John August

Film Industry

Let’s talk about coverage

Episode - 120

Go to Archive

Film Industry, Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Transcribed, WGA

Craig and John talk readers and coverage, centering their discussion on profound_whatever’s infographic charting 300 submissions and the lessons screenwriters can take from it.

After that, we talk about the recent DGA deal with the AMPTP, and the degree to which it might predict the upcoming WGA negotiations.

Finally, we discuss getting high and are generally buzz-kills. Sorry.

LINKS:

* profound_whatever’s [post on r/screenwriting](http://www.reddit.com/r/Screenwriting/comments/1r5y6l/ive_covered_300_spec_scripts_for_5_different/) and its [accompanying infographic](http://i.imgur.com/T22gGBO.png)
* Deus ex machina [on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina)
* [Directors Guild of America Board OKs New Contract, Triggering Member Vote](http://variety.com/2013/film/news/directors-guild-of-america-board-oks-new-contract-triggering-member-vote-1200874949/) from Variety
* [WGA Announces Contract Negotiating Committee](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wga-announces-contract-negotiating-committee-655750) from The Hollywood Reporter
* [Writers in Treatment](http://www.writersintreatment.org/)
* [Screenflow](http://www.telestream.net/screenflow/) for Mac, and John’s video and post on [why he likes writing in Fountain](http://johnaugust.com/2013/why-i-like-writing-in-fountain)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Scriptnotes listener Matthew Chilelli

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_120.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_120.mp3).

**UPDATE** 12-5-13: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-ep-120-lets-talk-about-coverage-transcript).

Positive Moviegoing

Film Industry, Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Television, Transcribed, Writing Process

Aline Brosh McKenna joins John and Craig to discuss watching movies with an open mind and why it’s important to befriend other writers.

Also this week: what to do when your outline collapses and a look at going broke in your 50s.

The Scriptnotes Live Holiday Show on December 19th is technically sold out, but there’s a chance seats will open up, so keep an eye on Twitter.

LINKS:

* [Aline Brosh McKenna](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0112459/) on IMDb, and her [first](http://johnaugust.com/2012/the-black-list-and-a-stack-of-scenes), [second](http://johnaugust.com/2013/how-screenwriters-find-their-voice), [third](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-100th-episode), and [third-and-a-half](http://johnaugust.com/2013/101-qa-from-the-live-show) appearances on Scriptnotes
* The [Scriptnotes Holiday Show](https://www.wgfoundation.org/screenwriting-events/scriptnotes-holiday/) is sold out, but follow [@johnaugust](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) and [@clmazin](https://twitter.com/clmazin) to be the first to know if more tickets are released
* [John Gatins](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0309691/) on IMDb
* [What It’s Like to Fail](http://priceonomics.com/what-its-like-to-fail/) on priceonomics
* [Scroobius Pip](http://scroobiuspip.co.uk/) and [You Will See Me](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OS4W3OCESY)
* [Shady Characters: The Secret Life of Punctuation, Symbols, and Other Typographical Marks](http://www.amazon.com/dp/0393064425/?tag=johnaugustcom-20) by Keith Houston
* [Irony punctuation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irony_punctuation) on Wikipedia
* The [TreadDesk](http://asoft11239.accrisoft.com/treaddesk/)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Scriptnotes listener Kris Gotthelf

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_119.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_119.mp3).

**UPDATE** 12-1-13: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-ep-119-positive-moviegoing-transcript).

Damsels in distress

Film Industry, QandA, Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Transcribed

Craig and John love women and jeopardy, but folks, we gotta stop kidnapping girlfriends as plot devices. We discuss ways to avoid this trope.

In other news, T-Bone Burnett has a great name and strong words about copyright and making a living. Readers have questions about pseudonyms, second acts and breaking the back of a new project. Plus, more terrible managers.

T-shirts are back, starting today! But pre-orders stop November 15th, so don’t dally.

John is hosting a Big Fish talkback on Saturday, November 23rd after the matinee, so use your SCRIPT code to get tickets now.

Links:

* The [John August Store](http://store.johnaugust.com/) is open for business!
* [Get your Big Fish tickets now](http://www.bigfishthemusical.com/), and use discount code SCRIPT (for November 23rd or otherwise)
* John’s post on [how we record Scriptnotes](http://johnaugust.com/2013/how-we-record-scriptnotes)
* T-Bone Burnett [in the Hollywood Reporter](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/earshot/t-bone-burnett-silicon-valley-652114)
* [Anita Sarkeesian](http://www.feministfrequency.com/) and her Tropes vs Women in Video Games project
* Complex’s [The 15 Hottest Damsels In Distress In Movies](http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2012/07/the-15-hottest-damsels-in-distress-in-movies)
* TV Tropes on [damsels in distress](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DamselInDistress?from=Main.DistressedDamsel)
* MacGuffins on [TV Tropes](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MacGuffin) and [Screenwriting.io](http://screenwriting.io/what-is-a-mcguffin/)
* [Planet Money podcast](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/npr-planet-money-podcast/id290783428?mt=2)
* Planet Money on the [American check system](http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/10/04/229224964/episode-489-the-invisible-plumbing-of-our-economy)
* Craig’s [One Cool Thing](http://johnaugust.com/onecoolthings) is [John August](http://johnaugust.com/)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Scriptnotes listener Matthew Chielli

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_116.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_116.mp3).

**UPDATE** 11-9-13: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-ep-116-damsels-in-distress-transcript).

Scriptnotes: Back to Austin with Rian Johnson and Kelly Marcel

Directors, Film Industry, QandA, Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Transcribed, Writing Process

Craig and John head to the Austin Film Festival for another live edition of Scriptnotes. Everything is bigger in Texas, including the crowd for this packed show featuring Looper writer/director Rian Johnson and Saving Mr. Banks screenwriter Kelly Marcel.

We talk about following up on success, the importance of trusted readers and the merits of specs for established writers. Then it’s the first-ever game of That’s One Way to Go, in which John and Craig have to incorporate asinine ideas into development projects. Selling out has never been more fun.

We had a great time at AFF, and the live show was definitely a highlight. Thanks to our hosts, our amazing guests and especially the terrific audience.

Links:

* The [20th Annual Austin Film Festival](http://www.austinfilmfestival.com/aff/live/)
* Rian Johnson [on IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0426059/) and his [blog](http://www.rcjohnso.com/) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/rianjohnson)
* Kelly Marcel [on IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2813876/) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/MissMarcel)
* [Saving Mr. Banks](http://movies.disney.com/saving-mr-banks) opens this December
* [The Black List](http://blcklst.com/)
* [Timecrimes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timecrimes) on Wikipedia
* [Letters of Note](http://www.lettersofnote.com/)
* The [Victorinox 40003 Wavy Edge Utility Knife with 4-3/4″ Blade](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000I4RGG4/?tag=johnaugustcom-20) on Amazon
* [Fade In](http://www.fadeinpro.com/) and [Writer Duet](https://writerduet.com/) should collaborate
* [Primer](http://erbpfilm.com/film/primer), and [on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primer_(film))
* Craig [met Vince Gilligan](https://twitter.com/clmazin/status/394199517169319936/photo/1)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Scriptnotes listener Lawrence Fehler

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_115.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_115.mp3).

**UPDATE** 10-31-13: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-ep-115-scriptnotes-back-to-austin-with-rian-johnson-and-kelly-marcel-transcript).