Cole Haddon

"Explanations always minimize things. I think that the viewers are far better served by having to confront the questions and find their own answers." — Michael Haneke

From the making of TROY (2004): Wolfgang Peterson directing Brad Pitt as Achilles.

📸 Unknown.

Bill Murray and Gilda Radner dancing at Studio 54, 1978.

📸 Adam Scull.

"Books are a form of political action. Books are knowledge. Books are reflection. Books change your mind." — Toni Morrison

A Tale of Two (Aging) Heroes: 'Logan' and 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny' Let's analyze the storytelling device that writer-director James Mangold used to provide two iconic characters their cinematic swan songs

LOGAN was released nine years ago today (Mar. 3, 2017). It’s one of two films co-written and directed by James Mangold that serve as cinematic swan songs for aging characters, pitting fading icons against dramatizations of their greatest emotional obstacles. This essay breaks down how he does it.

Great independent poster for EX MACHINA (2014), which I’m of the mind is one of the greatest science-fiction films ever made. What do you think of both?

Art by Rory Kurtz.

YouTube video by 5AM StoryTalk with Cole Haddon The AI Resistance: How Communities are Fighting Back

Is AI the final nail in our climate’s coffin?

Digital rights activist LIZZIE O'SHEA discusses how communities are fighting back against Big Tech’s massive environmental footprint.

Listen to the rest of 5AM StoryTalk's chat with Lizzie here: pod.link/1807437928/e...

Ray Charles and his sons on his tour bus, 1966.

📸 by Bill Ray.

“We try to make something better out of what is real. If we want to be successful as an artist, we make it better, and give meaning to something meaningless.” — Bob Dylan

'The True America. New York City, USA', 1968–1971.

Photograph by Ernest Cole (South African).

Grace Kelly in Montego Bay, Jamaica, 1955).

📸 by Howell Conant.

“Society cannot share a common communication system so long as it is split into warring classes. Thus for art to be 'unpolitical' means only to ally itself with the 'ruling' group.” — Bertolt Brecht

‘The most bitter news’: Iran reels as more than 100 children reportedly killed in school bombing The building appears to be among many devastated in Trump’s ‘major combat operations’ as long expected attacks arrive

Nothing says, "We're here to liberate you" like blowing up people's kids.

From the making of ELVIRA: MISTRESS OF THE DARK (1988): Cassandra Peterson, one of the most iconic horror hosts of all time, prepares to be burned alive during her one of two films based on her character.

Photographer unknown.

Anatomy of 'The Code': Why I Walked Away from My Dream TV Project Screenwriters can learn a lot from my take on Greta Garbo’s war with the architect of the Hays Code—and what went wrong thanks to my reps

Why do dream TV projects fall apart? 🎬

Screenwriters can learn a lot both from this breakdown of my take on Greta Garbo’s war over the Hays Code—which had Lasse Hallström attached to direct—AND what ultimately went wrong with the project thanks to my reps.

A cautionary tale for screenwriters...

Max Landis, Whose Career Imploded During #MeToo, Returns with ‘G.I. Joe’ Movie at Paramount (Exclusive) At the same time, Danny McBride will also be writing a separate 'G.I. Joe' script.

This headline goes a long way to make him sound like the victim of wokeness rather than a guy who was repeatedly accused of sexual assault and emotional torture and even bragged about the latter in an interview once.

Audrey Hepburn and Mel Ferrer, 1955.

Photograph by Philippe Halsman.

“If there's specific resistance to women making movies, I just choose to ignore that as an obstacle for two reasons: I can't change my gender, and I refuse to stop making movies.” — Kathryn Bigelow

Producers Erica Lee and Blye Pagon Faust on the Future of Hollywood ('John Wick' - 'Spotlight' - 'Sicario' - 'LulaRich') Podcast Episode · 5AM StoryTalk · May 29, 2025 · 52m

10 years ago today, SPOTLIGHT won Best Picture at the Oscars. But could the film get made in 2026?

Its producer, Blye Pagon Faust, answers that question on the 5AM StoryTalk Podcast.

This one's a fun one because it's a three-way chat with another friend of mine, producer Erica Lee (JOHN WICK).

I observed in a podcast episode this past week that I'm starting to feel like my whole life is just a series of cautionary tales.

I’ve just discovered illustrator Stephen Andrade’s design work…and it’s so much fun. Here are some brilliant pulp-style magazine covers drawing upon Hollywood for inspiration.

Clint Eastwood in his North Hollywood hotel bed, CA, 1958.

Photograph by John R. Hamilton.

“Success is dangerous. One begins to copy oneself, and to copy oneself is more dangerous than to copy others. It leads to sterility.” — Pablo Picasso

YouTube video by 5AM StoryTalk with Cole Haddon How the Rage Against the Machine Classic 'Killing in the Name' Inspired Sen. Fatima Payman

It’s the song that changed everything. 🤫🔥

Senator Fatima Payman reveals a new dimension to her decision to leave Labor. Most know the story, but they don't know the soundtrack: RATM’s ‘Killing in the Name.’

Listen the rest of the 5AM StoryTalk ep 🎧: colehaddon.substack.com/p/fatima-pay...

Anatomy of 'The Code': Why I Walked Away from My Dream TV Project Screenwriters can learn a lot from my take on Greta Garbo’s war with the architect of the Hays Code—and what went wrong thanks to my reps

Why do dream TV projects fall apart? 🎬

Screenwriters can learn a lot both from this breakdown of my take on Greta Garbo’s war over the Hays Code—which had Lasse Hallström attached to direct—AND what ultimately went wrong with the project thanks to my reps.

A cautionary tale for screenwriters...

Meryl Streep, 1975.

Photograph by Duane Michals.

“Art is risk made visible.” — Arno Rafael Minkkinen

'Sun and Shade', 1952.

Photograph by Roy DeCarava (American).

YouTube video by 5AM StoryTalk with Cole Haddon The personal tragedy John August hid inside BIG FISH.

Scriptnotes co-host @johnaugust.bsky.social reveals the personal tragedy he hid inside his most beloved screenplay - BIG FISH.

Essential listening for anyone turning pain into art.

🎧 Listen to the whole 5AM StoryTalk episode here: pod.link/1807437928/e...

Judy Garland during the closing night performance of her Judy Comes Back show at the Palace in New York City, 1952.

Photograph by Milton H. Greene.