John August

Film Industry

NDAs and other acronyms

Episode - 213

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Film Industry, Follow Up, Formatting, International, QandA, Scriptnotes, Transcribed, Weekend Read, WGA

Craig and John open the mailbag to answer questions on acronyms in dialogue, off-the-air specs and international WGA jurisdiction. Plus we look at the growing trend of non-disclosure agreements on studio projects, and whether the nature of film requires less complex characters.

The big news: we have new Scriptnotes t-shirts! They’re available only by pre-order, and only for a short time. Join us at the store as we talk through the three designs, ranging from the classic logo, to vintage Camp Scriptnotes to an all-new Three-Act Structure blueprint by listener Taino Soba. Orders must be in by THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17th. (Link below)

Links:

* [Scriptnotes shirts are available for pre-order in the John August Store](http://store.johnaugust.com/)
* [Dewalt hex bit set](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000628SO2/?tag=johnaugustcom-20) and a [magnetic bit extensions set](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004V3TQP2/?tag=johnaugustcom-20)
* This is the last week of the summer for [Featured Fridays](http://johnaugust.com/2015/weekend-read-featured-fridays) on [Weekend Read](http://quoteunquoteapps.com/weekendread/)
* Scriptnotes, 130: [Period space](http://johnaugust.com/2014/period-space)
* [South Park popularity is soaring in Taiwan](http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2000-12-28/features/0012280062_1_taiwan-south-park-four-musketeers) from The Baltimore Sun
* [Non-disclosure agreements](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-disclosure_agreement) on Wikipedia
* Screenwriting.io on [handling numbers in dialogue](http://screenwriting.io/how-should-you-handle-numbers-or-confusing-jargon-in-dialogue/)
* Screenwriting.io on [spec scripts](http://screenwriting.io/what-is-a-%E2%80%9Cspec-script%E2%80%9D/)
* Scriptnotes, 11: [How movie money works](http://johnaugust.com/2011/how-movie-money-works)
* [Dead Synchronicity](http://www.deadsynchronicity.com/en/home/)
* [Mr. Robot](http://www.usanetwork.com/mrrobot) on USA
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Duncan Pflaster ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_213.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_213.mp3).

**UPDATE 9-3-15:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2015/scriptnotes-ep-213-ndas-and-other-acronyms-transcript).

Diary of a First-Time Director

Directors, Film Industry, Follow Up, Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Sundance, Transcribed, Writing Process

John and Craig sit down with Marielle Heller, the writer and director of the acclaimed feature The Diary of a Teenage Girl, to talk about the journey of getting her movie made, from optioning the novel to the Sundance Labs through production.

We discuss sex scenes and ’70s wallpaper, anamorphic lenses and leaving subplots on the cutting room floor. Plus there’s a lot of MacGruber.

Heller’s film is in US theaters now, and expanding week-by-week. Don’t miss it.

Links:

You can download the episode here: AAC | mp3.

UPDATE 8-28-15: The transcript of this episode can be found here.

The International Episode

Adaptation, Film Industry, Follow Up, International, News, Scriptnotes, Transcribed, Travel, WGA

Craig and John look at how movies are translated, including an interview with a guy who does subtitles for a living. Plus, how Pixar and other companies are localizing movies for international audiences, and what happens when China becomes the largest film market.

The USB drives are back in the store, and we’re close to announcing our picks for the next Scriptnotes t-shirt. (You can see some of the entries on our Facebook page.)

Links:

* [A limited number of 200 episode USB drives are back in the John August Store](http://store.johnaugust.com/)
* [Scriptnotes on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/scriptnotes)
* Scriptnotes, 208: [How descriptive audio works](http://johnaugust.com/2015/how-descriptive-audio-works)
* [Emmanuel Denizot](http://www.emmanueldenizot.webs.com/), and his [First Person entry on johnaugust.com](http://johnaugust.com/2013/subtitling-for-screenwriters)
* [Inside Out Director Pete Docter Explains Why Pixar Remade Certain Scenes for Foreign Viewers](http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2015/07/30/inside_out_director_pete_docter_explains_why_pixar_re_animated_certain_scenes.html) on Slate
* [China becomes world’s second-biggest movie market](http://www.bbc.com/news/business-21891631) on BBC
* [Hollywood Pays Attention As China’s Movie Box Office Grows By 50%; Nation Adds Nearly 30 Screens A Day](http://www.ibtimes.com/hollywood-pays-attention-chinas-movie-box-office-grows-50-nation-adds-nearly-30-2011328) on IBT
* [WGAw Announces Candidates for 2015 Officers and Board of Directors Election](http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=5830)
* [3rd & Fairfax: The WGAw Podcast](http://www.wga.org/3rdandfairfax/), hosted by Aaron Fullerton & Steve Trautmann
* [Microsoft Translator](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-translator/id1018949559?mt=8) for iOS and Apple Watch
* [XMarks Bookmark Sync](https://www.xmarks.com/)
* [Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp](http://www.netflix.com/title/80039813) is now streaming on NetFlix
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Jonah Bech Vestergard ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_211.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_211.mp3).

**UPDATE 8-21-15:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2015/scriptnotes-ep-211-the-international-episode-transcript).

How to Not Be a Jerk

Film Industry, Follow Up, QandA, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

Craig and John look at best practices for screenwriters promoting their films, both in traditional media and online. We’re not subtweeting anyone, and neither should you.

Also this week: more on reshoots, Stretch Armstrong and selective editing of quotes in movie reviews.

Links:

* [Submit your Fall 2015 Scriptnotes shirt design](http://johnaugust.com/shirt) by August 11
* Vanity Fair [on World War Z reshoots](http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2013/06/brad-pitt-world-war-z-drama)
* The Hollywood Reporter on [Mel Gibson, Taylor Lautner and the 20-Year Effort to Make a ‘Stretch Armstrong’ Movie](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mel-gibson-taylor-lautner-20-585619)
* [No, I didn’t call your shitty movie a “comedic masterstroke”](http://www.avclub.com/article/no-i-didnt-call-your-shitty-movie-comedic-masterst-221227) by A.A. Dowd
* [Vacation](https://www.youtube.com/embed/GawVyj-XXrQ) by the Textones
* Madonna’s [Vogue, B-Roll and Outtakes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=anRNX_TUbPo&app=desktop)
* [Smooth McGroove](https://www.youtube.com/user/SmoothMcGroove) on YouTube
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Kim Atle ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_209.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_209.mp3).

**UPDATE 8-10-15:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2015/scriptnotes-ep-209-how-to-not-be-a-jerk-transcript).