John August

Directors

The One with the Idiot Teamster

Episode - 246

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Directors, Film Industry, Follow Up, News, Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Transcribed

John and Craig welcome writer-director Lorene Scafaria to talk about her new movie The Meddler and some of the unique challenges faced by female directors.

She joins us as we play a new round of How Would This Be a Movie, tackling global hums, killer grannies and airport conspiracies. We also discuss movies that are often used as shorthand in Hollywood, from Raiders to Die Hard to Midnight Run. (But never The ‘Burbs.)

Next week we’ll be making minor server changes. If for some reason the next episode doesn’t automatically appear in your podcast app next Tuesday, you may need to resubscribe. Sorry, but it will be worth it to listen to special guest Lawrence Kasdan.

Links:

* [Subscribe to the Scriptnotes mailing list](http://eepurl.com/bVzXVv) and stay up to date on live shows, bonus episodes and more!
* John’s blog post on [why he’s voting no on WGA Amendment 1](http://johnaugust.com/2016/why-im-voting-no-on-amendment-1)
* The [Scriptnotes Wikipedia page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scriptnotes) is ready for your edits
* Lorene Scafaria on [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1032521/), [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorene_Scafaria) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/LoreneScafaria)
* The Meddler on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Meddler) and [Rotten Tomatoes](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_meddler_2016/)
* New Republic on [The Hum](https://newrepublic.com/article/132128/maddening-sound), and [12 hours of the Taos Hum](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WXUOLHp54w&feature=youtu.be)
* mental_floss on [the Denver Airport](http://mentalfloss.com/article/61740/5-weird-conspiracy-theories-surrounding-denver-international-airport), and RationalWiki’s [Denver Airport conspiracies](http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Denver_Airport_conspiracy_theory) page
* The Star on [the Internet Black Widow](http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/04/12/internet-black-widow-breaches-three-conditions-of-release-from-prison-police-say.html), and her [Wikipedia page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melissa_Ann_Shepard)
* [Film Dialogue from 2,000 screenplays, Broken Down by Gender and Age](http://polygraph.cool/films/), A Polygraph Joint
* [Thanks For Ruining Another Game Forever, Computers](http://blog.codinghorror.com/thanks-for-ruining-another-game-forever-computers/), by Jeff Atwood
* Los Angeles Times on [Escape Rooms](http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-escape-room-boom-20160417-story.html), and [Escape Room LA](http://escaperoomla.com/)
* Omaze and The Meddler’s [Call Your Mother shirt](https://www.omaze.com/meddler), benefitting [Hope North](http://www.hopenorth.org/)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Matthew Chilelli ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_246.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_246.mp3).

**UPDATE 4-22-16:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2016/scriptnotes-ep-246-the-one-with-the-idiot-teamster-transcript).

The Invitation, and Requels

Directors, Film Industry, Follow Up, QandA, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi join us to talk about their new movie The Invitation, and what’s it’s like to go from writing tentpole action films (like Clash of the Titans) to comedies (like Ride Along) to chamber-drama thrillers.

While we have them with us, we talk about the new term “requel” — which is not quite a reboot, not quite a sequel. Is it really a new sub-genre or just a helpful way of explaining things to studio execs?

Also, thanks to everyone who helped us out by answering our three-question poll. We have a better sense of who is using the premium feed, and how we can offer alternatives for listeners.

Links:

* Subscribe to the premium feed at [scriptnotes.net](http://scriptnotes.net/)
* Phil Hay on [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006534/), [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Hay_(screenwriter)) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/phillycarly)
* Matt Manfredi on [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0542062/), [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Manfredi) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/MattRManfredi)
* [The Invitation](http://drafthousefilms.com/film/the-invitation), on [Rotten Tomatoes](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_invitation/) and the [Arclight Q+As](https://www.arclightcinemas.com/en/news/the-invitation-qa)
* Pamela McClintock [on “requels”](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/batman-v-superman-star-wars-879197)
* [The blood test that could change the way we diagnose concussions](http://www.morningticker.com/2016/03/breakthrough-miracle-blood-test-could-revolutionize-sports-injuries/)
* William Powers on [The Difficult, Delicate Untangling of Our Parents’ Financial Lives](http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-difficult-delicate-untangling-of-our-parents-financial-lives-1459130770)
* [Vinyl Me, Please](http://vinylmeplease.com/)
* [Ideal Cap Company](http://www.idealcapco.com/)
* [Last Exit To Nowhere](https://www.lastexittonowhere.com/)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Adam Lastname ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_244.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_244.mp3).

