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Neil Chase

Neil Chase is a story and writing coach, award-winning screenwriter, actor, and author of the horror-western novel, Iron Dogs. Neil believes that all writers have the potential to create great work. His passion is helping writers find their voice and develop their skills so that they can create stories that are both entertaining and meaningful. If you’re ready to take your writing to the next level, join the email list for writing tips and inspiration!

Featured Post

Two Cities, Two Teams, One Amazing Weekend!

Hi Reader, This past weekend, we split up our Contamination team to cover not one, but two cities - and it was unforgettable. While my co-director David Heacock and I travelled to Calgary for our latest round of screenings at Landmark Cinemas, members of our cast and crew were holding it down in Edmonton for the extended run there. It was surreal watching audiences respond to the film in two different cities at once - and just as incredible to see the continued support for this wild little...

Hi Reader, This past weekend was one I’ll never forget. Contamination, our indie action feature, had its official theatrical premiere right here in my hometown of Edmonton, Alberta, through Landmark Cinemas - and what happened next went far beyond anything we expected. Over the course of three days, we sold out four of our six screenings. Not only that, but Landmark Cinemas announced they’re extending our Edmonton run for a second weekend, with six more screenings added! These will run in...

Hi Reader, I've been silent for the past week or two because I've had so much on my plate. Between radio interviews, podcasts, tons of meetings, and prep work for our upcoming theatrical premiere for Contamination, it's been crazy! But I wouldn't have it any other way. I mean, how often do you see your dreams coming true right before your eyes? And last night was a perfect example!Yesterday, Contamination screened at the YIKES! Film Festival in Edmonton - a three-day celebration of sci-fi,...

Hi Reader, I’m still catching my breath - because everything is happening so fast. Just a few weeks ago, I got back from L.A. where we held the world premiere screening of Contamination. It was an incredible trip, but what happened next caught us completely off guard… Within 24 hours of Landmark Cinemas opening pre-sales for our Canadian theatrical premiere, we sold out two of the three scheduled screenings. And that was before we even started advertising. Landmark responded by adding three...

Hi Reader, Yesterday, several cast and crew members from Contamination joined forces for something special: the "Stuff the Semi for Veterans in Need" food drive. And by the end of the day, we’d doubled last year’s donations! That’s a massive win - for veterans, their families, and everyone who showed up to help. If you’re new to my newsletter, Contamination is my upcoming feature film - a character-driven action-sci-fi thriller about isolation, survival, and what it means to hold onto your...

Hi Reader, I just got back from Los Angeles, where my feature film Contamination had its world premiere at the Southern California International Film Festival - and wow, what a trip. I was joined by three incredible collaborators: David Heacock, my co-director Preston Ewasiuk, our producer Tyler Sabourin, one of our lead actors Together, we spent three whirlwind nights soaking up every bit of movie magic that LA had to offer. Our screening took place in Glendale, CA, and it was surreal seeing...

Hi Reader, This week is a huge milestone for me - my feature film Contamination is having its world premiere in Los Angeles at the Southern California International Film Festival. To say I’m excited would be an understatement. This project started as an idea in my head - a “what if?” moment - and now it’s about to play in front of a live audience in the heart of the film industry. Hollywood. The place we all imagine when we think of big screens, popcorn, and movie magic. What makes it even...

Hi Reader, If you’ve been thinking about joining Zero to Hero: Screenwriting for Beginners, but you're still on the fence, I get it. Making the leap from wanting to write a screenplay to actually committing can feel big. Here’s the thing: you don’t need to have the perfect idea, tons of free time, or years of experience to start. You just need a willingness to show up once a week, take in the lessons, write a little bit, and let me and your classmates support you through the process. By the...

Hi Reader, Only 2 days to go before Zero to Hero starts! Over the last few days, I've gotten a number of different questions, so I thought, rather than repeating the answer over and over, let's cover them here - in case you were wondering the same thing! Here are my rapid-fire answers to the questions I get most: 1) Do I need experience?No. Zero to Hero is built for beginners (and writers looking for a solid refresher). I’ll teach format, structure, and simple workflows - along with plenty of...

Hi Reader, Quick story. A producer friend once asked me, "Could you write a short that uses a few hearses?" I replied, "Do you have access to any hearses?" He grinned, and said, "Absolutely! Can you think of any way we could use them?" I took that as a personal challenge to flex my creative muscles. That night, I wrote Boneyard Racers - a supernatural fantasy short about a pair of teens who are challenged to a drag race by a crossroads demon - with their very souls on the line. And the hearse...