John August

Transcribed

Minimum Viable Movie

Episode - 423

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Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig discuss how to figure out if a given idea can work as a movie. What are the minimum requirements for story and vision a writer should consider before starting on a screenplay?

We also invite Megana Rao and Bo Shim to follow up on our discussion of low assistant pay. Plus follow up from the WGA and video game industry awards, and a look ahead to the Austin Film Festival.

Links:

* [Austin Film Festival Schedule](https://austinfilmfestival.com/festival-and-conference-aff/2019-full-schedule/)
* Taylor Swift [Tiny Desk Concert on NPR](https://www.npr.org/2019/10/16/770318649/taylor-swift-tiny-desk-concert)
* [What Is the Time Signature of the Ominous Electronic Score of The Terminator?](https://slate.com/culture/2014/02/the-time-signature-of-the-terminator-score-is-a-mystery-for-the-ages.html) by Seth Stevenson
* [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 Tyler Adams ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_423_minimum_viable_movie.mp3)

**UPDATE 10-29-2019** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2019/scriptnotes-episode-423-minimum-viable-movie-transcript).

Follow Upisode

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig follow up on things they’ve discussed in the previous 420 episodes, so you might want to listen to those first.

We check in on getting an agent, copyright law, the future of the industry, post-2016 election reflections, assistant pay, and much more.

Links:

* [Scriptnotes, Ep 5, Copyright and Work for Hire](https://johnaugust.com/2011/wga-copyright-and-musicals)
* [Real-Life ‘Terminator’: Major Studios Face Sweeping Loss of Iconic ‘80s Film Franchise Rights](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/real-life-terminator-major-studios-face-sweeping-loss-iconic-80s-film-franchise-rights-1244737?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link&ICID=ref_fark) by Eriq Gardner
* [Copyright Section 203](https://www.copyright.gov/docs/203.html)
* [Friday 13th Screenwriter Wins Rights Battle](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/friday-13th-screenwriter-wins-rights-battle-producer-1147991) by Eriq Gardner
* [Scriptnotes, Ep 2, How to get an agent and/or manager](https://johnaugust.com/2011/scriptnotes-episode-2)
* [Scriptnotes, Ep 389, The Future of the Industry](https://johnaugust.com/2019/the-future-of-the-industry)
* [How Ari Emanuel’s Outsize IPO Dreams Were Dashed](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/how-ari-emanuel-s-outsized-ipo-dreams-were-dashed-1244772) by Kim Masters
* [Why Endeavor’s IPO U-Turn Was a Surprisingly Brilliant Move](https://www.ccn.com/why-endeavors-ipo-u-turn-was-a-surprisingly-brilliant-move/) by Lawrence Meyers
* [WeWork: At What Point Does Malfeasance Become Fraud](http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/10/marketing-expert-scott-galloway-on-wework-and-adam-neumann.html) by Scott Galloway
* [Scriptnotes, Ep 42, Verbs are what’s happening](https://johnaugust.com/2012/verbs-are-whats-happening)
* [Extra, This Feeling Will End](https://johnaugust.com/2016/this-feeling-will-end)
* [Ep 335, Introducing Launch](https://johnaugust.com/2018/introducing-launch)
* [Launch Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/launch/id1319436103)
* [Scriptnotes Ep 419, Professionalism](https://johnaugust.com/2019/professionalism)
* [Scriptnotes Ep 403, How to Write A Movie](https://johnaugust.com/2019/how-to-write-a-movie)
* [Scriptnotes Ep 420, The One with Seth Rogen](https://johnaugust.com/2019/the-one-with-seth-rogen)
* [LA Report Broken Lights and Crosswalk Buttons](http://myladot.lacity.org/sr/ladothtml5viewer/)
* [Escape Room Apps by Goro Sato](https://apps.apple.com/us/developer/goro-sato/id412448991)
* [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)
* Scriptnotes is produced by Megana Rao and edited by Matthew Chilelli.
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Jim Bond ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_421_follow_upisode.mp3)

**UPDATE 11-1-19** The transcript for this episode can be found [here.](https://johnaugust.com/2019/scriptnotes-ep-421-the-follow-upisode-transcript)

The One with Seth Rogen

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig welcome writer/actor/producer/director Seth Rogen (Superbad, Knocked Up, Good Boys) to the podcast. They discuss Seth’s writing process, evolving with a creative partner, and the cinematic origins of 420.

Seth then joins them for another edition of How Would This Be a Movie? looking at stories ranging from corruption, cattle mutilation, and geriatric thieves.

Links:

* [420 origins according to Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/420_(cannabis_culture))
* [‘Someone’s Gotta Tell the Freakin’ Truth’: Jerry Falwell’s Aides Break Their Silence](https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/09/09/jerry-falwell-liberty-university-loans-227914?fbclid=IwAR3V5SFMjUdw6A33e6y1NB3GhRrBg3ifTaMrVMZdASAkwHDl_9GsJaOoQ00) by Brandon Ambrosino
* [Mysterious Oregon Cattle Killings, Mutilations Alarm Ranchers](https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2019/08/mysterious-oregon-cattle-killings-mutilations-alarm-ranchers.html) by Diana Kruzman
* [An 82-year-old Man Slipped Past Doormen in Upscale Buildings for Years and Stole $400k in Jewelry, Police Say](https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/08/us/nyc-burglar-82-years-old-upper-east-side/index.html?no-st=1569027413) by Madeline Holcombe and Joshua Girsky
* [How to Tighten Up Your Game at Work When You’re Depressed](https://captainawkward.com/2013/02/16/450-how-to-tighten-up-your-game-at-work-when-youre-depressed/) by Captain Awkward
* [Saucey: Alcohol Delivery App](https://www.saucey.com/)
* [Hilarity for Charity](https://hilarityforcharity.org/)
* [National Expungement Week](https://www.cagefreecannabis.com/getfree), Seth’s [PSA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdmvZjz1H7s)
* [John August](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) on Twitter
* [Craig Mazin](https://twitter.com/clmazin) on Twitter
* [Seth Rogen](https://twitter.com/sethrogen) on Twitter
* [John on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Rajesh Naroth ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_420_seth_rogen.mp3)

**UPDATE 10-4-19:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2019/scriptnotes-ep-420-transcript).

Professionalism

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig discuss topics ranging from the Emmys to elections, professionalism to patronage, along with the state of #MeToo. We also answer listener questions on credits and ask for your thoughts on potential changes to our premium subscriptions.

Links:

* [The Emmy Award Winners](https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners) Congrats Craig!
* [WGA Election Results](https://www.wga.org/news-events/news/press/wgaw-announces-2019-officers-and-board-of-directors-election-results)
* [She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement](https://www.amazon.com/She-Said-Breaking-Harassment-Movement/dp/0525560343) by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey
* [Why I Quit the Writer’s Room](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/06/opinion/sunday/walter-mosley.html) by Walter Mosley
* [Professional Writing and the Rise of the Amateur](https://johnaugust.com/2006/professional-writing-and-the-rise-of-the-amateur)
* [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))

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_419_professionalism.mp3)

**UPDATE 9.30.19** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2019/scriptnotes-ep-419-professionalism).