John August

QandA

Rhythm and Blues

Episode - 80

Go to Archive

Big Fish, Film Industry, QandA, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig talk homesickness and daddy issues before diving into a discussion on what Rhythm and Hues’s bankruptcy means for the film industry — and similar scenarios screenwriters might face down the road.

Opening the listener mailbag, we answer questions about shop-around agreements, naming minor characters, filmmaker bios, and “being brilliant.”

There’s a special Scriptnotes discount code (SCRIPT) for the first few performances of Big Fish in Chicago. In the podcast, I say that you use the code at checkout, but that’s wrong: use it in the very first screen at Ticketmaster to unlock the balcony seats at a special $26 rate. (Regularly $70+.)

LINKS:

* [Big Fish in Chicago](http://www.ticketmaster.com/Big-Fish-Chicago-tickets/artist/1781632?tm_link=seo_bc_name) at Ticketmaster
* [Green Scream: The Decay of the Hollywood Special Effects Industry](http://www.wired.com/underwire/2013/03/oscars-vfx-protest/)
* [How to handle a phone meeting](http://johnaugust.com/2008/how-to-handle-a-phone-meeting)
* [Unfinished Scripts](https://twitter.com/UnfinishedS)
* [What’s the difference between Hero, Main Character and Protagonist?](http://johnaugust.com/2005/whats-the-difference-between-hero-main-character-and-protagonist) on johnaugust.com
* Play [EyeWire](http://eyewire.org/) and help map the brain
* OUTRO: Big Fish prologue by Andrew Lippa

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_80.m4a).

**UPDATE** 3-15-13: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-ep-80-rhythm-and-blues-transcript).

Rigorous, structured daydreaming

How-To, Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Three Page Challenge, Transcribed, Writing Process

Craig and John take a look at an old post that found new life this week when it got picked up on Twitter and Reddit. We go beyond the bullet points to look at the process of writing a scene, from asking the basic questions to getting the words on the page.

1. What needs to happen in this scene?
2. What’s the worst that would happen if this scene were omitted?
3. Who needs to be in the scene?
4. Where could the scene take place?
5. What’s the most surprising thing that could happen in the scene?
6. Is this a long scene or a short scene?
7. Brainstorm three different ways it could begin.
8. Play it on the screen in your head.
9. Write a scribble version.
10. Write the full scene.
11. Repeat 200 times.

Through this lens, we look at three new entries in the Three Page Challenge.

LINKS:

* [@RyanRivard](https://twitter.com/RyanRivard)’s How to write a scene [graphic](https://twitter.com/johnaugust/status/306566727867711489/photo/1)
* The [Reddit post](http://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/19ehyv/for_fellow_aspiring_screenwriters_how_to_write_a/)
* The [original 2007 blog post](http://johnaugust.com/2007/write-scene)
* Three pages by [Josh Golden](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/JoshGolden.pdf)
* Three pages by [Kate Powers](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/KatePowers.pdf)
* Three pages by [Andre McGee](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/AndreMcGee.pdf)
* How to [submit your three pages](http://johnaugust.com/threepage)
* [Waking Mars](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/waking-mars/id462397814?mt=8) for iOS
* Homeland on [Amazon Instant](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008QTV3X0/?tag=johnaugustcom-20) and [Blu-ray](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005LAJ17M/?tag=johnaugustcom-20)
* OUTRO: [New York (Daviglio cover)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz6QsE1dhfU)

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_79.m4a).

**UPDATE** 3-8-13: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-ep-79-rigorous-structured-daydreaming-transcript).

The Germans have a word for it

Film Industry, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

Craig and John take a look at the class-action suit over Hollywood’s unpaid interns, then discuss envy and jealousy and other unproductive emotions.

Hollywood interns aren’t essential, but internship has a long tradition in the industry. This lawsuit could change things dramatically — but will it change it for better or worse?

Envy is rampant among aspiring writers, but it never really goes away. It’s not altogether a bad thing — seeing what’s possible can give you a kickstart. But when it consumes too many brain cycles, it’s worth addressing.

LINKS:

* [Alabama](http://www.dialectsarchive.com/alabama) on the International Dialects of English Archive
* The Craig-referenced blog post, [Critiquing Criticism: Personal Growth via The Hobbit](http://pgdejonge.wordpress.com/2013/02/19/critiquing-criticism-personal-growth-via-the-hobbit/)
* [Hollywood Interns: Fox Lawsuit Likely to Break Ground](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/hollywood-interns-fox-lawsuit-break-422988)
* [Hollywood interns aren’t essential](http://johnaugust.com/2011/hollywood-interns-arent-essential)
* [AppleTV](http://www.apple.com/appletv/) with AirPlay
* OUTRO: Hot N Cold cover by [Los Colorados](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1upZz3a-7iM)

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_78.m4a).

**UPDATE** 2-28-13: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-ep-78-the-germans-have-a-word-for-it-transcript).

We’d Like to Make an Offer

Film Industry, Follow Up, Pitches, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig discuss spec scripts, pitches and how it feels when your movie gets brutal reviews.

First up, an article by Margaret Heidenry in Vanity Fair tracks the history of spec script sales, going all the way back to Preston Sturges. We talk about the 90s bubble, and what’s changed.

Next, we discuss what a screenwriter needs to do in that last few hours before a pitch — including the drive over.

Finally, Craig talks about what it feels like when the movie you wrote does huge business, but you as the writer get singled out for harsh criticism.

In our One Cool Things, John admires Dungeon World, a newish RPG that radically simplifies the D&D mechanic, while Craig foresees the next big weight-loss drug.

LINKS:

* [When the Spec Script was king](http://m.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2013/03/will-spec-script-screenwriters-rise-again) by Margaret Heidenry in Vanity Fair
* [Examples of early screenplay formats](http://www.screenplayology.com/content-sections/screenplay-style-use/1-1/)
* [Amor Fati](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amor_fati) on Wikipedia
* [Dungeon World RPG](http://www.dungeon-world.com)
* [Canker sore drug helps mice lose weight without diet, exercise](http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/10/health/mice-weight-loss-drug/index.html)
* OUTRO: [Roll a D6](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54VJWHL2K3I)

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_77.m4a).

**UPDATE** 2-22-13: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-ep-77-wed-like-to-make-an-offer-transcript).