's time to tear them apart. To dive deep into romantic conflict, Maddy, Mark, and Ryan call up two very different experts: divorce lawyer Melanie Bragg and comedian, Sex & The City writer, and author of “He's Just Not That Into You” Greg Behrendt. The comedians then collaboratively write a scene where things take an especially sour turn.

Let's Make A Rom-Com, Episode 7: Grand Romantic Gestures (feat. Ol Parker)

Let's Make A Rom-Com, Episode 7: Grand Romantic Gestures (feat. Ol Parker)

Once you've broken your couple up, how do you bring them back together? With a grand romantic gesture, of course. But in the world of grand romantic gestures, how grand is too grand? How romantic is too romantic? When Mark's mad lib game doesn't quite help, the hosts bring in a true romantic comedy MVP: writer and director Ol Parker (Ticket to Paradise, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again). They're just three comedians, standing in front of a Hollywood pro, asking him to help them finish their rom-com.

Let's Make A Rom-Com, Episode 8 (Part 2): We Made a Rom-Com

Let's Make A Rom-Com, Episode 8 (Part 2): We Made a Rom-Com

Maddy, Mark, and Ryan sit down with their producers Dave and Chris to discuss the process of making “His Ex-Girlfriend is Salma Hayek”. They listen to clips from the pitch and Maddy divulges why this process was especially emotional for her.