John August

News

Finding a Way In, and Out

Episode - 580

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HWTBAM, News, Scriptnotes

In this How Would This Be a Movie case study, John interviews screenwriter William Nicholson (Les Misérables, Gladiator) on the challenges he faced with his script for Thirteen Lives, a film that follows the attempted rescue of a Thai soccer team trapped in a cave in 2018. They cover issues of life rights, competing projects, narrative point of view and cultural sensitivity.

Before that, John and Craig discuss end-of-year news in Hollywood, the recent changes to HBO Max, and what that means for creators and audiences in the new year.

In our bonus segment for premium members, we discuss our aspirations and resolutions for 2023.

Links:

* [William Nicholson](https://www.williamnicholson.com/) on [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0629933/)
* [Watch the conversation between John and William here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ22OXQEyos)
* [Thank you to the Writers Guild Foundation for organizing the event!](https://www.wgfoundation.org/blog/category/FYC)
* [Use Promo Code ONION for two months free in our annual Scriptnotes premium membership](https://scriptnotes.net/)
* [Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!](https://cottonbureau.com/people/scriptnotes-podcast)
* [Welcome to Digital Nomadland](https://www.wired.com/story/digital-nomad-village-madeira-portugal/) by Kyle Jeffers for Wired
* [Fleischman Is In Trouble](https://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/fleishman-is-in-trouble) on Hulu
* [Andor](https://www.disneyplus.com/series/star-wars-andor/3xsQKWG00GL5)
* [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](https://twitter.com/clmazin) on Twitter
* [John August](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) on Twitter
* [John on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Michael Lane ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))
* Scriptnotes is produced by [Megana Rao](https://twitter.com/MeganaRao) and 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/580standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 2-12-23** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2023/scriptnotes-episode-580-finding-a-way-in-and-out-transcript).

Social media has always been dying

Meta, News

For this week’s [Inneresting](https://inneresting.substack.com) rebroadcast, editor Chris Csont chose [this 2011 blog post](https://johnaugust.com/2011/all-yourselves-belong-to-us) in which I wondered how much of ourselves we present online. Even then, I was looking backwards:

> In the seven years I’ve been running the blog, I’ve noticed the online version of myself drifting closer to the “actual” version. But there is still a difference, and that’s deliberate. Even though this site has my name on it, it’s still a fairly controlled product: a ton of useful information on screenwriting. You’re getting the screenwriter John August, not the Eagle Scout, the cook or the Real World/Road Rules Challenge completist.

For the newsletter, I wrote up a blurb to put the post in context which ended up nearly as long as the post itself.

Eleven years ago, I was talking about Facebook, a platform I’ve largely abandoned. Nearly all the same points apply to Twitter and Instagram today.

Twitter has been problematic for years, with its trolls and mobs and twitchforks. But I’m honestly grateful for it. It’s where I first met many colleagues and learned new ideas, mostly by listening in on conversations from communities I wasn’t a part of.

For all the talk about Twitter leveling the playing field, allowing direct access to powerful people, I found my blue-check status to be incredibly useful. The moment I followed someone, they would get a notification and often follow me back. That digital introduction made it easy to DM them a question like, “Hey, would you ever want to come on Scriptnotes?”

Scrolling through someone’s Twitter gave you a sense of who a person was, or at least how they wanted to be perceived.

I’m talking about Twitter in the past tense because I think it’s dead. It may still exist in six months or six years, but Elon Musk’s erratic decisions have broken its hold on the conversation. It will ever feel essential again. Maybe that’s good. Other weird things can flourish in its absence.

Meanwhile, I still use [Instagram](http://instagram.com/johnaugust), particularly Stories and DMs. If I meet someone at a party, Instagram is probably how we’ll keep in touch. Yet it’s an every way a more extreme version of what worried me back in 2011. It’s curated, performative and artificial. It feeds body dysmorphia and parasocial relationships. But it doesn’t feel like it’s contributing to imminent collapse of democracy, which in 2022 is the low bar we’ve set.

As I’m posting this, I haven’t officially left Twitter. I still skim and reply. But I’m not going to be engaging in any discussion or debate. I’ll certainly try out Hive and [Post](https://post.news/johnaugust) and [Mastodon](https://mastodon.art/@johnaugust), just like I used to have Tumblr and others. But I don’t expect any of them to replace Twitter for me.

