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Opening Scenes

Episode - 493

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March 23, 2021 News, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig discuss the craft of constructing beginnings: what they consider when writing the first line of a script and how opening scenes have evolved with audience expectations.

We also investigate a question from former producer Stuart Friedel and dive into the history of foreign levies. We then make predictions on the future of movie-going by analyzing the history of megaplexes.

Finally, in our bonus segment for premium members we look at cliches versus conventions.

Links:

  • WGA Parental Leave begins May 2!
  • Learn more about foreign levies
  • 99 Percent Invisible Podcast Episode: The Megaplex
  • We’ve Outgrown the Ugly Duckling Transformation by Mina Le on Youtube
  • TV Tropes – Vampires
  • Listener Guide Submissions send in your favorite episodes from 300-500!
  • Check out the Screenwriting Life Podcast and this episode with John!
  • Upstep – the review is positive!
  • Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!
  • Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription!
  • John August on Twitter
  • Craig Mazin on Twitter
  • John on Instagram
  • Outro by Peter Hoopes (send us yours!)
  • Scriptnotes is produced by Megana Rao and edited by Matthew Chilelli.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 3-26-2021 The transcript for this episode is now available here.

Related Posts

  1. Gray Areas
  2. Philosophy for Screenwriters
  3. Unions and Guilds

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