John August

Transcribed

Alt-universe panels

Episode - 61

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Follow Up, Scriptnotes, Transcribed, Words on the page

Craig and John ret-con the Austin Film Festival, placing themselves on panels in which they didn’t participate. It’s a chance to give the answers they would have given without the bother of being asked (or listening to other people’s opinions).

For example, Terry Rossio’s seminar on “The Throw” — his term for how you end a scene — was presumably terrific. We didn’t attend, but it’s fun to spitball what we would have said about this interesting and under-discussed aspect of screenwriting.

Other topics discussed this week include:

  • Setiquette
  • Kyle Killen’s secret shower
  • Videogame storytelling
  • Amazon Studios
  • Pilots vs. presentations

Happy Halloween, everyone. Stay safe and dry.

LINKS:

You can download the episode here: AAC.

UPDATE 11-2-12: The transcript of this episode can be found here.

The Black List, and a stack of scenes

QandA, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

Recording live at the Austin Film Festival, John and Craig take a look at The Black List’s pivot to a paid site, and what it means for screenwriters and the industry. Black List creator Franklin Leonard joins us for questions and criticism.

Next, screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna (The Devil Wears Prada, We Bought a Zoo) joins us to talk about the difference between Movie Stories and A Stack of Scenes. She stays with us to answer live questions from the audience.

Big thanks to both of our guests — our first ones ever — and to AFF for hosting the event. We had a blast, and hope to do more live events in the future.

LINKS:

You can download the episode here: AAC.

UPDATE 10-25-12: The transcript of this episode can be found here.

Plot holes, and the myth of perseveraversity

QandA, Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Three Page Challenge, Transcribed

John and Craig discuss Frankenweenie and Superhero! before cracking open the mailbox to answer listener questions: What advice would they give to their younger selves? Is a spec with a similar high-concept premise doomed? Should Australian screenwriters use U.S. spelling conventions?

Then, a discussion of what constitutes a plot hole and to what degree screenwriters are to blame.

After that, two new Three Page Challenge entries. We’ve received more than 500 of these, which is crazy.

All this and what to name an Amanda Peet character in this week’s Scriptnotes. Next week, join us for the the first-ever Scriptnotes Live podcast from the Austin Film Festival.

LINKS:

You can download the episode here: AAC.

UPDATE 10-19-12: The transcript of this episode can be found here.

Writing your very first screenplay

Scriptnotes, Three Page Challenge, Transcribed

In the spirit of Looper, Craig and John take a journey back in time, looking at the first scripts they read, the first scripts they wrote, and the common pitfalls of many first screenplays.

Not only that: they share and critique the first three pages from the very first scripts they wrote.

Does John’s romantic tragedy from 1994 show potential? Would Craig keep reading his high-concept comedy from 1995? You can be the judge, because both samples are linked below.

LINKS:

You can download the episode here: AAC.

UPDATE 10-11-12: The transcript of this episode can be found here.