John August

Transcribed

Random Advice 2015

Episode - 229

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QandA, Random Advice, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

Doc McStuffins creator Chris Nee joins Craig and John to answer listener questions that have nothing to do with screenwriting.

On the romance side: How do you break up with someone? Should you follow a boyfriend to Boston? Is it better to love or be loved?

On the life side: What lessons did it take until our 40s to learn?

Links:

You can download the episode here: AAC | mp3.

UPDATE 12-24-15: The transcript of this episode can be found here.

Scriptnotes Holiday Show 2015

Film Industry, QandA, Scriptnotes, Television, Transcribed, Words on the page, Writing Process

John and Craig welcome special guests Malcolm Spellman, Natasha Leggero, Riki Lindhome and Alan Yang to the third annual Scriptnotes Holiday show, recorded live on December 9th, 2015 in Hollywood.

Malcolm Spellman is a producer on EMPIRE, and one of our most popular Scriptnotes guests ever. He also set a new record for swearing.

Riki Lindhome and Natasha Leggero are the co-creators and stars of ANOTHER PERIOD on Comedy Central. We discuss pitching their show off a presentation video, and the challenge of producing a show with a huge cast of very busy comedy stars.

Alan Yang is the co-creator (with Aziz Ansari) of MASTER OF NONE on Netflix. We discuss how the show came to be, and the challenge of being “the (blank) guy” on a writing staff.

Huge thanks to our amazing audience, and the Writers Guild Foundation for organizing the event.

Our next live show is January 25, with special guests Lawrence Kasdan (screenwriter of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK and STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS) and actor-writer-director Jason Bateman. The night is a benefit for Hollywood Heart. (Link below.)

Links:

You can download the episode here: AAC | mp3.

UPDATE 12-18-15: The transcript of this episode can be found here.

Feel the Nerd Burn

Directors, Film Industry, Follow Up, QandA, Rights and Copyright, Scriptnotes, Three Page Challenge, Transcribed

Craig and John discuss three new entries in the Three Page Challenge, looking at how simple mistakes and confusing word choices can hurt the read.

Also this week, a follow up on functional revenge, a brand-new version of Highland, and Craig gets big laughs on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.

Links:

You can download the episode here: AAC | mp3.

UPDATE 12-11-15: The transcript of this episode can be found here.

The Batman in the High Castle

Follow Up, How-To, QandA, Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Transcribed, Writing Process

Craig and John discuss epic world-building, and the promises and pitfalls for writers attempting to create fictional universes.

From Gotham to Hogwarts, Middle Earth to Narnia, world-building is at the heart of some of our biggest movies and series, but are we creating settings for our stories, or stories for our settings? We also discuss the differences between portals, lived in worlds and just-beneath-our-noses.

Also this week: whether a screenwriter is better off with a poorly-reviewed hit or a well-reviewed flop.

Links:

You can download the episode here: AAC | mp3.

UPDATE 12-3-15: The transcript of this episode can be found here.