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Writing Action (Encore)

Episode - 463

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September 12, 2023 Scriptnotes

John and Craig talk action! It’s an all-craft episode about how words on the page become high-adrenaline events on the screen.

Using a variety of different scripts, we look at how different styles of action sequences can be used to clearly communicate what is meant to happen in a scene and how it’s supposed to feel.

In our bonus segment for premium members we try to discuss the Emmys but mostly talk about teenage girls’ obsession with Criminal Minds.

Links:

* [Action Scenes PDF](https://johnaugust.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Scriptnotes-463-action-samples-corrected.pdf)
* [Scriptnotes Episode 463: Writing Action](https://johnaugust.com/2020/writing-action)
* [Entertainment Community Fund – Emergency Financial Assistance](https://actorsfund.org/am-i-eligible-help)
* [CAA Lays Off Agents and Employees](https://variety.com/2020/film/news/caa-major-layoffs-agents-staff-1234718628/)
* [From 2020: WGA East and West members voted to approve the new contract](https://www.thewrap.com/wga-contract-ratified-with-overwhelming-approval-in-membership-vote/)
* [Good Sudoku](https://9to5mac.com/2020/07/23/good-sudoku-ios-app-launches-to-save-sudoku/)
* [Good Sudoku App](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id1489118195#?platform=iphone)
* [Ghosts of Tsushima](https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/ghost-of-tsushima-ps4/)
* [Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!](https://cottonbureau.com/people/scriptnotes-podcast)
* [Check out the Inneresting Newsletter](https://inneresting.substack.com/)
* [Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/gifts) or [treat yourself to a premium subscription!](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/)
* Craig Mazin on [Threads](https://www.threads.net/@clmazin) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/clmazin/)
* John August on [Threads](https://www.threads.net/@johnaugust), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/johnaugust)
* [John on Mastodon](https://mastodon.art/@johnaugust)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Matthew Chilelli ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))
* This episode was originally produced by Megana Rao. Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and is edited by [Matthew Chilelli](https://twitter.com/machelli).

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/463RBstandard.mp3).

Related Posts

  1. Writing Action
  2. The Lackeys Know What They’re Doing
  3. Writing better action

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Each week, screenwriters John August and Craig Mazin discuss screenwriting and things that are interesting to screenwriters, everything from the craft to the business to the best ways to get yourself writing.

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