John August

Transcribed

My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend’s Screenwriter

Episode - 121

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Adaptation, Apps, Scriptnotes, Transcribed, Writing Process

Writer/director/actor/comedian Mike Birbiglia joins John and Craig to talk about writing for yourself, and how his one-man shows have translated into his films Sleepwalk With Me and My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend. We talk movies and television, stand-up and screenplays, and the upside of failure.

In other news, there’s now an official app for Scriptnotes, available for iOS and Android. If you like your current setup, keep doing what you’re doing, because nothing has changed. The last 20 episodes will always be free. The app allows you listen to the back 100 episodes for a monthly subscription.

LINKS

* Write in and [tell us if we’re wrong](mailto:ask@johnaugust.com)
* [Mike Birbiglia](http://birbigs.com/), and on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Birbiglia), [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1898126/), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/birbigs) and [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/mike-birbiglia/id25234092)
* The Tricky Part [write up in The New York Times](http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/20/nyregion/a-map-of-the-soul-combines-two-one-man-shows.html?_r=0), and in book form [on Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/dp/0307276538/?tag=johnaugustcom-20)
* Use [BroadwayBox.com](http://www.broadwaybox.com/) to find discounted shows in New York
* Download the Scriptnotes app now for [iOS](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/scriptnotes/id739117984?mt=8) and [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.johnaugust.android.scriptnotes) devices
* [The Fault in Our Stars](http://www.amazon.com/dp/0525478817/?tag=johnaugustcom-20) by John Green
* [Singtrix](http://www.singtrix.com/) home karaoke
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Scriptnotes listener Cole Parzenn

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_121.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_121.mp3).

**UPDATE** 12-12-13: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-ep-121-my-girlfriends-boyfriends-screenwriter-transcript).

Let’s talk about coverage

Film Industry, Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Transcribed, WGA

Craig and John talk readers and coverage, centering their discussion on profound_whatever’s infographic charting 300 submissions and the lessons screenwriters can take from it.

After that, we talk about the recent DGA deal with the AMPTP, and the degree to which it might predict the upcoming WGA negotiations.

Finally, we discuss getting high and are generally buzz-kills. Sorry.

LINKS:

* profound_whatever’s [post on r/screenwriting](http://www.reddit.com/r/Screenwriting/comments/1r5y6l/ive_covered_300_spec_scripts_for_5_different/) and its [accompanying infographic](http://i.imgur.com/T22gGBO.png)
* Deus ex machina [on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina)
* [Directors Guild of America Board OKs New Contract, Triggering Member Vote](http://variety.com/2013/film/news/directors-guild-of-america-board-oks-new-contract-triggering-member-vote-1200874949/) from Variety
* [WGA Announces Contract Negotiating Committee](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wga-announces-contract-negotiating-committee-655750) from The Hollywood Reporter
* [Writers in Treatment](http://www.writersintreatment.org/)
* [Screenflow](http://www.telestream.net/screenflow/) for Mac, and John’s video and post on [why he likes writing in Fountain](http://johnaugust.com/2013/why-i-like-writing-in-fountain)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Scriptnotes listener Matthew Chilelli

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_120.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_120.mp3).

**UPDATE** 12-5-13: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-ep-120-lets-talk-about-coverage-transcript).

Positive Moviegoing

Film Industry, Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Television, Transcribed, Writing Process

Aline Brosh McKenna joins John and Craig to discuss watching movies with an open mind and why it’s important to befriend other writers.

Also this week: what to do when your outline collapses and a look at going broke in your 50s.

The Scriptnotes Live Holiday Show on December 19th is technically sold out, but there’s a chance seats will open up, so keep an eye on Twitter.

LINKS:

* [Aline Brosh McKenna](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0112459/) on IMDb, and her [first](http://johnaugust.com/2012/the-black-list-and-a-stack-of-scenes), [second](http://johnaugust.com/2013/how-screenwriters-find-their-voice), [third](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-100th-episode), and [third-and-a-half](http://johnaugust.com/2013/101-qa-from-the-live-show) appearances on Scriptnotes
* The [Scriptnotes Holiday Show](https://www.wgfoundation.org/screenwriting-events/scriptnotes-holiday/) is sold out, but follow [@johnaugust](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) and [@clmazin](https://twitter.com/clmazin) to be the first to know if more tickets are released
* [John Gatins](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0309691/) on IMDb
* [What It’s Like to Fail](http://priceonomics.com/what-its-like-to-fail/) on priceonomics
* [Scroobius Pip](http://scroobiuspip.co.uk/) and [You Will See Me](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OS4W3OCESY)
* [Shady Characters: The Secret Life of Punctuation, Symbols, and Other Typographical Marks](http://www.amazon.com/dp/0393064425/?tag=johnaugustcom-20) by Keith Houston
* [Irony punctuation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irony_punctuation) on Wikipedia
* The [TreadDesk](http://asoft11239.accrisoft.com/treaddesk/)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Scriptnotes listener Kris Gotthelf

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_119.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_119.mp3).

**UPDATE** 12-1-13: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-ep-119-positive-moviegoing-transcript).

Time Travel with Richard Kelly

Directors, Education, Scriptnotes, Sundance, Transcribed

John and Craig wind back the clock with writer-director Richard Kelly to look at the origins of Donnie Darko, and how a recent film-school grad gets a movie made.

Along the way, we talk about Sundance and slow success, scope creep and transmedia.

The Scriptnotes Live Holiday Show will be Thursday, December 19th, 2013. Tickets go on sale November 20th at 10am. Links below.

LINKS:

* [Tickets are on sale tomorrow morning](https://www.wgfoundation.org/writing-seminars/) for the December 19th Scriptnotes Live Holiday Show
* Richard Kelly [on IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0446819/), [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Kelly_(director)) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/JRichardKelly)
* [Donnie Darko](http://archive.hi-res.net/donniedarko/), and [on Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004ZBFRTY/?tag=johnaugustcom-20)
* [The Donnie Darko Book](http://www.amazon.com/dp/0571221246/?tag=johnaugustcom-20)
* [Scope creep](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scope_creep) on Wikipedia
* [Coin](https://onlycoin.com/) for all your cards
* [The Science and Entertainment Exchange](http://www.scienceandentertainmentexchange.org)
* [Hotel Tonight](http://www.hoteltonight.com/)
* [Big Fish](http://www.bigfishthemusical.com/) is on Broadway through December 29th
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Scriptnotes listener Matthew Chilelli

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_118.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_118.mp3).

**UPDATE** 11-24-13: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-ep-118-time-travel-with-richard-kelly-transcript).