John welcomes writer/producer/creator Jen Statsky to discuss getting started writing comedy, from late night to The Onion to The Good Place. Then it’s a deep dive on the Hacks pilot, looking at how jokes change from the page to the edit. We follow up on the best way to get fired, the WGA pilot guide, […]
John and Craig discuss preproduction, with Craig sharing how he’s prepping for an entire season of television. From costumes to casting, we look at the showrunner’s decisions beyond just the words in the script. Then it’s another round of How Would This Be A Movie, with further analysis on *why* certain movies get made. Finally […]
John welcomes back Liz Hannah (The Post, The Long Shot, All the Bright Places) to explore the bad side of good news. They discuss the challenges of celebrating accomplishments in a mercurial industry, and follow up with a discussion on how to handle being fired. We also answer listener questions on becoming successful before your […]
John and Craig welcome back writing partners Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi (The Invitation, Ride Along, The Mysterious Benedict Society) to discuss their transition from film to television. They chat about structuring a full season, adapting a novel, and the hierarchy of power in TV. We follow up on MoviePass, take a look at a […]
John and Craig discuss what comes after you land a movie deal–writing the script by a certain date. They offer tips, strategies, and calculations for budgeting time to deliver a draft. We also consider the statute of limitations on spoiler warnings and follow up on child prodigies, movie theaters and free will. Our listener questions […]
John welcomes writer/showrunner Dana Fox (Cruella, Home Before Dark, Isn’t it Romantic), writer/director Jac Schaeffer (WandaVision, Black Widow, Timer), and filmmaker/producer Lance Oppenheim (Some Kind of Heaven) to discuss characters you don’t control. From classic villains, comic book heroes, to real life subjects, we take a look at creating narratives around established characters. We introduce […]
John and Craig discuss the concept of free will, specifically how it relates to fictional characters. They outline the tightrope screenwriters walk balancing characters with agency against obstacles that feel true. We also talk about decisions screenwriters face in their careers and why it’s okay (and difficult) to change paths. We answer listener questions about […]
John and Craig reflect on the traits they’ve noticed in successful writing careers. Should you write everyday? Do you have to be good in a room? Is it more important to be original or flexible? We also follow up on genres, typos and address a listener question on harassment. In our bonus segment for premium […]
John and Craig celebrate the 500th episode of Scriptnotes by welcoming back former Scriptnotes producers Stuart Friedel (Clifford the Big Red Dog, Vampirina), Godwin Jabangwe (Tunga), Megan McDonnell (WandaVision), and longtime editor Matthew Chilelli (Escape the Dark). The guys ask the producers questions about development, feedback, and writers rooms, uncovering Scriptnotes secrets along the way. […]
John welcomes Craig back into the studio to chat face to face for the latest How Would This Be A Movie, looking at trapped Russian pop stars, relationship saboteurs and an abandoned Cinderella city. We also answer listener questions on writing schedules and supporting characters, including a deep dive on Sebastian the crab’s personal life. […]
John and Craig offer a tasting menu this week starting with comedy/rejection, followed by a meaty discussion on copyright and topped with a sampling of listener questions. We get an update from Oops — our conversation on workplace crushes evolves into a broader discussion on the patriarchy and how to savor first experiences. Finally in […]
John and Craig welcome back writer-producer Aline Brosh McKenna (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The Devil Wears Prada), who brings a basket of topics for the guys to unpack. They discuss the best way to give notes as a producer/boss and why Hollywood only takes serious genres seriously. We follow up on female figures in ethical conflicts, bad […]
John and Craig discuss the projects they’re not currently working on. From sunk cost fallacies to grudge writing, they offer advice for when you should rescue an idea from the Maybe-write list. We follow up on bad bosses, Ponzi schemes and answer listener questions about what to do when you have a crush on your […]
John and Craig tackle the tricky territory of movie titles: what makes them great, why they’re important, and how a bad one can tank a good movie. We answer listener questions on writing diverse characters, surprising movie expenses, and residuals. Finally, in our bonus segment for premium members Craig outlines how to behave in a […]
John and Craig discuss the use of color in film by highlighting iconic scenes and sharing how they think about color palettes in their own writing. We then host another Three Page Challenge, this time focusing on how well these opening scenes set up expectations for the script. We now ask for loglines, which are […]
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 […]
John and Craig wade into the murky ethical challenges screenwriters face in Hollywood: When do you speak out against a peer? How do you claim an idea? Should you accept money from shady sources? They share their own experiences navigating these questions. We also follow up on female redemption arcs, NFTs, and joining the WGA. […]
John and Craig talk about writer deals of various types, including a deep dive into new data published by the WGA on feature writer pay. We also follow up on female redemption arcs and John shares his theory with Craig on how Disney will make its next trillion dollars. Finally in our bonus segment for […]
John and Craig investigate the cyclical relationship between secrets and lies. They discuss character motivations for lying and how the tension of a secret can hold a story together. To illustrate the discussion, John invites Craig to solve our first-ever How Would This Be a Movie mystery, the Case of the Fatherless Child. We also […]