Welcome to: The Ides of Woodley.
Thom Woodley's new Substack.
Yes, I’m getting back on the Substack train.
I’ve been toying with the idea of a monthly newsletter for a while—a way to keep my friends, colleagues, and followers up to date on what’s happening in my world.
And hey, it’s a new year, so why not start now?
This will not be a paid Substack; instead, it’s a way to cultivate a mailing list and share a little bit of everything in my life.
So, why The Ides of Woodley?
Well, for one, it references the infamous “Ides of March,” the day Julius Caesar met his untimely end. It’s a phrase dripping with drama, gravitas, and historical intrigue, which feels fitting for my particular worldview (even if I’m not exactly sure how). Plus, the 15th lands at a nice, reflective pause in the middle of the month—and as a bonus, it also happens to be my birthday in June.
above: an actual literal photograph of me, circa -54 BC
Here, I’ll share updates on what I’m working on, the things keeping me up at night, and what I’m obsessing over. Think of it as a monthly check-in with a dash of randomness and plenty of me.
Let’s commence with the puns already…
WORKLEY
A behind-the-scenes look at what I’ve been chipping away at lately.
My 2025 seems like it’s going to mostly be about two things:
AI-driven production and advertising
Vertical and microbudget filmmaking
Which is great, because these are also two things I’m obsessed with.
I spent much of 2024 deepdiving into AI tools, and now I’m ready to share (and capitalize on) my knowledge and experience. A few ad-world buddies and I are launching an exciting new startup that’s set to revolutionize how brands (especially small, nimble ones) can leverage smart and ethical AI production to create pieces of marketing they previously didn’t think they could afford.
More on this deeply promising business later - but for now, just enjoy our 2025 Predictions Article we ran on LinkedIn yesterday.
(As well as my collection of “made in less than ten seconds” art that will accompany these updates, at least until everybody complains.)
HOLLYWOODLEY
Entertainment—both my own projects and the flicks that made an impression this month.
One of my major entertainment interests right now is in vertical filmmaking, which I firmly believe is going to be an even bigger trend over the next few years. This is showing up now in its most basic form (Chinese-derived soap operas on apps like Reelshort, Galatea, iReelTV) - and with my company Unprecious Studios I’ve already made several of these in 2024, and am contracting to do MANY more in 2025.
For sure, formulaic soap operas aren’t what I most enjoy writing or making. But these ‘minidramas’ are only the start. We’re actively developing a KICKASS vertical slate that will push the boundaries and hopefully spawn some big new hits of the future. If you’re interested in hearing more, please reach out!
Vertical film (which can be either 9:16 or 1:1, as long as the phone is the primary place to watch) is inherently tied to microbudget production techniques. Not everybody in Hollywood can do this - actually, very few can, in my experience. I’m happy to have locked in these skills long ago, and to be supported now by a nimble team that can make a production happen for an unbelievably low cost per minute, compared to ‘old Hollywood.’
In some ways, this is finishing the work I began a few years ago while as Head of Content at Rizzle. But in other, bigger ways, it could be the start of something massive. Watch this (physically small) space.
WORDLEY
Writing is at the heart of my creative life. Here’s what’s been flowing from my keyboard recently.
Man, what a fun time to write. In typical Woodley fashion, I’ve got way too many dream projects on my plate, but here’s one I started last year, and am writing to finish as a test case ‘vertical no-budget feature’ this Spring:
FIVE STARS follows a rideshare driver across an increasingly strange and surreal night which will force him to confront his own choices, and the truth about the American dream.
Writing FIVE STARS has been a huge challenge, because it’s a project that needs to take place almost exclusively inside a single car, but also remain interesting.
In addition, I’m trying something very unique in how this film is set up and distributed online, which is requiring me to write the equivalent of several feature films at once. I’ll hopefully be talking more about that once the project finally moves into actual pre-production.
WORTHLEY
Shining a light on friends, collaborators, or anyone who made an impact this month.
The main thing I wanted to do today was call out all of my friends who are posting about the California wildfires - but specifically those who continue to post actual, verified charities and sources for accurate information. Tanya Bershadsky and Taylor Coriell have been doing a great job of this.
