John August

Transcribed

The New One with Mike Birbiglia

Episode - 427

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Scriptnotes, Three Page Challenge, Transcribed

John and Craig welcome back writer/comedian Mike Birbiglia (Sleepwalk with Me, My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend) to discuss his one-man show “The New One.” When writing about yourself, how much has to be true? What responsibilities do you have to friends and loved ones?

Then it’s a new round of the Three Page Challenge, where we look at the first three pages in listeners’ scripts. We also address Akiva Schaffer’s concerns on movie screeners and try our first-ever bonus segment after the credits.

Links:

* Three Page Challenge – [F.T.S. by Danielle Motley](https://johnaugust.com/index.php?gf-download=2019%2F11%2FEpisode-One-Menstrual-Pain.pdf&form-id=1&field-id=4&hash=ff25d83a46dbde00a8e57c144f97dc4ebcd29551f03484526afc619c3977504e)
* Three Page Challenge – [Dunked by John Bickerstaff](https://johnaugust.com/index.php?gf-download=2019%2F11%2FDunked_Bickerstaff_3pgs.pdf&form-id=1&field-id=4&hash=54450e8466882607a7d62150309b7b46843e61db6a177f55108ff987e4a31ee5)
* Buy tickets to our live show with guests Kevin Feige, Lorene Scafaria, Shoshannah Stern, and Josh Feldman on December 12th at the LA Film School [here](https://www.wgfoundation.org/events/all/2019/12/12/the-scriptnotes-holiday-live-show).
* Join us or livestream the [Assistant Townhall](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/town-hall-for-hollywood-assistants-with-payuphollywood-scriptnotes-yea-tickets-80803941765) this Sunday, November 24th
* [Spleeter](https://waxy.org/2019/11/fast-and-free-music-separation-with-deezers-machine-learning-library/) open source music separation library
* [Brains Sweep Themselves Clean Of Toxins During Sleep](https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2013/10/18/236211811/brains-sweep-themselves-clean-of-toxins-during-sleep) by Jon Hamilton
* [Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1501144324/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_-zZ0DbSMA1Y3X) by Matthew Walker
* Support local! [Books are Magic](https://www.booksaremagic.net/)
* [Mike Birbiglia](https://twitter.com/birbigs) 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)
* Scriptnotes is produced by Megana Rao and edited by Matthew Chilelli
* [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_427_the_new_one.mp3).

**UPDATE 12-1-19:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2019/scriptnotes-ep-427-the-new-one-with-mike-birbiglia-transcript).

Tough Love vs. Self Care

News, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig discuss when writers should practice tough love vs. self-care. Inspired by Chuck Wendig’s blog post, they examine how real-world issues impact writers’ ability to get work done — but how they can also be used as an excuse for procrastination and laziness. They offer a checklist for helping decide whether it’s time to be harder or easier on yourself.

We also follow up on the Austin Film Festival, fan backlash, and show-runner tips for championing assistant pay, especially during the holiday season.

Links:

* The [Official Watchmen Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-official-watchmen-podcast/id1485052917) with Craig Mazin
* Susannah Grant on Creative Decisions behind [Unbelievable](https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/film-tv/a29093906/unbelievable-netflix-susannah-grant-interview/) Release
* Michael Greene [Holiday Bonus](https://twitter.com/andmichaelgreen/status/1067885775134441477?s=20) Twitter Thread
* Tough Love vs. Self Care:[Sharp Rock, Soft Pillow: The Balance Of Self-Care And Tough Love](http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2019/10/22/sharp-rock-soft-pillow-the-balance-of-self-care-and-tough-love/)
* [Chuck Wendig: Terrible Minds](http://terribleminds.com/ramble/)
* [One Page Dungeon](https://watabou.itch.io/one-page-dungeon) by watabou
* [Superhero Therapy](https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2019/10/superhero-therapy-im-batman/600475/)
* [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_425_tough_love.mp3).

**UPDATE 11-8-2019** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2019/scriptnotes-ep-425-tough-love-vs-self-care-transcript).

Minimum Viable Movie

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)