John August

News

Live from Austin 2015

Episode - 222

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Film Industry, Follow Up, News, QandA, Scriptnotes, Transcribed, Travel

Craig and John return to the Austin Film Festival for a supersize live show with guests Nicole Perlman and Steve Zissis.

We talk with Nicole about what’s changed in her life after the breakout success of Guardians of the Galaxy, and how she juggles multiple projects.

Steve Zissis tells us how he transitioned from waiter to co-creator of HBO’s Togetherness, and the unusual origin of the show.

Then all four of us play How Would This Be a Movie, looking at #Zola’s adventure, the runaway blimp and the lonely death of George Bell.

Plus audience questions!

Our thanks to the Austin Film Festival for hosting us, and our terrific audience.

* [The Austin Film Festival](https://www.austinfilmfestival.com/aff/live/)
* [The Monty Hall problem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Hall_problem) on Wikipedia
* Nicole Perlman on [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2270979/) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/Uncannygirl), and on [Scriptnotes, 164](http://johnaugust.com/2014/guardians-of-the-galaxys-nicole-perlman)
* Steve Zissis on [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1587813/) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/stevezissis)
* Togetherness on [HBO](http://www.hbo.com/togetherness) and [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Togetherness_(TV_series))
* Papermag on [The Harrowing Twitter Odyssey of @_zolarmoon](http://www.papermag.com/2015/10/the_harrowing_twitter_odyssey.php)
* The Baltimore Sun on the [rogue JLENS blimp](http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/harford/aberdeen-havre-de-grace/bs-md-jlens-blimp-loose-20151028-story.html)
* [The Lonely Death of George Bell](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/18/nyregion/dying-alone-in-new-york-city.html), from The New York Times
* Variety on [Nicole Perlman and Challenger](http://variety.com/2006/film/features/nicole-perlman-1200337283/)
* [Marty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marty_(teleplay)) on Wikipedia
* [Glif](http://www.studioneat.com/products/glif) tripod phone mount
* [Cosmonauts: Birth of the Space Age](http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/visitmuseum/Plan_your_visit/exhibitions/cosmonauts.aspx) at the London Science Museum
* The Man Who Planted Trees, on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_Who_Planted_Trees_(film)) and [Netflix DVD](http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/The-Man-Who-Planted-Trees/70048862?strkid=1887480798_0_0&strackid=743041023553ef8f_0_srl&trkid=222336)
* [Thync](http://www.thync.com/)
* [Intro/Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Matthew Chilelli ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_222.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_222.mp3).

**UPDATE 11-6-15:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2015/scriptnotes-ep-222-live-from-austin-2015-transcript).

Writers Rooms, Taxes, and Fat Hamlet

Film Industry, Follow Up, News, Scriptnotes, Transcribed, Writing Process

John and Craig discuss the trend of hiring multiple writers to work concurrently on tentpole features. Can movies be written like television, and should they?

Then it’s a look at tax bills that LA-based writers may find themselves facing, and why you shouldn’t be afraid of a portly Hamlet.

Also this week, a strange French plagiarism case, and John considers writing a book in November.

Reminder that John is interviewing Drew Goddard for a special Writers Guild Foundation event on October 28th. Tickets available through the link below.

Links:

