Shoot From the Heart with Diane Bell: Filmmaking, Screenwriting, & Inspiration

If you’ve ever wondered how to turn an unconventional path into a thriving creative career, you’re going to love this session. In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Valerie Weiss, a true pow...

If you’ve been feeling the energy shift as we close out the year, you are not alone - and the good news is we are on the cusp of a new cycle of life.In this session, I dive into the magic of honoring ...

The end of every year is the opportunity to close a chapter and start a new one - but this year, it's even bigger.We’re not just stepping into a new year, but closing out a powerful nine-year cyc...

Have you ever found yourself staring at your finished screenplay and wondering: how on earth would anyone actually make this? What would it really cost? And does that number make your script more - or...

Have you ever reached the middle of the year, looked back at all those shiny goals you set in January, and thought, “Wait… what happened?” You started out so full of excitement and ambition—maybe THIS...

Do you ever sit down with the very best intentions to write - and suddenly find yourself deep-cleaning your kitchen, binge-watching Instagram reels, or tackling every odd job in your house except for ...

Have you ever felt totally anxious sharing your script with someone — like your stomach is in knots just hitting “send,” secretly hoping they’ll just say, “It’s amazing, you’re a genius”? Or maybe you...

 Ever feel like making a standout indie film on a super small budget is…well, impossible? Like, how could your little movie ever compare to the big-budget films out there?Trust me, I get it. But in th...

Welcome to today's session, where we dive into what it truly means to be a revolutionary filmmaker. This isn’t just about making films; it’s about tapping in to the power of your creative voice i...

A whopping 67,000 screenplays are registered each year...so it's important to ask, what’s the real secret to making your script stand out in an over-saturated market and get your film made?In tod...

Write your script, make your movie change the world.World events can leave you feeling overwhelmed, depressed, anxious and full of rage.  As an artist, you can take that energy and channel them into s...

Can you imagine winning four Academy Awards in one night? Sounds impossible…but indie filmmaker Sean Baker did it for his film Anora, and in this episode we explore how his journey can inspire yours.Y...

Feeling overwhelmed as an artist in these intense times? Feeling like your passion and creativity might not make an impact in the face of everything going on in the world? You’re not alone. But let me...

I recently discovered my old journals from 2008. At that time, I was feeling completely defeated after my script was rejected from the Sundance Screenwriters Lab. I wrote, "I keep praying for a m...

You might have heard me talk about moving....and you might be shocked by the news!  After all, I only moved to Spain two and half years ago, and it was a dream come true.In this episode, I share the r...

Do you have a script that's good but you know it could be GREAT? In this episode, I share three essential focus areas that can transform your screenplay from solid to exceptional.We dive deep int...

As the Sundance Film Festival comes to an end for 2025, you might be dreaming about how to get your film there!In this episode, I dive into what it really takes to make a film that makes the cut.I sha...

In the second part of this series, recorded live on Instagram, we take a deep dive into EXACTLY what you need to do if you want to write your script this year.Expect actionable tips and techniques to ...

If you are looking to breakthrough to a new level of screenwriting success in 2025, this episode is for you.To create a breakthrough, you need to do things differently.  As they say, it's the def...

If you want to write a screenplay in 2025, this is for you.It was recorded live on Instagram and includes ALL the info and inspiration to get you on the path to screenwriting success.In this session y...

We are about to enter Q4 of 2024.It's possible that despite your best efforts this year hasn't yet delivered the big wins you had hoped for.  Don't lose faith.  Your results will be det...

Are you dreaming of making millions but feel like no matter what you do or how you work, it's always out of reach?In this episode, partly taken from Day 1 of my recent masterclass MILLIONAIRE CRE...

Female artists, creatives and entrepreneurs, this episode is especially for you.  In it you're going to learn how to explode your income, impact and your JOY to the highest levels imaginable.This...

Do you feel stuck?  Like no matter what you do you can't seem to break through to your next level?THE ANSWER IS NOT DOING MORE!In this episode you'll learn the 3 real keys to making your nex...

