John August

Transcribed

Political Movies

Episode - 436

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Arlo Finch, Books, Follow Up, Scriptnotes, Stuart, Transcribed

John and Craig welcome back Liz Hannah to talk about her upcoming Netflix movie, All the Bright Places, and Hollywood’s often-frustrating reliance on IP. Particularly with non-fiction stories, has Hollywood warped journalistic ambitions?

All of which serves as setup for another round of How Would This Be a Movie? (00:41:54), where we look at the Jeff Bezos phone hack, Carlos Ghosn, and a romantic political showdown.

In our bonus segment for premium members (01:10:06), we discuss what is and is not okay to do with physical books, and situations where we’re willing to trade pixels for print.

Links:

* [Liz Hannah](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liz_Hannah) on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/itslizhannah) and [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2176283/), and Scriptnotes episodes [242](https://johnaugust.com/2019/austin-film-festival-2019) and [359](https://johnaugust.com/2018/where-movies-come-from)
* The [2020 WGA Award nominees and winners](https://awards.wga.org/awards/nominees-winners)
* [Arlo Finch in the Kingdom of Shadows](https://johnaugust.com/arlo-finch#kos-preorder) will be having a [Launch Event: February 9, 2pm at Chevalier’s on Larchmont](https://www.chevaliersbooks.com/john-august-020920)
* [Scriptnotes, Episode 434](https://johnaugust.com/2020/ambition-and-anxiety) in which we discuss Knives Out
* [MoviePass parent Helios and Matheson files for Chapter 7 and stock falls to zero](https://www.marketwatch.com/story/moviepass-parent-helios-and-matheson-files-for-chapter-7-and-stock-falls-to-zero-2020-01-29), on MarketWatch
* [All the Bright Places](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_the_Bright_Places_(film)) comes to Netflix on February 28
* [They Made a Movie Out of It](https://thebaffler.com/salvos/they-made-a-movie-out-of-it-pogue) by James Pogue
* John Gruber on [the Jeff Bezos phone hack](https://daringfireball.net/2020/01/hacked_to_bits)
* The New York Times on [Carlos Ghosn’s escape](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/06/business/carlos-ghosn-escape.html) and [the Hollywood connection](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/02/business/carlos-ghosn-movie.html)
* [‘Like a bad romcom’: couple run against each other in Irish election](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/27/couple-run-against-each-other-in-irish-election-holly-cairns-cork) from The Guardian
* [Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L2JGLZ9/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1&linkCode=sl1&tag=johnaugustcom-20&linkId=b6ea2f4ef065e37692c379f26e11577a&language=en_US) by Jia Tolentino
* [Superieur Electrolytes](https://superieurelectrolytes.com/)
* [Star Battle puzzles](https://www.wired.com/2010/12/dr-sudoku-prescribes-star-battle/)
* [Wit’s End](https://www.amazon.com/Game-Development-Group-11104-Board/dp/B00004W60G) on Amazon
* [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 Lachlan Marks ([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/436standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 2-9-2020** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2020/scriptnotes-ep-436-political-movies).

The One with Noah Baumbach

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John talks with writer-director Noah Baumbach about his film Marriage Story. With script in hand, we discuss his writing process, handling overlapping dialogue, and how to find balance in a two-hander.

We also answer a listener question about LA vs. New York apartments (01:05:16), and the challenge of making boring things interesting.

In our bonus segment for premium members (01:14:26), Craig returns to discuss escape rooms!

Links:

* Read the script for [Marriage Story here](https://pmcdeadline2.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/marriage-story-ampas-script.pdf) or watch [Marriage Story](https://www.netflix.com/title/80223779?)
* [APA Signed with WGA](https://variety.com/2020/film/news/apa-deal-writers-guild-of-america-1203475114/), congrats APA!
* [Megan McDonnell](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6876585/), former Scriptnotes Producer, to write [Captain Marvel Sequel](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/captain-marvel-2-movie-works-wandavision-writer-1272259). Congrats!
* David Byrne’s [American Utopia](https://americanutopiabroadway.com/)
* [Noah Baumbach](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000876/)
* [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 Alex Winder ([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/435st.mp3).

