Cole Haddon
@colehaddon.bsky.social
Novelist, screenwriter, art fanatic. Created "DRACULA" for NBC/Sky, wrote PSALMS FROM THE END OF THE WORLD, and more.
Listen to the 5AM STORYTALK PODCAST: https://pod.link/1807437928
Read the 5AM STORYTALK NEWSLETTER: https://colehaddon.substack.com/
Listen to the 5AM STORYTALK PODCAST: https://pod.link/1807437928
Read the 5AM STORYTALK NEWSLETTER: https://colehaddon.substack.com/
Pinned
America Has a White Liberal Problem: Notes From a Screenwriter's Self-Exile
In the wake of Renée Nicole Good's murder, can we finally talk about why Hollywood, the Democratic Party, and other so-called liberal institutions refuse to take on fascism?
colehaddon.substack.com
In the wake of Renée Nicole Good's murder, can we finally talk about why Hollywood, the Democratic Party, and other so-called liberal institutions refuse to take on fascism?
You have the right to bear arms in America, or at least you did. Now, your authoritarian government will claim legally carrying one is a reason to get gunned down in the street like it's the Old West. This follows decades of promises from the Right that Democrats will take your guns. Fucking clowns.
January 25, 2026 at 10:20 PM
You have the right to bear arms in America, or at least you did. Now, your authoritarian government will claim legally carrying one is a reason to get gunned down in the street like it's the Old West. This follows decades of promises from the Right that Democrats will take your guns. Fucking clowns.
'Union Station, Chicago', 1943.
Photograph by Jack Delano (Ukrainian).
Photograph by Jack Delano (Ukrainian).
January 25, 2026 at 10:01 PM
'Union Station, Chicago', 1943.
Photograph by Jack Delano (Ukrainian).
Photograph by Jack Delano (Ukrainian).
AMBER CASE – design advocate and cyborg anthropologist - discusses her 'shipping container for the soul' theory, which explains how tech companies are creating a homogenous customer base to better conquer us.
Listen to the rest of 5AM StoryTalk's chat with Amber here: pod.link/1807437928/e...
Listen to the rest of 5AM StoryTalk's chat with Amber here: pod.link/1807437928/e...
What's the 'Shipping Container for the Soul'? and Why Should It Scare You? #tech #culturepodcast
YouTube video by 5AM StoryTalk with Cole Haddon
youtube.com
January 25, 2026 at 8:04 PM
AMBER CASE – design advocate and cyborg anthropologist - discusses her 'shipping container for the soul' theory, which explains how tech companies are creating a homogenous customer base to better conquer us.
Listen to the rest of 5AM StoryTalk's chat with Amber here: pod.link/1807437928/e...
Listen to the rest of 5AM StoryTalk's chat with Amber here: pod.link/1807437928/e...
David Gulpilil, 2007. A proud Mandjalpingu man, one of Australia’s greatest actors, and, for many years, the international face of Aboriginal Australia.
Photograph by Douglas Kirkland.
Photograph by Douglas Kirkland.
January 25, 2026 at 7:45 PM
David Gulpilil, 2007. A proud Mandjalpingu man, one of Australia’s greatest actors, and, for many years, the international face of Aboriginal Australia.
Photograph by Douglas Kirkland.
Photograph by Douglas Kirkland.
“Never contaminate fiction with a message. On the contrary, I believe fiction is a search shared with the reader.” — Luisa Valenzuela
January 25, 2026 at 9:49 AM
“Never contaminate fiction with a message. On the contrary, I believe fiction is a search shared with the reader.” — Luisa Valenzuela
Reposted by Cole Haddon
It’s been almost eight years since Anthony Bourdain died. His theories about food and travel could often be applied to any number of endeavors – including the arts. Here, I share with you his three tips for the perfect burger. Yes, burger tips. If you’re a storyteller, you need to trust me here.
What Artists Can Learn From Anthony Bourdain's Three Tips to a Perfect Burger
His burger philosophy could change how you look at your works in progress
colehaddon.substack.com
January 23, 2026 at 6:11 AM
It’s been almost eight years since Anthony Bourdain died. His theories about food and travel could often be applied to any number of endeavors – including the arts. Here, I share with you his three tips for the perfect burger. Yes, burger tips. If you’re a storyteller, you need to trust me here.
Watching the news out of Minneapolis and wondering what all the "white liberals" who told me Trump wouldn't resort to violence are thinking right now. All the disappeared immigrants didn't count, I guess, but maybe fascists executing white people like them will finally shake them into action?
