Scriptnotes Podcast

By John August and Craig Mazin

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Category: TV & Film

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Subscribers: 1563
Reviews: 1
Episodes: 20


 Oct 7, 2019

Description

Screenwriters John August and Craig Mazin discuss screenwriting and related topics in the film and television industry, everything from getting stuff written to the vagaries of copyright and work-for-hire law.

Episode Date
SC14 - Sidecast: How to Talk To Your Parents about the Strike
18:39

Megana, Drew and John discuss the best ways to talk about the WGA strike with family and non-industry friends.

How much context do you need to give? How do you properly frame the AI issues? How do you calm down a nervous parent without setting unrealistic expectations?

In other news, Weekend Read 2 is out! Drew and Megana have prepared hundreds of scripts and transcripts for your reading enjoyment.

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

Jun 02, 2023
600 - McQuarrie Returns
57:22

As we reach our 600th episode, John and Craig welcome back writer and director Christopher McQuarrie (Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Top Gun: Maverick, The Usual Suspects) to continue their decades-long argument on the future of the movies and the forces that power the entertainment industry.

Together they lead a wide-ranging debate on the corporate lure of AI, cultivating movie stars, the bad habits writers have to unlearn, the importance of making genre movies, feeding the Hollywood machine, and the false division between art and entertainment.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John, Craig and Chris discuss the best way to watch movies and the ideal exhibition of sound and picture.

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

 
May 30, 2023
SC13 - Sidecast: Animation Picket
07:59

Live from the picket line, John talks to members of The Animation Guild (TAG, IATSE local 839) marching in solidarity with with members of the WGA. They explain the issues writers in animation are facing, and why it’s so important for the the two unions to support one another.

Guests include Stuart Friedel, Bill Wolkoff and Len Uhley. Thanks to everyone who talked with us!

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

May 24, 2023
SC12 - Sidecast: Location Picketing
16:10

John returns from a parking lot in Koreatown to tell Drew all about his experiences picketing productions on location and how other writers can get involved. We also answer listener questions, look at upcoming themed pickets, and celebrate the gains we’ve made at neutral gates.

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

May 23, 2023
599 - Group Dynamics
50:24

John and Craig work together to look at team movies and what writers need to be thinking about when they have more than one protagonist. From Charlie’s Angels to The Hangover and every Ocean in between, they break down how to create narrative drive and tension with so many characters, and how to bring them all together in the end.

We also take a look at a new study that compares releasing TV episodes weekly vs. the binge model before following up on tone meetings and TV movies. We then answer listener questions about pitch decks and using translations of public domain works.

In our bonus segment for premium members – Hey! Listen! – John and Craig discuss the best way to set yourself up when you start playing an RPG.

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

May 23, 2023
SC11 - Sidecast: A New SAV
10:44

The actors union has called for a Strike Authorization Vote ahead of their negotiations with the AMPTP. John and Drew look at what that means, and what impact it may have on the writers strike.

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

May 19, 2023
598 - The One with Vince Gilligan
01:07:14

John and Craig sit down with legendary writer, director and showrunner Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul) to discuss his prolific career and how to make great television. Vince leads us through how he develops a premise, balancing creative surprises with rigorous planning, and his advice for up-and-coming showrunners.

We also discuss re-writing features before following up on the old dancing prospector archetype — only to discover it’s a character Vince has a long personal history with.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John, Craig and Vince get tired of re-runs and ask, which old TV shows do they want to re-boot?

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

May 16, 2023
SC10 - Sidecast: Neutral Gates
11:01

John and Megana Rao return from the picket line to ask, what’s the deal with neutral gates? Using the Teamsters as a guide, we look at the rules that govern neutral gates, why we have them, their history, and how they can guide our best practices for picketing as we enter the third week of the strike.

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

May 15, 2023
SC9 - Sidecast: One Week In
20:14

After a week on the picket line, John and Drew meet up to highlight listeners they’ve met, which productions have been shut down, what to expect from the upcoming DGA negotiations, and what non-WGA members can do to support striking writers.

We then answer questions to help listeners navigate the strike rules. Are writers are allowed to submit to labs and fellowships? Are we supposed to boycott struck companies? And how does the strike affect your favorite weekly podcast?

