Transcribed

John and Craig are on opposite sides of the world this week, so they’re revisiting an episode from 2016 to look at the many psychological barriers facing writers tackling big projects, and offer practical strategies for actually getting the work done.

They also discuss the then-upcoming election (same as it ever was), and answer a listener question about how autism spectrum disorder might impact a screenwriting career.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Drew reflect on what’s changed in the eight years since this episode last aired, and then like all conversations in 2024, they just start talking about Moo Deng.

Links:

• Episode 271: Buckling Down – Transcript
• Inevitable Foundation
• Forest, Snowstorm and Howling Wind ambiance tracks
• Julia Roberts To Star In Feature Film About PTA Mom Framed For Drug Possession by Nellie Andreeva for Deadline
• Here’s How to Finish That F*ing Book, You Monster by Chuck Wendig
• Wikitravel
• The Writers Guild Foundation
• Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!
• Check out the Inneresting Newsletter
• Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription!
• Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram
• John August on Threads, Instagram, Twitter and Mastodon
• Outro by Pedro Aguilera (send us yours!)
• This episode was originally produced by Godwin Jabangwe. Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

John and Craig open the mailbag to answer a swath of listener questions that make Craig’s blood boil. They offer insights and umbrage on when you can turn down projects early in your career, picking the right day job, maintaining visibility when you’re taken off a project, the next steps after a successful short, when NDA’s are necessary, and how to credit unpublished source material.

We also say goodbye to green envelopes as we celebrate the arrival of direct deposit residuals, and follow up on AI training and GitHub for screenplays.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig abandon their superciliousness look at the English words they kind of know but are too chicken to actually ever use.

Links:

* [Move Over Green Envelopes, WGA Rolls Out Direct Deposits For Residuals](https://deadline.com/2024/08/wgaw-direct-deposits-residuals-1236050438/) by Peter White for Deadline
* [WGA Screen Credits Manual](https://www.wga.org/uploadedfiles/credits/manuals/screenscredits_manual10.pdf)
* [CDC Recommends Updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 and Flu Vaccines for Fall/Winter Virus Season](https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s-t0627-vaccine-recommendations.html)
* [Hide posts on Threads](https://www.facebook.com/help/instagram/171172755868764)
* [Baldur’s Gate 3](https://baldursgate3.game/)
* [Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!](https://cottonbureau.com/people/scriptnotes-podcast)
* [Check out the Inneresting Newsletter](https://inneresting.substack.com/)
* [Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/gifts) or [treat yourself to a premium subscription!](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/)
* Craig Mazin on [Threads](https://www.threads.net/@clmazin) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/clmazin/)
* John August on [Threads](https://www.threads.net/@johnaugust), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) and [Mastodon](https://mastodon.art/@johnaugust)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Nick Moore ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))
* Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by [Matthew Chilelli](https://twitter.com/machelli).

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/658standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 11-15-23:** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2024/scriptnotes-episode-658-advice-show-transcript).

John and Craig welcome back Ryan Reynolds for an in-depth look at his creative process bringing the character of Deadpool to the screen.

As co-writer, producer and star of the Deadpool franchise, Ryan leads us through his first introduction to the character, the rough journey getting to greenlight, and the challenges presented by an often-faceless protagonist. Along the way, they talk tone and dialogue, collaboration and rule-breaking, respect and irreverence, and the importance of listening to the movie. Ryan also has some writing questions for John and Craig.

In our bonus segment for premium members, we look at Ryan’s flair for marketing and the creative freedom he’s found in advertising.

Links:

* Ryan Reynolds on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/vancityreynolds/), [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@vancityreynolds?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc) and [X](https://x.com/VancityReynolds)
* [Deadpool & Wolverine](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6263850/)
* [He’s So Annoying](https://www.vulture.com/article/deadpool-ryan-reynolds-greatest-annoying-actor.html) by Jesse David Fox for Vulture
* [Buster Keaton – The Art of the Gag](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWEjxkkB8Xs) by [Every Frame a Painting](https://www.youtube.com/user/everyframeapainting)
* [TCM – Turner Classic Movies](https://www.tcm.com/)
* [Ryan Reynolds Guest Programmer | TCM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeJdTeeVQBQ) via YouTube
* [How The Onion is saving itself from the digital media death spiral](https://www.theverge.com/24225592/the-onion-new-owners-print-newspaper-digital-media-gawker-ben-collins-decoder-interview) by Nilay Patel for The Verge
* [Vancouver, BC](https://www.destinationvancouver.com/)
* [Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!](https://cottonbureau.com/people/scriptnotes-podcast)
* [Check out the Inneresting Newsletter](https://inneresting.substack.com/)
* [Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/gifts) or [treat yourself to a premium subscription!](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/)
* Craig Mazin on [Threads](https://www.threads.net/@clmazin) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/clmazin/)
* John August on [Threads](https://www.threads.net/@johnaugust), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) and [Mastodon](https://mastodon.art/@johnaugust)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Tim Englehard ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))
* Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by [Matthew Chilelli](https://twitter.com/machelli).

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/657standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 11-14-24:** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2024/scriptnotes-episode-657-deadpool-with-ryan-reynolds-transcript).