The Past Is All Ahead

Welcome back to the shadows.BAD IDEAS ONLY returns for round three.Philip Gelatt is joined by Morgan Galen King, Will Battersby, April Merl, and Belle Del Sesto for another exercise in terrible ideas and questionable creative judgment.The premise is simple: everyone brings the worst movie pitch they can think of. Then the rest of the group has to figure out how to make it work.What starts with intentionally bad ideas quickly spirals into character development, world building, plot mechanics, unnecessary mythology, and the uncomfortable realization that some of these movies might actually be... good?Then we close with WHAT LURKS IN OUR QUEUE, sharing the films, art, and creative work that have been keeping us inspired lately.Welcome to BAD IDEAS ONLY. Unfortunately, some of these might be worth making.

This week on ETCH CAST, Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King welcome bestselling horror author Stephen Graham Jones for a conversation that spans writing, filmmaking, music, and movies.Stephen reflects on the experience of filming First Word on Horror, sharing favorite memories from the shoot, discussing the unique interview setup used during production, and revisiting what it was like documenting the creative process together. The conversation also explores his approach to writing, why he resists creative rituals, the origins of My Heart Is a Chainsaw, and his unapologetic devotion to Bob Seger—including his annual mission to become one of Spotify's top listeners.For Movie Club, Stephen brings two unexpected selections: Snake Eyes and One Night at McCool's. Together, the group dives into Brian De Palma's filmmaking, Rashomon-style storytelling, Nicolas Cage, overlooked cult films, and the movies that continue to shape how they think about cinema.If you enjoy conversations about horror, filmmaking, books, and the creative process, you're in the right place.Support ETCH by subscribing on YouTube, where you can watch First Word on Horror, Art Show! With Captain Skinner, and exclusive clips from Cassie Workman is Witchy AF. You can also support our work on Substack for behind-the-scenes stories and early access to new projects.

This week on ETCH CAST, Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King are joined by Cassie Workman to discuss the early reaction to CASSIE WORKMAN IS WITCHY AF, the response to the first clips released online, and some favorite behind-the-scenes stories from making the series.Then it's Movie Club as Cassie dives into Hereditary and Constantine, two films that helped inspire the tone, themes, and supernatural conversations at the heart of Witchy AF. From demons and magic to horror, spirituality, and the occult, we explore why these films continue to resonate with audiences years later.Plus: production stories, audience reactions, supernatural cinema, and why we're all still fascinated by the strange.Follow ETCH for more conversations with filmmakers, artists, writers, and creators exploring horror, fantasy, animation, and the wonderfully weird.

Welcome back to the shadows.On Episode 19 of ETCH CAST, co-hosts Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King step inside the House Spaceship with Captain Skinner and director/co-creator Allen Cordell to talk about the making of Art Show! with Captain Skinner.From Super Deluxe origins and DIY filmmaking chaos to Space Cowboy lore, Carny Dad, surreal animation, wizard jokes, and filming two episodes a day, this is a full behind-the-scenes dive into how the weirdest art show on YouTube came to life.Support indie filmmaking, strange art, and all the oddball projects we conjure: etchstudio.substack.comStay weird. Do your best.

Philip Gelatt is joined by Morgan Galen King and special guest Jeremy Selenfriend, head artist of Monster in My Closet, for a conversation centered on practical effects, horror, and the craft of building something real.Jeremy shares how he got started in makeup FX and what it means to create physical transformations in an increasingly digital world. From texture and imperfection to the presence of something tangible on screen, they explore why practical effects continue to leave such a lasting impact.For this episode’s Movie Club, they dig into The Fly II and A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, breaking down creature design, body horror, and the kind of imagery that stays with you long after the credits roll.The episode wraps with what’s been keeping them inspired lately, films, art, and creative work worth adding to your queue.

Episode 17 of ETCH CAST launches our new Movie Club format. Host Philip Gelatt is joined by Morgan Galen King and special guest Skinner — artist and the creative force behind Art Show With Captain Skinner.This episode centers on two films that inspired Skinner: The Dark Backward (1991) and Unwelcome (2023). The conversation moves through filmmaking, outsider art, creative influences, and the strange paths that shape independent work.Art Show With Captain Skinner is now streaming.⭐ Early access Mondays on Substack: https://etchstudio.substack.com⭐ Public episodes Fridays on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@etchfilmSubscribe, support indie film, and help us keep making strange things.

Philip Gelatt is joined by Will Battersby to revisit The Bleeding House, the film that started it all. They talk through the realities of making a first feature — writing and shooting under tight limitations, instinct-driven choices, and the lessons learned along the way.The conversation also includes stories from the set, from building sets by hand to production mishaps, catering chaos, and why live birds and film sets don’t mix.A reflection on process, early mistakes, and the foundation that shaped everything that followed.

Episode 15 of Etch Cast looks outward.Philip Gelatt is joined by Morgan Galen King, Will Battersby, April Merl, and Belle Del Sesto for a conversation about the films and television that defined 2025 — not as critics chasing consensus, but as filmmakers focused on craft, risk, and intent.No rankings. No hot takes. Just a reflection on what lingered, what worked, what didn’t, and what these stories reveal about where film and television may be heading next.

Episode 14 of ETCH CAST is a pause at the threshold — a moment to look back before stepping forward.Philip Gelatt is joined by Will Battersby and Morgan Galen King to reflect on Etch’s first full year as an independent creative studio: what was built, what surprised them, and how the work found its shape.They discuss released and upcoming projects including First Word on Horror, Art Show with Captain Skinner, and Cassie Workman Is Witchy AF, along with collaboration, creative challenges, momentum, and what comes next.A year-one checkpoint — and the calm before whatever comes next.

Bad Ideas Only is back. And it’s worse than ever.Episode 13 of ETCH CAST marks the return of Bad Ideas Only—a live script development challenge where the Etch team brings their worst movie pitches to the table… then dares each other to make them viable.Hosted by Philip Gelatt and joined by Morgan Galen King, Will Battersby, April Merl, Belle Del Sesto, and Lacey Gilleran, this episode features a panel of creative gremlins armed with cursed concepts pulled from late-night Notes apps, half-remembered dreams, and ideas that should have stayed buried.What starts as jokes mutates into something more dangerous. Momentum builds. Rules dissolve. Someone inevitably says, “Wait… that could work,” and suddenly it’s too late to turn back.Brainstorming without brakes.Script development without dignity.Hope with a head injury.🎧 Listen now and tell us which pitch you’d greenlight.