John August

Transcribed

M is for Minimum

Episode - 528

Go to Archive

Scriptnotes, Transcribed, WGA

John and Craig define and discuss important terms for writers: backends, profits, scales, floors, ceilings, and minimums. They trace the flow of money from WGA contracts to residuals and the downstream impact on animation writers.

They also take a look at characters ‘finding themselves’ and harsh writing advice. Follow up includes Korean grammar, holiday movies, the phrase ‘fake it till you make it’ and whether you should introduce yourself as a writer.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig analyze why movie dialogue has become harder to understand.

Links:

* [Endeavor sells its content side CJ Entertainment](https://labusinessjournal.com/news/2021/nov/29/endeavor-sells-content-studio-south-korean-media-c/)
* [WGA Health Fund](https://www.wgaplans.org/health/healthfaqs.html) now eligible for infertility treatments.
* [For tips on understanding your contract, check out episode 407](https://johnaugust.com/2019/scriptnotes-ep-407-understanding-your-feature-contract-transcript)
* [A writer who moved off the grid and hates it](https://www.outsideonline.com/culture/love-humor/remote-cabin-write/) advice by Blair Braverman
* [Have You Considered Accountancy? How to Start Writing (and When to Stop): Advice for Writers By Wisława Szymborska (Edited and translated from Polish by Clare Cavanagh)](https://literaryreview.co.uk/have-you-considered-accountancy) review by Joanna Kavenna
* [The Game Master’s Book of Non-Player Characters](https://www.amazon.com/Game-Masters-Book-Non-Player-Characters/dp/1948174804) by Jeff Ashworth
* [Canary Mail](https://canarymail.io/) email service for MacOS and iOS
* [Why Movie Dialogue is so Hard to Understand](https://www.slashfilm.com/673162/heres-why-movie-dialogue-has-gotten-more-difficult-to-understand-and-three-ways-to-fix-it/?fbclid=IwAR3ClhGA3-F33lfL1MXxML90-rrSH8Tt2vARyijsSFKEsZL-3D5vrJO6i-g#) by Ben Pearson for Slashfilm
* [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/)
* [Craig Mazin](https://twitter.com/clmazin) on Twitter
* [John August](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) on Twitter
* [John on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Timothy Vajda ([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/528standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 1-5-21** The transcript for this episode can now be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2022/scriptnotes-episode-528-m-is-for-minimum-transcript).

Die Hard

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig celebrate the holidays by releasing a special premium episode on the 1988 Christmas classic: DIE HARD.

Die Hard created a new template for action movies, heroes, and villains, establishing tropes still seen in theaters. They discuss both structure and story to examine what screenwriters can take away from this film and why many have failed to replicate its success.

In our super-size bonus segment for premium members, John interviews DIE HARD screenwriter Steven E. de Souza, who shares credit with Jeb Stuart. Steven reveals how he choreographed action scenes using the building’s blueprints, why the story switches POV, and how improv added realism to the film’s marriage dynamics. It’s a great lesson in why a screenwriter’s job doesn’t stop when turning in the draft.

Links:

* Read the DIE HARD script on [Weekend Read](https://quoteunquoteapps.com/weekendread/) or [online here](https://www.scriptslug.com/assets/scripts/die-hard-1988.pdf).
* [Feminist Analysis of Die Hard](https://anotherangrywoman.com/2016/12/18/making-fists-with-your-toes-towards-a-feminist-analysis-of-die-hard/)
* [Movies That Made Us](https://www.netflix.com/title/80990849) on Netflix, check out the Die Hard episode on S1!
* Sign up for [premium here](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/).
* [Steven E. de Souza](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0211823/) on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/stevenedesouza)
* [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 Andy Roninson ([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/527standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 12-1-21** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2021/scriptnotes-episode-527-diehard-transcript).

Just One Question

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John invites some favorite guests on to answer a single question about their current projects. Matt Manfredi and Phil Hay explain how they moved the second season of The Mysterious Benedict Society from Canada to California. Aline Brosh McKenna talks about the challenges of directing a feature versus running a TV series. Data scientist Stephen Follows makes his best pitch for film school (and college in general).

But first, John chats with Liz Hsiao Lan Alper about this year’s #PayUpHollywood survey, and recaps the IATSE deal and the WGA’s Additional Literary Material vote.

In our bonus segment for premium members, Stephen talks through how he’d measure the value of screenwriting competitions in both hard and soft metrics.

