John August

Transcribed

Pen Names and Divine Intervention

Episode - 43

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QandA, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

This week, John is a bit under the weather, so Craig takes over moderator duties as they tackle four listener questions:

➤ When you spec a script based on a producer’s idea, who owns it?

➤ And on that topic, do producers ever really buy an idea?

➤ How much divine intervention — or other coincidence — can a movie support?

➤ How do pen names work for screenwriters?

In follow-up, Clive Barker is writing — but not directing — that Amazon Studios project. John regrets the error. And in verb-related news, metal can’t pound, but it can pound flat, oddly enough.

All this and two cool things in this week’s Scriptnotes.

LINKS:

* [Plague Inc.](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/plague-inc./id525818839?mt=8) for iOS
* [English Verb Classes and Alternations](http://www.amazon.com/dp/0226475336/?tag=johnaugustcom-20) by Beth Levin
* [Researcher’s findings in the Amazon pit him against Noam Chomsky](http://chronicle.com/article/Researchers-Findings-in-the/131260/)
* [The Baseball Codes: Beanballs, Sign Stealing, and Bench-Clearing Brawls](http://www.amazon.com/dp/030727862X/?tag=johnaugustcom-20) by Jason Turbow
* [Robin Ventura vs. Nolan Ryan](http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=12745349)
* [ScanCafe](http://www.scancafe.com/)
* INTRO: [Godzilla intro](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTItRfN-LO8)
* OUTRO: [What’s My Name](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iY7c_rqowM) cover by VanJess

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_43.m4a).

**UPDATE** 6-28-12: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2012/scriptnotes-ep-43-pen-names-and-divine-intervention-transcript).

Getting to page one

Follow Up, Screenwriting Software, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

On the 41st Scriptnotes, John and Craig discuss screenwriting software, knowing when to start, and the Game of Thrones finale. But before moving on to new business, they update us on two topics of podcasts past.

Last we heard about Disney and Amazon Studios, there was a [vacancy atop the former](http://johnaugust.com/2012/the-disney-dilemma), and the latter had [decided to become a WGA signatory](http://johnaugust.com/2012/amazons-new-deal-for-writers). Now, Disney has hired Alan Horn as chief, and Amazon has announced its first project — but with no mention of the writer.

After they weigh in on these new developments, John tells us about the pros and cons of writing his most recent script in Scrivener, which opens up into a larger discussion about where screenwriting software seems to be heading.

Craig and John then adress a common frustration of beginning screenwriters: How do you know when you’re ready to move from the planning phase onto page 1? Diving into a script too quickly is a recipe for second-act problems, but overplanning can be just as dangerous. Where’s the sweet spot? What must you know about your story before you start, and how much familiarity is overkill?

They then move onto a listener-requested discussion of the Game of Thrones season finale, plus this week’s two One Cool Things.

Rawson Marshall Thurber, enjoy this Google alert made specially for you, courtesy of episode 41 of Scriptnotes.

LINKS:

* [Scrivener](http://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener.php)
* [Fountain](http://fountain.io/) and [Highland](http://quoteunquoteapps.com/highland/)
* [Fade In](http://www.fadeinpro.com/)
* [Final Draft iPad Writer](http://www.finaldraft.com/products/mobile/writer/)
* [Bronson Watermarker](http://quoteunquoteapps.com/bronson/)
* [Stencyl](http://www.stencyl.com/)
* [Flight](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnVNNR6CEOE) trailer
* [Craig’s Wordplay post](http://www.wordplayer.com/pros/pr14.Mazin.Craig.html) on building marketing hooks into your screenplay
* INTRO: [Silver Spoons](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71RyZuJHpj0) opening
* OUTRO: [Garden of Your Mind](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFzXaFbxDcM&feature=youtu.be) by Mister Rogers (remix)

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_41.m4a).

**UPDATE** 6-14-12: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2012/scriptnotes-ep-41-getting-to-page-one-transcript).

Death and feedback

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

Craig and John talk about Craig’s decision to abandon [his once-bustling blog](http://artfulwriter.com/), while John weighs the pros and cons of comments and community.

How important is feedback? The Scriptnotes podcast gets [overwhelmingly positive](http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/scriptnotes-podcast/id462495496) reviews — 99% are five stars — but how much of that is helpful or constructive?

We also go into follow-up about The Death of Screenwriting (as a career) and announce the first-ever Scriptnotes Live podcast, coming this October at the [Austin Film Festival](http://www.austinfilmfestival.com/festivalandconference/).

LINKS:

* [The Artful Writer](http://artfulwriter.com/) (Craig’s blog)
* [UC Verde Buffalo Grass](http://ucverdebuffalograss.com/)
* INTRO: [I Learned It By Watching You](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Elr5K2Vuo)
* OUTRO: [Black Sally](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdEONARGHCM) by Funkoars feat. Maurice Greer

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_40.m4a).

**UPDATE** 6-7-12: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2012/scriptnotes-ep-40-death-and-feedback-transcript).

Littlest Plot Shop

Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Transcribed

Craig and John take a look at the difference between plot and story with some help from the Littlest Pet Shop and Game of Thrones.

Plot answers the “what” questions: What happens next? What is in the mysterious vault? What secret was the dowager keeping?

Story, however, is much more concerned with the “whos” and “hows” and “whys.” Characters have their own needs and impulses. The trick of good writing is to match up what the characters want to do (motivation) with what the screenwriter wants them to do (plot).

Mild spoiler alert: In the last few minutes, we discuss recent developments on Game of Thrones, but in a general-enough way that it’s not likely to impact your enjoyment if you’re behind. Still, caveat spectator.

Finally, two bits of housekeeping:

* We post [full transcripts](http://johnaugust.com/transcript) of every show a few days after they air.

* If you [subscribe to us](http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/scriptnotes-podcast/id462495496) on iTunes, please leave us some feedback. For next week’s show, we’ll read the reviews ranked “most helpful” live, no matter what they say. Which may be a terrible idea. We’ll see.

LINKS:

* [Littlest Pet Shop](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRgWqd36Mww) videos
* [Plot Wizard](http://plotwizard.com/)
* [Plotto: The Master Book of All Plots](http://www.amazon.com/dp/1935639188/ref=as_li_tf_til?tag=plottomatic-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=1935639188&adid=1GY1MPCHFA0R96HJ5TC6&&ref-refURL=http%3A%2F%2Fplotwizard.com%2F)
by William Wallace Cook
* Craig recommends Joe Nienalt and Daniel Vang’s [Will-Read-Your-Script Fundraiser](http://messageboard.donedealpro.com/boards/showthread.php?t=67391) for the American Heart Association
* John recommends this [all-your-barcodes-together card](http://keyringthing.com)
* INTRO: [My Little Pony](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9J2vF3Q3o8)
* OUTRO: [Black Horse and the Cherry Tree](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz_1UXMXKP0) by military band Sidewinder at the White House

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_39.m4a).

**UPDATE** 5-30-12: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2012/scriptnotes-ep-39-littlest-plot-shop-transcript).