John August

Transcribed

The One with Neil Gaiman

Episode - 616

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Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig welcome Neil Gaiman (The Sandman, Good Omens) to discuss the serialized storytelling of comics and screenwriting. Using Neil’s script for issue 24 of The Sandman, they look at how comics are written, communicating with other artists, using the medium to your advantage, and finding unique ways to deliver your story.

Neil also shares how he developed his voice as a writer, from the origin of his religious and mythological curiosities to the importance of doing it wrong, defining style, and his advice to young writers.

In our bonus segment for premium members, Neil sticks around to talk with John and Craig about the projects we never got around to writing.

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 11-15-23: The transcript for this episode can be found here.

The Mind’s Eye

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig talk about the importance of visualization for screenwriters, and the fact that some very successful writers can’t do it. They share what’s going on inside their brains as they write, their processes for imagining a scene, and what writing is like across the spectrum of aphantasia.

But first, we look at Marvel’s new approach to TV and follow-up on diabetes, studio distribution, and a word John has been using incorrectly for years. We also answer listener questions about choosing the right medium for your story, credit in anthology films, and co-writing credit disputes.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig discuss the pros and cons of being given the opportunity you’ve always dreamt of.

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 11-9-23: The transcript for this episode can be found here.

Storytelling and the Strike

Scriptnotes, Transcribed, WGA

John sits down with WGA Negotiating Committee co-chair Chris Keyser to look at how writers crafted the narrative of the strike. From establishing the premise and themes, identifying characters, and all the way down to specific word choices, we dissect the choices, revisions, and tactics used to guide the MBA negotiations to a successful conclusion.

We also answer listener questions on foreign levies and writers’ relationship with the studios going forward.

In our bonus segment for premium members, we discuss Chris Keyser’s debate career and make a strong argument for how it shaped his skills as an orator.

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 10-15-23: The transcript for this episode can be found here.

Entering the Post-Strike Era

Scriptnotes, Transcribed, WGA

John and Craig take an in-depth look at the deal points of the WGA’s tentative agreement with the AMPTP, which ended the 2023 WGA strike after 148 days. Together they break down what gains were made, how they work, and why they are important for writers everywhere.

We also open a time-capsule email from 2018, follow up on five year old predictions, and send our predictions for 2028 off into the future.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig discuss a topic we’ve slept on for too long: dreams!

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 11-9-23: The transcript for this episode can be found here.