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

 
May 10, 2023
597 - Rollo Tomasi
57:55

John and Craig dive into our overflowing mailbag to answer a wide range of listener questions. They discuss ageism in the industry, the realities of overall deals, clunky character backstories, and creating the relationship you want with your manager.

We also explore the history of a Disney Channel Original Movie, the realities of panning for gold, and who deals with your stuff after you die.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig reach through time to find their dream Scriptnotes guests.

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

May 09, 2023
SC8 - Sidecast: The Shrine
11:47

John is joined by Megana Rao to give us a first-hand account of last night’s WGA member meeting at the Shrine auditorium in Los Angeles.

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

 
May 05, 2023
SC7 - Sidecast: On the Picket Line - Day 1
08:08

John and Drew talk with writers on the picket line outside of CBS Studios in LA, who tell us what they’re currently not writing, what’s changed since the 2007 strike, and why this strike is so important to them.

Guests include WGA board member Zoe Marshall and previous Scriptnotes guest Megan Amram. Thanks to everyone who talked to us!

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

May 03, 2023
SC6 - Sidecast: WGA on Strike
09:49

Just after midnight, the WGA officially went on strike. John explains what happened in the negotiating room and sets his sights on the picket line. Where do the negotiations stand? What are the next steps for WGA members?

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

May 02, 2023
596 - McQuarrie on McQuarrie
58:19

In preparation for episode 600, John revisits our first two episodes with Christopher McQuarrie (Top Gun: Maverick, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, The Usual Suspects) to marvel at his wisdom and enjoy his ongoing feud with Craig.

We chart his course from writer to writer-director, his process of rescuing a movie in crisis, the storytelling opportunities on TV, and what the future holds for young filmmakers.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John, Craig and Chris conduct a post-mortem on what killed the Spoof Movie – surely there must be a reason? (Of course there’s a reason, and don’t call us Shirley.)

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

May 02, 2023
SC5 - Sidecast: Solidarity and Strike Rules
12:48

John and Drew discuss the newly-released WGA 2023 Strike Rules and how guilds across the industry are showing support for the WGA.

We then answer listener questions about what writers – union and non-union – can do during a strike. Are any meetings are ok to take? Can you sign with a manager? And what if your optioned material is sold?

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

Apr 26, 2023
399 - Notes on Notes
01:01:33

John and Craig talk to an audience of development executives about the experience of getting notes as a writer. They cover the do’s and don’ts of giving notes, ways to motivate writers towards a creative vision, and why these conversations kick in a writer’s fight or flight response.

We take questions from the audience and discuss ‘the bad pitch,’ likable characters, and how to stay friends with a writer after a breakup.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John offers his notes on Drew’s film school thesis as they discuss getting your first movie made.

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

Apr 25, 2023
595 - Correctable Crises
48:39

John welcomes Danielle Sanchez-Witzel (Up Here, The Carmichael Show) to discuss the state of modern TV writing and answer crafty questions from our overflowing mailbag.

How do you structure a limited series? How do you take inspiration from an idea without ripping it off? And how do you know if your story really needs that sex scene?

In our bonus segment for premium members, we explore the tricky situation of having a co-worker who is nice but incompetent.

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

 
Apr 18, 2023
SC4 - Sidecast: SAV Results
04:00

In this mini-episode, John and Drew discuss the results of the Strike Authorization Vote, and what’s next for negotiations.

We also answer a listener question asking how preWGA writers can show support during a possible strike.

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

Apr 18, 2023
594 - Bindles and Gold Pans
01:03:50

John and Craig look at another set of incredible news stories and ask, How Would This Be a Movie? Stories include an AI love service, an inventor with good intentions who doomed our planet, a fake Aretha Franklin, and a multi-million dollar nut heist.

We also follow up on heroic names and answer listener questions about researching your story.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig lie awake and wonder — what happens to our work after we die?

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

Apr 11, 2023
593 - The Ref with Richard LaGravenese
01:00:06

Writer and director Richard LaGravenese joins Craig for an in-depth analysis of his 1994 comedy classic screenplay, THE REF. Together, Craig and Richard dig into the rules of farce, making hyper-verbal characters work, and the difference between a main character and a protagonist.

We also discuss how to write compelling monologues, engineering a character’s catharsis, and why coffee really is better with cake.

In our bonus segment for premium members, Craig and Richard discuss why it’s often so hard for men to make – and keep – close friends.

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

Apr 04, 2023