John August

Transcribed

How to cut pages

Episode - 28

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How-To, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig turn from the pen to the knife to talk through the whys and hows of cutting pages — both the cosmetic trims and the deep cuts.

Your script is probably too long. Here’s how to fix that.

Craig also discusses his WGA seminar on surviving the feature film development process, and his vision for a screenwriters training program analogous to the well-regarded TV showrunners program. He drafts John to teach one segment.

The last few minutes degenerate into a conversation about Skyrim, Arkham City, American Idol and uxoricide. So, be forewarned.

From killing your darlings to killing your wife, all in this week’s Scriptnotes.

LINKS:

* My earlier post on [How to cut pages](http://johnaugust.com/2008/how-to-cut-pages)
* [Marriage in Skyrim](http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Marriage)
* Intro: [ABC’s Wide World of Sports](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi69utdvDcA)
* Outro: [Hey Joe](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRYqzCNXx5s) cover by Mark Galloway

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_28.m4a).

**UPDATE** 3-16-12: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2012/scriptnotes-ep-28-how-to-cut-pages-transcript).

Optioning a novel, and the golden age of television

Books, QandA, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

For their 25th podcast, John and Craig tackle listener questions.

How does a screenwriter option a novel he wants to adapt? John has optioned two novels — one through a studio, and one on his own — while Craig recently optioned his first. In each of these cases, we found the psychological aspects to be just as important as the legal ones.

When can a writer say he “wrote” a movie — particularly if there are other credited writers? John and Craig disagree a bit here, with John trying to draw the distinction between “worked on” and “wrote.”

Finally, should an aspiring writer focus on television or features? The answer from two feature writers may surprise you. Or not: television is pretty damn good these day.

Links:

* [Finding out if a book has been optioned](http://johnaugust.com/2007/book-optioned)
* [The Hero from Otherwhere](http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1838431.Hero_from_Otherwhere) by Jay Williams
* [What’s That Book?](http://www.whatsthatbook.com/)
* [Big Fish, a Novel of Mythical Proportions](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1616201649/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=johnaugustcom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1616201649) by Daniel Wallace
* [Summer of the Monkeys](http://www.amazon.com/dp/0440415802/?tag=johnaugustcom-20) by Wilson Rawls
* [How I Became a Famous Novelist](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802170609/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=johnaugustcom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0802170609) by Steve Hely
* INTRO: [The Gary Coleman Show](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZQSPfTq42M) opening credits
* OUTRO: [I Wanna Dance with Somebody](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weBTm5pH3rw) by Adrian Glynn

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_25.m4a).

**UPDATE** 2-22-12: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2012/scriptnotes-ep-25-optioning-a-novel-and-the-golden-age-of-television-transcript).

The Brotherhood of Screenwriters

QandA, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig open up the listener mailbag to answer questions about formatting lyrics, foreign dialogue and title trademarks. We also dive in to discuss overall deals, which are common in television but quite rare among feature writers.

Also this week: The launch of the plain text screenwriting format Fountain, and John’s love for the all-singing, all-dancing, Superbowl-sized NBC network promo.

There’s also brief discussion of some sporting event that happened two Sundays ago.

Links:

* [NBC’s “Brotherhood of Man” promo (updated link)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJuAvwtmXuw)
* [Fountain](http://www.fountain.io)
* Where to [send a question](mailto:ask@johnaugust.com)
* INTRO: [Fresno opening credits](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lIAZiTI56I)
* OUTRO: [Wessex Boy](http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/england-keep-my-bones-deluxe/id439592119) by Frank Turner

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_24.m4a).

**UPDATE** 2-16-12: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2012/scriptnotes-ep-24-the-brotherhood-of-screenwriters-transcript).

The Happy Funtime Smile Hour

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

After last week’s depressing reality-check, Craig and John float back to the lands of joyful possibility with a look at theme, or central dramatic argument, or whatever you choose to call that narrative glue that helps hold a story together.

Theme, like structure, is one of those screenwriting terms that entrances newcomers and annoys veterans. Or at least it annoys John.

Generally, when you’re talking about theme, you’re trying to answer the question, “What is the story *really* about?” Your plot might concern a spy and stolen nuclear missiles, but the intellectual/emotional heart of the story is whether any man be trusted. Or whether all good acts are selfish. Or if men and women can be friends. (Nora Ephron’s Bourne Identity.)

Also discussed: John’s love for OmniFocus + Siri, braindead tasks, and cancer — but only briefly, because this will be a happy show, god help us.

Links:

* [Getting Things Done](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0142000280/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=johnaugustcom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0142000280)
* [OmniFocus](http://www.omnigroup.com/products/omnifocus/)
* Craig’s endless thread on [Done Deal Pro](http://messageboard.donedealpro.com/boards/showthread.php?t=65889)
* John’s post on [Writing from Theme](http://johnaugust.com/2010/writing-from-theme)
* Danny Rubin’s [How to Write Groundhog Day](http://www.howtowritegroundhogday.com/)
* INTRO: [Sunshine Day](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaCCG7QkM_c)
* OUTRO: [Victory Celebration (the Ewok Song)](http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/victory-celebration/id107455768?i=107455209)
* [Original Ewok celebration song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5XG1nSlxuI)

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_23.m4a).

**UPDATE** 2-9-12: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2012/scriptnotes-ep-23-the-happy-funtime-smile-hour-transcript).