If you want to sell your screenplay, you MUST listen to this episode.First you'll get some keys that can unlock the door to success...But then I share with you the #1 Master Key.  When you get th...

Female artists often struggle with feeling like they are not good enough, with feeling like it's not safe to let their voices be heard and with Imposter Syndrome.In this episode, Diane goes live ...

Want to know the real reason why you must write your screenplay that stands out from the super-massive crowd?You are in the right place!Today we're going to dive into next level screenwriting sec...

Want to know the real secrets of writing a script that stands out from the super-massive crowd?You are in the right place!Today we're going to dive into next level screenwriting secrets so that y...

Today I want to share a chat I had with screenwriters in my WRITE YOUR SCREENPLAY IN 8 WEEKS group. One of my students had sent me a screenshot of an example of "bad screenwriting" vs "...

Do you REALLY believe that you can make your dream come true?  That you can sell your script or make your movie?It's okay if the answer is "not really",  at least you're being hone...

What really make the difference between those who create epic success...and those who don't?In this episode, recorded live on my Instagram account, I explore what a quantum leap is and what it re...

The Sundance Institute is currently accepting applications for support in script development.In this episode, I give you the lowdown on what the screenwriters lab is like, why it's worth applying...

Do you ever feel stuck at the level you're on with your screenwriting?  Do you feel like forces outside of you will determine whether you succeed or not?Are you waiting...hoping...that somehow yo...

Do you ever feel like you just need to meet the "right people" in order to have success as a screenwriter or filmmaker?  Do you imagine that you're going to get an agent and they'l...

If you're ready for some real talk about what it REALLY takes to succeed as a screenwriter or filmmaker, you are in the right place!This week I take a deep dive into the truth about succeeding (c...

This week I dive into 4 of the most common mistakes that I see in screenplays. From repeat beats that drag the story down to scripts that make it too easy for characters, join me in exploring the nuan...

To kick off this new season of THE SHOOT FROM THE HEART podcast, I delve into the question many aspiring screenwriters and filmmakers ask themselves: "Should I quit?" This conversation touch...

As the 40th Sundance Festival kicks off today, I want to share this podcast from the archives on my personal Sundance journey.From dreaming about getting in the screenwriter's lab to having my fi...

I'm back!  In this unexpected episode, I share how a period of silence and introspection has led me to a surprising realization about my true purpose. It was definitely not what I expected...but ...

Do you need mentorship and group programs in order to achieve success?If you've been debating whether to sign up for a coach or program, I analyze why to do it, what it can help with you - and al...

Often things don't go as planned (or how we hope) and it's outside our control.  What we make of these obstacles and setbacks matters a lot.In this episode, you're going to learn how to...

There are literally thousands of screenwriting competitions out there, and it can feel like they are an essential step in the journey to success as a screenwriter - but don't fool yourself into t...

It's inevitable that on the path to our dreams, we're going to have moments of real doubt.  Sometimes these can snowball into such extreme doubt that we give up - and that is a tragedy.To ma...

On everyone's path to a dream creative career as a screenwriter or filmmaker, there comes a moment when we wonder if we should quit our day job.This week a screenwriter wrote to me with that dile...

This week, I answer a listener's question on what to do if lack of funds is holding you back.  You're going to learn a way of reframing this question and understanding this problem in a diff...

To celebrate the 100th episode of the Shoot From the Heart Podcast, I share about my journey starting and continuing this show and all the changes that have happened in my life.You'll get a gentl...

In today's session, I answer the question: "how can I keep believing when nothing is working?"You're going to learn there are practical steps you can take...but also that belief re...

The Upper Limit Problem is an idea that comes from a book called THE BIG LEAP by Gaye Hendricks.  Essentially it's the idea that we all have an inner thermostat for how much good things we can ha...

As we go after big, audacious goals (like writing and selling scripts or making movies), we sometimes find that our loved ones don't support us.In this episode, I address what to do if our neares...

It happens to ALL of us after we go after our goals: we're taking loads of action, we're doing all the things...And suddenly it feels like it's not working  - and we get stuck.In this e...