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.