Blog day on the line
I’ll write up more after lunch, but this morning’s screenblogger thing went well.
From left, that’s me, Jane Espenson, Josh Friedman and Craig Mazin.
johnaugust.com
(a ton of useful information about screenwriting)
About
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.
Follow Me
On Twitter: @johnaugust
Ask a Question
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.
Search
Featured Articles
101: Some screenwriting basics
- How to introduce a character
- Money 101 for screenwriters
- Starting out in Hollywood
- Intercutting
- How to explain quantum mechanics
There are more than 900 articles on the site. You can find category archives at the bottom of every page.
Read Me
- The Variant
A new short story available for download, Kindle and iPhone.
Articles
December 5th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
What a crew!
Mark
December 5th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Too bad I missed out. I’ve been at Universal all week, since I can take the Redline and don’t have to worry about parking. Glad to hear it went well, though. How many readers showed up?
December 5th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
You’d almost think these were the only screenwriters to HAVE blogs!
December 5th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Hey John, I came out to picket with you guys today and yet I couldn’t muster up the introduction courage. It’s silly, really, and Jane and I even have mututal friends. Ah, and so it goes that the introverted nature of being a screenwriter rears its head when networking calls… -Scribe
December 5th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
That photo is so ironic, what with the ominous signs and the friendly smiles. But y’all are real cute, though! And I love the sun glare.
(Yes, I use “y’all” quite frequently. You got a problem with that?!) ;-)
December 5th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
Looks really sunny. I’m betting you won’t be returning to picket at that gate again…
December 5th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
Why does Jane look so much like Gillian Anderson in that photo? Then again, Josh looks a little like a heavier Jason Lee. And yes, the light from behind was a night touch. It gives you all an ethereal look.
I assume there was no gunfire involved in the day?
December 5th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
hey i didn’t know jane was that cute! now i’ll read her blog with extra pleasure. she should change her picture on the frontpage.
December 5th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
Hey, where’s your sign? Hehe… lazy bone, you! Okay, no offense… only joking. Wish I could attend the pickets and actively support the strike. hrrmmm
December 5th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
Nice photograph. In fact, that´s one of the photographs you´ll show your kids some day – when you tell them about “the time when movies were written by real people, and not by writing unit 5, writing unit 12 and Joe Eszterhas”.
December 5th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Damn. My attempt to URL went crazy. I hate my PC skills
December 5th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
I think Josh looks alot like Kevin Smith myself. Good to see there is comraderie within the WGA, actual friendships are important rather than just being stuck together because you are writers.
December 5th, 2007 at 10:09 pm
THAT’S who Josh reminds me of. I said Jason Lee, but I knew there was someone else that he looked like more. I was close, at least. Craig looks like someone else in that picture, too, but I can’t really think of who. John, well, looks like John. As someone who gets mistaken for all kinds of people all the time, I think that’s probably a good thing.
December 5th, 2007 at 11:28 pm
Looks like fun…can’t wait until my union strikes!
December 6th, 2007 at 3:46 am
To Jason – what’s the beef against old Joe Eszterhas? The man has shared the demonic inner workings of recent scribe life in Hwood like no other. And the Basic Instinct script? One of the most rip-roaring, trashy reads of the early 90´s! Respect!
December 6th, 2007 at 9:41 am
Joe Eszterhas shared the inner workings after he was run out of town for being an arrogant prick, in a town full of arrogant pricks. And he said Pulp Fiction was incredibly boring. He also complained that he had never won an Academy Award. Apparently Jade was a masterpiece. Who knew?
December 6th, 2007 at 10:03 am
Great photo; love the heavenly glow coming down from on high behind your heads. I know it’s only a lens flare, but pure poetry nonetheless.
December 6th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
Love the matching t-shirts! Nothing says solidarity like dressing alike.
Reinforcements in the form of foam-domes are forthcoming!
December 6th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
Eszterhas rode himself out of town, the result of a sizeable tumor on his larynx. And even after the failure of An Alan Smithee Film…he was still offered 4.5 mil for his next project. Respect! And pray tell, which Hwood scribe of the last generation did more for the awareness of the “writer” in Hwood than Eszterhas? We need more larger than life characters in the scribe community to work today’s cause. Though Harlan Ellison is doing just fine… And even Rivette called Showgirls a masterpiece: “Recent years have seen a reevaluation of the movie’s merits. Critics such as Jonathan Rosenbaum and Charles Taylor, as well as filmmaker Jacques Rivette, have gone on the record defending Showgirls as a serious satire. Actor Patrick Bristow, who plays choreographer Marty, defended the movie as “not that bad” excepting “that horrible rape scene.” This refers to the scene in which Molly is raped, which is considered by some to be one of the most tasteless and offensive depictions of rape in cinematic history (including a moment where one of the actors spits into actress Gina Ravera’s mouth). Other critics defend it as a disturbingly realistic portrayal of rape, and therefore justifiably offensive.”
December 6th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
And Pulp Fiction was quite the wanker bore – except for the look on Bruce’s face when he hops in the Honda after filling Travolta with lead…
December 6th, 2007 at 10:22 pm
Blog Day was great!
After introducing myself to John, I grabbed a strike t-shirt and picket sign and jumped right in. Soon I discovered that the 4 minute mile pace of John and the lead pack was too grueling, so I did most of my picketing from the sidewalk. Now, I can see how John stays so slim.
Conspiracy Theory: That traffic light at the cross-walk at Warners Studios is rigged! And the painting of the cross-walk being done at mid-day? Come on!
Seriously though, I had a nice experience and you all should make an effort to come out and support the writers. I spoke with writers of all my favorite shows like Drew Carey, The Simpsons, George Lopez, ER and Friends. I couldn’t believe the access I got so I kept pinching myself the entire time. Now I’m not sure if I’m sore from picketing or from the pinches.
Strike Survival Guide: 1)It was a bit sunny out but there are shaddy spots at Warner’s gate 4. 2)They have strike training at Warner’s! Whoopie! This is important so that you will know the proper strike etiquette. 3)Scope out where the bathrooms are before it becomes a crisis. 4)Find out which eateries are nearby b/c snack selection is a little slim. 5)Warm up for 5 minutes before striking or you’ll be sorry.
December 6th, 2007 at 11:54 pm
By no means I´d ever pick at Joe Eszterhas, at his zenith he definitely was a giant player in Hollywood, and you didn´t see that often when it comes to writers. I have great respect for the man.
My comment was merely a little quote from Futurama, when the posse goes watching a movie – “the opening credits roll with a Bond-esque theme and titles with naked Fembot silhouettes and guns. Credits like “Directed by Directing Unit 4″, “Written by Writing Unit 5 and Writing Unit 12 & Joe Eszterhas” come up.”
:)
December 7th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
Thanks for the heads up Jason – may Eszterhas’ gumption infest us all during these tumultuous days of future-quest…
December 8th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
I still consider it beyond disgusting that Craig Mazin signed that Pencils Down thing in Variety while driving onto the lot to direct his movie.
But then what would Hollywood be without its hypocrites?
December 9th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Ruby–the DGA was not on strike, and Mazin would have been in violation of the DGA union rules had he refused to direct. Mazin did not do any rewrites or engage in any writing duties. He was put in a difficult position. Disagree with the guy all you want (and I do on several issues) but other writer/directors would have been in similar situations.