Transcribed

John and Craig discuss preproduction, with Craig sharing how he’s prepping for an entire season of television. From costumes to casting, we look at the showrunner’s decisions beyond just the words in the script.

Then it’s another round of How Would This Be A Movie, with further analysis on *why* certain movies get made.

Finally in our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig debate what information belongs on a time traveller’s cheat sheet.

Links:

* [Zola Movie](https://a24films.com/films/zola) discussed in our HWTBAM segment on [Episode 222](https://johnaugust.com/2015/live-from-austin-2015).
* [The Criminals Thought the Devices Were Secure. But the Seller Was the F.B.I.](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/08/world/australia/operation-trojan-horse-anom.html?referringSource=articleShare)
* [1,000-Word Job Listing for a “Household Manager/Cook/Nanny](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/jan/24/nanny-viral-ad-california-ceo) and follow up [An Interview With the Woman Who Wrote the Viral 1,000-Word Job Listing for a “Household Manager/Cook/Nanny](https://slate.com/human-interest/2020/01/meet-the-silicon-valley-ceo-and-mom-who-wrote-the-viral-extremely-detailed-job-listing-for-a-household-manager-cook-nanny.html) from Ruth Graham on Slate.
* [Couple breaks up after being handcuffed together for 123 days](https://nypost.com/2021/06/18/couple-breaks-up-after-being-handcuffed-together-for-123-days/)
* [Must I really indulge my ‘psychic’ sister-in-law?](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/carolyn-hax-must-i-really-indulge-my-psychic-sister-in-law/2016/08/05/ff5f2f10-5830-11e6-9767-f6c947fd0cb8_story.html)
* [Decoder Ring: The Tootsie Shot](https://slate.com/podcasts/decoder-ring/2021/06/tootsie-shot)
* [Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/gifts) or [treat yourself to a premium subscription!](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/)
* [John August](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) on Twitter
* [Liz Hannah](https://twitter.com/itslizhannah) on Twitter
* [John on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Michael Karman ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))
* Scriptnotes is produced by [Megana Rao](https://twitter.com/MeganaRao) and edited by [Matthew Chilelli](https://twitter.com/machelli).

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/507standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 7-15-21** the transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2021/scriptnotes-episode-507-preproduction-transcript).

John and Craig discuss what comes after you land a movie deal–writing the script by a certain date. They offer tips, strategies, and calculations for budgeting time to deliver a draft.

We also consider the statute of limitations on spoiler warnings and follow up on child prodigies, movie theaters and free will. Our listener questions this week include POV in a two hander and how to get out of a nightmare development trap.

Finally, in our bonus segment for premium members John and Craig share their views on UFOs and extraterrestrial life. Spoiler: it’s all a simulation.

Links:

* [Alamo Drafthouse out of Bankruptcy](https://deadline.com/2021/06/alamo-drafthouse-completes-sale-out-of-bankruptcy-five-new-theaters-box-office-revives-1234767261/)
* [Speculation that AMC may buy our beloved Arclight](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2021-06-01/amc-eyes-arclight-theaters-but-what-about-cinerama)
* [Warner Brothers Discovery Logo](https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/warner-bros-discovery-logo-mocked-1234985685/)
* [CAA Sells wiip](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2021-06-01/caa-sells-majority-stake-in-production-firm-to-south-koreas-jtbc-studios-co)
* [Screen Compensation Guide for Streaming Services](https://www.wga.org/members/employment-resources/writers-deal-hub/screen-compensation-guide-for-streaming-services)
* [Screen Deal Tips](https://www.wga.org/members/employment-resources/writers-deal-hub/screen-deal-tips)
* [32 year old passes for 19 for TV contract](https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/17/arts/tv-writer-32-passed-for-19-bloom-is-off-her-contract.html)
* [Jacob Kaplan-Moss on estimating software development](https://jacobian.org/2021/may/25/my-estimation-technique/)
* [Bo Burnham’s Inside](https://www.netflix.com/title/81289483)
* [Jack Plotnick’s Disney Made a Tiki Room](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9-5lxa9Hm8&list=PLAxvenXhNoAfDoleh_wZ1PLuva0rVwMuW&index=2)
* [Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!](https://cottonbureau.com/people/scriptnotes-podcast)
* [Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/gifts) or [treat yourself to a premium subscription!](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/)
* [John August](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) on Twitter
* [Craig Mazin](https://twitter.com/clmazin) on Twitter
* [John on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Eric Pearson ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))
* Scriptnotes is produced by [Megana Rao](https://twitter.com/MeganaRao) and edited by [Matthew Chilelli](https://twitter.com/machelli).

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/504standardv2.mp3).

**UPDATE 6-11-21** The transcript for this episode can now be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2021/scriptnotes-episode-504-writing-a-script-in-insert-number-days-transcript).

John and Craig discuss the concept of free will, specifically how it relates to fictional characters. They outline the tightrope screenwriters walk balancing characters with agency against obstacles that feel true.

We also talk about decisions screenwriters face in their careers and why it’s okay (and difficult) to change paths. We answer listener questions about optioned scripts and child screenwriting prodigies.

Finally, in our bonus segment for premium members we discuss AP exams. Warning: Craig has umbrage.

Links:

* [The Scriptnotes Index](https://johnaugust.com/scriptnotes-index)
* [Scriptnotes Guest List](https://johnaugust.com/scriptnotes-guest-index)
* Help us update the [Scriptnotes Wikipedia page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scriptnotes)
* [Seth Rogan on Productivity](https://www.insider.com/why-seth-rogen-and-wife-do-not-want-children-2021-5)
* [The clockwork universe: is free will an illusion?](https://www.theguardian.com/profile/oliverburkeman) by Oliver Burkeman
* [Hacks with Jean Smart](https://play.hbomax.com/series/urn:hbo:series:GYIBToQrPdotpNQEAAAEa) on HBO Max
* [Girls 5eva](https://www.peacocktv.com/stream-tv/girls5eva) on Peacock
* [Horses are pretty because horses are pretty](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYZOlwsMGFA&feature=youtu.be) sketch on child-director prodigy
* [Deepl Translator](https://www.deepl.com/translator)
* [Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!](https://cottonbureau.com/people/scriptnotes-podcast)
* [Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/gifts) or [treat yourself to a premium subscription!](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/)
* [John August](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) on Twitter
* [Craig Mazin](https://twitter.com/clmazin) on Twitter
* [John on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Matthew Chilelli ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))
* Scriptnotes is produced by [Megana Rao](https://twitter.com/MeganaRao) and edited by [Matthew Chilelli](https://twitter.com/machelli).

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/502standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 6-4-21** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2022/scriptnotes-episode-502-free-will-or-its-okay-to-not-be-a-screenwriter-transcript).