America Has a White Liberal Problem: Notes From a Screenwriter's Self-Exile
In the wake of Renée Nicole Good's murder, can we finally talk about why Hollywood, the Democratic Party, and other so-called liberal institutions refuse to take on fascism?
colehaddon.substack.com
January 25, 2026 at 1:50 AM
Watching the news out of Minneapolis and wondering what all the "white liberals" who told me Trump wouldn't resort to violence are thinking right now. All the disappeared immigrants didn't count, I guess, but maybe fascists executing white people like them will finally shake them into action?
From the making of THE HUNGER (1983): Makeup legend Dick Smith with David Bowie’s “old vampire” body double.
Photographer unknown.
Photographer unknown.
January 24, 2026 at 10:37 PM
From the making of THE HUNGER (1983): Makeup legend Dick Smith with David Bowie’s “old vampire” body double.
Photographer unknown.
Photographer unknown.
Harper Lee and Mary Badham on the Monroeville, Alabama set of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962). Badham played a fictionalized version of Lee as a child - which probably explains the resemblance here.
Photographer unknown.
Photographer unknown.
January 24, 2026 at 8:07 PM
Harper Lee and Mary Badham on the Monroeville, Alabama set of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962). Badham played a fictionalized version of Lee as a child - which probably explains the resemblance here.
Photographer unknown.
Photographer unknown.
“If I were talking to a young writer, I would recommend the cultivation of extreme indifference to both praise and blame because praise will lead you to vanity, and blame will lead you to self-pity, and both are bad for writers.” — John Berryman
January 24, 2026 at 10:52 AM
“If I were talking to a young writer, I would recommend the cultivation of extreme indifference to both praise and blame because praise will lead you to vanity, and blame will lead you to self-pity, and both are bad for writers.” — John Berryman
Lucinda Williams’ new album, out today, takes on everything that’s gone wrong in the 21st century. I haven’t listened to much of it yet, but I’m digging “The World’s Gone Wrong” — a catchy existential cry of non-specific terror. I hope we see a lot more of this in 2026!
Lucinda Williams "The World's Gone Wrong" (Official Music Video)
YouTube video by LucindaWilliams
www.youtube.com
January 24, 2026 at 4:19 AM
Lucinda Williams’ new album, out today, takes on everything that’s gone wrong in the 21st century. I haven’t listened to much of it yet, but I’m digging “The World’s Gone Wrong” — a catchy existential cry of non-specific terror. I hope we see a lot more of this in 2026!
David Foster Wallace on the salvation reading provides:
January 23, 2026 at 10:22 PM
David Foster Wallace on the salvation reading provides:
In any other Western country, Democrats would be a Center Right party. Here in Australia where I live, they would be to the right of the leading conservative party here in most regards. So, it will never be an opposition party because that would require it turn on the majority of its own members.
January 23, 2026 at 10:14 PM
In any other Western country, Democrats would be a Center Right party. Here in Australia where I live, they would be to the right of the leading conservative party here in most regards. So, it will never be an opposition party because that would require it turn on the majority of its own members.
'SCHMIGADOON!' creator @cincopaul.bsky.social discusses the anguish of Apple cancelling the series and the daring attempt to save it that everyone from Cecily Strong to Martin Short played a part in.
Listen to the rest of 5AM StoryTalk's chat with Cinco here: pod.link/1807437928/e...
Listen to the rest of 5AM StoryTalk's chat with Cinco here: pod.link/1807437928/e...
The Shocking Cancellation of 'Schmigadoon!' - Creator Cinco Paul #screenwriting #writingpodcast
YouTube video by 5AM StoryTalk with Cole Haddon
youtube.com
January 23, 2026 at 9:54 PM
'SCHMIGADOON!' creator @cincopaul.bsky.social discusses the anguish of Apple cancelling the series and the daring attempt to save it that everyone from Cecily Strong to Martin Short played a part in.
Listen to the rest of 5AM StoryTalk's chat with Cinco here: pod.link/1807437928/e...
Listen to the rest of 5AM StoryTalk's chat with Cinco here: pod.link/1807437928/e...
Yul Brynner getting clocked as a famous hottie while sitting on the terrace of a cafe in Paris, 1957.
Photograph by Jack Garofalo.
Photograph by Jack Garofalo.
January 23, 2026 at 7:56 PM
Yul Brynner getting clocked as a famous hottie while sitting on the terrace of a cafe in Paris, 1957.
Photograph by Jack Garofalo.
Photograph by Jack Garofalo.
Reposted by Cole Haddon
ONE WEEK TO GO UNTIL MY BIG SHOW! Friday 30th January - come spend An Evening with Sooz Kempner for just ten quid (it's also doubling as my birthday party) in London's greatest venue!
🎟️ www.outsavvy.com/event/31688/... 🎟️
🎟️ www.outsavvy.com/event/31688/... 🎟️
January 23, 2026 at 10:06 AM
ONE WEEK TO GO UNTIL MY BIG SHOW! Friday 30th January - come spend An Evening with Sooz Kempner for just ten quid (it's also doubling as my birthday party) in London's greatest venue!
