John August

Transcribed

Landing a Series with Eric Kripke

Episode - 684

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Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John welcomes writer and showrunner Eric Kripke (The Boys, Supernatural) to look at planning out a multi-season series. They chart Eric’s early career from shorts to showrunner, how he developed Supernatural, his process for structuring seasons of The Boys, and how great TV shows stick the landing.

We also answer listener questions on lone character episodes and emulating comic panels on screen.

In our bonus segment for premium members, Eric spills on everything blood, guts and gore.

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 5-12-25: The transcript for this episode can be found here.

Idea Management (Encore)

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig welcome back Aline Brosh McKenna to tackle the issue of idea management. What do you do with all those half-formed ideas and how do you decide which ones to pursue? They share best practices and their approach to middle-of-the-night inspiration.

We also discuss how screenwriters’ quotes are determined and answer some listener questions on alternatives to D&D, crediting improv and rain in the second act.

In our bonus segment for premium members, DVDs hang in the balance as John and Drew sit down back in 2025 to ask, should Drew get rid of his physical media?

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

The transcript for the original episode can be found here.

Our Take on Long Takes

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig break out of coverage to look at oners and long shots, cutting through any directorial showboating to compare the pros and cons and cons and cons of those unbroken takes, offering ways to decide when they are necessary or purposeful, and how to recognize when it’s better to cut.

We also look at changes to Sundance and the Nicholl Fellowship, answer listener questions on house lights in movie theaters, Oscar voting, improv movies, and share a few horror stories from John and Craig’s early career.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig look at their relationship with their phones and consider dumbing down.

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 5-2-25: The transcript for this episode can be found here.

Talking Austen in Austin (Encore)

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

In this episode from 2012, John and Craig sit down with producer and former studio executive Lindsay Doran (Sense and Sensibility, Stranger than Fiction) at the Austin Film Festival to explore the producer’s relationship with the screenplay.

The look at how the role of producer has changed, the ideal development process, how she developed Sense and Sensibility with Emma Thompson, and staying true to your values in a fickle business.

In our bonus segment for premium members, Drew joins John back in 2025 to consider the value of a good alumni program, and how an alma mater that under-delivers can be the pits.

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

The original transcript for this episode can be found here.