Scriptnotes Podcast

John and Craig make their triumphant return to the Austin Film Festival for a wild night full of Emmy winning writers. They welcome Shōgun co-creators Rachel Kondo & Justin Marks to look at their process for structuring a series-long adaptation, keeping translations eloquent and accurate, and writing together as a married couple. We then welcome Susan Soon He Stanton (Succession, Dead Ringers) and Megan Amram (The Good Place, Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin) to discuss staffing on shows and crafting jokes. We also invite two audience members to play a new game: IMDB Sweeney Todd. In our bonus segment for premium members, the panel answers audience questions on adaptations, a crossover with Succession and The Good Place, entering Hollywood from outside the U.S., and navigating Hollywood’s current contraction. Links: Austin Film Festival Scriptnotes LIVE! December 6th at Dynasty TypewriterRachel KondoJustin MarksMegan AmramSusan Soon He Stanton Decoder Ring – “The Wrongest Bird in Movie History” Vote Out Ted CruzBrick Appr/TVTooHighBliss Lau A Dream of IslandsGet a Scriptnotes T-shirt!Check out the Inneresting NewsletterGift a Scriptnotes Subscriptiontreat yourself to a premium subscription!ThreadsInstagramThreadsInstagramTwitterMastodonOutrosend us yours!Matthew Chilelli Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John and Craig answer twenty listener questions on craft, career, and the future of the industry. Questions include: How do you correct well wishes you haven’t earned? What kind of relationship should you have with the person who created your source material? How do you keep your reps invested? What’s going on with that Stereophonic lawsuit? And are writers retreats helpful or a total waste of time? In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig celebrate the new D&D Player’s Handbook by looking back through every edition since 1978. Like the handbook, it gets less dense as it goes. Links: Scriptnotes LIVE! at Austin Film Festival Drew’s Emmy certificate Why AI Isn’t Going to Make Art The Stereophonic LawsuitRachel Bloom’s “Death, Let Me Do My Special”Warner Bros. Studios BurbankSave Scarecrow Video in SeattleGet a Scriptnotes T-shirt!Check out the Inneresting NewsletterGift a Scriptnotes Subscriptiontreat yourself to a premium subscription!ThreadsInstagramThreadsInstagramTwitterMastodonOutrosend us yours!Matthew Chilelli Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

Why is screenwriting so difficult, even for the smartest people? John and Craig look at the relationship between intelligence and wisdom, the kinds of problems writers attempt to solve, and the unmeasurable skills that screenwriters need to succeed. Then it’s another round of the Three Page Challenge, where they give their honest feedback on three listener-submitted scripts. We also follow up on Moneyball, green envelopes, shorts, script coordinating, and what Craig means by writers being “calculating.” In our bonus segment for premium members, how do you talk about movies and TV shows without spoiling them? John and Craig reason out how to dance around the twist that the two leads are actually the same perso– oh, shoot! Links: Quote-Unquote Marketing Director – Apply Here!Veteran Script Coordinator Why aren’t smart people happier?Middle Aged Man – SNL FLUNGECOWSNEVER DIE ALONEThe Cutting EdgeStrange DarlingMy Old AssGet a Scriptnotes T-shirt!Check out the Inneresting NewsletterGift a Scriptnotes Subscriptiontreat yourself to a premium subscription!ThreadsInstagramThreadsInstagramTwitterMastodonOutrosend us yours!Matthew Chilelli Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John and Craig welcome back Taffy Brodesser-Akner (Fleishman is in Trouble) for a deep dive on 2011’s sports drama Moneyball. What makes Moneyball work? Is it a traditional underdog movie, or does it break all the rules? Is Billy Beane a hero or a villain? What advantages do sports movies give you, and how much do you have to explain to your audience? How are movies like this developed? And how can you not be romantic about