John August

Transcribed

Action is more than just gunfights and car chases

Episode - 53

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Scriptnotes, Three Page Challenge, Transcribed, Words on the page

John and Craig are all action this week, looking at how screenwriters write those things characters do in a movie.

It’s a part of the craft that often goes unnoticed — unlike dialogue, you don’t hear the writer’s work — but smartly-written action pays dividends, helping readers see the movie you want them to make.

We follow-up our discussion with a look at four (!) samples from the Three Page Challenge that focus on action, with ample praise for those that do it well and some suggestions for those who fumble a bit.

Also this week: a short history of (annoyed grunt), better known as d’oh!

If you’re listening to the podcast on the site, do us a favor and also leave us a review on iTunes. Great reviews help other listeners find us, and further Craig’s singing-to-a-stadium agenda.

LINKS:

You can download the episode here: AAC.

UPDATE 9-7-12: The transcript of this episode can be found here.

Grammar, guns and butter

QandA, Scriptnotes, Transcribed, Words on the page

Craig and John celebrate one year of the podcast by going H.A.M. on the passive voice, the present progressive and other reductive nonsense rules.

While you should feel free to split infinitives, we’d strongly recommend you avoid the 100+ lines of really bad dialogue you’ll hear far too often in movies. Thanks to Go Into the Story for compiling these.

After that, it’s time for six listener questions, on topics ranging from spec scripts 101, overseas copyright, to following up after a chance meeting.

All this and more on the first anniversary episode of Scriptnotes.

LINKS:

You can download the episode here: AAC.

UPDATE 8-30-12: The transcript of this episode can be found here.

Dashes, ellipses and underground monsters

QandA, Scriptnotes, Three Page Challenge, Transcribed, Words on the page

John and Craig answer four listener questions, on topics ranging from scene headers to ticket sales. And which is better for an aspiring screenwriter: a low-level job at a major agency, or a steady 9-to-5 job that allows time to write?

Then it’s another round of the Three Page Challenge, with three new samples submitted by brave listeners. Our ongoing thanks to everyone who sent in pages. We have plenty — you don’t need to send more.

LINKS:

You can download the episode here: AAC.

UPDATE 8-24-12: The transcript of this episode can be found here.

The Somewhat Healthy Screenwriter

Follow Up, Random Advice, Scriptnotes, Transcribed, WGA

Screenwriters are often not the healthiest folk. We do our work at computers, surrounded by snacks, so it’s no surprise many of us get fat. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Screenwriters are often not the healthiest folk. We do our work at computers, surrounded by snacks, so it’s no surprise many of us are not our fittest. But it doesn’t have to be that way. We’re not doctors or nutritionists, but we’re relatively healthy members of a cohort that is relatively unhealthy, so our advice might point you in useful directions.

We also discuss the upcoming WGA Board elections, sumo wrestlers, head tits, Jaclyn Smith and secret e-smoking.

All this in more in the new Scriptnotes.

LINKS:

You can download the episode here: AAC.

UPDATE 8-17-12: The transcript of this episode can be found here.