John August

Three Page Challenge

Writing your very first screenplay

Episode - 58

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Scriptnotes, Three Page Challenge, Transcribed

In the spirit of Looper, Craig and John take a journey back in time, looking at the first scripts they read, the first scripts they wrote, and the common pitfalls of many first screenplays.

Not only that: they share and critique the first three pages from the very first scripts they wrote.

Does John’s romantic tragedy from 1994 show potential? Would Craig keep reading his high-concept comedy from 1995? You can be the judge, because both samples are linked below.

LINKS:

* [Here and Now](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/here_and_now.pdf), three pages from John August’s very first script
* [The Stunt Family](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/stunt_family.pdf), three pages from Craig Mazin’s very first script, co-written with Greg Erb
* [The Room](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-room/id552039496?mt=8) for iOS
* [Moom](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/moom/id419330170?mt=12) for Mac
* [Austin Film Festival](http://www.austinfilmfestival.com/)
* INTRO: [Perfect Strangers (intro)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vbnLYROCj8&feature=related)
* OUTRO: [Feels Like the First Time (Acoustic)](http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/feels-like-the-first-time/id456321874?i=456322392) by Foreigner

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_58.m4a).

**UPDATE** 10-11-12: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2012/scriptnotes-ep-58-writing-your-very-first-screenplay-transcript).

Gorilla City and the Kingdom of Toads

Chosen, Follow Up, News, QandA, Scriptnotes, Television, Three Page Challenge, Transcribed

John and Craig talk about the new show John sold to ABC, which leads to a conversation about the differences between studios and networks, and how writers end up having relationships with both.

We answer a listener question about what writers mean by a “weekly.”

The bulk of the podcast centers on four samples from the Three Page Challenge, covering a range of genres from heist movies to fantasy to broad comedy. You can find all four entries in the links, so read along with us.

As always, our thanks to these brave writers who’ve shared their work. If you want to send in your own entry, there are some simple [rules to follow](http://johnaugust.com/threepage).

LINKS:

* [Chosen, or I Sold a TV Show!](http://johnaugust.com/2012/chosen-or-hey-im-doing-a-tv-show)
* [Liz Brixius’](http://www.deadline.com/2012/09/nbc-buys-soap-from-writer-liz-brixius-and-producers-sean-hayes-lawrence-bender/) new show
* [Military comedy](http://www.deadline.com/2012/09/bruckheimer-tv-produced-military-comedy-lands-at-nbc-with-put-pilot-commitment/) from Jerry Bruckheimer
* [X-Files self-dealing lawsuit](http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/23/business/23carter.html?_r=2)
* [The Sarah Connor Chronicles](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminator:_The_Sarah_Connor_Chronicles)
* [Scriptnotes iTunes reviews](http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/scriptnotes-podcast/id462495496)
* [Fox writers deal](http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117970235?refCatId=13)
* Three pages by [Henry Fosdike & Lloyd Morgan](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/FosdikeMorgan.pdf)
* Three pages by [Jeffrey Stoltzfus](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/JeffreyStoltzfus.pdf)
* Three pages by [Virginia Lee](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/VirginiaLee.pdf)
* Three pages by [Sandy McDougall](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/SandyMcDougall.pdf)
* [NewerTech Voyager Q Quad Interface Dock](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0026S7HP0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0026S7HP0&linkCode=as2&tag=johnaugustcom-20)
* [WD Green 2TB hard drives](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004VFJ9MK/?tag=johnaugustcom-20)
* INTRO: [Press Your Luck theme](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFj2hxi5kNY)
* OUTRO: Simon and Garfunkel’s [At the Zoo](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bTIiRH44Xs) covered by Japanese folk duo The Side of a Hill

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_56.m4a).

If you’re listening to us on the website and like what you hear, why don’t you say some nice things about us [on iTunes](http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/scriptnotes-podcast/id462495496), wouldja?

**UPDATE** 9-28-12: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2012/scriptnotes-ep-56-gorilla-city-and-the-kingdom-of-toads-transcript).

Producers and pitching

Follow Up, Pitches, Producers, QandA, Scriptnotes, Three Page Challenge, Transcribed

What’s the difference between a reader and a producer? Much more than one high-profile online analyst seems to believe. John and Craig discuss what producers do, and how one plausibly gets started.

From there, we talk pitching. Beyond the plot points, you need to be able to show why you’re dying to write this story, and why you’d pay money to see it.

In follow-up, we talk about visas, HSX, and find out how often the screenwriter is actually mentioned in negative reviews vs. positive reviews.

The first-ever Live Scriptnotes is coming this October in Austin. Follow the link for more details.

And we’re opening back up submissions for the Three Page Challenge. Follow the link and follow the rules, please.

All this, and Craig takes umbrage at sweet tea, in the new Scriptnotes!

LINKS:

* Tim Miller’s report on our perceived [negative screenwriter bias](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/scriptnotes_critics.pdf)
* [HSX](http://www.hsx.com/about/)
* My [original issue](http://johnaugust.com/2009/how-scriptshadow-hurts-screenwriters) with Scriptshadow
* Scriptshadows asks [What the hell does a producer do?](http://scriptshadow.blogspot.com/2012/09/screenwriting-article-what-hell-does.html)
* [Tejava](http://www.tejava.com/), pretty good bottled tea
* How to submit a [Three-Page Challenge](http://johnaugust.com/threepage)
* Scriptnotes Live at the [Austin Film Festival and Screenwriting Conference](http://www.austinfilmfestival.com/)
* INTRO: [Star Trek The Animated Series Opening](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhQFGH527PE)
* OUTRO: [Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOXIlbw4sh8) cover by Pacific UV

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_55.m4a).

**UPDATE** 9-20-12: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2012/scriptnotes-ep-55-producers-and-pitching-transcript).

Action is more than just gunfights and car chases

Scriptnotes, Three Page Challenge, Transcribed, Words on the page

John and Craig are all action this week, looking at how screenwriters write those things characters do in a movie.

It’s a part of the craft that often goes unnoticed — unlike dialogue, you don’t hear the writer’s work — but smartly-written action pays dividends, helping readers see the movie you want them to make.

We follow-up our discussion with a look at four (!) samples from the Three Page Challenge that focus on action, with ample praise for those that do it well and some suggestions for those who fumble a bit.

Also this week: a short history of (annoyed grunt), better known as d’oh!

If you’re listening to the podcast on the site, do us a favor and also [leave us a review](http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/scriptnotes-podcast/id462495496) on iTunes. Great reviews help other listeners find us, and further Craig’s singing-to-a-stadium agenda.

LINKS:

* Dan Castellaneta [explains Homer Simpson’s “D’oh!”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGiJOHDJEss)
* James Finlayson’s [“Doohh!”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P52rREUyPFo&t=49s)
* [Meltdown Comics](http://www.meltcomics.com/blog/)
* Three pages by [Ben Jacoby](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/BenJacoby.pdf)
* Three pages by [Trevor Hollen](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/TrevorHollen.pdf)
* Three pages by [Randall J. Knox & Jason Zahodnik](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/KnoxZahodnik.pdf)
* Three pages by [David Stripinis](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/DavidStripinis.pdf)
* [Sleepwalk With Me](http://www.sleepwalkmovie.com/), a film by Mike Birbiglia
* INTRO: [GI Joe Epic Opening](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EX_9jKFpQKM)
* OUTRO: [Raw (remix)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sYT0lo3d0A) by Big Daddy Kane

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_53.m4a).

**UPDATE** 9-7-12: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2012/scriptnotes-ep-53-action-is-more-than-just-gunfights-and-car-chases-transcript).