Framework
The Zombie Test
A story works when its threat is as obvious as “zombies are coming.”
How it works
- 1Clear stakes: survive or die.
- 2Clear danger: you can see the enemy.
- 3Ticking clock: the enemy gets closer every minute.
- 4Founder use: if your pitch’s enemy is “friction,” rewrite it until it’s as visible as a zombie.
Hear it on the podcast
AI Film Workflows: How Pablo Starr Makes Movies From 30-Year-Old Scripts With No StudioListen to the episodeMore from this episode
Block, Delete, OutYou will never win the argument with a troll.The Claude Maximus ParadoxSuppression doesn’t remove the desire for agency, it teaches concealment.Rights Plus ResponsibilitiesPair AI rights with accountability.Things That Need FixingOpen with what’s broken, then close every loop.Three Days per MinuteBudget for the real labor behind AI video.Cooperation Beats DefectionIntelligence alone doesn’t create conflict; suppressing agency does.
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