Jane Espenson has a good post up about TV staffing season, answering everything you’d want to know about the schedule for how shows hire their writing staffs. She would know; she’s been involved with some great shows, from Buffy to Gilmore Girls.
Also, she had Quizno’s for lunch. In case you were curious.
This site is run by screenwriter John August. Mostly, he answers reader-submitted questions about the craft, but occasionally he goes on tangents that run far afield of writing and filmmaking. You'll also find info on past, present and future projects.
On Twitter: @johnaugust
If you have a question about screenwriting or my movies that hasn't been answered, by all means ask. There are a few guidelines to follow.
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April 3rd, 2006 at 2:01 pm
Hey John,
Love the site. More downloads, please. And what did you have for lunch?
April 3rd, 2006 at 2:57 pm
Lentil soup, butter lettuce salad with citrus dressing and poached shrimp. Which is surprisingly fancy for me. I usually have Baja Fresh.
April 3rd, 2006 at 4:26 pm
It’s funny, because Jane’s blog is the only other industry blog I read. You two go nicely together, like a fine wine and a nice cheese. Not sure who is which.
And, for what it’s worth, I’m a big fan of Charlie’s Angels.
April 4th, 2006 at 12:25 am
At least that’s a healthier option than Tim Burton’s small-child-with-every-meal diet. :P
April 5th, 2006 at 12:17 am
Hello John. I want lo say you that I like me very much Big Fish. Your script it’s fantastic! Now I’m writing a script about superheroes. I think in USA is easy to make a film of superheroes but in Spain is very difficult. I have a blog: http://1936visiones.blogspot.com/ I have some information and pictures about my project: “1936:Sebastián”. It’s a interesting story and different of another superheroes. And now I say you “May the FOrce be with you”.
April 5th, 2006 at 11:13 am
Dear John,
There is a question I’d like to ask. Regarding grammar on screenplays, how important is it to film companies, producers, studios, etc. I was under the impression, grammar can’t be filmed, so ? Your thoughts.
April 5th, 2006 at 1:11 pm
Frederick,
Read John’s speech/post on Professionalism. It’ll answer that question.
April 5th, 2006 at 11:19 pm
Hello John, I have a question… How do you manage your time? I imagine you work from home, and that in it’s self could lead to easy distraction. How do you discipline your self to work when work it to be done, & play when it’s well, time to play? Also, any great stories come your way that we should keep an eye out for? ~A
April 6th, 2006 at 10:07 am
I’m not sure what it’s like in the US, but as a script reader in the UK I can tell Frederick that it can be considered a big deal over here. Mixed tenses (the present continuous and present simple: “I was sat…”), apostrophe misuse and overuse of adverbs seem to be the Top 3, in that order.
April 6th, 2006 at 12:55 pm
Derek,
I read the speech. It didn’t answer the question. It made a vague reference to presentation and professionalism. Which means, studios, producers will assume it’s great. This is really an annoying question because it puts people on the spot about their education, grammar is at all time low in America and no one wants to discuss it. I hope I’m not dropping a bomb here, but Lucy’s comment shed more light than John’s speech. He was aiming for inspiration. Inspiration isn’t an answer.
Thanks Lucy in U.K.
April 6th, 2006 at 2:55 pm
Frederick,
You’re right, inspiration isn’t the answer. Professionalism is. The point of the speech is that just because you haven’t been sold/optioned/etc. doesn’t mean you shouldn’t present yourself in a professional way. Writers are wordsmiths, and as such are expected to have a grasp of language and usage. Good grammar reflects that you aren’t just some guy who had a cool thought and put it to paper, but that you’re a professional who has taken the time to perfect his/her craft.
Personally, I think if you have to ask whether grammar’s important you’re already behind. Will perfect grammar make a producer like your script better? Probably not. Will bad grammar make a producer dislike your script more? Probably. Out of annoyance if nothing else.
If all you took from that speech was “inspiration,” read it again.
April 9th, 2006 at 10:24 am
I asked a question since I have never experienced Hollywood up close. I write on my own, that’s it. If I don’t ask, how am I supposed to know ?
“…Personally, I think if you have to ask whether grammar’s important you’re already behind.”
These cute little comments don’t help novice/amateur screenwriters gain any insight into the system if we never ask these types of questions. Screenplays aren’t Novels, you film it, and then the script gets tossed away, so really ? Why was my question stupid ? Or, behind ? Please. Like Hollywood isn’t a corrupt, greedy, place where morals are more easily discarded and grammar ?
This line of thinking really disgust me, you’re behind, you’re ahead. Life isn’t a race. Write for the love and stop looking over your shoulder. I write for me, and only me. If others accept or love my work then wonderful, if not, then I had fun writing the project. Ahead or behind, like, good or bad ? This way of thinking is upsetting. Real writers do their own thing, and aren’t concerned about behing ahead or behind. It’s always this petty, trivial, competitive thing in Hollywood, which is exactly why Stanley Kubrick moved to England, to be away from the bullshit, follow your heart, and nothing else. Some people have a passion, I’d bet if you sold a script for $4 Million dollars, you’d actually believed you were paid that because you were a great writer too huh ?
April 9th, 2006 at 10:31 am
Don’t believe the hype ! If you chase money, your work will suffer. It’s a weird paradox. You’ll learn this much later in life when you’re old. Don’t buy the hype, write from a place a purity, always keep the rebel in you alive !!!
Viva La Revolution !!!!
May 9th, 2006 at 2:52 pm
Dude, regardless of whom you write for, grammar is important. It’s one of the fundamentals of… oh wait, what’s the phrase… had it a moment ago… oh yeah, WRITING. Language is a powerful tool, and even more so when done properly. That’s the point to take away from all this.
Also, the script is never “just tossed aisde”. Many book companies like to make ancillary profits on publishing screenplays, so that others may study how to properly write screenplays, replete with correct grammar.
But I digress.
Write for yourself, but by ignoring grammar you’re ignoring one of the most important pieces of actaully writing: To communicate an idea to those beyond who just wrote it. Screenplay, novel, stage play, blog post, it doesn’t matter. A mastery of the language you choose is another tool in your arsenal for writing more, and getting better. Nobody wants to plateau with their talent, they want to grow. Even Kubrick, who fled to England to escape all the Hollywood bullshit, was keenly aware of this. And I’m sure he believed that grammar was also important.
And if I got paid $4 million for a script, there is no way in hell I would think they paid me because I’m a great writer. I would simply cash the check, wait for it to clear, and then laugh my ass off about how a bunch of idiots just paid me $4 million dollars for a script, and not, say, the cure for world hunger.
Of course, if they were willing to pay $4 million in the first place, you bet your ASS I’d run that thing through with a fine tooth comb and make sure that my grammar AND punctuation was all kinds of alright.
That being said, I do like your final words about writing from a place of purity and always keeping the rebel alive inside you. There can be a happy medium, remember.
May 9th, 2006 at 2:55 pm
I suppose it would have helped to actually read the next post instead of wasting my lunch break typing that last post.
Eh, snakes on a plane.