Let's Make A Horror

In a very special live episode, Mark, Maddy and Ryan each pitch their ideas for a new horror film to legendary comedian Paul F. Tompkins (Mr. Show, BoJack Horseman). Which film will Paul give the greenlight to? This episode was recorded live at KCRW in Los Angeles as part of the 2023 On Air Fest. Also in this episode: Mark introduces "The Town Show" , a new weekly podcast series hosted by him and Ryan. Listen here: https://shows.acast.com/the-town-showClose and Lock the Patio Door will be screening in Vancouver on Oct 25 as part of the Vancouver Horror Show Film Festival. Get tix here: https://bit.ly/4eONfCL 

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Although critics are slamming the new Exorcist movie, it's still number one at the box office. Horror fans Jen Sookfong Lee and Matt Hart make the case for the original Exorcist, and weigh in on why we love to be scared at the movies. Every day, Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud brings you the most urgent, joyful, captivating discussions in all of arts, pop culture, and entertainment. Commotion is where you go for a thoughtful and vibrant chat working through the big culture stories. More episodes are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/8ysgbI4K

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.

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.

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.

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.

You've listened to the process, and now it's time to listen to the pitch. It’s “His Ex-Girlfriend is Salma Hayek.” Did these three comedians come up with a fresh and funny rom-com? If you were an Hollywood exec, would you greenlight it? Listen and judge for yourself! Featuring the performances by Lili Beaudoin (Catalina), Malik Elassal (Greg), Ronald Dario (Mark), Anita Rochon (Breathe), Taz Van Rassell (Park Cop), Aaron Read (Date Guy), and Kevin Lee (Zeta Trigonometry)

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.

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.

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.

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!?

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.