John August

Transcribed

Conflict and Stakes Compendium

Episode - 655

Go to Archive

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

In this compendium episode, John and Craig look at two of the most fundamental building blocks of compelling stories – conflict and stakes.

We define six forms of conflict common in movies, and explore ways to sustain conflict within a scene and throughout a story. We also look for ways to find the root of your character’s stakes, pick the right stakes for the world around them, and the importance of making everything personal.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig look at Whiplash and how it finds conflict at the perfect tempo.

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 10-21-24: The transcript for this episode can be found here.

How to Watch Bad Movies

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig stand waist-deep in rotten tomatoes and ask, what can we learn from bad movies? Resisting the urge to walk out, they explore ways to evaluate a movie’s problems, interrogate your taste, and turn a real stinker into an opportunity to grow as a writer.

We also follow up on Lifetime movies, colored pages and AI screenwriting, and answer listener questions on weirdo characters and the validity of a ghostwriter.

In our bonus segment for premium members, when is it okay to bail on something you no longer enjoy? We look at when to bounce on books, friendships and more.

Links:

* [WGAW Good and Welfare Emergency Assistance Loans](https://www.wga.org/members/finances/good-welfare-emergency-assistance-loans)
* [AI Screenwriter job posting](https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/3987023540/)
* [Pageant of the Masters](https://www.foapom.com/)
* [Pageant of the Masters Brings Art to Life](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6fg95StXm0) from the Wall Street Journal on YouTube
* [Arrested Development – The Living Classics](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9-zi-qKg8I)
* [Severance](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/severance/umc.cmc.1srk2goyh2q2zdxcx605w8vtx) on Apple TV+
* [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 Pascui Rivas ([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/654standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 10-7-24:** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2024/scriptnotes-episode-654-how-to-watch-bad-movies-transcript).

Multi-Cam Comedies and WGA Dollars

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John welcomes writer-director Betsy Thomas (Superior Donuts, Superstore) to finally discuss writing multi-camera sitcoms. Using famous sitcom scripts as guides, they look at how multi-cam sets itself apart through its unique formatting and production, how it utilizes blocking, its surprising limitations in post, and the live studio audience.

But Betsy is more than just a talented creative – she’s also the secretary-treasurer of the WGA West. Who better to lead us through the WGA annual report and look at writer income and residuals in the wake of the strike? We also follow up on gains for writing teams and un-locked pages, and answer listener questions on flashbacks, punctation, and untrustworthy producers.

In our bonus segment for premium members, Betsy explains to John and Megana what makes golf such a wonderful sport.

Links:

* Betsy Thomas on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betsy_Thomas) and [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004094/)
* Megana Rao on [Twitter](https://x.com/meganarao) and [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11625734/)
* [WGA West Annual Report](https://secure.wga.org/the-guild/about-us/annual-report)
* [Writer Earnings Fell $600 Million Due to Strike and Industry Contraction, WGA Says](https://variety.com/2024/biz/news/film-tv-writer-earnings-fall-hollywood-strikes-wga-report-1236087413/) by Gene Maddus for Variety
* [Cheers – “Give Me a Ring Sometime”](https://johnaugust.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Cheers-Pilot-1.pdf) by Glen and Les Charles
* [Cheers – “Father Knows Last”](https://johnaugust.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Cheers-1×15-Father-Knows-Last.pdf)
* [Night Court – “Pilot”](https://johnaugust.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/night-court-101-pilot-2023.pdf) by Dan Rubin
* [Friends – “Pilot”](https://johnaugust.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Friends_1x01_-_The_One_Where_Monica_Gets_a_Roommate-2.pdf) by David Crane & Marta Kauffman
* [What My Adult Autism Diagnosis Finally Explained](https://www.thecut.com/article/mary-hk-choi-adult-autism-diagnosis.html#/) by Mary HK Choi for The Cut
* [Unstable – Season 2](https://www.netflix.com/title/81500842) on Netflix (hooray Megana Rao!)
* [Wicked Little Letters](https://www.netflix.com/title/81700125) on Netflix
* [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), [X](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) and [Mastodon](https://mastodon.art/@johnaugust)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Matthew Chilelli ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))
* Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt, with help this week by Megana Rao. It is 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/653standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 10-7-24:** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2024/scriptnotes-episode-653-multi-cam-comedies-and-wga-dollars-transcript).

Rituals

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig welcome back Megana Rao to look at rituals and what they can tell us about our characters. But what are characters doing deliberately, and what is just routine? They separate routines from rites, and how both can help deepen our understanding of characters and the threats that face them.

We also follow up on un-locking pages, industry software and health insurance for writing teams, before answering a listener question on transitioning from writing plays to writing movies.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John, Craig and Megana talk about coming-of-age rituals, and Craig reveals the theme of his Bar Mitzvah (it’s even nerdier than you think).

Links:

* [Standard Operating Procedures](https://johnaugust.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SCR-20240721-juob.png) from Writer Emergency Pack
* [Long Island Compromise](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/621963/long-island-compromise-by-taffy-brodesser-akner/) by Taffy Brodesser-Akner
* [Free AF non-alcoholic cocktails](https://us.af-drinks.com)
* [Microsoft Re-Designs the iPod Packaging](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUXnJraKM3k)
* [Fantasmas](https://www.max.com/shows/fantasmas/25e36613-26ba-44ff-a777-b39ceafbcf58) on HBO/Max
* [AlphaBirds](https://alphabirdsgame.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), [X](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](https://www.drewmarquardt.com/) with help this week by Megana Rao. It is 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/652standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 10-7-24:** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2024/scriptnotes-episode-652-rituals-transcript).