Just as it was 12 years ago and seven years before that, I suspect this blog will remain the official version of me, so follow me here. [RSS forever](http://johnaugust.com/feed).

Writing as Acting

News, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig analyze what lessons writers can learn from acting techniques (such as staying present) and working with actors (like staying open).

We also discuss writer retirement, how Craig’s “central dramatic argument” applies to TV, and the skill of cutting a character to save a scene.

In our bonus segment for premium members, we discuss The Future and what we owe it.

Links:

* [Writer Emergency Pack XL](https://writeremergency.com/) is funded! Support [here on Kickstarter!](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/johnaugust/writer-emergency-pack-xl)
* [Green Burial Council](https://www.greenburialcouncil.org/) and [Is California ready for ‘human composting’ as an alternative to casket burial, cremation?](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-06-30/is-california-ready-for-human-composting-as-alternative-to-casket-burial-cremation) by Anabel Sosa for the LA Times
* [John’s Blogpost on Fake Tears](https://johnaugust.com/2010/fake-tears)
* [Scriptnotes Episode 76: How screenwriters find their voice](https://johnaugust.com/2013/how-screenwriters-find-their-voice)
* [Scriptnotes Episode 403: How to Write A Movie](https://johnaugust.com/2019/how-to-write-a-movie)
* [Patton Oswalt on King of Queens](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NA90rOwmkJ4)
* [Cut A Character Save A Scene](https://johnaugust.com/2010/cut-a-character-save-a-scene) on John’s Blog
* [Ants Outnumber Everything](https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/09/19/ants-population-20-quadrillion/) by Dino Grandoni for the Washington Post
* [Why Question Words Start with Wh](https://www.reddit.com/r/etymology/comments/61ijtu/why_do_question_words_why_who_where_when_etc_all/) on Reddit
* [Bo Shim’s](https://twitter.com/byshim?lang=en) LA Food Guide: [Western Doma Noodles](https://www.yelp.com/biz/western-doma-noodles-los-angeles) hole-in-the-wall treasure, [MDK Noodles](https://www.yelp.com/biz/mdk-noodles-los-angeles?osq=mdk+noodles) in K-town, [Zzamong](https://zzamongrestaurant.com/) for Jjjangmyun, [KyoChon](https://kyochonus.iorderfoods.com/users/login) for fried chicken–especially the honey wings, [Aliya Lavaland](https://www.toasttab.com/aliya-lavaland-141-n-atlantic-blvd-ste-103/v3/?mode=fulfillment) for (lava) mooncakes, [Mandarin Noodle House](https://www.mandarinnoodlehouseca.com/) in Monterey Park
* [What We Owe the Future](https://whatweowethefuture.com/) by William Macaskill
* [Candy Corn Infused Vodka](https://www.kitchentreaty.com/candy-corn-infused-vodka/)
* [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](https://twitter.com/clmazin) on Twitter
* [John August](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) on Twitter
* [John on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Nico Mansy ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))
* Scriptnotes is produced by [Megana Rao](https://twitter.com/MeganaRao) and 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/568standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 11-1-22** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2022/scriptnotes-ep-568-writing-as-acting-transcript).

The Free Stuff

Apps, Bronson, Highland, Meta, News, Software, Tools, Weekend Read, Writer Emergency Pack

My friend Nima recently pointed out that most of the stuff our company makes is free.

That’s probably not a great business model, but it’s always been our culture. We only charge for those things that have significant ongoing costs — like upkeep and hosting — or a per-unit cost to produce.

If you’re a writer, here are the things we offer at absolutely no cost. As in free.

### [johnaugust.com](https://johnaugust.com)
This blog has been running since 2003. Nearly all of its 1,500 posts are screenwriting advice. The Explore tab on the right is a good way to get started looking through the archives. For example, you might start with the [129 articles on formatting](https://johnaugust.com/qanda/formatting).

### [Scriptnotes](https://johnaugust.com/scriptnotes)
Craig Mazin and I have been recording this [weekly screenwriting podcast](https://johnaugust.com/scriptnotes) for over ten years. It’s always been free, with no ads whatsoever. The most recent 20 episodes are available in every podcast player. Back episodes are available to [Scriptnotes Premium](http://scriptnotes.net) members, or can be purchased in 50-episode “seasons.”