I also wanted to call attention to the work of Damian Dayton over at Creatably. I’m in love with this ad & content agency, who creates some of the (only) legitimately funny ads I’ve seen recently, and who bucks trends in more ways than one.
Plus - my friend Josie Kaye at Invisible Universe, who by all measures is on the cutting edge of AI art in branding and entertainment.
WOWEDLEY
My current obsessions, from binge-worthy shows to rabbit holes I can’t stop exploring.
I’ve finally gotten around to watching Poker Face. This one is right in the pocket for me - I love Natasha Lyonne, and I LOVE Columbo, which this is basically a reinvention of. Sure, there’s differences - Charlie is not a cop, the crimes are all over the US, and the murderers aren’t always high-rollers who assume they are above the law due to their station. But it’s got enough of the good stuff, great guest actors, and the classic Columbo setup - you know WHO did it, now watch HOW they get caught.
Also I very much enjoyed The Diplomat. I didn’t think I would; it was an out-of-one-eye-while-I-worked-on-something-else watch for the first two episodes. Then I suddenly got into it. While the plot was paced unevenly (in my opinion)… the DIALOGUE! Wow. Crisp, quick, nuanced, sharp, believable. Showrunner Anna Hagen is a big talent.
WORRIEDLEY
Life’s not all sunshine. Acknowledging here what’s keeping me up at night.
I’m not going to go into politics here. It’s mainly the uncertainty about what’s going to happen, and not happen, when the new administration takes over next week. Let’s just say I’m not optimistic. It’s not policy I’m concerned with, so much as the erosion of norms and the changing face of the American character (or lack thereof).
In other words: not stuff that any one particular candidate is going to change. Candidates are symptoms as much as they are catalysts.
That said - with huge change, with toppling of traditions, with the tipping over of sacred cows, comes opportunity. I’ll be looking for ways to make a positive difference, locally if nowhere else.
I’m also worried about the future sustainability of living in New York City, for various reasons. We may or may not be looking to make a move this year, and in a deeply uncertain economy that’s a dizzying prospect.
GOODLEY
More important, what’s on the horizon that’s giving me joy?
My youngest daughter turned two today. I’m including an AI generated image of her in coloring book form so you can get the picture.
This utterly gorgeous, profoundly precocious child (seriously - I counted a 22-word sentence recently) brings me and my wife joy every single day.
Also, I may or may not have some international travel coming up. We haven’t traveled all that much since the baby was born (though we did sneak in trips to Italy, Colombia, Mexico, and Florida, and I produced projects in exotic Iowa and San Diego). But travel remains one of my top passions.
Also, I am stoked for Yellowjackets Season 3 and Slow Horses Season 5 - both of which should come out soon.
WOULDLEY?
Things I have in mind that maybe you’re interested in?
Last year I officially finished my long-running (and oft-neglected) podcast Fail to the Chief. While its audience was always deeply niche (biographies of losers of presidential elections is certainly not everybody’s cup of joe), making and finishing it was one of my happiest achievements.
But the bug has struck again. I want to release another podcast, or maybe even a series of them. This time, I plan to work in a much more pop culture space, discussing topics of note to the X-Ennial microgeneration (those of us born between 1976ish-1984ish), who grew up entirely offline but came into adulthood at the dotcom boom. I’ve wanted to do a movie / TV / games / toys podcast since forever, so why not now?
But I’m going to need guests who want to discuss extremely important issues like Murder She Wrote, He-Man, 80s one-hit wonders and 90s blockbusters. If this is you - hit me up!
WEIRDLEY
Non-sequiturs, oddities, and other ephemera.
When driving or traveling, I often look at the Atlas Obscura and Roadside America apps to see if there are any interesting things nearby. But - is there an app that collects ALL of the notable events that happened in history across a map, and alerts you when you’re near one? If not, there should be.
Has there ever been a movie or graphic novel about aquatic vampires? I mean, vampires don’t need to breathe air, right? So they can swim. I’m thinking 30 Days of Night but in a tropical setting, where they simply go underwater during the day. Much more enjoyable to film.
Business idea: it’s a library, but also a bar. Called: “GET LIT.”
That’s all I got this month. Follow for future monthly updates.