baseball? In our bonus segment for premium members, John, Craig and Taffy dig further into the ways money is used to determine a person’s value. Links: Moneyball Moneyball screenplayTaffy Brodesser-Akner Long Island CompromiseScriptnotes LIVE! at the Austin Film FestivalHighland Pro Austin launch party – sign up here!ABBA VoyageOpti-V fireplaceKen MedlockImprint AppGet a Scriptnotes T-shirt!Check out the Inneresting NewsletterGift a Scriptnotes Subscriptiontreat yourself to a premium subscription!ThreadsInstagramThreadsInstagramTwitterMastodonOutrosend us yours!Matthew Chilelli Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John and Craig are on opposite sides of the world this week, so they’re revisiting an episode from 2016 to look at the many psychological barriers facing writers tackling big projects, and offer practical strategies for actually getting the work done. They also discuss the then-upcoming election (same as it ever was), and answer a listener question about how autism spectrum disorder might impact a screenwriting career. In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Drew reflect on what’s changed in the eight years since this episode last aired, and then like all conversations in 2024, they just start talking about Moo Deng. Links: Episode 271: Buckling Down – TranscriptInevitable FoundationForestSnowstormHowling Wind Julia Roberts To Star In Feature Film About PTA Mom Framed For Drug Possession Here’s How to Finish That F*ing Book, You MonsterWikitravelThe Writers Guild FoundationGet a Scriptnotes T-shirt!Check out the Inneresting NewsletterGift a Scriptnotes Subscriptiontreat yourself to a premium subscription!ThreadsInstagramThreadsInstagramTwitterMastodonOutrosend us yours!Matthew Chilelli Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John welcomes back Marielle Heller (Can You Ever Forgive Me?, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood) to look at three stories of real people with too much money and ask, How Would This Be a Movie? Stories include strategies for dating Leonardo DiCaprio, the rise-fall-rise of inventor Palmer Luckey, and a council built to give away a fortune. We also go feral over Marielle’s new movie Nightbitch, as she shares the joys of adapting something that feels personal and her tricks to directing dogs and children. But first, we take a look at a new study on which movies studios are developing, and share exciting news for those joining us at the Austin Film Festival. In our bonus segment for premium members, Marielle and John remember the terror, nerves and euphoria of premiering your movie at film festivals. Links: Nightbitch | Official TrailerMarielle HellerHighland Pro Austin launch party – sign up here! MacGruber on Peacock Hollywood’s 10 Percent Problem Dating a Celebrity – Thread by bo.predko American Vulcan How to Give Away a Fortune You Get to Be Fulfilled Now Bird Milk & Mosquito BonesGet a Scriptnotes T-shirt!Check out the Inneresting NewsletterGift a Scriptnotes Subscriptiontreat yourself to a premium subscription!ThreadsInstagramThreadsInstagramTwitterMastodonOutrosend us yours!Matthew Chilelli Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John and Craig revisit their legendary conversation with screenwriter-turned-psychotherapist Dennis Palumbo to discuss writer’s block, procrastination, partnerships and more. It’s a can’t-miss episode for aspiring writers and professionals alike. In our bonus segment for premium members, we travel back to episode 425 where John and Craig debate when to practice self care or tough love, and how to evaluate when each of them are helpful. Links: Dennis PalumboWritten by MagazineDennis’s books on GoodreadsImpostor SyndromeThe ImposterPaper KarmaThe Secret in Their EyesGet a Scriptnotes T-shirt!Check out the Inneresting NewsletterGift a Scriptnotes Subscriptiontreat yourself to a premium subscription!ThreadsInstagramThreadsInstagramTwitterMastodonOutrosend us yours!Stuart FriedelMatthew Chilelli Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here. The original transcript for this episode can be found here.

