John and Craig attempt to answer the question that many aspiring screenwriters dare not ask aloud: when — if ever — is the right time to give up on the dream of becoming a working screenwriter?
Relatedly, is it okay to omit “aspiring” when describing oneself as a screenwriter? How do you ask friends for career help without burning bridges? Is that criminal record a problem?
We also address listener questions about why the Paramount Decree isn’t an issue for streaming services, plus working with auteurs, and formatting car chases.
Thanks for sending us examples of Exposition News!
Links:
- CPG Grey’s video, channel, and website
- Exposition News on Arrested Development, Community, The Simpsons, and Shaun of the Dead
- The BBC adds Nigerian Pidgin
- Google’s Pixel Buds, or the real-life Babel Fish
- The Scriptnotes Listeners’ Guide!
- The USB drives!
- John August on Twitter
- Craig Mazin on Twitter
- John on Instagram
- Find past episodes
- Outro by Rajesh Naroth (send us yours!)
Email us at ask@johnaugust.com
You can download the episode here.
UPDATE 10-16-17: The transcript of this episode can be found here.