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).

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).

John and Craig share their tips for working from home, from writing sprints to taking walks.

We also talk about how the recent shutdowns have affected Pay Up Hollywood, support staff, and what we’re doing about it.

Finally, we hear from Scriptnotes guests and friends about how they are managing this challenging time. Longtime listeners, buckle up.

Links:

* Huge thanks to all of our special guests for sharing! Follow them here: [Emily Zulauf](https://twitter.com/emilyzulauf) on Twitter, [Mike Birbiglia](https://www.instagram.com/birbigs/) on Instagram, [Megana Rao](https://twitter.com/meganarao) on Twitter, [BJ Novak](https://twitter.com/bjnovak) on Twitter, [Chris Nee](https://twitter.com/chrisdocnee) on Twitter, [Charlie Brooker](https://twitter.com/charltonbrooker) on Twitter, [David Iserson](https://twitter.com/davidiserson) on Twitter, [Susana Fogel](https://twitter.com/susannafogel) on Twitter, [Damon Lindelof](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0511541/) on IMDb, [David Wain](https://twitter.com/davidwain) on Twitter, [Mari Heller](https://www.instagram.com/mariellestilesheller) on Instagram, [Rawson Thurber](https://twitter.com/rawsonthurber?lang=en) on Twitter, [Liz Hannah](https://twitter.com/itslizhannah) on Twitter, [Malcolm Spellman](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1173259/) on IMDb, [Alison McDonald](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1037485/) on IMDb, [Ryan Knighton](https://twitter.com/ryanknighton) on Twitter, [Ricki Lindhome](https://twitter.com/rikilindhome) on Twitter, [Chris Keyser](https://twitter.com/chrskeyser?lang=en) on Twitter, [Lulu Wang](https://twitter.com/thumbelulu) on Twitter, and don’t forget to congratulate [Matthew Chilelli](https://twitter.com/machelli?lang=en) on Twitter!
* [Donate to the Scriptnotes and PayUpHollywood fundraiser to #SupportOurSupportStaff](https://www.gofundme.com/f/44ndst-relief-fund-for-hollywood-support-staff)
* [For LA based Support Staff apply for COVID-19 Relief Fund](https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GQKXL5K)
* [Dead Pilot Society](https://maximumfun.org/podcasts/dead-pilots-society) and [Online Codenames](www.horsepaste.com)
* Two books by Matt Parker: [Things to Make and Do in the Fourth Dimension](https://amzn.to/2woYQbv) and [Humble Pi](https://amzn.to/2U4UxeL)
* 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 Ryan Dunn ([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/443standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 3-30-20** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2020/scriptnotes-ep-443-what-were-up-to-transcript).