Transcribed

John and Craig are back together! They chat about the box office (it’s also back!), guns in Hollywood, writing credits, and follow up on what to call the [interstitial] page in a script.

We answer listener questions on imperfect story logic, writing authentically in a different language, and when it’s time to be a team player.

In our bonus segment for premium members, we talk about penmanship! Craig encounters the ultimate puzzle: John’s handwriting.

Links:

• Sign up for updates on the Scriptnotes Book
• Box Office Balancing Test: How Many Tentpoles Can Share a Weekend?
• Judd Apatow, Shonda Rhimes and other Hollywood creators sign gun petition
• Magic ARRI ViewFinder on the App store!
• Alex Hirsch’s Gravity Falls Tweet
• Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!
• Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription!
• Craig Mazin on Twitter
• John August on Twitter
• John on Instagram
• Outro by Lachlan Marks (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 7-3-22 The transcript for this episode can be found here.

John invites Michael Waldron (Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Loki) to share his origin story and offer advice on how to make the most of film school/internship opportunities.

We discuss writing characters that cross the TV/film barrier and answer listener questions on preparing for success, looking for rejection, and how to track ideas.

In our bonus segment for premium members, we discuss what writers need to know about working in Atlanta.

Links:

• Michael Waldron on Twitter and on Instagram
• Donate blood with the Red Cross #BloodforBreck
• “Prove to the World You’ve Lost Your Son” by Elizabeth Williamson for Slate from Sandy Hook: An American Tragedy and the Battle for Truth
• Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!
• Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription!
• Craig Mazin on Twitter
• John August on Twitter
• John on Instagram
• Outro by Ryan Gerberding (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 8-4-22 The transcript for this episode can be found here.

John and Craig offer guidance on wrangling groups of characters. This episode features a collection of craft topics that address how to build community on the page.

They cover how to introduce relationships, structure features with multiple protagonists, reasons to split up the group, and how to reunite characters.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Megana welcome our summer intern Drew Marquardt to discuss group dynamics in Stranger Things season four, part one. (Warning: conversation contains spoilers and unabashed Steve Harrington adoration.)

Links:

• Scriptnotes Episode 360: Relationships
• Scriptnotes Episode 395: All in this Together
• Scriptnotes Episode 383: Splitting the Party
• Stranger Things on Netflix
• Hydroviv Water Filter
• Blot 2046 Manifesto
• Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!
• Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription!
• Craig Mazin on Twitter
• John August on Twitter
• John on Instagram
• Outro by Rajesh Naroth (send us yours!)
• Scriptnotes is produced by Megana Rao (ft. our summer intern Drew Marquardt and segments by Megan McDonnell) and edited by Matthew Chilelli.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 8-1-22 The transcript for this episode can now be found here.

John welcomes writer/showrunner Patrick Somerville to explore the development process for Station Eleven. From finding the source material, organizing the writers room, to writing production drafts, they walk through the steps of creating a limited series.

Along the way, Patrick explains how he transitioned careers from novelist to television writer, and advises a listener on prepping for staffing meetings.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Patrick discuss creating a pandemic show during a pandemic.

Links:

• Follow along with the Station Eleven pilot discussion! Read all of the Station Eleven scripts here.
• Station Eleven the series on HBO
• Station Eleven the book by Emily St. John Mandel
• Patrick Somerville on Twitter
• All about Love: New Visions by bell hooks
• Time in Ethiopia
• Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!
• Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription!
• Craig Mazin on Twitter
• John August on Twitter
• John on Instagram
• Outro by Pedro Aguilera (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 7-1-22 The transcript for this episode can now be found here.