Mad scientists John and Craig dissect monsters and how they function in the stories we tell. How do monsters differ from the average villain? What makes them tick? And how do you make them fascinating? We also discuss how narratives are applied to real-life news, follow up on aphantasia and diabetes, and answer a listener […]
John and Craig welcome Neil Gaiman (The Sandman, Good Omens) to discuss the serialized storytelling of comics and screenwriting. Using Neil’s script for issue 24 of The Sandman, they look at how comics are written, communicating with other artists, using the medium to your advantage, and finding unique ways to deliver your story. Neil also […]
John and Craig talk about the importance of visualization for screenwriters, and the fact that some very successful writers can’t do it. They share what’s going on inside their brains as they write, their processes for imagining a scene, and what writing is like across the spectrum of aphantasia. But first, we look at Marvel’s […]
It’s official – the WGA has ratified its contract with the AMPTP. John and Drew look at how the votes were distributed, what happens next, and what to keep in mind as SAG-AFTRA moves forward in their negotiations. Links: * [2023 MBA Ratified – WGA](https://www.wgacontract2023.org/announcements/2023-mba-ratified) * [SAG-AFTRA on Strike!](https://www.sagaftrastrike.org/) * [WGA Solidarity with SAG-AFTRA](https://www.wgacontract2023.org/take-action/union-solidarity) * […]
John sits down with WGA Negotiating Committee co-chair Chris Keyser to look at how writers crafted the narrative of the strike. From establishing the premise and themes, identifying characters, and all the way down to specific word choices, we dissect the choices, revisions, and tactics used to guide the MBA negotiations to a successful conclusion. […]
John and Craig take an in-depth look at the deal points of the WGA’s tentative agreement with the AMPTP, which ended the 2023 WGA strike after 148 days. Together they break down what gains were made, how they work, and why they are important for writers everywhere. We also open a time-capsule email from 2018, […]
Recorded live from Paramount and Amazon Studios, John and Drew talk with actors and writers marching in support of SAG-AFTRA as they re-enter negotiations with the AMPTP. Thanks to everyone who talked with us! Links: * [SAG-AFTRA on Strike!](https://www.sagaftrastrike.org/) * [WGA Solidarity with SAG-AFTRA](https://www.wgacontract2023.org/take-action/union-solidarity) * [WGA Contract Ratification – Vote Here](https://eballot.app/wgamba/login.cfm?fb=1) * [WGA Contract 2023 […]
John, Drew and Megana read through the details of the WGA’s Tentative Agreement to see what was initially proposed and what was ultimately won. Links: * [WGA Tentative Agreement Summary](https://www.wgacontract2023.org/WGAContract/files/WGA-Negotiations-Tentative-Agreement.pdf) * [2023 MBA Tentative Agreement](https://www.wgacontract2023.org/the-campaign/tentative-agreement) * Megana Rao on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/meganarao) * John on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/johnaugust), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en) and [Mastodon](https://mastodon.art/@johnaugust) * Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt Email […]
John and Greta Gerwig (Barbie, Little Women and Lady Bird) discuss adaptation, ambition and authorship. With the screenplay in front of them, they look at specific scenes in Little Women and explore how its non-linear timeline changed how the movie works. We also answer listener questions on writing for the page and starting a family […]
After 146 days on the picket line, the WGA has reached a tentative deal with the AMPTP. John walks through the very exciting email that was sent out to members, outlining what it means, what happens next, and reflects on how far we’ve come. Links: * [Summary of Negotiations: WGA proposals and AMPTP responses](https://www.wgacontract2023.org/uploadedfiles/members/member_info/contract-2023/wga_proposals.pdf) * […]
John and Craig test out a dreamy thesis: that all fish out of water stories are either The Wizard of Oz or Splash. What are the differences? Are Splash movies funnier? And what are the hidden pitfalls of placing our characters in unfamiliar worlds? We also look at how Rotten Tomatoes works (and how it’s […]
John and Drew talk about one of the best things writers can do to keep their skills sharp during the strike: reading. They discuss where to find scripts, what you can learn from other people’s writing, and what they’ve been working on while pencils are down. Links: * [Weekend Read 2](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/weekend-read-2/id1534798355) on the App Store […]
John and Craig talk action! It’s an all-craft episode about how words on the page become high-adrenaline events on the screen. Using a variety of different scripts, we look at how different styles of action sequences can be used to clearly communicate what is meant to happen in a scene and how it’s supposed to […]
Live from New York, John talks with writers and actors about the differences between LA and NYC pickets, anxiety, and how joy can be a form of protest. Featuring Christopher Kyle and Wilson Cruz. Big thanks to everyone who talked with us! Links: * [East & NY Strike Resources](https://www.wgaeast.org/negotiations/mba-2023/) * [Writers Guild of America East](https://www.wgaeast.org/) […]
Cory Reeder interviews writers and performers at the joint WGA/SAG-AFTRA disability picket at Disney. Big thanks to Cory and everyone he spoke with! Links: * [WGAw Disabled Writers Committee](https://www.wga.org/members/membership-information/committees/disabled-writers-committee) * [SAG-AFTRA Diversity Committees](https://www.sagaftra.org/get-involved/diversity-committees) * [SAG-AFTRA Empowering Performers with Disabilities on Set](https://www.sagaftra.org/empowering-performers-disabilities-set) * [Summary of Negotiations: WGA proposals and AMPTP responses](https://www.wgacontract2023.org/uploadedfiles/members/member_info/contract-2023/wga_proposals.pdf) * [2023 WGA Strike Rules](https://www.wgacontract2023.org/strike/strike-rules) […]
John and Craig investigate our primal instincts and how they motivate our characters. Often referred to as the four F’s, these are the impulses hardwired into every animal in order to survive. But how do these base impulses guide a character’s behavior? And how can they be harnessed to make sure you don’t overcomplicate your […]
John answers the most common questions he hears out on the picket line, including the nervous, “Wait, why are you here? Is something wrong?” Links: * [wgacontract2023.org](https://www.wgacontract2023.org/) * [It’s All Relative](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0RgdQDZlrg) on YouTube * [Summary of Negotiations: WGA proposals and AMPTP responses](https://www.wgacontract2023.org/uploadedfiles/members/member_info/contract-2023/wga_proposals.pdf) * [2023 WGA Strike Rules](https://www.wgacontract2023.org/strike/strike-rules) * [Strike Rules FAQ](https://www.wgacontract2023.org/strike/strike-rules-faq) * [Picket Schedules and […]
John and Craig examine the foundation of every story: the premise. What is your story *really* about? What questions is it trying to answer? How does that differ from your logline? And what should writers do to make sure those things match up? We also follow up on AI copyright, physical media, Esperanto and lingua […]
John and Drew inspect the Federal Trade Commission’s proposed merger guidelines and why they’re important for everybody – not just writers – to read and comment on. Links: * [FTC and DOJ Seek Comment on Draft Merger Guidelines](https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/07/ftc-doj-seek-comment-draft-merger-guidelines) by the Federal Trade Commission * [Publicly Comment on the FTC Draft Merger Guidelines](https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/FTC-2023-0043-0001) * [WGA Template […]
John and Craig look at how well-written dialogue is used to give characters a unique voice. Using clips from previous episodes they present a history of dialogue and its evolution, how it informs your actors, and how communicating an idea sometimes comes down to the smallest words our characters say. How can writers use dialogue […]