* [Get tickets now for the WGAF’s October 28th Writers on Writing event with Drew Goddard, moderated by John](https://www.wgfoundation.org/screenwriting-events/writers-on-writing-with-drew-goddard/)
* [Austin Film Festival 2015 panel schedule](https://austinfilmfestival.com/festivalandconference/conference/2015-panels/)
* [John Carpenter Wins Plagiarism Case Against Luc Besson Over ‘Lockout’](http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/john-carpenter-wins-plagiarism-case-against-luc-besson-over-lockout-20151015)
* [Exorcist: The Beginning](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exorcist:_The_Beginning) and [Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominion:_Prequel_to_the_Exorcist) on Wikipedia
* [/Film and How Did This Get Made’s oral history of Theodore Rex](http://www.slashfilm.com/theodore-rex/)
* November is the month for [flu shots](http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season-2015-2016.htm), [Movember](https://us.movember.com/) and [NaNoWriMo](http://nanowrimo.org/)
* [Overcast](https://overcast.fm/) now has chapter support
* THR on [The Problems When Many Writers Work on ‘Star Wars,’ ‘Transformers’ and Other Film Franchises](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/problems-writers-work-star-wars-831582)
* AB63 Tax Program [FAQ](http://finance.lacity.org/content/AB63ProgramFAQ.htm), and on [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/Screenwriting/comments/3ogwef/freelance_tax_for_los_angeles_residents/), [LA Weekly](http://www.laweekly.com/news/did-you-just-get-a-500-freelance-assignment-the-city-might-bill-you-30-000-6040715) and [NBC 4](http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/LA-Freelancers-Get–Tax-Bill.html)
* [Is Hamlet Fat? A Slate investigation](http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/theater/2015/09/is_hamlet_fat_the_evidence_in_shakespeare_for_a_corpulent_prince_of_denmark.html)
* [Computer Show](http://computer.show/) with Adam Lisagor
* [Tesla Autopilot First Ride: Almost as Good as a New York Driver](http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/car-technology/news/a27044/tesla-autopilot-first-ride-almost-as-good-as-a-new-york-driver/)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Matthew Chilelli ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_220.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_220.mp3).

**UPDATE 10-22-15:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2015/scriptnotes-ep-220-writers-rooms-taxes-and-fat-hamlet-transcript).

Screenwriter Mark Mallouk on Black Mass

Adaptation, News, Story and Plot, Writing Process

In addition to today’s normal Scriptnotes episode, premium subscribers can find a [half-hour interview](http://scriptnotes.net/black-mass-screenwriter-mark-mallouk) I did with Black Mass screenwriter Mark Mallouk.

We discuss the film’s long journey from book to screen, including how the sudden reappearance of Whitey Bulger in 2011 changed both the script and the production. This Q&A was recorded following the WGA screening on September 26, 2015. Thanks to Mike from the Writers Guild Theater for providing the audio.

Scriptnotes is free every Tuesday. Bonus episodes like this one are part of the $2/month premium feed, which also gives you access to all of the back catalog. I’m trying to get in the habit of pulling out the audio recorder when talking with writers, so look for more of these bonus interviews as we head into awards season.

If you want to subscribe to the premium feed, visit [scriptnotes.net](http://scriptnotes.net).

Once subscribed, you can access episodes through the app, available for both [iOS](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/scriptnotes/id739117984?mt=8) and [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.johnaugust.android.scriptnotes&hl=en).

Campaign statements and residual statements

Film Industry, Follow Up, International, Los Angeles, News, QandA, Scriptnotes, Transcribed, WGA

John and Craig discuss the WGA election results, and take a look at the issues that dominated the campaigns. What is a paper team? Do screenwriters really retire? And why does it take us so long to get paid?

We also dive into the mailbag and take questions on visiting Los Angeles, backend and residuals, and what an unrepped writer should do if there is interest in her project.

T-shirts are being folded and packaged this week, and should be in the mail by the time next episode airs. Keep a lookout in your mailbox, and be sure to pack them for Austin.

Links:

* [WGAw 2015 election results](http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=5938)
* John and Craig [on The Black List Table Reads podcast with Franklin Leonard](http://blacklist.wolfpop.com/audio/39626/john-august-and-craig-mazin)
* Melissa Mazin will be at the [Austin Film Festival 2015 Screenwriting Conference](https://austinfilmfestival.com/festivalandconference/conference/)
* [Reaper Miniatures](https://www.reapermini.com/), and [Miniature Painting 101](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB0292071C3B38CAC) on YouTube
* [All the ‘Happy Birthday’ song copyright claims are invalid, federal judge rules](http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-happy-birthday-song-lawsuit-decision-20150922-story.html) from the LA Times
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) sent in by Luke Yoquinto ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_217.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_217.mp3).

**UPDATE 10-2-15:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2015/scriptnotes-ep-217-campaign-statements-and-residual-statements-transcript).