John August

Transcribed

Opening Scenes

Episode - 493

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News, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig discuss the craft of constructing beginnings: what they consider when writing the first line of a script and how opening scenes have evolved with audience expectations.

We also investigate a question from former producer Stuart Friedel and dive into the history of foreign levies. We then make predictions on the future of movie-going by analyzing the history of megaplexes.

Finally, in our bonus segment for premium members we look at cliches versus conventions.

Links:

* [WGA Parental Leave](https://www.wga.org/members/membership-information/new-paid-parental-leave-benefit-details) begins May 2!
* [Learn more about foreign levies](https://www.wga.org/the-guild/levies-payments/foreign-levies-program/history)
* [99 Percent Invisible Podcast Episode: The Megaplex](https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/the-megaplex/)
* [We’ve Outgrown the Ugly Duckling Transformation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aa4bR5ZO3dM) by Mina Le on Youtube
* [TV Tropes](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/VampireTropes) – Vampires
* [Listener Guide Submissions](https://johnaugust.com/guide) send in your favorite episodes from 300-500!
* [Check out the Screenwriting Life Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-screenwriting-life-with-meg-lefauve-and-lorien-mckenna/id1501641442) and this episode with [John!](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/35-john-august-on-worldbuilding-in-your-writing/id1501641442?i=1000512898141)
* [Upstep](https://app.upstep.com) – the review is positive!
* [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 Peter Hoopes ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))
* Scriptnotes is produced by Megana Rao and edited by Matthew Chilelli.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/493standard1.mp3).

**UPDATE 3-26-2021** The transcript for this episode is now available [here](https://johnaugust.com/2021/scriptnotes-episode-493-opening-scenes-transcript).

Gray Areas

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig wade into the murky ethical challenges screenwriters face in Hollywood: When do you speak out against a peer? How do you claim an idea? Should you accept money from shady sources? They share their own experiences navigating these questions.

We also follow up on female redemption arcs, NFTs, and joining the WGA. We answer listener questions on topics from ‘the director’s pass’ to creating personal websites.

Finally in our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig share their personal origin stories about the moment they decided to become screenwriters.

Links:

* [Listener Guide Submissions](https://johnaugust.com/guide) send in your favorite episodes from 300-500!
* [Screenwriting Competitions Aren’t Worth the Money](https://johnaugust.com/2021/screenwriting-competitions-arent-worth-the-money) blogpost
* [$69 Million Beeple Auction for NFT](https://slate.com/technology/2021/03/beeple-auction-christies-nft-69-million-explained-why-why-why.html )
* [Scriptnotes, Episode 407: Understanding Your Feature Contract](https://johnaugust.com/2019/understanding-your-feature-contract)
* [Build a website on card.co](https://carrd.co/build)
* [For Creators, Everything Is for Sale](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/10/style/creators-selling-selves.html) by Taylor Lorenz for the NYT
* [Upstep](https://app.upstep.com) for insoles, and for more unboxing content, check out this podcast [All Consuming](https://allconsuming.show)
* [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 Michael Karmon ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))
* Scriptnotes is produced by Megana Rao and edited by Matthew Chilelli.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/492standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 3-20-2021** The transcript for this episode can now be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2021/scriptnotes-episode-492-gray-areas-transcript).

The Deal with Deals

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig talk about writer deals of various types, including a deep dive into new data published by the WGA on feature writer pay.

We also follow up on female redemption arcs and John shares his theory with Craig on how Disney will make its next trillion dollars.

Finally in our bonus segment for premium members, we wade into the discourse on writers tweeting about writing, and whether it’s okay to judge a line of dialogue.

Links:

* [WGA Writer’s Deal Hub](https://www.wga.org/members/employment-resources/episodic-quote-guide/writers-deal-hub)
and [Screen Guide](https://www.wga.org/members/employment-resources/writers-deal-hub/screen-deal-guide)
* [Tony on Twitter’s Question about Overall Deals](https://twitter.com/tonygapastione/status/1366787154643349510?s=21)
* [WandaVision Thread on Twitter](https://twitter.com/madhat31/status/1365773588586987522) and [meme](https://www.insider.com/wandavision-memes-what-is-grief-line-2021-3)
* [NFTS Are Transforming the Digital Art World](https://foundation.app/blog/nfts-are-transforming-the-digital-art-world)
* [It’s a Sin](https://www.hbomax.com/series/urn:hbo:series:GYBNNbABUnb1QoQEAAABA) on HBO Max
* [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
* [John on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Monica Storms ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))
* Scriptnotes is produced by Megana Rao and edited by Matthew Chilelli.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/491standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 3-12-21** The transcript for this episode can now be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2021/scriptnotes-episode-491-the-deal-with-deals-transcript).

Secrets and Lies

News, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig investigate the cyclical relationship between secrets and lies. They discuss character motivations for lying and how the tension of a secret can hold a story together. To illustrate the discussion, John invites Craig to solve our first-ever How Would This Be a Movie mystery, the Case of the Fatherless Child.

We also talk about the dreaded “why now?” note, the questionable wisdom of “you either have it or you don’t,” and whether we are team PRE-LAP.

Finally in the bonus segment for premium members, we discuss travel and our plans post-pandemic.

Links:

* [Download Weekend Read to read the ‘Awards 2021’ scripts](https://quoteunquoteapps.com/weekendread/)
* [Lying: Moral Choices in Public and Private Life](https://www.amazon.com/Lying-Moral-Choice-Public-Private/dp/0375705287) by Sissela Bok
* [Julie Plec on Twitter](https://twitter.com/julieplec/status/1362499010594963457?s=21)
* [Kitty Letter](https://theoatmeal.com/blog/free_game) Game
* [Inked](https://inkedgame.com) Game
* [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 Daniel Green ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))
* Scriptnotes is produced by Megana Rao and edited by Matthew Chilelli.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/490standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 3-11-21** The transcript for this episode can now be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/?s=490+secrets+and+lies).