John and Craig open the mailbag to answer a swath of listener questions that make Craig’s blood boil. They offer insights and umbrage on when you can turn down projects early in your career, picking the right day job, maintaining visibility when you’re taken off a project, the next steps after a successful short, when NDA’s are necessary, and how to credit unpublished source material. We also say goodbye to green envelopes as we celebrate the arrival of direct deposit residuals, and follow up on AI training and GitHub for screenplays. In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig abandon their superciliousness look at the English words they kind of know but are too chicken to actually ever use. Links: Move Over Green Envelopes, WGA Rolls Out Direct Deposits For Residuals WGA Screen Credits Manual CDC Recommends Updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 and Flu Vaccines for Fall/Winter Virus SeasonHide posts on ThreadsBaldur’s Gate 3Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!Check out the Inneresting NewsletterGift a Scriptnotes Subscriptiontreat yourself to a premium subscription!ThreadsInstagramThreadsInstagramTwitterMastodonOutrosend us yours!Matthew Chilelli Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John and Craig welcome back Ryan Reynolds for an in-depth look at his creative process bringing the character of Deadpool to the screen. As co-writer, producer and star of the Deadpool franchise, Ryan leads us through his first introduction to the character, the rough journey getting to greenlight, and the challenges presented by an often-faceless protagonist. Along the way, they talk tone and dialogue, collaboration and rule-breaking, respect and irreverence, and the importance of listening to the movie. Ryan also has some writing questions for John and Craig. In our bonus segment for premium members, we look at Ryan’s flair for marketing and the creative freedom he’s found in advertising. Links: InstagramTikTokXDeadpool & Wolverine He’s So AnnoyingBuster Keaton – The Art of the GagEvery Frame a PaintingTCM – Turner Classic MoviesRyan Reynolds Guest Programmer | TCM How The Onion is saving itself from the digital media death spiralVancouver, BCGet a Scriptnotes T-shirt!Check out the Inneresting NewsletterGift a Scriptnotes Subscriptiontreat yourself to a premium subscription!ThreadsInstagramThreadsInstagramTwitterMastodonOutrosend us yours!Matthew Chilelli Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John welcomes journalist/screenwriter Max Read to look at the emerging sub-genre “halogencore” – stories of corporate malfeasance that are less about uncovering corruption as they are about characters learning to ignore it. They look at the evolution of the sub-genre, how these movies function, and why it’s important to define genres at all. We also explore the current state of independent journalism and freelance writing, and follow up on Hallmark movies and playwrights turned screenwriters. The new Highland (including support for iOS) is now in beta — Sign up in the link below! In our bonus segment for premium members, does it feel like time has sped up this summer? Like, even more than usual? John and Max slow it down and find the silver linings of an accelerated world. Links: Beta test the new Highland – sign up here!Max Read’s newsletter READ MAXShiva BabyGood Luck to You, Leo Grande How many Hallmark Christmas movies are there?! The Read Max ‘Halogencore’ GuideMax Read’s Halogencore listWhere Are You Now?Billy Strings – Dust in a BaggieIn AscensionGet a Scriptnotes T-shirt!Check out the Inneresting NewsletterGift a Scriptnotes Subscriptiontreat yourself to a premium subscription!ThreadsInstagramThreadsInstagramTwitterMastodonOutrosend us yours!Matthew Chilelli Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

In this compendium episode, John and Craig look at two of the most fundamental building blocks of compelling stories – conflict and stakes. We define six forms of conflict common in movies, and explore ways to sustain conflict within a scene and throughout a story. We also look for ways to find the root of your character’s stakes, pick the right stakes for the world around them, and the importance of making everything personal. In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig look at Whiplash and how it finds conflict at the perfect tempo. Links: John’s Video Game Job PostingEpisode 179 – The Conflict EpisodeEpisode 402 – How Do You Like Your Stakes?Snowpiercer – Left or Right Star Trek: The Next Generation In 40 Hours Harris’ or Harris’s? Apostrophe row divides grammar nerdsThe Heights Deli & Bottle Shop Cheerios Veggie Blends Special K ZeroGet a Scriptnotes T-shirt!Check out the Inneresting NewsletterGift a Scriptnotes Subscriptiontreat yourself to a premium subscription!ThreadsInstagramThreadsInstagramTwitterMastodonOutrosend us yours!Matthew Chilelli Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John and Craig stand waist-deep in rotten tomatoes and ask, what can we learn from bad movies? Resisting the urge to walk out, they explore ways to evaluate a movie’s problems, interrogate your taste, and turn a real stinker into an opportunity to grow as a writer. We also follow up on Lifetime