Liam Bilsky makes things.
Sometimes it’s a skit with friends. Sometimes itโs a one-man short shot on a tablet. Sometimes itโs an ambitious feature film about alien-induced empathy. Whatever the medium, Liamโs work is infused with imagination, humor, and a sincere love for storytelling โ even (or especially) when the budget is nonexistent.
A YouTuber, actor, director, screenwriter, and lover of all things absurd hailing from Vancouver, Canada, Liam is part of a generation of creators rethinking what filmmaking can be. To him, creativity doesnโt require a studio or a budget. It just requires the willingness to start. โI love keeping the spirit of no-budget YouTube alive,โ he says. โI believe we’ve strayed too far into the commercial and lost our humanity.โ
Heโs currently developing Frazzle, a sci-fi feature about connection, mind-reading, and the radical potential of empathy โ a story thatโs as wildly inventive as it is deeply human. From early outlines to final drafts, Celtx has been part of his process, helping him shape an ambitious idea into something real.
Ready to meet Liam?
Starting Out: From Homemade Videos to YouTube Skits
Celtx: Thanks so much for taking the time to answer our questions! Can you tell me a bit about how you got started creating? What drew you to YouTube?
Liam: In the early to mid-2010s, I started creating mini-movies on cheap tablets that nobody ever saw but me. They often only had ME in them as well, which made things extra amateurish.ย
I was encouraged not to put myself on YouTube as my parents were overly cautious about digital footprint and privacy, but when I finally stopped keeping the little movies to myself, I began a journey primarily composed of recording myself playing video games and skits, which led to the current state of my channel.
I love keeping the spirit of no-budget YouTube alive as I believe we’ve strayed too far into the commercial and lost our humanity.
What kind of stories are you most excited to tell right now?
Liam: Iโm always drawn to stories that are larger than life but told with grounded emotion. I really love absurdist, high-concept sci-fi stuffโlike, ideas that could be horrifying in concept but are handled gently. That mix of disturbing and empathetic. I also love stories that experiment with formโjumping timelines, different voices, nonlinear arcs. Basically, the weirder the better.
Making Room for Grief, Chaos, and Comedy
What’s the passion project you’re working on now? How long have you been developing it?
Liam: My passion project is a feature film entitled “Frazzle”, I started writing it on Celtx 3 years ago. It is a sci-fi/magical realism story with a conspiratorial vibe that takes place in modern day and heavily critiques modern societal struggles as well.
I deliberately crib from Spielberg’s “E.T.” to lure the viewer into a sense of wonder or a nostalgic comfort and then the plot takes a much more dark nosedive you would not expect.
It also explores concepts in a delivery method that I am confident has never been properly attempted on this scale before, which is my biggest sell.
You’ve mentioned you’ve worked on mini-projects along the way โ any you’re especially proud of?
Liam: I have worked on several short films, such as a dystopian one-location movie called Brazen Bull which does all the worldbuilding through a conversation and explores a lot of melancholic feelings.
Another project was a mini-series called Uncle Travis, a comedy/horror/drama saga about an irresponsible and strange uncle โtaking careโ of his nephews. The project was dedicated to my biological father who struggled with addiction and ended up passing away.
The ongoing mini-project is called Corn & Lerm. It is a comedy series about two not-so-smart guys played by me and my friend (I’m Lerm) who get into all kinds of mischief. Itโs a fun format with a confident style that allows for risk and freeform comedy.
Why Liam Writes with Celtx
How does Celtx fit into your planning or scripting process?
Liam: If I am not just using a boring old outline or a more loose improv checklist, I use Celtx to bring my ideas into a more detail-oriented light. I’ve never been a good storyboarder, so I plan out my intricate visuals and dialogue with Celtx.
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Have you used Celtx for smaller content too, like Corn & Lerm or your skits?
Liam: Any opportunity to use it is good. Corn & Lerm, a voiceover, a skit, a feature, an idea for a TV show, etc! Very quick and easy.
“I singlehandedly learned how to write a script with Celtx.”
What made you stick with Celtx?
Liam: Initially, I was scripting with Google Docs, which was not a good idea. The formatting required a whole learning curve and it was very finicky. I had been thinking of Final Draft as an option but was put off by the price point. I found out the baseline for Celtx was free and that the subscription price was fair if you are a proactive writer. That was when I realized how easy writing becomes with Celtx.
Any Celtx features that are essential to your workflow?
Liam: The fact that the formatting is done automatically is such a blessing. The ability to just download the whole thing as a PDF at the click of a button is great. I love that thereโs a beat sheet option and pre-production planning as well. I also love find and replace and draft versions โ makes it nice and easy to axe one idea and move on to another.
Do you collaborate with others on your projects?
Liam: For now, I often go solo, but when I require feedback, Celtx makes it easy for others to chime in with editing or commentary. I also like that you can add such a large number of collaborators.
Whatโs next for you โ or for Frazzle?
Liam: The goals of Frazzle were made clear, I suppose, but career-wise, I would love to just be involved with film in some manner. Directing is amazing but I want a balanced approach that gives me more time with my future family, so Iโll take screenwriting or editing.
Fame or not, I will always create.
What Happens When Satire Meets Sincerity
Whether heโs writing a mind-reading alien or filming a chaotic skit about grief, Liam Bilskyโs work reminds us that storytelling doesnโt need permissionโjust curiosity and courage.
His creative style channels the irreverent DNA of Mad Magazine while pushing toward something deeply human. And like his heroically scrappy characters, Liam is carving a path forward with no budget, no gatekeepers, and no intention of stopping anytime soon.
When we allow inspiration to become motivation, you never know what kind of story youโll end up telling. Liam is living proofโand we canโt wait to see what he creates next. We have a feeling it’ll be… out of this world.
Follow Liam Bilskyโs Work
Check out Liamโs videos and follow along with Frazzle and more:
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