John August

Transcribed

Writing About Mental Health and Addiction

Episode - 412

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News, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John moderates Breaking the Stigma, a panel on addiction and mental health with guests Gemma Baker (creator of CBS’s Mom), Dr. Corey Waller (specialist in pain, addiction and emergency medicine), Dr. Holly Daniels (specialist in eating disorders and mental health issues), and journalist Zachary Siegel.

We discuss how addiction and mental health issues are portrayed in film and TV, more authentic ways of telling these stories, and how writers and creators can take care of their own mental health.

Special thanks to our incredible panelists, plus Kate Folb, Marty Kaplan, and the entire team at Hollywood Health and Society!

Links:

* [Hollywood Health and Society](https://hollywoodhealthandsociety.org/events/addiction-mental-health-breaking-stigma)
* [6 Balloons with Dave Franco](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uF4XjvS_Z0)
* [Motivational Interviewing](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/motivational-interviewing)
* [Narcan](https://www.narcan.com/)
* Follow Corey Waller on Twitter [here](https://twitter.com/rcwallermd).
* Follow Holly Daniels on Twitter [here](https://twitter.com/drhollydaniels).
* Follow Zachary Siegel on Twitter [here](https://twitter.com/ZachWritesStuff). Follow his project Changing the Narrative on Twitter [here](https://twitter.com/hijaction) or using #ChangingtheNarrative.
* [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))

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_412_mha.mp3)

**UPDATE 8-15-19:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2019/scriptnotes-episode-412-writing-about-mental-health-and-addiction-transcript).

Setting it Up with Katie Silberman

News, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig welcome screenwriter Katie Silberman (Set It Up, Isn’t It Romantic and Booksmart) to discuss writing a two-hander, practicing dialogue, and how she got her start in Hollywood.

We also follow up on ‘liked, not love’ and answer listener questions on character development.

Links:

* We’re hosting a panel on Addiction & Mental Health organized by Hollywood, Health & Society Wed, July 31, 2019, 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM PDT. Watch the [Facebook livestream](https://www.facebook.com/events/801699256892361/) starting at 7:15pm PDT.
* [WGA West Unveils Officer Board Candidates](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wga-west-unveils-officer-board-candidates-1226520)
* Wednesday, Aug. 28 Candidates Night at the Writers Guild Theater
* [Member meetings](https://my.wga.org) August 7th, 8th and 10th
* [Booksmart Reunion Olivia Wilde Katie Silberman New Project Universal Pictures](https://www.indiewire.com/2019/07/booksmart-reunion-olivia-wilde-katie-silberman-new-project-universal-pictures-1202159802/)
* [The Alamo Drafthouse Downtown LA](https://drafthouse.com/los-angeles)
* [Lupetti Pizzeria](https://www.lupettipizzeria.com/) and [In Sheep’s Clothing Hi-Fi Record Bar and Cafew](https://www.insheepsclothinghifi.com/)
* [Katie Silberman](https://twitter.com/katiesilberman) on Twitter
* [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 Mackey Landy ([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_411_setting_it_up_with_katie_silberman.mp3).

**UPDATE 8-10-19** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2019/scriptnotes-ep-411-setting-it-up-with-katie-silberman-transcript).

Wikipedia Movies

News, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig host a new round of How Would This Be a Movie. Instead of three stories in the news, this time they tackle three articles from Wikipedia to look at what you get using just those facts versus using a more detailed article.

We also answer listener questions about real-life subjects, showing your work and applying the Mazin method to television.

Links:

* Addiction & Mental Health Panel organized by [Hollywood, Health & Society](https://hollywoodhealthandsociety.org/about-us/overview) Wed, July 31, 2019. Follow along with the live-stream [here](https://www.facebook.com/events/801699256892361/) at 7:15pm PDT.
* [Pinboard for bookmarks](pinboard.in)
* [Wikipedia 8chan](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/8chan)
* [Destroyer of Worlds](https://members.tortoisemedia.com/2019/06/29/8chan/content.html) by Nicky Woolf
* [Multiverse](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiverse), [Mirror Universe](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror_Universe) on Wikipedia
* [Scientists are searching for a mirror universe. It could be sitting right in front of you.](https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/scientists-are-searching-mirror-universe-it-could-be-sitting-right-ncna1023206) by Corey S. Powell
* [Lisa Ben](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_Ben) on Wikipedia
* [The First Lesbian Magazine](http://outhistory.org/exhibits/show/queer-youth-campus-media/media/vice-versa-the-first-lesbian-m) by Erica Davies
* [Breezelblockhead](https://www.instagram.com/breezeblockhead/) on Instagram by Sam Marshall
* Eric Berlin’s [Puzzle Snacks](https://puzzlesnacks.com)
* [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))

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_410_wikipedia.mp3).

**UPDATE 8-12-19:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2019/scriptnotes-ep-410-wikipedia-movies-transcript).

I Know You Are, But What Am I?

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig discuss whether and how heroes can understand themselves. Is self-awareness an intrinsic aspect of a character, or something they achieve over the course of the story? Both heroes and villains are often wrestling with their identity. We look at why it’s more difficult (and sometimes more rewarding) to explore these issues in screenwriting than prose fiction.

Then it’s time for another round of the Three Page Challenge, followed by listener questions about meddling actors and producers.

Thanks to everyone who submitted to the Three Page Challenge, especially our participants: Edith Rodriguez, Carolyn Getches, Hilary C. Gish, and Christine Hoang!

Links:

* John and Craig’s panel on Addiction & Mental Health organized by Hollywood, Health & Society Wed, July 31, 2019, 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM PDT at SAG. Limited tickets, email: hhs@usc.edu
* [Research Methods for Writers with Chernobyl’s Craig Mazin](https://www.wgfoundation.org/events/all/2019/7/17/research-methods-for-writers-chernobyl) Wednesday, July 17, 2019 @ 7:00 PM
* Trumpcast [Is Trump a Disease? A Medical Perspective](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/07/is-trump-a-disease-a-medical-perspective.html)
* Edith Rodriguez, [The Days Ahead](https://johnaugust.com/Assets/3PageEdith.pdf)
* Carolyn Getches & Hilary C. Gish [Formerly Fat Housewife](https://johnaugust.com/Assets/3PageCarolynHilary.pdf)
* Christine Hoang [Fly Girl](https://johnaugust.com/Assets/3PageChristine.pdf)
* Bo Burnham’s [Eighth Grade Script](http://a24awards.com/film/eighthgrade/Eighth_Grade_Script.pdf)
* [‘Versing’ Verse as a Verb](https://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=4029)
* [Screen Cleaner](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BX1AOVA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
* [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 Mackey Landy ([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_409_self_awareness.mp3).

**UPDATE 7-19-19** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2019/scriptnotes-ep-409-i-know-you-are-but-what-am-i-transcript).