**UPDATE 4-8-16:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2016/scriptnotes-ep-244-the-invitation-and-requels-transcript).

The one with Jason Bateman and the Game of Thrones guys

Adaptation, Directors, Scriptnotes, Television, Transcribed

With a live audience in downtown Los Angeles, Craig and John welcome actor/director Jason Bateman to discuss what he looks for when considering a script, and how to best work with a writer on a script.

David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, co-creators and showrunners of Game of Thrones, join us to reveal the challenges of writing the show so far in advance, working through arguments, and Craig’s secret backstory on the pilot.

Screenwriter John Gatins tells us his history with Hollywood Heart, the charity organizing the event. Our thanks to them, our sponsors and everyone who came. The night raised thousands of dollars to help disadvantaged kids across the country experience summer arts camp.

You can find more info about Hollywood Heart in the links below.

Links:

* [Hollywood HEART](http://hollywoodheart.org/)
* [The Lazarus Experience](http://www.thelazarusexperience.com/), our venue
* John Gatins on [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0309691/) and [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gatins)
* Jason Bateman on [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000867/), [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Bateman) and a [Golden Grahams commercial](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKFtIUMoep0)
* David Benioff on [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1125275/) and [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Benioff), and D.B. Weiss on [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1888967/) and [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D._B._Weiss)
* [Outlook](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-outlook-email-calendar/id951937596?mt=8) for iOS, and The Office Blog on [Outlook’s new look](https://blogs.office.com/2015/10/28/outlook-for-ios-and-android-gains-momentum-gets-new-look/)
* crysknife007’s [Ambient Scifi Sleep Sounds Playlist](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsO8fxO6PnRfGUc0Td1lFXVnnq_Jn455U) on YouTube
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Matthew Chilelli ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_235.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_235.mp3).

**UPDATE 2-4-16:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2016/scriptnotes-ep-235-the-one-with-jason-bateman-and-the-game-of-thrones-guys-transcript).

Raiders of the Lost Ark

Directors, Rave, Recycled, Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Transcribed, Words on the page

In preparation for our live show with screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan, we’re re-running this episode from the Scriptnotes archive.

Craig and John spend the entire episode discussing and dissecting RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, looking at both its structure and scene work.

This amazing and iconic 1981 film established so much of what we expect of out movie heroes and set pieces — but a lot of what it does would have a hard time getting through modern studio development. Five-minute exposition scenes! Nazi monkeys! Helpless heroes at the climax!

And yet it works so well. There are great lessons to be learned for screenwriters in every genre.

Links:

* [Get your tickets now for Scriptnotes, Live on January 25](http://hollywoodheart.org/upcoming/) with [Jason Bateman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Bateman) and [Lawrence Kasdan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Kasdan), a benefit for [Hollywood HEART](http://hollywoodheart.org)
* Raiders of the Lost Ark [official website](http://www.indianajones.com/), and on [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082971/?ref_=sr_1), [Netflix](http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Indiana-Jones-and-the-Raiders-of-the-Lost-Ark/60011649?strkid=1024294360_0_0&strackid=28d787371bc40f39_0_srl&trkid=222336), [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie-collection/indiana-jones-complete-adventures/id561542568) and [Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014Z4OMU/?tag=johnaugustcom-20)
* George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Larry Kasdan’s [Raiders story conference transcripts](http://moedred.livejournal.com/2009/03/04/)
* [“Apple for teacher? Why’d he do that?”](http://raven.theraider.net/showthread.php?t=6083) thread on theraider.net (via [@sethgs](https://twitter.com/sethgs/status/292779295905021952))
* OUTRO: [A British Tar](http://www.guntheranderson.com/v/data/britisht.htm) from the HMS Pinafore by Gilbert and Sullivan, performed by John Rhys-Davies

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_230.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_230.mp3).