Transcribed

John welcomes writer/creators Liz Meriwether (New Girl, The Dropout) and Liz Hannah (The Girl from Plainville, The Post) to discuss the genre/form of “limited series based on actual events.”

Meriwether and Hannah explain what compelled them to each project and the process of realizing each story on screen. We also play a lightning round of How Would This Be A Movie, looking at movements like ‘Birds Aren’t Real’ and #FreeBritney.

In our bonus segment for premium members, the Lizzes share their experiences making their shows while pregnant.

Links:

• The Dropout on Hulu and The Dropout Podcast
• The Girl from Plainville Show and the Esquire article by Jesse Barron
• Liz Meriwether
• Liz Hannah on Twitter
• Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid by Jonathan Haidt for the Atlantic
• Notorious Alfred Hitchcock Film
• AI art – MidJourney and Dall-E
• 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 Nico Mansy (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 6-1-2023 The transcript for this episode can be found here

Craig answers listener questions ranging from craft to career: how do you find your voice? What questions should you ask before writing a new project? When should silence carry a scene? Craig offers professional advice and gets dangerously close to starting a cult.

We follow up on Barton Fink, writer’s block, and keyboards.

In our bonus segment for premium members, Craig and Megana discuss millennials and how Hollywood can invest in R&D.

Links:

• Logitech K860 has Bluetooth!
• Take this typing test – Craig got a 110 wpm!
• Barton Fink
• Chernobyl, Chernobyl Podcast and The Dropout
• 60 Seconds With Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon and puzzle here
• Not Past It Podcast
• 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 Matthew Chilelli (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 4-25-22 The transcript for this episode can be found here.

John answers listener questions on craft and industry. When are you ready to send a script? How do you rewrite scenes during production? Is it cool to take a picture with your celebrity crush on set? John offers professional advice for writers on the page and in real life.

We follow up on screenwriter dexterity (typing speed) and ergonomic keyboards.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Megana discuss ‘Murder House Architecture.’ What makes contemporary homes so scary and who are the contractors constructing these basements?

Links:

• Patton Oswalt in King of Queens Scene
• ZSA Moonlander
• Compare Your Typing Speed Against ours here!
• Phoebe Waller Bridge – 73 Questions with Vogue
• Residuals for High-Budget Subscription Video on Demand (HBSVOD) Programs from the WGA
• Paul Stamets on Seven Mycoattractant and Mycopesticide Patents released to Commons!
• Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future by Elizabeth Kolbert
• Murder House Architecture
• Samantha Hartsoe’s TikTok NYC Apartment
• Ohio State Students Discover Students Living in Basement
• 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 Ben Gerrior (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 4-10-21 The transcript for this episode is available here.

John and Craig investigate backstabs and double-crosses onscreen and share how writers can set up plot twists on the page.

We answer listener questions on imposter syndrome, negative feedback, and hear about John’s journey to find the right ergonomic keyboard. We also follow up on meet-cutes, charismatic aspiring writers, and angry costume designers.

In our bonus segment for premium members, we discuss which reality competition show we’d enter and how we’d win.

Links:

• ‘Better Nate Than Ever’ Filmmaker on Disney’s Handling of “Don’t Say Gay” Bill: “Good Representation Does Not Cancel Out Bad Legislation”
• MGM joins Amazon Prime Studios
• Kinesis Ergo Keyboard
• John’s Old Keyboard set up with SafeType
• Subscribe to the Inneresting Newsletter and read our issue on betrayals here!
• Murderville on Netflix
• Logitech ERGO K860 Wireless Split Keyboard
• 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 Matthew Chilelli (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 4-8-22 The transcript for this episode can be found here.