BPS 411: Beyond the Script: Gordy Hoffman’s Guide to Emotional Storytelling

Life, they say, is a story we tell ourselves—a script of
experience, moments, and emotions woven into a narrative only we
can claim as our own. On today’s episode, we welcome Gordy Hoffman,
a screenwriter, director, and the mind behind the BlueCat
Screenwriting Competition. His journey through the labyrinth of
storytelling has been marked by profound lessons in creativity,
resilience, and the delicate art of telling tales that move the
human heart.As he shares his insights, one thing becomes evident:
the best stories are not formulas but living, breathing entities.
Too often, writers are shackled by the idea that a script must be a
well-oiled machine of plot points and three-act structures.

But according to Gordy Hoffman, true storytelling is about
emotional investment. “The only rule of storytelling is getting an
audience to care,” he explains. Without that, no amount of
structure or technique can save a lifeless script. Whether it’s an
Oscar-winning screenplay or a child recounting their day at school,
the heart of a story lies in its ability to make someone feel
something real.The conversation drifts into the art of critique—how
some script consultants and teachers wield feedback like a
sledgehammer rather than a guiding hand. Gordy Hoffman believes in
nurturing creativity with kindness, rather than crushing it under
the weight of harsh criticism. He’s seen firsthand how a poorly
delivered note can stifle a writer, and he champions an approach
where constructive guidance fosters growth rather than fear. After
all, a writer’s vulnerability is embedded in their work, and the
moment they detach from that, their stories lose their humanity.But
what about the battle every writer faces—the looming doubt that
creeps in halfway through a script, whispering that it’s all
meaningless, that every page is a failure? Gordy Hoffman reassures
us that this despair is not a dead end but a marker of progress.
“Every screenplay you work on, you’re going to hit that wall where
you think, ‘This is awful, I’m bored, and I want to start over.’
That’s when you know you’re halfway there.” The magic, he insists,
lies in persistence—pushing through the malaise, trusting the
process, and understanding that the creative spirit is not meant to
be shackled by self-doubt.

The conversation inevitably turns to Hollywood, that glittering
beast that both nurtures and devours dreams. The industry’s
appetite for franchise films and established intellectual property
has made it harder than ever for original screenplays to find their
place. But for those who believe in their stories, avenues still
exist—film festivals like Sundance, independent productions, and
even the evolving landscape of television. The key is not just
writing a screenplay but crafting one so undeniable that it demands
to be seen.And what of inspiration? For Gordy Hoffman, it can come
from anywhere—a fleeting moment, a stray observation, or even an
index card scribbled with a single thought. Love Liza, one of his
most well-known works, was born from a brief encounter at a gas
station. “I saw someone near a pump, and I thought, ‘Are they
sniffing gasoline?’ That small moment turned into a story about
grief and addiction.” Such is the power of storytelling—it
transforms the mundane into the extraordinary, giving meaning to
even the smallest of moments.

The beauty of storytelling is that it is never truly finished. It
grows, shifts, and takes on a life of its own, sometimes in ways we
never intended. As Gordy Hoffman reminds us, the path of the writer
is one of perseverance, of believing in the story even when the
world seems indifferent. In the end, storytelling is less about
perfecting structure and more about opening the heart—to others, to
ourselves, and to the infinite possibility of what can be
created.

Become a supporter of this podcast:
https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bulletproof-screenwriting-podcast--2881148/support.