John August

Transcribed

Based on a True Story

Episode - 448

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Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig welcome screenwriter Mike Makowsky to discuss the process of turning a story from the news into a movie and how he drew on real life experiences to create his upcoming film, Bad Education.

We also follow up on writing with neurological trauma, trailblazing female screenwriters, and answer listener questions on speaking theme vs. subtext.

In our bonus segment for premium members, we talk about our own three page challenges, and why those early pages are so important.

Links:

* [Bad Education](https://www.hbo.com/movies/bad-education) on HBO April 25th, 2020
* Elizabeth on Twitter wrote to steer my attention to the book [When Women Wrote Hollywood: Essays on Female Screenwriters in the Early Film Industry](https://amzn.to/3akU50R)
* [Casablance script](http://mckeestory.com/wp-content/uploads/Digital-CASABLANCA.pdf)
* [History of the Screenplay Format](http://www.screenplayology.com/content-sections/screenplay-style-use/1-1/) by Andrew Gay
* [Bad Education True Story](https://nymag.com/nymetro/urban/features/9908/)
* [#StitchUsBackTogether](https://rebrand.ly/stitch-us-back-together) organized by Jamarah Hayner
* [Epson EcoTank ET-4760](https://epson.com/For-Work/Printers/Inkjet/EcoTank-ET-4760-All-in-One-Cartridge-Free-Supertank-Printer—White/p/C11CG19204)
* [Hidden Valley Road](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/566406/hidden-valley-road-by-robert-kolker/) by Robert Kolker
* Sign up for Scriptnotes Premium [here](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/).
* [John August](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) on Twitter
* [Craig Mazin](https://twitter.com/clmazin) on Twitter
* [Mike Makowsky](https://twitter.com/mike_makowsky?lang=en) on Twitter
* [John on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by James Llonch ([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/448standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 4-28-2020** The transcript for this episode can now be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2020/scriptnotes-episode-448-based-on-a-true-story-transcript).

Three Page Zoom

News, Scriptnotes, Three Page Challenge, Transcribed

John and Craig host another Scriptnotes Livestream Show with special guest Dana Fox (Isn’t It Romantic, Couples Retreat). They discuss her new show, Home Before Dark, and her thoughts on why creating a feeling is so important to developing television shows.

Then we hold a Three Page Challenge and we invite each of our four participants on to discuss their script after we deliver feedback. We cover how to write momentum into action descriptions, ‘overwhelmers’ in a scene, and creating fantastical worlds.

Huge thank you to Dana for joining us, and a big thanks to all of our Three Page Challenge winners for their submissions!

Links:

* [Home Before Dark](https://tv.apple.com/us/show/home-before-dark/umc.cmc.5yqy2wv4w7l0v4x5mn3le8l1y)
* [It Takes Our Village Campaign](https://www.gofundme.com/f/ittakesourvillage)
* [Hampton](https://johnaugust.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/AliImranZaidi.Hampton-Hampton.pdf) by Ali Imran Zaidi
* [Sunbeam](https://johnaugust.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Heidi-Lewis-THE-SUNBEAM.pdf) by Heidi Lewis
* [Nights Never Over](https://johnaugust.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/James-Llonch-Carry-On.pdf) by Jim Llonch
* [Find Him](https://johnaugust.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Dylan-Guerra-FIND-HIM.pdf) by Dylan Guerra
* Sign up for Scriptnotes Premium [here](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 James Llonch ([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/447.mp3).

**UPDATE 4-21-2020** The transcript for this episode can now be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2020/scriptnotes-ep-447-three-page-zoom-transcript).

Back to Basics

News, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig take a step back to discuss what screenwriting actually is and explore its evolution. They cover the history of screenwriting, the construction of a scene, and what new and old writers need to keep in mind about the craft.

We also cover how to approach ‘No Writing Left Behind’ during the time of socially distancing and answer listener questions on how the pandemic will impact writers’ creative and career decisions.

And in our bonus segment for premium members, we discuss charities looking at both the challenges of running a charitable organization and knowing where to donate your money.

Links:

* [Scriptnotes Set Up](https://johnaugust.com/2013/how-we-record-scriptnotes)
* [John’s Writing Set Up](https://johnaugust.com/2016/my-writing-setup-2016)
* [Check out our Livestream Episodes](https://www.youtube.com/user/johnaugust)
* [No Writing Left Behind, Just Say No](https://www.wga.org/news-events/news/connect/when-it-comes-to-writing-left-behind-just-say-no)
* [State Copyright Laws Blackbeard](https://www.npr.org/2020/03/24/820381016/in-blackbeard-pirate-ship-case-supreme-court-scuttles-copyright-claims)
* [Scriptnotes, Ep 89: Writing Effective Transitions](https://johnaugust.com/2013/writing-effective-transitions)
* Sign up for Scriptnotes Premium [here](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 Scott Anderson ([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/446standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 4-21-2020** The transcript for this episode can now be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2020/scriptnotes-ep-446-back-to-basics-transcript).

The One with Phoebe and Ryan

News, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig enlist Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag, Killing Eve) and Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool, The Nines) to break the fourth wall on our first-ever live video Scriptnotes. We discuss when to address the camera, why Deadpool 2 is the saddest movie to watch on a flight, and how to take notes as an actor/writer.

Then we welcome a premium member to play a round of Bad Screenwriting Advice, where we compare internet advice to bogus advice made up by John. We also take listener questions from the Youtube livestream chat on writing with personal experiences and places to find inspiration.

Finally, in our bonus segment John and Craig pull the curtain back to do a post-mortem on the live-show, explaining how we did it and what we learned. Plus the trapped-in-Maldives story that will probably be a movie, and what’s likely going on in Russia.

Links:

* [Watch the episode here – Scriptnotes Live: Episode 445](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRV5O0ZSNc0)
* [Deadpool](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1431045/) and [Deadpool 2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5463162/)
* [Fleabag](https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B01KW5IIJM/ref=atv_dp_season_select_s1) and the [play](https://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/phoebe-waller-bridges-fleabag-play-to-stream-_90860.html) to release soon!
* Huge thank you to [Phoebe Waller Bridge](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3564817/) and [Ryan Reynolds](https://twitter.com/VancityReynolds)!
* [Breathing Cartoons](https://twitter.com/nathanwpyle/status/1139676955316559872) by Nathan Pyle
* [Anthropocene Reviewed: Auld Lang Syne](https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/anthropocene-reviewed/episodes/anthropocene-reviewed-auld-lang-syne)
* [This Country](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6583806/), now on [Hulu in the US](https://www.hulu.com/series/f3e3f7ed-134f-411d-9dc8-e8048b2d6b7e)
* [Free Guy](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6264654/)
* [Drawful on Jackbox Games](https://www.jackboxgames.com/drawful/)
* Bonus How Would This Be A Movie, [Couple Stranded in Maldives](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/05/style/coronavirus-honeymoon-stranded.html)
* [Men Who Have Made Love to Me](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men_Who_Have_Made_Love_to_Me)
* Sign up for Scriptnotes Premium [here](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 Jon Spurney ([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/445standardv3.mp3).

**UPDATE 4-9-2020** The transcript for this episode can now be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2020/scriptnotes-ep-445-the-one-with-phoebe-and-ryan-transcript).