John August

Transcribed

The One with Noah Baumbach

Episode - 435

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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).

Learning from Movies

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig discuss what screenwriters can learn from watching movies. They cover techniques for making the most of the movies they watch and the questions you should be asking afterward.

We also share more advice from listeners about moving to LA and lots of answers FOR listeners who’ve written in with questions.

And for Scriptnotes Premium members, we have a bonus segment discussing The Mandalorian.

Links:

* [Southern California Counseling Center](https://sccc-la.org/counselor-training-program/)
* [How I Created A Deepfake of Mark Zuckerberg and Star Trek’s Data](https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/12/how-i-created-a-deepfake-of-mark-zuckerberg-and-star-treks-data/) by Timothy Lee for Ars Technica
* [Vertiflex Superion](https://www.vertiflex.com/products/superion/)
* [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 Adam Locke Norton ([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/432st.mp3).

**UPDATE 1-14-2020** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2020/scriptnotes-episode-432-learning-from-movies-transcript).