How To Trick Your Brain Into Writing Better Stories - RJ Daniel Hanna [FULL INTERVIEW] @filmcourage
How To Trick Your Brain Into Writing Better Stories - RJ Daniel Hanna [FULL INTERVIEW]  @filmcourage
Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Our two new books... STORY QUESTIONS is currently 10% off! - payhip.com/b/ZTvq9
and 17 Steps To Writing A Great Main Character - payhip.com/b/kCZGd

0:00 - I Thought You Had To Be Crazy To Be A Filmmaker
13:04 - I’ve Submitted 10 Times To The Nicholl Fellowships, Here’s How I Won
35:01 - The Writing Process I Use To Discover What A Screenplay Is Really About
45:14 - One Truth No One Can Teach You About Screenwriting
1:05:47 - How To Trick Your Brain Into Writing Better Characters
1:21:38 - 3 Rules For Writing A Great Scene
1:33:43 - How To Find The Right Actor
1:39:11 - How To Film A Movie In The Mountains
1:50:38 - Everyone Who Wants To Be A Filmmaker Should Also Have A Practical Industry Job
2:05:18 - What I Wish I Knew About Making Money As A Filmmaker

WATCH 'HARD MILES' TRAILER
youtube.com/watch?v=VxwcSaXXAZE

WATCH SUCCUBUS TRAILER
youtu.be/syp1wzHKOPE?si=jKW6OBEgZPZ5FMy6

Maybe it was growing up in Arkansas as a Canadian, or the summers in rural Ireland with his grandparents, but Daniel has always been drawn to out-of-place characters, strange environments, and the unique rhythms of how people talk. He just completed post on his horror film “Succubus,” starring Ron Perlman and Rosanna Arquette, to be released in 2024. Crossing over 500 screens in the U.S. and beginning its run in the U.K. is his feature “Hard Miles,” starring Golden Globe-winner Matthew Modine and Oscar-Nominee Sean Astin, which has won multiple awards and screened at prestigious festivals including Chicago International, Heartland Film Festival, and Cinequest. Prior to that, Daniel directed the true-story feature “Miss Virginia,” starring three-time Emmy-winner Uzo Aduba, Oscar-Nominee Aunjanue Ellis, and Vanessa Williams. The film was listed as a New York Times and USA Today Must-See Fall Movie, won the Audience Award at The Naples Film Festival, and received a limited theatrical release, cable premiere on BET, and streaming deal with Netflix.

As a writer, Daniel is a winner of The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting, as well as the Slamdance, ScriptPipeline, and Screencraft writing awards. He also explores storytelling as an editor, with ten features under his belt, including horror film “What Lies Below,” starring Mena Suvari, which hit #1 on Netflix, and “Supercell” starring Alec Baldwin, Anne Heche, and Skeet Ulrich, which hit #1 on Hulu. Daniel hopes to continue telling cinematic, character-driven stories long past the time any sane person would have retired.

CONNECT WITH HARD MILES
https://linktr.ee/hardmiles_movie

MORE VIDEOS WITH R.J. DANIEL HANNA
tinyurl.com/2p859pbd

CONNECT WITH R.J. DANIEL HANNA
rjdanielhanna.com
imdb.com/name/nm3621839
instagram.com/rjdanielhanna
https://x.com/rjdanielhanna
vimeo.com/rjdh

VIEWERS ALSO WATCHED
Anyone Who Wants To Be A Filmmaker Is Crazy - youtu.be/mPSY73FNCNc
How Much Money Do Independent Movies Make? - youtu.be/WK09Qg5xL9I
How Much Money Can A Filmmaker Make On Hulu? - youtu.be/HuYhpgIAH_Q
Why Most Filmmakers Lose Money On Their Movies - youtu.be/aXEU3PMwGzc

CONNECT WITH FILM COURAGE
FilmCourage.com

SUBSCRIBE TO THE FILM COURAGE YOUTUBE CHANNEL
bit.ly/18DPN37

PERSONALLY SPONSOR FILM COURAGE
ko-fi.com/filmcourage

SUPPORT FILM COURAGE BY BECOMING A MEMBER
youtube.com/channel/UCs8o1mdWAfefJkdBg632_tg/join

SUPPORT FILM COURAGE BY BECOMING A PATRON
patreon.com/filmcourage

LISTEN TO THE FILM COURAGE PODCAST
soundcloud.com/filmcourage-com

(Affiliates)

►BOOKS WE RECOMMEND:

THE NUTSHELL TECHNIQUE: Crack the Secret of Successful Screenwriting amzn.to/2X3Vx5F
THE STORY SOLUTION: 23 Actions All Great Heroes Must Take
amzn.to/2gYsuMf
SAVE THE CAT! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need
amzn.to/3dNg2HQ
THE ANATOMY OF STORY: 22 Steps To Becoming A Master Storyteller
amzn.to/2h6W3va
ON WRITING: A Memoir of the Craft
amzn.to/3XgPtCN

►WE USE THIS CAMERA (B&H) – buff.ly/3rWqrra
►WE USE THIS SOUND RECORDER (AMAZON) – amzn.to/2tbFlM9

►Stuff we use:

LENS - Most people ask us what camera we use, no one ever asks about the lens which filmmakers always tell us is more important. This lens was a big investment for us and one we wish we could have made sooner. Started using this lens at the end of 2013 - amzn.to/2tbtmOq

AUDIO

Audio Recorder - If we had to do it all over again, this is probably the first item we would have bought - amzn.to/3WEuz0k

*Disclaimer: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, we’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the channel and allows us to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for your support!

#film #filmmaking #filmmakers
How To Trick Your Brain Into Writing Better Stories - RJ Daniel Hanna [FULL INTERVIEW]The Film Buying Market Has Changed Dramatically In The Last 5 Years - Jason Eric PerlmanWhen It’s Okay To Ask A Cinematographer To Work For Free - Illya FriedmanHow To Make A Movie For $7000 In 7 Days - Joe BurkeWhy You Should Submit To A Screenplay ContestWhy Cliché Is A Great Story Tool For Writers - Bomani J. Story9 Things Every Writer Should Know Before Publishing A Book - Desireé Duffy [FULL INTERVIEW]Big Difference Between Amateur and Professional Writers - Brandon Violette9 Truths About The Movie Business - Craig Caton-Largent [FULL INTERVIEW]Most New Writers Cant Stop Falling Into The Same Traps - Corey MandellAn Important Part Of Being A Movie Director That No One Talks About - Joe BurkeScreenplays Are Much Easier To Write Than Novels - Matt Harry
Film Courage |

How To Trick Your Brain Into Writing Better Stories - RJ Daniel Hanna [FULL INTERVIEW]

SHARE TO X SHARE TO REDDIT SHARE TO FACEBOOK WALLPAPER