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First Five

First Five

By: Lindsay Stidham
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About this listen

 First Five is a podcast hosted by screenwriter and filmmaker Lindsay Stidham that dives into the first five pages of scripts (both classic and new) to explore what makes a story hook work. Each episode unpacks how writers craft their opening, tease out themes, structure, character arcs, and narrative momentum. It’s designed for screenwriters, storytellers, and movie lovers who care deeply about craft, opening scenes, and the delicate architecture of a great start. Lindsay brings her experience (MFA-trained, working writer) and her sharp, generous eye to each breakdown, offering insight, encouragement, and inspiration along with an incredible cavalcade of guests at various points in their own careers. Whether you're writing your own script or just obsessed with why your favorite movies grab you, First Five is a thoughtful, creative, and smart conversation about story beginnings. Art
Episodes
  • Oh, Baby! The art of the sexy short film with Brooke Trantor

    Oh, Baby! The art of the sexy short film with Brooke Trantor
    Dec 9 2025
    Welcome to a short-film focused episode of First 5, the podcast where we explore the first five pages of screenplays—both iconic and in-progress—to uncover what hooks us, what thrills us, and what makes a script truly tick. The talented multi-hyphenate writer, actor, and director Brooke Trantor joins us this episode. Brooke has made a truly remarkable amount of short films and has played in notable festivals around the country. She regales with tales about her award-winning short film Oh, Baby! The film included working with her very pregnant best friend and navigating directing a sex scene pre #MeToo. Brooke also highlights what makes a great short versus what makes a great feature as she works towards her first feature film directing effort all while keeping in mind lessons she learned from Oh, Baby along the way. Oh, Baby! Follow Brooke’s filmmaking journey @brooketrantor Watch Oh, Baby! https://vimeo.com/360409872
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    32 mins
  • Perfume, Pleasure & Period Rom-Coms with Maggie Lane

    Perfume, Pleasure & Period Rom-Coms with Maggie Lane
    Nov 25 2025
    Welcome to the premiere of First 5, where we crack open the first five pages of screenplays—iconic and in-progress—to uncover what makes them tick. I'm your host, Lindsay Stidham, and today’s guest is the wildly talented Maggie Lane. Maggie’s a rom-com lover, a cancer survivor, and yes—an alum of Sesame Street. She’s also a certified nose who studied perfumery in Italy and brings us A Cord, her steamy, sensory-rich period rom-com set in 1850s Venice and London. We dive into the art of scent, sensual storytelling, and why the first five pages must seduce. Expect masked meet-cutes, olfactory synesthesia, and yes—spontaneous orgasms (thank you, tuberose 🌸). ✨ Key Takeaways 💋 Seeing scent: Using synesthesia as cinematic language 🎭 Masquerade magic: Romance at first whiff 🌹 A heroine shaped like a perfume bottle 💄 Writing sex scenes with confidence + silk robes 🧪 Perfume vs. patriarchy: Pleasure as protest 🪞 Then & now: Victorian themes that still hit Whether you're a screenwriter or scent enthusiast, this episode will intoxicate. 👉 Listen now and enter the fragrant, feminist world of A Cord.
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    55 mins
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