John and Craig welcome back writer-director Scott Frank (Out of Sight, Minority Report, Godless) to discuss his new series The Queen’s Gambit and writing scenes that use senses beyond just sight and sound. We also answer listener questions on Voice Over narration and researching versus writing for a period piece. Finally, in our bonus segment […]
John welcomes legendary screenwriter Eric Roth (Forrest Gump, A Star is Born, Dune) to discuss his writing practice and how he gets in the head of his characters. We answer audience questions on how to trust your voice and approach adaptations. Finally, in our bonus segment for premium members John and Craig discuss election night […]
John and Craig explore quiet scenes of reflection and why these calm moments between big set pieces are so meaningful to characters and viewers. We also help a writer figure out how to pitch to his agent and answer listener questions. Finally, in our bonus segment for premium members, we talk about dogs. Links: * […]
John and Craig reflect on Quibi, the short-lived short-form video company that announced its end. They talk about what happened and prognosticate wildly about the future of the entertainment industry. We also consider movie ideas to replace the Slinky movie and answer lots of listener questions. Finally, in our bonus segment for premium members, we […]
Craig and John get emotional. They look at characters’ inner emotional states–why they matter and how to approach them as writers. We also examine the state of feature residuals and answer a listener question about how long you should wait before turning in your work. Finally, in our bonus segment for premium members, we’ll talk […]
Craig and John discuss conflict — why it’s bad in real life but essential in screenwriting. We define six forms of conflict common in movies, then look at ways to sustain conflict within a scene and throughout a story. We also look briefly at Whiplash, both the conflict between its two main characters and the […]
John and Craig welcome back Rachel Bloom (co-creator and star of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) to talk about songwriting–both the creative process and the business of writing songs for film and television. We also discuss a new report about sexual harassment in Hollywood and ageism in the industry. Finally, in our bonus segment for premium members, John […]
John and Craig examine what happens when characters talk over each other, and the best ways for writers to think about these moments and portray them on the page. We also follow up on delayed movies, mergers, and assistant pay. Finally, in our bonus segment for premium members, we discuss Halloween (the holiday, not the […]
John and Craig tackle loglines: what they are, how people write them, and why screenwriters shouldn’t worry all that much about them. We also discuss updates on the WGA agency deal and listener questions on lawyers, options, and ASL. Finally, in our bonus segment for premium members, we discuss gaming consoles. Links: * [CAA Signed […]
John welcomes back screenwriter Ryan Knighton (In the Dark) to discuss taking out a project as a pitch versus just writing it as a spec. Then we hear from listeners about the ideas they’re considering pitching vs speccing and offer our advice. We also look at the Academy’s new requirements for Best Picture, and whether […]
John and Craig talk about the words we use when referring to people or groups of people — and why those words keep changing. Nic Novicki of the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge joins us to discuss writing inclusive storylines and characters. We also discuss single-use characters, WGA elections, and follow up on listener questions. In […]
John and Craig tackle their overflowing mailbag to answer some long-delayed listener questions on subtext, divorce, set decoration, and more! We also follow up on news about management companies and how this affects writers. Finally, in our bonus segment for premium members, we’ll talk about headshots and our experiences getting our photos taken. Links: * […]
John and Craig skip heroes and villains to examine the villain’s accomplices and how to write them more believably. We also answer listener questions, parcel out some umbrage, and discuss updates between the agencies and the WGA. Finally, in our bonus segment for premium members, we talk tips for travel during the pandemic. Links: Scriptnotes […]
John talks with writer-director Lorene Scafaria and costume designer Mitchell Travers about their collaboration on Hustlers, and how to think visually about story. We discuss locations, production design, cinematography, and choreography with a major focus on pre-production. And in our bonus topic for premium members, John catches up with Mitchell seven months after our initial […]
John and Craig talk action! It’s an all-craft episode about how words on the page become high-adrenaline events on the screen. We also follow up on WGA news and agency lay-offs. In our bonus segment for premium members we try to discuss the Emmys but mostly talk about teenage girls’ obsession with Criminal Minds. Links: […]
John and Craig discuss the special purgatory that projects can get lost in and how to navigate your way out. We also follow up on Assistant Pay, the 2020 WGA report, and Craig’s writing process for television. Finally, in our bonus segment for premium members we discuss wine! Links: * [WME, Endeavor Content Increase Assistant […]
John and Craig bring another round of How Would This Be A Movie, with a mix of stories from history and the headlines. In this episode we discuss an unexpected guest at a funeral, a lost Russian submarine and a social influencer murder plot. We also look at the latest WGA developments, including the new […]
John and Craig welcome writer/director Justin Simien (Dear White People, Bad Hair) to talk adapting movies to television, the value of film school and the birth of independent cinema. We follow up on the WGA/AMPTP deal and answer a listener question on writing stories about problematic historical figures. Finally, in our bonus segment for premium […]
John and Aline Brosh McKenna co-host a special panel with writers Anna Winger (Unorthodox, Deutschland 83), and Tony McNamara (The Great, The Favourite) for the French television festival Serie Series. We cover writing coming of age stories, how to choose the best format for a story, and writing with act breaks. We also discuss the […]
John and Craig examine how and why it can be necessary to collapse scenes in a rewrite. They also follow-up on returning to production, portrayals of police on screen and assistant pay. We then welcome Michelle Amor, Hilliard Guess, and Bianca Sams — co-chairs of the WGA West’s Committee of Black Writers — to discuss […]