John August

Transcribed

Ambition Meets Fabrication

Episode - 708

HWTBAM, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig look at three tales of lies, betrayal and deceit and ask, How Would This be a Movie? Stories include a flamboyant show-business grifter, a sibling rivalry between two LA billboard queens, and American students tricked into attending a fake Oxford college.

We also follow up on audio dramas, last looks, and answer listener questions on a suspicious AI story and what do do with producers that are too keen.

In our bonus segment for premium members, how do you watch TV when you’re away from home, particularly overseas? We share the joys and frustrations of tuning in while you’re on the road.

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 11-5-25: The transcript for this epsiode can be found here.

After the Hunt

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John welcomes writer and actress Nora Garrett to look at how her first screenplay, After the Hunt, took her from being un-repped to working with director Luca Guadagnino.

They discuss her path from acting to writing, how her script went from being rejected by screenplay competitions to landing on Julia Roberts’ desk, and how she constructed her complex power dynamics on the the page. They also answer listener questions on building tension and knowing when to tell rather than show.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Nora talk day jobs and how to balance focusing on your craft wi– shhh! The boss is coming, get back to work.

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 11-3-25: The transcript for this episode can be found here.

A Cheap Cut of Meat Soaked in Butter (Encore)

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig invite Aline Brosh McKenna back to celebrate the third anniversary of Scriptnotes. It’s a jam-packed, glass-and-a-half of wine, listener-favorite episode.

They look at ways to breathe new life into scenes and characters that aren’t working, box office journalism and how Hollywood is always dying, scene geography, and the role of emotional intelligence (or EQ) in a writer’s career.

In our bonus segment for premium members, we have original outtakes from the episode where we look at what changed in the world in our first three years on air, make predictions for what’s to come, re-invent Spanx, and of course talk about D&D.

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

Is TV Better Now?

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig wonder, how has TV changed in the last ten years? They compare what’s better and worse, the tradeoffs between quality and quantity, how curation is changing, the pros and cons of shorter seasons, and what this all means for writers and viewers.

We also look forward to our time at the Austin Film Festival, offer paths for writers to keep their health insurance, follow up on Three Page Challenge selections that actually got made, and answer listener questions on adapting a screenplay into an audio drama and payment for work after a script is turned in.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig looks at what makes a damn fine cup of coffee.

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 10-17-25: The transcript for this episode can be found here.