Behind the Slate
Behind the Slate is your backstage pass to Playtime Studio. Hosts Jules Mercer and Devon Pierce mix sharp analysis with real talk about writing, filmmaking, and the struggles of bringing stories to life. New episodes drop every Saturday — because great stories deserve more than just the spotlight.
Episodes
9 episodes
Bone Face – The Mask of Camp Marigold
This week on Behind the Slate, Jules and Devon crack open Michael Donovan Horn’s Bone Face, a chilling slasher script that drags us deep into the woods of Camp Marigold. What starts as a farewell party for a counselor spirals ...
Subscriber Episode
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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31:53
Echoes of Silence – The Lasting Legacy of Silent Films
Before the dialogue, before the soundtracks, there was silence—and yet cinema spoke volumes. In this episode of Behind the Slate, Jules and Devon journey back to the era of Chaplin, Keaton, and Murnau to uncover how the earliest filmma...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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47:22
The Texas Witch – When Legends Hunt Back
In this episode of Behind the Slate, Jules and Devon break down Gianna Lutz and Andrew Evans’ indie horror The Texas Witch. Set in Jacksonville Forest, the story blends campfire folklore with modern fear—missing people, grief,...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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35:22
Writing Your First Script – Lessons from Buster and Kilo
Jules Mercer and Devon Pierce get candid about writing your very first screenplay, using Buster and Kilo as a case study. From overstuffed characters and tone confusion to pacing missteps and clunky dialogue, they break down the ...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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50:30
Ripper – Easter Eggs in the Shadows
Jules Mercer and Devon Pierce pull back the curtain on Ripper, the original crime thriller series in development at Playtime Studio. In this episode, they dig into the hidden easter eggs sprinkled throughout the scripts — from de...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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27:17
Alone – Fragments of a Lost World
Jules Mercer and Devon Pierce wander into the haunting quiet of Alone – Fragments of a Lost World. With barely a word spoken, this short film explores isolation, memory, and what remains after everything falls apart. The hosts br...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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27:56
Alive – Two Sentences, Endless Terror
Jules Mercer and Devon Pierce crack open the chilling two-minute short film Alive, based on the viral two-sentence horror story about waking to the sound of hammering—only to realize you’re inside a coffin. They explore how such ...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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32:12
The Coming – Love, Fear, and Aliens in Small-Town Texas
Jules Mercer and Devon Pierce take listeners deep into the eerie, small-town chaos of The Coming. From its slow-burn tension to its unsettling final reveal, they unpack the script’s mix of romance, dread, and creeping alien menac...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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26:23
Unpacking the Trauma and Resilience in Silence as the Smoke Settles
Jules Mercer and Devon Pierce dive deep into the haunting world of Silence as the Smoke Settles. From gripping character arcs to cinematic possibilities, they break down what makes this script a standout, share their dream cast picks, ...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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13:03