### [Inneresting](https://inneresting.substack.com)
Chris Csont edits this [weekly newsletter](https://inneresting.substack.com), which serves as a good companion to Scriptnotes. Every Friday, it has links to things about writing, centering on a given theme. It’s a Substack, but completely free.

### [Highland 2](https://quoteunquoteapps.com/highland-2/)
For years, I’ve written all my scripts and novels in this terrific app our company makes. It’s a free download on the [Mac App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/highland-2/id1171820258?mt=12). The Standard edition is fully functional, with no time limits. Students can receive the enhanced Pro edition through our [student license program](https://quoteunquoteapps.com/highland-2/students.php).

### [Courier Prime](https://quoteunquoteapps.com/courierprime)
English-language screenplays are written in Courier, but not all Couriers are alike. Many are too thin, and the italics are ugly. So we commissioned a new typeface called [Courier Prime](https://quoteunquoteapps.com/courierprime). It’s Courier, but better. Since it’s free and open licensed, you can use it through Google Fonts and similar services.

### [Weekend Read](https://quoteunquoteapps.com/weekendread)
Reading a screenplay on an iPhone is a pain in the ass — unless you use [Weekend Read](https://quoteunquoteapps.com/weekendread). It melts down screenplay PDFs so they format properly on smaller screens. Weekend Read also has an extensive library of older scripts, including many award nominees. It’s free on the App Store.

### [The Library](http://johnaugust.com)
The [Library](http://johnaugust.com) has most of the scripts I’ve written, and hosts a few other writers’ work as well. For several projects, I’ve included treatments, pitches, outlines and additional material.

### [Screenwriting.io](screenwriting.io)
While johnaugust.com offers detailed articles on various topics, screenwriting.io answers [really basic questions about film and TV writing](screenwriting.io). If you’re Googling, “how many acts does a TV show have?” we want to [give you the answer](https://screenwriting.io/how-many-acts-does-a-tv-show-have/) with no cruft or bullshit.

### [100 Most Frequently Asked Questions about Screenwriting](https://gallery.mailchimp.com/2b0232538adf13e5b3e55b12f/files/100_FAQ_About_Screenwriting.v1.2.pdf)
We gathered the 100 most frequently searched-for entries on screenwriting.io in this handy [85-page PDF](https://gallery.mailchimp.com/2b0232538adf13e5b3e55b12f/files/100_FAQ_About_Screenwriting.v1.2.pdf).

### [Launch](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/launch/id1319436103)
I recorded this seven-episode podcast series about the pitch, sale, writing and production of my first Arlo Finch book. If you’ve ever thought about writing a book, you’ll want to check it out. Free [wherever you listen to podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/launch/id1319436103).

# The Paid Stuff

Given all the free stuff we put out, how does our company make money? We sell things.

### [Highland 2 Pro](https://quoteunquoteapps.com/highland-2/)
Highland 2 Standard Edition is free, but most users choose to upgrade to Pro for its added features: revision mode, priority email support, extra templates, custom themes, and watermark-free PDFs. It’s an in-app purchase, $39 USD. ((Prices may change. Also note that Apple sets international pricing, so some apps cost a little more or a little less in some countries.))

### [Writer Emergency Pack](http://writeremergency.com)
Writer Emergency Pack began its life as a Kickstarter, and is now one of the most popular gifts for writers of all ages. Available through [our store](https://quoteunquoteapps.com/weekendread) and [Amazon](https://amzn.to/3Afgahb).

### [Bronson Watermarker PDF](https://quoteunquoteapps.com/bronson/)
Bronson is the app I needed when watermarking scripts for a Broadway reading. Now it’s become the default watermarking app in Hollywood. It’s $20 on the [Mac App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bronson-watermarker-pdf/id881629098?mt=12).

### [T-shirts and hoodies](https://cottonbureau.com/people/john-august-1)
We used to print and ship our own t-shirts, but we now sell them through Cotton Bureau. We put out a new [Scriptnotes shirt](https://cottonbureau.com/search?query=scriptnotes) every year. It’s definitely not a profit center, but it’s fun seeing merch out in the wild.

### [Weekend Read Unlocked](https://quoteunquoteapps.com/weekendread)
Users can unlock their expanded library for $10 USD.

### [Scriptnotes Premium](http://scriptnotes.net)
The Scriptnotes podcast runs out of a separate LLC from our software business. Premium subscriptions pay for the salaries of our producer, editor and transcriptionist, along with hosting and management fees. Craig and I don’t make a cent off it.