John August

Transcribed

Creating a Visual Language

Episode - 464

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News, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John talks with writer-director Lorene Scafaria and costume designer Mitchell Travers about their collaboration on Hustlers, and how to think visually about story.

We discuss locations, production design, cinematography, and choreography with a major focus on pre-production.

And in our bonus topic for premium members, John catches up with Mitchell seven months after our initial conversation.

Links:

* [Directors Close-Up: Tacky Fashion and the Visual Language of ‘Hustlers’ – Film Independent](https://www.filmindependent.org/blog/directors-close-up-tacky-fashion-and-the-visual-language-of-hustlers/)
* [Hustlers](https://www.hustlers.movie/)
* [Lorene Scafaria](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1032521/) and on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/lorenescafaria?lang=en)
* [Mitchell Travers](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4095618/) and on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/_mitchelltravers_/?hl=en)
* [Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!](https://cottonbureau.com/people/scriptnotes-podcast)
* [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 Caden Brown ([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/464standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 8-19-20** The transcript for this episode can now be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2020/scriptnotes-episode-464-creating-a-visual-language-transcript).

Writing Action

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig talk action! It’s an all-craft episode about how words on the page become high-adrenaline events on the screen.

We also follow up on WGA news and agency lay-offs.

In our bonus segment for premium members we try to discuss the Emmys but mostly talk about teenage girls’ obsession with Criminal Minds.

Links:

* [Action Scenes PDF](https://johnaugust.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Scriptnotes-463-action-samples-corrected.pdf) **←CORRECTED 8/20/2020**
* [Support Staff Emergency Relief Fund](https://actorsfund.org/am-i-eligible-help)
* [CAA Lays Off Agents and Employees](https://variety.com/2020/film/news/caa-major-layoffs-agents-staff-1234718628/)
* [WGA East and West members voted to approve the new contract](https://www.thewrap.com/wga-contract-ratified-with-overwhelming-approval-in-membership-vote/)
* [Good Sudoku](https://9to5mac.com/2020/07/23/good-sudoku-ios-app-launches-to-save-sudoku/)
* [Good Soduku App](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id1489118195#?platform=iphone)
* [Ghosts of Tsushima](https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/ghost-of-tsushima-ps4/)
* [Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!](https://cottonbureau.com/people/scriptnotes-podcast)
* [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 and edited by Matthew Chilelli.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/463standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 8-10-20** The transcript for this episode can now be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2020/scriptnotes-episode-463-writing-action-transcript).

Development Heck

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig discuss the special purgatory that projects can get lost in and how to navigate your way out.

We also follow up on Assistant Pay, the 2020 WGA report, and Craig’s writing process for television.

Finally, in our bonus segment for premium members we discuss wine!

Links:

* [WME, Endeavor Content Increase Assistant Pay](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wme-endeavor-content-increase-assistant-pay-1303933)
* [Nikki Finke in 2009 on WME Wages](https://deadline.com/2009/07/more-news-about-wme-assistant-pay-10760/)
* [The General, with Buster Keaton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_General_(1926_film))
* [WGA 2020 Annual Report](https://www.wga.org/the-guild/about-us/annual-report)
* [Mythic Odysseys of Theros](https://bookshop.org/books/dungeons-dragons-mythic-odysseys-of-theros-d-d-campaign-setting-and-adventure-book/9780786967018)
* [Caddyshack 2](https://www.si.com/media/2020/07/24/caddyshack-2-worst-sequel-ever-inside-story)
* [Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!](https://cottonbureau.com/people/scriptnotes-podcast)
* [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 Brendan Bergan ([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/462standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 8-2-20** The transcript for this episode can now be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2020/scriptnotes-episode-462-development-heck-transcript).

The Right Manganese for the Job

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig bring another round of How Would This Be A Movie, with a mix of stories from history and the headlines. In this episode we discuss an unexpected guest at a funeral, a lost Russian submarine and a social influencer murder plot.

We also look at the latest WGA developments, including the new agency agreement with UTA and the vote on the studio agreement. Then, we answer listener questions on an UNO movie, editing while writing and how to write a high-profit movie.

In our bonus segment for premium members, we discuss how 2020 would be a movie.

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 7-28-2020 The original post for this episode can now be found here.