John August

News

Austin Film Festival 2019

Episode - 424

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News, Scriptnotes

Craig hosts Scriptnotes Live at The Austin Film Festival with guests Ayanna Floyd (The Chi, Empire), Liz Hannah (The Post, Mind Hunter), Nichelle Tramble (Truth Be Told, The Good Wife), Malcolm Spellman (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Empire), David Mandel (Veep, Curb Your Enthusiasm), David Benioff and D.B. Weiss (Game of Thrones). They discuss the power of television, writing for the binge model, and the value of telling stories you want to watch.

We also play a Craig and David Kwong puzzle on movie quotes and host a round of How Do You Follow THAT Up?

Huge thank you to all of our guests!

Links:

* [Ayanna Floyd](https://twitter.com/qu33nofdrama) on Twitter and [IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0283234/)
* [Liz Hannah](https://twitter.com/itslizhannah) on Twitter and [IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2176283/)
* [Nichelle Tramble Spellman](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2838492/) on IMDB
* [Malcolm Spellman](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1173259/) on IMDB
* [David Mandel](https://twitter.com/DavidHMandel) on Twitter and [IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0541635/)
* [David Benioff](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1125275/) on IMDB
* [D.B. Weiss](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1888967/) on IMDB
* [John August](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) on Twitter
* [Craig Mazin](https://twitter.com/clmazin) on Twitter
* [John on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Matthew Chilelli ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_424_aff.mp3).

**UPDATE 10-27-19** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2019/scriptnotes-424-austin-film-festival-transcript).

Casting a blind teenage actress

Directors, News, Projects

I’ve written a new movie that I’m planning to direct. It’s called The Shadows. It’s a thriller.

I wouldn’t normally announce something like this so far in advance, but casting is going to be a unique process that will require a major search.

The hero of the film is a 15-year-old girl named Abby. She’s stubborn, resourceful and anxious. She is also blind. I’m looking for a blind actress to play this role.

To learn more, you can read the [casting announcement](https://johnaugust.com/casting).

Ready to Write

News, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig tackle the question, “How do you know when you’re ready to write a given script?” They propose a list of details a writer should know before diving in, and look at why starting too soon can be a recipe for failure. (So can waiting too long.)

We also discuss the WGA’s “refusal to negotiate” myth and answer questions about rewrites vs polishes, and whether writing a bad script could put you on a Do Not Hire list.

Links:

* [Myth of No Negotiation](https://johnaugust.com/2019/the-myth-of-no-negotiation)
* Deadline’s “Exclusive” on [John’s Blogpost](https://deadline.com/2019/08/john-august-wga-long-slog-agency-deal-negotiations-1202662054/)
* [John Milton, Paradise Lost](https://www.dartmouth.edu/~milton/reading_room/pl/book_2/text.shtml)
* [Monsters Creatures: A Young Adventurer’s Guide](https://amzn.to/31xMkk7) by Jim Zub
* [Oreo Thins](https://www.oreo.com/Thins)
* [John August](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) on Twitter
* [Craig Mazin](https://twitter.com/clmazin) on Twitter
* [John on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Michael Karman ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_413_ready_to_write.mp3)

**UPDATE 8-27-2019** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2019/scriptnotes-ep-413-ready-to-write).

Writing About Mental Health and Addiction

News, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John moderates Breaking the Stigma, a panel on addiction and mental health with guests Gemma Baker (creator of CBS’s Mom), Dr. Corey Waller (specialist in pain, addiction and emergency medicine), Dr. Holly Daniels (specialist in eating disorders and mental health issues), and journalist Zachary Siegel.

We discuss how addiction and mental health issues are portrayed in film and TV, more authentic ways of telling these stories, and how writers and creators can take care of their own mental health.

Special thanks to our incredible panelists, plus Kate Folb, Marty Kaplan, and the entire team at Hollywood Health and Society!

Links:

* [Hollywood Health and Society](https://hollywoodhealthandsociety.org/events/addiction-mental-health-breaking-stigma)
* [6 Balloons with Dave Franco](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uF4XjvS_Z0)
* [Motivational Interviewing](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/motivational-interviewing)
* [Narcan](https://www.narcan.com/)
* Follow Corey Waller on Twitter [here](https://twitter.com/rcwallermd).
* Follow Holly Daniels on Twitter [here](https://twitter.com/drhollydaniels).
* Follow Zachary Siegel on Twitter [here](https://twitter.com/ZachWritesStuff). Follow his project Changing the Narrative on Twitter [here](https://twitter.com/hijaction) or using #ChangingtheNarrative.
* [John August](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) on Twitter
* [Craig Mazin](https://twitter.com/clmazin) on Twitter
* [John on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Matthew Chilelli ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_412_mha.mp3)

**UPDATE 8-15-19:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2019/scriptnotes-episode-412-writing-about-mental-health-and-addiction-transcript).