Working Title: From Paper to Screen with Mark Elias

Working Title: From Paper to Screen follows writer, producer, actor, and director Mark Elias as he documents the real, unglamorous, and occasionally exhilarating journey of making an independent film. Each season tracks a single project from first draft to final release—covering fundraising, casting, production, post, and everything that can derail it.

Season One follows We Could Be Heroes, offering an honest, behind-the-scenes look at what it actually takes to get a movie made today. No hype. No shortcuts. Just the work, the setbacks, and the small wins that bring a script to life.

If you’ve ever wondered how films really get made—this is it, in real time.

From Paper to Screen with Mark Elias is a Merrick Studios podcast.

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Episodes

3 days ago

Bert V. Royal on Turning an Idea Into a Movie

3 days ago

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+

Monday Mar 30, 2026

Introducing Working Title: From Paper to Screen

Monday Mar 30, 2026

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.