**UPDATE 1-30-2020** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2020/scriptnotes-ep-435-the-one-with-noah-baumbach).

Ambition and Anxiety

Scriptnotes, Three Page Challenge, Transcribed

John and Craig discuss the difference between ambition and anxiety, and how writers can find a balance. We also follow up on agency developments and a new study that shows the live-action Aladdin is good for your health.

Then we host another round of the Three Page Challenge, this time focusing on establishing the setting. Thank you to all of our participants, especially Janelle B. Gatchalian, Alex Beattie, and Linda Yardley.

And for our Premium Members, John and Craig express their views on gift bags, and in particular coffee mugs.

Special thanks to Bo Shim and Jacq Lesko.

Links:

* Sign up for premium [here](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/)
* Arlo Finch in the Kingdom of Shadows Launch Event: February 9, 2pm at Chevalier’s on Larchmont
* [Gersh Signs Agency Agreement](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gersh-reaches-agreement-wga-1270717)
* [Aladdin Will Save Your Life](https://geektyrant.com/news/study-finds-that-going-to-the-movies-is-as-good-for-your-heart-as-going-to-the-gym)
* Download Highland 2 [here](https://quoteunquoteapps.com/highland-2/), professors and students interested in the free student edition, email brand@johnaugust.com
* [Download Weekend Read to read Academy Award nominated scripts](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/weekend-read/id502725173)
* [Knives Out](https://lionsgate.brightspotcdn.com/fb/14/23cd58a147afbb5c758ecb3dff0a/knivesout-final.pdf) by Rian Johnson
* [Bruja](https://johnaugust.com/index.php?gf-download=2019%2F12%2FBRUJA_3_pgs_Janelle_Gatchalian_120519.pdf&form-id=1&field-id=4&hash=23db0ab6b106842be40d09efa18690e1dcbe452deb65689c35adbebb303cdb7b) by Janelle B. Gatchalian
* [Night of Game](https://johnaugust.com/index.php?gf-download=2020%2F01%2FNight-of-Game.pdf&form-id=1&field-id=4&hash=9db58af47aec65a547f110c777baf296a31b29383b246df72c88b0abf04c3a35) by Alex Beattie
* [Upward Mobility](https://johnaugust.com/index.php?gf-download=2020%2F01%2FScriptnotesUM.pdf&form-id=1&field-id=4&hash=ac2859f1a8bf18c18229be6012dc782fc4b4fcc279a8a44a17974472e3847aae) by Linda Minella Yardley (Story by Carol Gold Lande and Linda Minella Yardley)
* [House of Da Vinci](https://www.bluebraingames.com/the-house-of-da-vinci-2)
* [How America Uses its Land](https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2018-us-land-use/?sref=q8seIhDd)
* [Sweetgreen Composting](https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/story/2020-01-15/sweetgreen-green-image)
* [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 Jemma Moran ([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/434st.mp3).

**UPDATE 1-28-2020** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2020/scriptnotes-ep-434-ambition-and-anxiety).

The One with Greta Gerwig

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Greta Gerwig (writer/director of Little Women and Lady Bird) discuss adaptation, ambition and authorship. With the screenplay in front of them, they look at specific scenes in Little Women and explore how its non-linear timeline changed how the movie works.

We also answer listener questions on writing for the page and starting a family as an aspiring writer.

Craig joins us for the post-credits bonus segment when he shares what it was like winning a Golden Globe for Chernobyl.

Links:

* [Follow along with the Little Women script in Weekend Read](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/weekend-read/id502725173)
* [Little Women Script](https://pmcvariety.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/little-women-by-greta-gerwig.pdf)
* NYT Article with John and Megana [Hollywood Assistants Are Fed Up](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/10/business/metoo-hollywood-assistants.html) by Rachel Abrams
* [Sign up for Scriptnotes Premium here](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/)
* [New York in Color Jigsaw Puzzle](https://amzn.to/2FDEBI0)
* [Behave by Robert Sapolsky](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/311787/behave-by-robert-m-sapolsky/)
* [Greta Gerwig](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1950086/)
* [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 Jemma Moran ([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/433standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 1-16-2020** The original transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2020/scriptnotes-ep-433-the-one-with-greta-gerwig).