movies, colored pages and AI screenwriting, and answer listener questions on weirdo characters and the validity of a ghostwriter. In our bonus segment for premium members, when is it okay to bail on something you no longer enjoy? We look at when to bounce on books, friendships and more. Links: WGAW Good and Welfare Emergency Assistance LoansAI Screenwriter job postingPageant of the MastersPageant of the Masters Brings Art to LifeArrested Development – The Living Classics SeveranceGet a Scriptnotes T-shirt!Check out the Inneresting NewsletterGift a Scriptnotes Subscriptiontreat yourself to a premium subscription!ThreadsInstagramThreadsInstagramTwitterMastodonOutrosend us yours!Matthew Chilelli Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John welcomes writer-director Betsy Thomas (Superior Donuts, Superstore) to finally discuss writing multi-camera sitcoms. Using famous sitcom scripts as guides, they look at how multi-cam sets itself apart through its unique formatting and production, how it utilizes blocking, its surprising limitations in post, and the live studio audience. But Betsy is more than just a talented creative – she’s also the secretary-treasurer of the WGA West. Who better to lead us through the WGA annual report and look at writer income and residuals in the wake of the strike? We also follow up on gains for writing teams and un-locked pages, and answer listener questions on flashbacks, punctation, and untrustworthy producers. In our bonus segment for premium members, Betsy explains to John and Megana what makes golf such a wonderful sport. Links: WikipediaIMDbTwitterIMDbWGA West Annual Report Writer Earnings Fell $600 Million Due to Strike and Industry Contraction, WGA Says Cheers – “Give Me a Ring Sometime” Cheers – “Father Knows Last” Night Court – “Pilot” Friends – “Pilot” What My Adult Autism Diagnosis Finally ExplainedUnstable – Season 2Wicked Little LettersGet a Scriptnotes T-shirt!Check out the Inneresting NewsletterGift a Scriptnotes Subscriptiontreat yourself to a premium subscription!ThreadsInstagramThreadsInstagramXMastodonOutrosend us yours!Matthew Chilelli Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John and Craig welcome back Megana Rao to look at rituals and what they can tell us about our characters. But what are characters doing deliberately, and what is just routine? They separate routines from rites, and how both can help deepen our understanding of characters and the threats that face them. We also follow up on un-locking pages, industry software and health insurance for writing teams, before answering a listener question on transitioning from writing plays to writing movies. In our bonus segment for premium members, John, Craig and Megana talk about coming-of-age rituals, and Craig reveals the theme of his Bar Mitzvah (it’s even nerdier than you think). Links: Standard Operating Procedures Long Island CompromiseFree AF non-alcoholic cocktailsMicrosoft Re-Designs the iPod Packaging FantasmasAlphaBirdsGet a Scriptnotes T-shirt!Check out the Inneresting NewsletterGift a Scriptnotes Subscriptiontreat yourself to a premium subscription!ThreadsInstagramThreadsInstagramXMastodonOutrosend us yours!Drew MarquardtMatthew Chilelli Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John and Craig finally become writing partners and edit the opening to one chapter of the upcoming Scriptnotes book live on-air. They wrestle with word choices, adapting the phrasing of a spoken conversation and finding a unified voice as they pass the keyboard back and forth. We also catch up Craig on what he’s missed since he’s been away, follow up on #payuphollywood, and answer a host of listener questions on personal stories, backstories, sharing credit, Lifetime movies, and disliking your protagonist. In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig deal out their favorite card games. Links: AlphaBirds#PayUpHollywood Scriptnotes Episode 427 – The New One with Mike BirbigliaScriptnotes Episode 640 – Can You Believe It? A.I. Needs Copper. It Just Helped to Find Millions of Tons of It. Love Good ProteinGet a Scriptnotes T-shirt!Check out the Inneresting NewsletterGift a Scriptnotes Subscriptiontreat yourself to a premium subscription!ThreadsInstagramThreadsInstagramXMastodonOutrosend us yours!Drew MarquardtMatthew Chilelli Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John welcomes back Mike Schur (The Good Place, Parks and Recreation) to ask, how do you fix an overwritten script? They discuss ways to rebuild scenes and restore muddy characters that have become burdened by too many notes, all while making sure your script retains its voice. We also look at the new IATSE deal with the AMPTP, the WGA’s back-pay settlement with CBS, Skydance purchasing Paramount, and follow-up on our idea of keeping pages un-locked. In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Mike listen to the AI generated songs named in the RIAA’s current lawsuit and wonder, did they really steal from copyrighted material? (The answer is yes.) Links: Mike SchurWikipediaWeekend Read 2IATSE tentative basic agreement David Ellison’s Skydance Taking Over Paramount After $8 Billion Investment WGA West Reaches $3 Million Settlement With CBS Studios Over Writer Fees and Benefit Payments Project Hail MaryAlphabirds Should We Go Extinct?Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!Check out the Inneresting NewsletterGift a Scriptnotes Subscriptiontreat yourself to a premium subscription!ThreadsInstagramThreadsInstagramTwitterJohn on MastodonOutrosend us yours!Drew MarquardtJonathan WigdortzMatthew Chilelli Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John and Craig welcome Aline Brosh McKenna to look at what writers mean by a “voice,” and how it develops. Some screenwriters’ voice develops long before their craft, leading people to label them as “promising” even though the scripts themselves are a mess. Other writers get all the technical stuff right from the start, but have a hard time finding something distinctive about how they write. From there, we segue into one of the most contentious Three Page Challenges we’ve ever done, with wildly split opinions. In our bonus segment for premium members, John the Eagle Scout gives Drew practical advice for wilderness camping in 2024. Links: Aline Brosh McKennaInstagramSpy MagazineRecitativeJames TophamCheryl LaughlinChris VieiraSubmit for the Three Page ChallengeGet a Scriptnotes T-shirt!Check out the Inneresting NewsletterGift a Scriptnotes Subscriptiontreat yourself to a premium subscription!ThreadsInstagramThreadsInstagramTwitterJohn on MastodonOutrosend us yours!Stuart FriedelDrew MarquardtMatthew Chilelli Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John welcomes Simon Rich (Man Seeking Woman, Miracle Workers) to look at how he crafts a comedic premise. Using his work on SNL, his time writing Inside Out at Pixar and his plethora of short stories, they look at how he develops a funny idea into a story with narrative and emotional punch. We also follow up on the Harry Potter TV series, and answer listener questions on the downsides of writing in other mediums and adapting your screenplay into a novel. In our bonus segment for premium members, how do you get your work into magazines? Simon walks through his experience, from rejection letters to being published in the New Yorker. Links: Glory DaysSimon Rich “Gifted” by Simon RichRocket DogHowtown with Joss Fong and Adam Cole Dr. Eckener’s Dream Machine: The Great Zeppelin and the Dawn of Air TravelGet a Scriptnotes T-shirt!Check out the Inneresting NewsletterGift a Scriptnotes Subscriptiontreat yourself to a premium subscription!ThreadsInstagramThreadsInstagramTwitterJohn on MastodonOutrosend us yours!Drew MarquardtJonathan WigdortzMatthew Chilelli Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John welcomes back Aline Brosh McKenna to help figure out how to say goodbye… in your story. Using examples from some of their favorite movies, they explore how farewell scenes work, what sets them apart from the average see-you-later, and leaving a lasting effect on your characters and the audience. We also look at the summer box office, George Gallo’s Bad Boys lawsuit, Sony’s purchase of Alamo Drafthouse, and answer listener questions on bad ex-managers, second steps, NDA’s, fairies, and how to take advantage of downtime in LA. In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Aline discuss journaling. Should we be keeping track of what we’ve been doing all day? Links: ‘Bad Boys’ Settlement Why did Sony buy Alamo Drafthouse — and is it actually a good thing?The Nine Enneagram Type DescriptionsFarewell – CasablancaFarewell – Past LivesFarewell – Lost in TranslationFarewell – WeekendFarewell – PhiladelphiaFarewell – The Shawshank RedemptionFarewell – Harold and MaudeFarewell – Terminator 2Farewell – The Way We WereFarewell – The Wizard of OzFarewell – E.T.Farewell – Toy Story 3Farewell – Dead Poets SocietyRevival Hub LAVisit MaltaPeel off lip stain Dirt Man by Carter VailsomeofAline’sfavoriteremixesPhil Collins’ HoudiniGet a Scriptnotes T-shirt!Check out the Inneresting NewsletterGift a Scriptnotes Subscriptiontreat yourself to a premium subscription!ThreadsInstagramThreadsInstagramTwitterJohn on MastodonOutrosend us yours!Drew MarquardtJonathan WigdortzMatthew Chilelli Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

In this compendium episode, John and Craig fast-forward to the third act to talk about endings. How do they work? What makes them great? And how do you fix them when they’re not working? They look at how to connect your ending to your characters, crafting a twist that surprises (but doesn’t confuse), the function of the climax, the importance of the denouement, and how to make it all satisfying for your audience. In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Drew welcome back Megana Rao to ask: do we still need reunions in the age of social media? Links: Episode 44 – Endings for beginners Episode 170 – Lotteries, lightning strikes and twist endingsEpisode 366 – Tying Things UpEpisode 392 – The Final MomentEpisode 524 – The Home StretchToo Many Cooks America’s best decade, according to dataAll Fours by Miranda JulyCallipegGet a Scriptnotes T-shirt!Check out the Inneresting NewsletterGift a Scriptnotes Subscriptiontreat yourself to a premium subscription!ThreadsInstagramThreadsInstagramTwitterJohn on MastodonOutrosend us yours!Drew MarquardtMatthew Chilelli Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.