What makes someone back a film before there's a trailer, a cast, or anything to point to but an idea?

Mark Elias sits down with Susheel Daswani—Silicon Valley tech investor and one of the earliest believers in We Could Be Heroes—to unpack what it really takes to be the first yes.

They cover vision pitches vs. metrics pitches, why gaming culture and storytelling share the same DNA, the difference between "dumb money" and "smart money," and what success looks like when it isn't measured in returns.

Because before a movie has a poster, it has a pitch. And someone has to lean in first.

You’ve got the script. Now how do you actually get it made?

In this episode, Mark Elias sits down with Wefunder President Jonny Price to break down equity crowdfunding—and how filmmakers are raising real money by turning their audience into investors.

They dive into what separates successful campaigns from the ones that stall, why momentum matters more than you think, and how to position your film as an opportunity people want to be part of.

This isn’t about posting a page and hoping for the best. It’s about strategy, storytelling, and building a community before you ever ask for a dollar.

If you’re serious about getting your project off the ground, this is where the work really begins.

Working Title: From Paper to Screen is hosted by Mark Elias and produced and distributed by Merrick Studios. View all our episodes and more at wearemerrickstudios.com/working-title-pod

You’ve finished the script. Now comes the hard part—getting it made.

In Episode 4 of Working Title, Mark Elias sits down with director and producer E.J. Foerster (Forrest Gump, Gringa) to break down what it really means to “shop” a project.

From packaging and attaching talent to building momentum and choosing a financing path, E.J. shares practical insights on how films actually move from script to screen.

If you’ve ever asked, “What now?”—this episode is your roadmap.

You’ve finished your first draft. Now what?

In this episode of Working Title, Mark sits down with screenwriter Frank Hannah (The Cooler, Alpha’s) to break down what happens after draft one—when feedback starts coming in and the real work begins.

They cover who to trust with notes, how to tell what feedback actually matters, and how to shape your script without losing the core of your story. If you’re in the rewrite phase, this is your roadmap forward.

Working Title: From Paper to Screen is produced by Merrick Studios and hosted by Mark Elias. Join the conversation on Instagram @markelias and get the inside scoop at Merrick Studios+. Join now and use the code: WELCOME for your first 3 months FREE.

An idea is exciting. Writing it is where things get real.

In Episode 2 of Working Title, Mark Elias sits down with writer, producer, and showrunner Eric Wallace (The Flash) to explore the moment every project faces: when the idea is locked, and it’s just you and the page.

Together, they break down what it actually takes to start writing—from building a bulletproof logline and outlining your story, to navigating doubt, discipline, and the pressure of the blank page. Eric shares practical tools and hard-earned lessons from decades in television, including how to know if you’re making real progress—even when the work doesn’t feel good yet.

Because until there are pages… there is no movie.

Before a script, before a plan, before anything gets made—there’s just an idea. In Episode 1 of Working Title, Mark Elias sits down with writer Bert V. Royal (Easy A, Cruel Summer) to break down the messy, unpredictable process of ideation—how ideas form, how to pressure test them, and how to know when it’s time to stop thinking and start writing. They dig into:

• The difference between a real story and “just a vibe”
• Why writing fast can lead to better scripts
• The danger of overthinking (and over-outlining)
• How to spot a bad idea before wasting months on it
• Why imagining the trailer might be the best test of all

Plus, Bert shares stories from writing Easy A in five days to revisiting ideas that took years to find their moment.

Work Title: From Paper to Screen is hosted by Mark Elias and produced by Merrick Studios. Catch the show on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and at Merrick Studios+

This new series from Merrick Studios follows filmmaker Mark Elias as he documents the real, unfiltered journey of making an independent film—from first draft through fundraising, production, and release. Season One tracks We Could Be Heroes, offering a behind-the-scenes look at what it actually takes to get a movie made today—no gloss, just the process.

If you’ve ever wondered how films really come together, this is it—in real time. Episode one of Working Title: From Paper to Screen with Mark Elias drops Monday, April 6th on Apple, Spotify, Youtube and wearemerrickstudios.com.