Transcribed

John and Craig welcome back writer/director Chris McQuarrie (Valkyrie, Jack Reacher, the last two Mission: Impossibles) to celebrate the 400th episode with a new round of ‘This Kind of Movie.’

Given our success saving the romantic comedy, we focus on other movie genres that aren’t getting made anymore and discuss how to bring them back. From sports comedies to erotic thrillers, we examine the classics of each genre and find ways to approach making these films today.

Links:

• Order your Scriptnotes 400 shirts, sweatshirts, and tanks (Light) and (Dark)!
• Join us for Scriptnotes LIVE on June 13th at the Ace Hotel to benefit Hollywood Heart. Buy your tickets here!
• Watch Chernobyl on HBO
• The Chernobyl Podcast with Craig and Peter Sagal
• Scriptnotes episode 300, From Writer to Writer-Director with Chris McQuarrie
• LectroFan High Fidelity White Noise Sound Machine
• One Clue Crossword
• eBags and AViiQ Portable Laptop Stand
• Find past episodes and Scriptnotes Digital Seasons are also now available!
• Check out the Scriptnotes Episode Guide
• Submit to the Pitch Session here!
• Chris McQuarrie on Twitter
• John August on Twitter
• Craig Mazin on Twitter
• John on Instagram
• Outro by Rajesh Naroath (send us yours!)

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 5-24-19: The transcript of this episode can be found here.

John and Craig talk to an audience of development executives about the experience of getting notes as a writer. They cover why these conversations kick in our fight or flight responses, how to frame notes through story, and ways to motivate writers towards a creative vision.

We take questions from the audience and discuss ‘the bad pitch,’ likable characters, and how to stay friends with a writer after a breakup.

Links:

* Episode 99, [Psychotheraphy for Screenwriters](https://johnaugust.com/2013/psychotherapy-for-screenwriters)
* Episode 394, [Broken but Sympathetic](https://johnaugust.com/2019/broken-but-sympathetic) with Mari Heller
* Now accepting recommendations for updating the [Listener’s Guide](johnaugust.com/guide)
* Submit to the Pitch Session [here](https://johnaugust.com/pitch)
* Watch Chernobyl May 6th and listen to [The Chernobyl Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-chernobyl-podcast/id1459712981) with Craig and Peter Sagal
* [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 Landry ([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_399_notes_on_notes.mp3).

**UPDATE 5-14-19:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2019/scriptnotes-ep-399-notes-on-notes).

John and Craig welcome back Andrea Berloff (World Trade Center, Straight Outta Compton) to talk all things sound: how it works on the page, on the stage, and in the mixing room. Andrea shares her experience working with sound for her upcoming directing debut, The Kitchen.

We also follow up on WGA developments and deep dive Craig’s feelings on matzah.

Links:

• WGA Lawsuit
• #WGAMix led by screenwriter Daniel Zucker
• Mad Max Fury Road Clip
• Can You Ever Forgive Me? Clip
• The story of the “Nerds” musical article by Seth Abramovitch
• Headspace’s Meditation for Sleep
• Accepting recommendations for updating the Listener’s Guide
• Submit to the Pitch Session here
• John August on Twitter
• Craig Mazin on Twitter
• John on Instagram
• Find past episodes
• Scriptnotes Digital Seasons are also now available!
• Outro by Thomas Johnstone (send us yours!)

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 5-2-19: The transcript of this episode can be found here.

John and Craig talk big numbers, from the latest developments in the WGA/agency situation, to the announcement of Disney+ and the final installment of the Star Wars non-ology.

We also answer listener questions about writers who aren’t in the guild and how to spend your time writing.

Links:

* [Timelapse of the Entire Universe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=14&v=TBikbn5XJhg) by John Boswell
* [Disney+ News](https://www.digitaltrends.com/movies/disney-plus-streaming-service-news/)
* The Rise of Skywalker [teaser]( https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLZQfnFyelTBOQ15kmHSgEbdjzLMWzZpL7&time_continue=4&v=adzYW5DZoWs)
* [What It’s Like to Grow Up With More Money Than You’ll Ever Spend](https://www.thecut.com/2019/03/abigail-disney-has-more-money-than-shell-ever-spend.html)
* [Anita May Rosenstein Campus of Los Angeles LGBT Center](https://lalgbtcenter.org/)
* [The Lab Rat Escape Room](https://www.hatchescapes.com/lab-rat)
* Accepting recommendations for updating the [Listener’s Guide](johnaugust.com/guide)
* Submit to the Pitch Session [here](https://johnaugust.com/pitch)
* [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)
* [Find past episodes](http://scriptnotes.net/)
* [Scriptnotes Digital Seasons](https://store.johnaugust.com/) are also now available!
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Lou Stone Borenstein ([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_396_big_numbers.mp3).

**UPDATE 4-23-19:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2019/scriptnotes-396-big-numbers-transcript).