Genres

Double Ampersand

Episode - 380

December 25, 2018 Adaptation, Books, Directors, Film Industry, Genres, Producers, QandA, Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Transcribed, WGA, Writing Process

John sits down with Fran Walsh, Peter Jackson and Philippa Boyens to discuss their new film Mortal Engines, and their approach to writing as a team, worldbuilding, and rewriting through production, because one does not simply walk into Mordor.

We also answer audience questions about the difference between ideas for television and movies, and working through dialogue out loud.

Links:

Thanks to Fran Walsh, Peter Jackson and Philippa Boyens!
Mortal Engines is in theaters now.
Mortal Engines is based on the book series by Philip Reeve.
T-shirts are available here! We’ve got new designs, including Colored Revisions, Karateka, and Highland2.
John August on Twitter
John on Instagram
Find past episodes
Scriptnotes Digital Seasons are also now available!
Outro by Matt Davis (send us yours!)

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 1-2-19: The transcript of this episode can be found here.

Only Haters Hate Rom-Coms

October 16, 2018 Directors, Film Industry, Follow Up, Genres, Los Angeles, Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Writing Process

John and Craig talk romantic comedies with screenwriter Tess Morris, whose film Man Up is unapologetically part of the genre.

We discuss what distinguishes rom-coms from other comedies, and why they get singled out for disdain and death-of articles.

Also this week: Amazon Storywriter, overused dicks, and follow-up on Whiplash.

This episode originally aired on November 24, 2015.

Links:

Amazon Storywriter and Fountain
Scriptnotes, 224: Whiplash, on paper and on screen
Tess Morris on IMDb and Twitter, and Man Up on Wikipedia and Rotten Tomatoes
Why Are Romantic Comedies So Bad? by Christopher Orr
CinemaBlend’s 30 Best Romantic Comedies Of All-Time
The New Yorker on Nick Bostrom
Wait But Why on The Fermi Paradox
Fallout 4, and on Amazon
The Vista Theatre
T-shirts are available here! We’ve got new designs, including Colored Revisions, Karateka, and Highland2.
The USB drives!
John August on Twitter
Craig Mazin on Twitter
John on Instagram
Find past episodes
Scriptnotes Digital Seasons are also now available!
Outro by Jon Spurney (send us yours!)

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

Craig Hates Dummies

August 28, 2018 Adaptation, Film Industry, Follow Up, Genres, Highland, News, Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Transcribed, Travel, WGA

John and Craig are back at it with another installment of How Would This Be a Movie? They consider the story of a competitive mass Tinder date, a retirement home for ventriloquist dummies and the McDonald’s Monopoly heist.

We also revisit John’s WGA Corner for updates, follow up on the conflict within IATSE, and get a great sense of Craig’s passionate beef with ventriloquism.

Links:

Studios Back In Antitrust Spotlight As AMC Chain Loses Key Court Ruling by Dominic Patten for Deadline
Class Struggle in Hollywood, 1930-1950: Moguls, Stars, Reds, and Trade Unionists by Gerald Horne
@bvdhai’s Twitter thread about the mass Tinder date
Woman dupes dozens of dudes into weirdest Tinder date ever and Tinder hottie dupes dozens of dopes, but it’s all a marketing stunt by Ruth Brown for the NY Post
‘Tinder Trap’ model claims she’s the victim after duping guys by Tamar Lapin and Ruth Brown
Monterey Jack’s Twitter thread about Vent Haven
Vent Haven’s official website
How an Ex-Cop Rigged McDonald’s Monopoly Game and Stole Millions Jeff Maysh for the Daily Beast
Behind Hollywood’s A-List Bidding War for a McDonald’s Monopoly Article by Chris Lee for Vulture
In a Town of 11 People, Mysterious Disappearance Turns Neighbor Against Neighbor by Jacqueline Williams for the New York Times
McGill music student awarded $350,000 after girlfriend stalls career by René Bruemmer for the Montreal Gazette
US judge orders 30-year-old man to move out of his parents’ house
Flat track roller derby, like Angel City Derby
7 Billion Humans
The USB drives!
John August on Twitter
Craig Mazin on Twitter
John on Instagram
Find past episodes
Scriptnotes Digital Seasons are also now available!
Outro by Timothy Vajda (send us yours!)

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 9-4-18: The transcript of this episode can be found here.

The One with Mindy Kaling

August 7, 2018 Broadway, Education, Film Industry, Genres, Los Angeles, QandA, Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Television, Transcribed, Writing Process

John sits down with writer/actor Mindy Kaling (The Office, The Mindy Project, Champions) to talk about her origin story, her big break as Ben Affleck, what it’s like to simultaneously showrun and star in a sitcom, and the nature of half-hour comedies.

We also answer a listener question about point of view and its relationship with genre and medium.

Links:

Thanks to Mindy Kaling for joining us!
Champions is available to watch on NBC.com.
You can watch a recording of her play, Matt and Ben, written and performed by Mindy and Brenda Withers. It premiered at the Fringe Festival in New York.
Keep an eye out for Four Weddings and a Funeral.
The End of the Fucking World and Godless on Netflix
The Visitors by Ragnar Kjartansson at The Broad
The USB drives!
Mindy Kaling on Twitter
John August on Twitter
Craig Mazin on Twitter
John on Instagram
Find past episodes
Scriptnotes Digital Seasons are also now available!
Outro by Timothy Vajda (send us yours!)

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 8-14-18: The transcript of this episode can be found here.

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