John August

Three Page Challenge

Craig dreams of sushi

Episode - 48

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Challenge, Scriptnotes, Three Page Challenge, Transcribed, WGA

Craig and John look at the results of the WGA screenwriter survey, which found widespread reports of bake-offs, prewriting and other shenanigans.

If there’s any solace to be found, it’s that *it’s not just you.* Things are frustrating for the vast majority of screenwriters.

After some follow-up discussion about the low percentage of women screenwriters, we get to the meat of this week’s podcast: round two of the Three Page Challenge, in which we look at the first three pages of listener-submitted samples. If you have a chance, read the PDFs ahead of time. You can find them in the links.

Big thanks to Sarah Nerboso, Jesse Grce and Austin Reynolds for inviting us to talk about their work on-air.

Also discussed this week: groin injuries, Japanese documentaries, earworms, and John’s feel-free-to-use motto: “Ikea: For Now, It’s Fine.”

LINKS:

* [P90X](http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/p90x.do)
* [What Happens Next: A History of American Screenwriting](http://www.amazon.com/dp/0307393887/?tag=johnaugustcom-20), by Marc Norman
* [WGA’s Summary of 2011 Survey Results](http://www.latimes.com/media/acrobat/2012-07/71296881-24182601.pdf), from the LA Times
* Three pages by [Sarah Nerboso](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/sarah_nerboso.pdf)
* Three pages by [Austin Reynolds](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/austin_reynolds.pdf)
* Three pages by [Jesse Grce](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/jesse_grce.pdf)
* [Jiro Dreams of Sushi](http://www.magpictures.com/jirodreamsofsushi/)
* [PRI’s The World in Words](http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pris-world-world-in-words/id279833390) podcast
* INTRO: [Hallmark cards, 1981](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgiZmdJocdc&feature=relmfu)
* OUTRO: [Part of Your World](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vkb5nbqPoE) by Darren Criss

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_48.m4a).

**UPDATE** 8-2-12: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2012/scriptnotes-ep-48-craig-dreams-of-sushi-transcript).

What script should you write?

QandA, Scriptnotes, Three Page Challenge, Transcribed

Craig and John tackle a question screenwriters ask themselves at every stage in their careers: of all things I *could* write, which thing *should* I write?

For working screenwriters, these questions are complicated by rights and money and personalities. But for the aspiring screenwriter, the choice is just as daunting. A screenplay is a huge undertaking, involving months or years of work. Each script carries an opportunity cost: choosing to write this project means not writing something else, or at the very least pushing it further back.

While the variables are different in every case, John and Craig offer some framework for answering the question.

Also this week, John discusses the death of Richard Zanuck, who produced three of his movies. From listener questions, we look at pitch-fests, illegal acts, and shows about your buddies.

And in cool things, Craig talks e-cigarettes while John has mixed opinions on the Nexus 7.

LINKS:

* [Richard Zanuck, 1934 – 2012](http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jul/14/local/la-me-richard-zanuck-20120714), Los Angeles Times obit
* [Joyetech 510](http://www.joyetech.com/product/510.php)
* [Johnson Creek](http://www.johnsoncreeksmokejuice.com/) Smoke Juice
* Google’s [Nexus 7](http://www.google.com/nexus/#/7) tablet
* INTRO: [Classic 1960’s Dr. Pepper commercial](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1gZkf_-UyI&feature=related)
* OUTRO: [Cigarettes, Whiskey, and Wild Wild Women](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEcj83zljOY) by Jim Croce

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_47.m4a).

**UPDATE** 7-26-12: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2012/scriptnotes-ep-47-what-script-should-you-write-transcript).

Setting, perspective and terrible numbers

Challenge, Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Three Page Challenge, Transcribed, WGA

It’s two parts craft and one part business as Craig and John discuss the alarming earnings report coming out of the WGA, plus a deeper look at setting and POV.

For feature screenwriters, it’s hard to find a silver lining in the [WGA’s report](http://www.wga.org/uploadedFiles/who_we_are/annual_reports/annualreport12.pdf) on 2011 earnings. Numbers are down significantly, both in total dollars and the number of writers earning anything at all.

2011 earnings chart

Of course, you don’t have to be employed to write a script, so we spend the rest of the show talking about two crucial aspects of screenwriting: choosing effective settings and deciding on POV.

Setting is both a macro and micro decision. Early on, you need to figure out where your movie takes place. Everything about your story will be impacted by the world you choose. Then as you write individual scenes, you look for environments that provide opportunities and challenges for your characters — and for the director. Film is a visual medium, so smart screenwriters consider what settings will suit a big screen.

Perspective, or POV, is about figuring out which characters have storytelling power in your movie. Which characters can anchor a scene without the hero? Which characters can do voiceover? The choices you make greatly effect audience expectation, so it’s worth thinking about at the very start.

Finally, we talk about the Three Page Challenge. On an upcoming podcast, we’ll be critiquing three pages (and only three pages!) from listeners’ scripts. If you want to participate, visit [johnaugust.com/threepage](http://johnaugust.com/threepage) for details.

LINKS:

* [2012 WGAW Annual Report to Writers](http://www.wga.org/subpage_whoweare.aspx?id=230)
* [Bridesmaids](http://www.bridesmaidsmovie.com/index.php)
* [The Shaggs](http://www.shaggs.com/)
* [PB2 Peanut Butter Powder](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002GJ9JWS/?tag=johnaugustcom-20) on Amazon
* [Cambridge Ivory Wirebound Notebook](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003VIVX2M/?tag=johnaugustcom-20) on Amazon
* [The Scriptnotes Three Page Challenge](http://johnaugust.com/threepage)
* INTRO: [Lite Brite commercial](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Huat89z2WrA)
* OUTRO: [Super Mario Brothers on Classical Guitar](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3UTHj16ukM)

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_45.m4a).

**UPDATE** 7-12-12: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2012/scriptnotes-ep-45-setting-perspective-and-terrible-numbers-transcript).