Scriptnotes Podcast 726 - So you've been nominated for an Oscar
20 snips
Feb 24, 2026 Alexandre Singh, writer-director who co-created Two People Exchanging Saliva, and Natalie Mustiata, writer-director and festival strategist, talk about their film’s visual choices, black-and-white decision, festival path, and turning a short into larger career momentum. They cover fast writing, multilingual drafting, production logistics, festival breakthroughs, networking, and developing a feature from a short.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Make Bold Early Choices
- Do make bold, early formal choices that define your film's identity, like shooting in black and white or choosing a distinctive title.
- Natalie and Alexandre picked black-and-white and Two People Exchanging Saliva early, which clarified tone and made the film memorable.
Runtime Can Open Or Close Festival Doors
- Festival strategy matters because short-film length and regional rules shape eligibility and exposure.
- Their 36-minute runtime excluded many festivals but won at AFI and Clermont-Ferrand, unlocking distribution and Oscar qualification.
Apply Blind To Top Festivals Quickly
- Do apply broadly and unassumingly to top festivals; entry is often blind.
- Two People Exchanging Saliva got into Telluride via a standard submission and then rushed post-production when accepted four weeks before screening.