Bridget Can Write Anything: From Pacifica's Castle to a Zombie Horror Comedy

Jen and her longtime friend Bridget Oates go from the history of Pacifica's 1908 castle to Gold Miner Mayhem, the zombie horror comedy short Bridget wrote, directed, and produced. They talk about history vs. fiction, the contract lessons of a first-time filmmaker, what the festival circuit really costs, and why any woman sitting on an idea outside her lane should go for it. CATCH THE FILM Gold Miner Mayhem + Shaun of the Dead, Half Moon Bay. Friday, October 23, 2026, 7 PM, San Benito House Cantina garden, 356 Main Street, Half Moon Bay, CA. Bridget introduces the film and stays after to talk about it. Tickets: https://bbffspecialscreenings.eventiv... Austin Short Film Festival, Fall 2026. Saturday, November 7, 2026, Southwest Theaters, Austin, TX. Finalist for Best Horror Comedy Film. https://filmfestivalcircuit.com/event... Also an Official Selection of the 2026 CalaSCAREus Film Festival in Angels Camp, CA. Help finish it: post-production is where indie budgets run out. Contribute here: https://www.goldminermayhem.com/contr... FEATURED The Energy Prescription: Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science for Thriving Through Menopause (Wiley), Jen's guide to the daily inputs that support energy through perimenopause and menopause. Order: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394389663 5 KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. You don't have to pick one kind of writer to be. 2. History has to stay true; fiction gets to run wild. 3. Say it out loud, then keep your word. 4. Get a contract for every part of the project, down to the food. 5. First-timers get help, but festival fees add up fast. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Coming up 03:07 Meet Bridget Oates 05:03 What "writer" means 10:39 Sam's Castle in Pacifica 21:04 The screenwriting group 24:49 The zombie gold miners 28:09 Why horror comedy 40:50 Contracts: the steepest learning curve 44:43 The festival submission grind 48:07 For the woman who thinks it's not her lane ABOUT THE GUEST Bridget Oates is a Bay Area writer and filmmaker, author of Sam's Castle (Arcadia Publishing), and longtime writer for Guitar Player magazine. Gold Miner Mayhem is her horror comedy short about undead gold miners and the former rodeo queen who has to stop them. Film: https://www.goldminermayhem.com/ IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt34416869/ LinkedIn:   / bridgetoates   Email: bridgetoates@gmail.com CONNECT WITH DR. JEN ASHBY Newsletter: https://www.drjenniferashby.com/newsl... Substack: https://jenniferashby.substack.com/ Website: https://www.drjenniferashby.com/ Instagram:   / drjenashby   TikTok:   / drjenniferashby   Facebook:   / drjenashby   LinkedIn:   / dr-jennifer-ashby-daom-l-ac-m-s-3869924   YouTube:    / @drjenashby   Email: drjenashby@gmail.com LISTEN Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1zuPEcc... DISCLAIMER The information shared on Ovary Acting is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The views expressed are those of Dr. Jennifer Ashby and her guests and do not represent the positions of UCSF or any affiliated institution. Her guests are sharing their own opinions. East Asian Medicine, including acupuncture and herbal medicine, is a licensed healthcare profession and is not a substitute for care from your physician, gynecologist, or other qualified medical provider. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please contact emergency services immediately. Always consult your healthcare provider before beginning any new health practice, supplement, or herbal protocol, as some may interact with medications or existing conditions. Individual results vary. Nothing discussed on this podcast creates a patient-practitioner relationship.