Links:

* [PayUpHollywood Survey](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeJwPx8-eACD3b2-GMfkue6kGKdSiudlFa3wAX4oRMTaTg-fA/viewform)
* [WGA Members Approve Change In Movie Credits To Better Reflect All Writers’ Contributions](https://deadline.com/2021/11/wga-members-approve-change-movie-credits-1234874148/)
* [Hollywood crew union narrowly ratifies its contracts with studios.](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/15/business/media/iatse-contract-ratification.html)
* [‘Promised Land’ & ‘Mysterious Benedict Society’ Score Tax Credits For Moving To California](https://deadline.com/2021/10/promised-land-mysterious-benedict-society-california-tax-credits-move-1234861736/)
* [I Will Not Read Your F*%!ing Script](https://www.villagevoice.com/2009/09/09/i-will-not-read-your-fucking-script/)
* [Shrubs Drink Recipe](https://www.foodnetwork.com/videos/altons-cocktail-time-shrubs-0186744) and Liz’s favorite [Ikea Pine Needle Tea](https://www.ikea.com/es/en/p/egentid-green-tea-lemon-pine-utz-certified-organic-60415544/)
* [Yellow Jackets](https://www.sho.com/yellowjackets)
* [I Think You Should Leave](https://www.netflix.com/title/80986854)
* [Goldbelly](https://www.goldbelly.com/) Food Delivery
* [Series Heat](https://vallandingham.me/seriesheat/?utm_source=densediscovery&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter-issue-164#/?color=3&id=tt0411008)
* [Liz Hsiao Lan Alper](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3225554/) on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/LizAlps)
* [Matt Manfredi](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0542062/) on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/MattRManfredi)
* [Phil Hay](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006534/) on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/PhilHay_)
* [Aline Brosh McKenna]() on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/alinebmckenna)
* [Stephen Follows](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1637486/) on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/stephenfollows) and his [website](https://stephenfollows.com/)
* [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/)
* [Craig Mazin](https://twitter.com/clmazin) on Twitter
* [John August](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) on Twitter
* [John on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Henry Adler ([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/526standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 12-14-21** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2021/scriptnotes-episode-526-just-one-question-transcript).

The Story This Was Based On

HWTBAM, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig invite investigative reporter Zeke Faux (Bloomberg) for a new round of How Would This Be A Movie. They cover stories ranging from the secret history of sushi to fake Scottish rappers. Zeke shares what it’s like to option an article to Hollywood and tricks for getting noticed by producers.

In follow-up, we get a romantic update from Oops and answer a listener question on whether it’s worth watching prior adaptations of a given work.

In our bonus segment for premium members, we ask: what are the remaining distinctions between writing for Hollywood and writing for magazines?

Links:

* [Scriptnotes Hoodies](https://cottonbureau.com/products/scriptnotes-tri-blend-zip-hoodie#/12684369/sweatshirt-unisex-zip-up-hoodie-solid-black-tri-blend-xs) order by November 18 in time for the Holidays!
* [Veterans in Media and Entertainment](https://vmeconnect.org/)
* [Movie Pass is Back!](https://www.businessinsider.com/moviepass-cofounder-stacy-spikes-buys-back-company-and-plans-relaunch-2021-11)
* [339 – Mostly Terrible People](https://johnaugust.com/2018/mostly-terrible-people) sign up for the full episode at Scriptnotes.net
* [Zeke Faux](https://www.bloomberg.com/authors/AP5w7epl1Xo/zeke-faux) and on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/ZekeFaux)!
* [How Thieves Stole $40 Million of Copper by Spray-Painting Rocks](https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2021-painted-rocks-copper-heist/?cmpid=BBD062921_MKT) By Andy Hoffman and Benedikt Kammel
* [Secret History of Sushi](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/11/05/magazine/sushi-us.html) by Daniel Fromson with illustrations by Igor Bastidas for the NYT
* [The Migrant Laborers Who Clean Up after Disasters](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/11/08/the-migrant-workers-who-follow-climate-disasters) by Sarah Stillman for the New Yorker
* [‘The story of a weird world I was warned never to tell’](https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-42951788) by Sarah McDermott for the BBC
* Silibill N’ Brains: [Meet the Two Scottish Rappers Who Conned the World](https://www.vice.com/en/article/rknaa6/meet-the-two-scottish-rappers-who-conned-the-world) by Tom Seymour for Vice and [Fake It Till You Make It: The Great Hip Hop Hoax](https://www.dontdiewondering.com/fake-it-till-you-make-it-the-great-hip-hop-hoax/) by Samuel on DDW Magazine
* [Inevitable Foundation](https://inevitable.foundation/)
* [Friendsgiving Miry’s List](https://give.miryslist.org/campaign/2021-friendsgiving-with-mirys-list/c373800)
* [Jasmila Žbanić](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jasmila_%C5%BDbani%C4%87), [Quo Vadis, Aida?](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8633462/) and [#Craigana](https://images.app.goo.gl/5K3sehZMad1pVjWSA)
* [Roam Research](https://roamresearch.com/)
* [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/)
* [Craig Mazin](https://twitter.com/clmazin) on Twitter
* [John August](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) on Twitter
* [John on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Ryan Gerber ([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/525standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 12-1-21** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2021/scriptnotes-episode-525-the-story-this-was-based-on-transcript).