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Three Page Challenge

Research Isn’t Cheating

Episode - 602

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June 13, 2023 Scriptnotes, Three Page Challenge, Transcribed

John and Craig host another round of the Three Page Challenge, selecting three listeners’ scripts for feedback on what’s working and common pitfalls to avoid. They offer insights into the tricky issues when cheating movement, formatting non-English dialogue, and the importance of logic in comedy.

But first, we answer some long-gestating listener questions: What are strategies for writers to option IP on their own? Can you use your smart relative for dialogue? And how do you discuss co-creators of projects when meeting with a potential rep?

In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig gloat about all the things they can get away with never having to do — everything from calculus to remembering their children’s phone numbers.

Links:

  • Weekend Read 2
  • SKULDUGGERY by Matthew W. Davis (with bonus puzzle map,) SCRAP by Tertius Kapp, and ANOTHER LIFE by Sarah Hu
  • The illusion of moral decline by Adam Mastroianni
  • No, No, Nanette: Hannah Gadsby, Trauma, and Comedy as Emotional Manipulation by Yasmin Nair
  • The Best Podcasts of 2023 (So Far) by Nicholas Quah for Vulture
  • Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!
  • Check out the Inneresting Newsletter
  • Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription!
  • Craig Mazin on Instagram
  • John August on Twitter
  • John on Instagram
  • John on Mastodon
  • Outro by Jon Spurney (send us yours!)
  • Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Our intern is Halley Lamberson.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 7-26-23: The transcript for this episode can be found here.

Only One of Us Can Be the Hero

March 21, 2023 Scriptnotes, Three Page Challenge, Transcribed

John and Craig host another round of the Three Page Challenge where they look at listener pages and offer feedback on what’s working and how to avoid common pitfalls. They discuss writing gore, finding your tone, and introducing a character’s problem.

We also follow up on villains, pirates and European script consultants. We then ponder a long-nagging question: why do all action heroes have names that begin with J?

In our bonus segment for premium members, we talk about our experiences with anesthesia and how people are knocked out in The Last of Us.

Links:

  • Has Anyone Ever Actually Tied a Damsel in Distress to a Railway Track? by Karl Smallwood
  • Pirating the Oscars 2023: The Final Curtain Call by Andy Baio
  • Why Are All Action Heroes Named Jack, James, or John? by Demetria Glace for Slate
  • Follow along with our Three Page Challenge Selections: Flotsam by Sam Darcy, Sockfoot by Jesse Allard, and Spark by Rachel Thomas
  • Pijja Palace
  • how I found the ‘so no head’ vine road in 15 minutes by RAINBOLT
  • Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!
  • Check out the Inneresting Newsletter
  • Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription!
  • Craig Mazin on Instagram
  • John August on Twitter
  • John on Instagram
  • John on Mastodon
  • Outro by Richie Molyneux (send us yours!)
  • Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 4-27-23: The transcript for this episode can be found here.

Three Page Challenge Live in Austin

November 8, 2022 Scriptnotes, Three Page Challenge

John invites NBC Executive Marc Velez, SVP, Head of Development at UCP, on for an in-person round of the Three Page Challenge, our segment where we look at listener-submitted pages and offer honest feedback, at the Austin Film Festival.

We’re joined live the writers who add context and pitch their vision for each project. From near-future sci-fi to a familiar Hollywood horror story, John and Marc offer advice on how to craft a compelling opening.

In our bonus segment for premium members, we answer listener questions on noisiness, specs, and preparing other pitch materials.

Links:

  • Marc Velez on IMDb
  • The Encyclopedists by Michael X. Heiligenstein
  • Call Me 7.14 Years Ago by Liliana Liu
  • The Untimely Demise of That Awful David Schwartzman by Rudi O’Meara
  • Thank you to the Austin Film Festival! and all our participants in the three page challenge.
  • Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!
  • Check out the Inneresting Newsletter
  • Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription!
  • Craig Mazin on Twitter
  • John August on Twitter
  • John on Instagram
  • Outro by Jeff Graham (send us yours!)
  • Scriptnotes is produced by Megana Rao and edited by Matthew Chilelli.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 2-24-23 The transcript for this episode can be found here.

Sorry to Splaflut

September 6, 2022 Scriptnotes, Three Page Challenge, Transcribed

John and Craig host a round of the Three Page Challenge, a segment where they offer feedback on listeners’ scripts. This week they discuss the whiplash of cutting too quickly, captivating title pages, and V.O. narration that actually works.

We also cover the return of MoviePass, 25 years of Netflix, and AI generated language.

In our bonus segment for premium members, we discuss senior year.

Links:

  • Our first post-pandemic liveshow will be on October 19, 2022 and tickets will be available to premium members on September 9!
  • Order your new Scriptnotes Shirt here!
  • Things I Think Are Awesome: Hunger Stones and Stability, Lynn Cherny’s substack
  • Made-Up Words Trick AI Text-To-Image Generators Discover Magazine
  • This Word Does Not Exist
  • @Dribnet’s Twitter Thread on Splaflut
  • MoviePass beta
  • MoviePass Will Work This Time* Alex Kirshner writing for Slate
  • Netflix turns 25
  • HBO Max Cynthia Littleton for Variety
  • Secret History of Mac Gaming
  • Happy Halpinmas Mark Halpin’s Labor Day Puzzles
  • Three Page Challenge Selections: Oculum by Larry Bambrick, We’re All Very Tired by Marissa Gawel, Wake by Jordan Johnson
  • Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!
  • Check out the Inneresting Newsletter
  • Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription!
  • Craig Mazin on Twitter
  • John August on Twitter
  • John on Instagram
  • Outro by Matthew Jordan (send us yours!)
  • Scriptnotes is produced by Megana Rao and edited by Matthew Chilelli.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 9-23-22 The transcript for this episode can now be found here.

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