🎟️ www.outsavvy.com/event/31688/... 🎟️
🎟️ www.outsavvy.com/event/31688/... 🎟️
“When people tell you art is not important, that is always a prelude to fascism. They think they can debase everything that makes us a little better, a little more human.” — Guillermo del Toro
January 23, 2026 at 9:56 AM
“When people tell you art is not important, that is always a prelude to fascism. They think they can debase everything that makes us a little better, a little more human.” — Guillermo del Toro
It’s been almost eight years since Anthony Bourdain died. His theories about food and travel could often be applied to any number of endeavors – including the arts. Here, I share with you his three tips for the perfect burger. Yes, burger tips. If you’re a storyteller, you need to trust me here.
What Artists Can Learn From Anthony Bourdain's Three Tips to a Perfect Burger
His burger philosophy could change how you look at your works in progress
colehaddon.substack.com
January 23, 2026 at 6:11 AM
It’s been almost eight years since Anthony Bourdain died. His theories about food and travel could often be applied to any number of endeavors – including the arts. Here, I share with you his three tips for the perfect burger. Yes, burger tips. If you’re a storyteller, you need to trust me here.
Original Japanese poster for THE ABYSS (1989).
Are you as much of a fan of this film as I am?
Are you as much of a fan of this film as I am?
January 22, 2026 at 11:49 PM
Original Japanese poster for THE ABYSS (1989).
Are you as much of a fan of this film as I am?
Are you as much of a fan of this film as I am?
THE POST screenwriter Liz Hannah answers the question: Is Hollywood up to the challenge posed by Donald Trump and fascism?
Listen to the rest of 5AM StoryTalk's conversation with her here: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...
Listen to the rest of 5AM StoryTalk's conversation with her here: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...
Can Hollywood Take on Trump? #filmmaking #movies #fascism
YouTube video by 5AM StoryTalk with Cole Haddon
youtube.com
January 22, 2026 at 9:20 PM
THE POST screenwriter Liz Hannah answers the question: Is Hollywood up to the challenge posed by Donald Trump and fascism?
Listen to the rest of 5AM StoryTalk's conversation with her here: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...
Listen to the rest of 5AM StoryTalk's conversation with her here: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...
Reposted by Cole Haddon
Insightful look at how we got here politically and why we’re struggling to get out (if we even can), and the role of the “white moderate” (masquerading as liberal) who seems to be endlessly waiting for the right time to share space with others. All interwoven with how this manifests in Hollywood.
In the wake of Renée Nicole Good's murder, can we finally talk about why Hollywood, the Democratic Party, and other so-called liberal institutions refuse to take on fascism?
America Has a White Liberal Problem: Notes From a Screenwriter's Self-Exile
In the wake of Renée Nicole Good's murder, can we finally talk about why Hollywood, the Democratic Party, and other so-called liberal institutions refuse to take on fascism?
colehaddon.substack.com
January 21, 2026 at 4:46 PM
Insightful look at how we got here politically and why we’re struggling to get out (if we even can), and the role of the “white moderate” (masquerading as liberal) who seems to be endlessly waiting for the right time to share space with others. All interwoven with how this manifests in Hollywood.
Monica Bellucci, 1993.
Photograph by Helmut Newton.
Photograph by Helmut Newton.
January 22, 2026 at 7:57 PM
Monica Bellucci, 1993.
Photograph by Helmut Newton.
Photograph by Helmut Newton.
“Wit has truth in it; wise-cracking is simply calisthenics with words.” — Dorothy Parker
January 22, 2026 at 11:04 AM
“Wit has truth in it; wise-cracking is simply calisthenics with words.” — Dorothy Parker
Reposted by Cole Haddon
In the wake of Renée Nicole Good's murder, can we finally talk about why Hollywood, the Democratic Party, and other so-called liberal institutions refuse to take on fascism?
America Has a White Liberal Problem: Notes From a Screenwriter's Self-Exile
In the wake of Renée Nicole Good's murder, can we finally talk about why Hollywood, the Democratic Party, and other so-called liberal institutions refuse to take on fascism?
colehaddon.substack.com
January 12, 2026 at 8:39 PM
In the wake of Renée Nicole Good's murder, can we finally talk about why Hollywood, the Democratic Party, and other so-called liberal institutions refuse to take on fascism?
'White Trash Beautiful II (29 Palms, CA)', 1999.
Photograph by Stefanie Schneider (German).
Photograph by Stefanie Schneider (German).
January 21, 2026 at 10:14 PM
'White Trash Beautiful II (29 Palms, CA)', 1999.
Photograph by Stefanie Schneider (German).
Photograph by Stefanie Schneider (German).