Transcribed

The Germans have a word for it

Episode - 78

February 26, 2013 Film Industry, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

Craig and John take a look at the class-action suit over Hollywood’s unpaid interns, then discuss envy and jealousy and other unproductive emotions.

Hollywood interns aren’t essential, but internship has a long tradition in the industry. This lawsuit could change things dramatically — but will it change it for better or worse?

Envy is rampant among aspiring writers, but it never really goes away. It’s not altogether a bad thing — seeing what’s possible can give you a kickstart. But when it consumes too many brain cycles, it’s worth addressing.

LINKS:

* [Alabama](http://www.dialectsarchive.com/alabama) on the International Dialects of English Archive
* The Craig-referenced blog post, [Critiquing Criticism: Personal Growth via The Hobbit](http://pgdejonge.wordpress.com/2013/02/19/critiquing-criticism-personal-growth-via-the-hobbit/)
* [Hollywood Interns: Fox Lawsuit Likely to Break Ground](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/hollywood-interns-fox-lawsuit-break-422988)
* [Hollywood interns aren’t essential](http://johnaugust.com/2011/hollywood-interns-arent-essential)
* [AppleTV](http://www.apple.com/appletv/) with AirPlay
* OUTRO: Hot N Cold cover by [Los Colorados](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1upZz3a-7iM)

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_78.m4a).

**UPDATE** 2-28-13: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-ep-78-the-germans-have-a-word-for-it-transcript).

We’d Like to Make an Offer

February 19, 2013 Film Industry, Follow Up, Pitches, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig discuss spec scripts, pitches and how it feels when your movie gets brutal reviews.

First up, an article by Margaret Heidenry in Vanity Fair tracks the history of spec script sales, going all the way back to Preston Sturges. We talk about the 90s bubble, and what’s changed.

Next, we discuss what a screenwriter needs to do in that last few hours before a pitch — including the drive over.

Finally, Craig talks about what it feels like when the movie you wrote does huge business, but you as the writer get singled out for harsh criticism.

In our One Cool Things, John admires Dungeon World, a newish RPG that radically simplifies the D&D mechanic, while Craig foresees the next big weight-loss drug.

LINKS:

* [When the Spec Script was king](http://m.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2013/03/will-spec-script-screenwriters-rise-again) by Margaret Heidenry in Vanity Fair
* [Examples of early screenplay formats](http://www.screenplayology.com/content-sections/screenplay-style-use/1-1/)
* [Amor Fati](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amor_fati) on Wikipedia
* [Dungeon World RPG](http://www.dungeon-world.com)
* [Canker sore drug helps mice lose weight without diet, exercise](http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/10/health/mice-weight-loss-drug/index.html)
* OUTRO: [Roll a D6](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54VJWHL2K3I)

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_77.m4a).

**UPDATE** 2-22-13: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-ep-77-wed-like-to-make-an-offer-transcript).

How screenwriters find their voice

February 12, 2013 Scriptnotes, Three Page Challenge, Transcribed, Words on the page

Aline Brosh McKenna joins John and Craig for a conversation about what writers mean by a “voice,” and how it develops.

For some screenwriters, their voice develops long before their craft, leading people to label them as “promising” even though the scripts themselves are a mess. Other writers get all the technical stuff right from the start, but have a hard time finding something distinctive about how they write.

From there, we segue into a look at three new Three Page Challenges, easily our most contentious session yet, with wildly split opinions.

All this and Craig’s confession in the new episode of Scriptnotes.

LINKS:

* [Aline Brosh McKenna](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0112459/) on IMDb, and her [first appearance on Scriptnotes](http://johnaugust.com/2012/the-black-list-and-a-stack-of-scenes)
* [Spy: The Funny Years](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001KZHGR4/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001KZHGR4&linkCode=as2&tag=johnaugustcom-20)
* [Recitative](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recitative) on Wikipedia
* Three pages by [James Topham](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/JamesTopham.pdf)
* Three pages by [Cheryl Laughlin](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/CherylLaughlin.pdf)
* Three pages by [Chris Vieira](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/ChrisVieira.pdf)
* OUTRO: [Robot Love](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqLIl6-1ZEU) by some youth ministry conference

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_76.m4a).

**UPDATE** 2-17-13: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-ep-76-how-screenwriters-find-their-voice-transcript).