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Transcribed

Unions and Guilds

Episode - 485

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January 26, 2021 News, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig explain Hollywood’s guilds and unions. They cover the history, the challenges, and their hopes for the future.

We also look at character alignments and whether it’s helpful for writers to chart out their character’s traits. We follow up on eight sequence structure and mockable IP. Throughout the episode, Craig tries to solve the mystery of John’s sweet fingers.

Finally, in our bonus segment for premium members, we talk about the screenwriting guru turned Qanon leader.

Links:

  • Ballard C Boyd for Stephen Colbert’s show Queen’s Gambit Rubik’s Cube
  • Hollywood’s Unions Celebrate Inauguration Of President Joe Biden & VP Kamala Harris: “Most Pro-Union President” & “Partner In The White House” by David Robb
  • Biden Gave Trump’s Union Busters a Taste of Their Own Medicine by Mark Joseph Stern
  • Impeached Ligature EA
  • Wordlisted by Adam Aaronson
  • Rhyme Zone
  • Wandavision check out episode 3, written by Megan McDonnell!
  • Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!
  • Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription!
  • John August on Twitter
  • Craig Mazin on Twitter
  • John on Instagram
  • Outro by Malakai Bisel (send us yours!)
  • Scriptnotes is produced by Megana Rao and edited by Matthew Chilelli.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 2-1-21 The transcript for this episode can now be found here.

Philosophy for Screenwriters

January 12, 2021 News, Pitches, Scriptnotes, So-Called Experts, Transcribed

John and Craig discuss their personal philosophies and how writers can approach philosophical questions in terms of theme (central dramatic question) and character (moral codes and motivation).

Then we cover virtual pitches and listener questions on eight-sequence structure and how to read a script. We also follow up on the agency campaign, failed insurrections, and bad IP.

Finally in our bonus segment for premium members, we revisit our disagreement in episode 481 about whether it’s okay to lie.

Links:

  • WGA Rejects WME Deal, Judge Rejects Injunction
  • Rubik’s Cube
  • Mr. Clean: a sailor? A genie? Both?
  • Eight Sequence Structure
  • John’s 2020 Year in Review
  • There is No Game
  • Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!
  • Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription!
  • John August on Twitter
  • Craig Mazin on Twitter
  • John on Instagram
  • Outro by Rajesh Naroth (send us yours!)
  • Scriptnotes is produced by Megana Rao and edited by Matthew Chilelli.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 1-15-21 The transcripts for this episode can now be found here.

Random Advice 2020

December 29, 2020 News, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig welcome back writer/producer Nichelle Tramble (Truth Be Told, The Good Wife) to share wisdom on listener questions that are interesting but unrelated to screenwriting.

We discuss how to know if you’re marrying the right person, open relationships, and how to deal with being the ‘starter’ girlfriend. We also cover jealousy, laughter, the ethics of lying to the Red Cross, and disappointing Secret Santas.

Finally, in our bonus segment for premium members we discuss that Martin Shkreli article and how it would be a movie.

Links:

  • Donate to Dorm Key, make sure to ear mark your contribution!
  • Sarah Silverman, Jesus is Magic
  • Lying: Moral Choice in Public and Private Life by Sissela Bok
  • Episode 403, How to Write a Movie in Spanish translated by Fernando Polanco
  • Death Saves merch
  • Notes on a Silencing: A Memoir by Lacy Crawford
  • The Journalist and the Pharma Bro by Stephanie Clifford
  • https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2838492/“>Nichelle Tramble Spellman and on Instagram
  • Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!
  • Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription
  • John August on Twitter
  • Craig Mazin on Twitter
  • John on Instagram
  • Outro by Heidi Lauren Duke (send us yours!)
  • Scriptnotes is produced by Megana Rao and edited by Matthew Chilelli.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 1-7-21 The transcript for this episode can now be found here.

The Wedding Episode

December 22, 2020 Scriptnotes, Transcribed

Craig and John talk movie weddings with special guest Aline Brosh McKenna. We look at the tropes, the challenges and the unique opportunities wedding scenes provide.

We also look at the agreement between the WGA and CAA, and answer listener questions about writing the weather and bombing a pitch.

And in our bonus segment for premium members, we discuss our post-vaccination hopes and plans.

Links:

  • CAA and WGA Agreement
  • Japanese Rent A Family on Twitter
  • Japan’s Rent A Family Industry by Elif Bautman for the New Yorker
  • Crazy Rich Asians Script script by Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim
  • Palm Springs script written by Andy Siara (Story by Andy Siara and Max Barbakow)
  • The Farewell script by Lulu Wang
  • Made in Heaven on Amazon Prime
  • Simpsons Christmas Movie episode
  • Lifetime’s Christmas Set Up
  • Carote 8 Inch Nonstick Skillet Frying Pan Egg Skillet Omelet Pan
  • We Saw Scenery by Merill Markoe
  • I Want to be Where the Normal People Are by Rachel Bloom
  • Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!
  • Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription
  • Aline Brosh McKenna on Twitter
  • John August on Twitter
  • Craig Mazin on Twitter
  • John on Instagram
  • Outro by Heidi Lauren Duke (send us yours!)
  • Scriptnotes is produced by Megana Rao and edited by Matthew Chilelli.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 12-29-2020 The transcript for this episode can now be found here.

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