John August

Producers

Scriptnotes, the 100th episode

Episode - 100

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Directors, Film Industry, Meta, Producers, Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Transcribed

John and Craig are joined by Aline Brosh McKenna and Rawson Thurber for the 100th episode of Scriptnotes, recorded live at the Academy Lab in Hollywood. It was a great night with an amazing audience.

We discuss the origins of the show, the rise of the Screenwriter Plus, and that Slate article about Save The Cat! which so many listeners had mentioned. It’s such a big show that we’re splitting the audience Q&A into a separate episode.

This episode has more swearing than most, so parents beware. You might not want to play it in the car.

Huge thanks to The Academy for the event, sponsored on behalf of the Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting.

LINKS:

* The Academy [Nicholl Fellowships](http://www.oscars.org/awards/nicholl/) in Screenwriting
* [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) and [second](http://johnaugust.com/2013/how-screenwriters-find-their-voice) appearances on Scriptnotes
* [Rawson Thurber](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1098493/) on IMDb
* Go see [We’re the Millers](http://werethemillers.warnerbros.com/) on August 7th!
* Slate’s article on [Save the Cat!](http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2013/07/hollywood_and_blake_snyder_s_screenwriting_book_save_the_cat.single.html) (and Stuart’s [review of the series](http://johnaugust.com/2012/in-which-stuart-reads-the-save-the-cat-books-and-tells-you-what-he-thought))
* [Makers: Women Who Make America](http://www.pbs.org/makers/home/) on PBS
* [Scriptnotes](http://johnaugust.com/podcast): A podcast about screenwriting and things that are interesting to screenwriters
* The classic [Pilot G2](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001GAOTSW/?tag=johnaugustcom-20) and the brand new erasable [Pilot Frixion](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009QYH644/?tag=johnaugustcom-20) on Amazon
* [Stuart](https://twitter.com/stuartfriedel), [Ryan](https://twitter.com/ryannelson) and [Nima](https://twitter.com/nyousefi)
* Outro by Scriptnotes listener Mike Timmerman

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_100.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_100.mp3).

**UPDATE** 8-4-13: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-ep-100-scriptnotes-the-100th-episode-transcript).

Long movies, producer credits and price-fixing

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

John and Craig discuss the Apple ebook price-fixing lawsuit and its lessons for Hollywood, before segueing to the new credits system for producers. Then: Have movies gotten too long, and would making them shorter really save money?

T-shirts. If you ordered one, you should probably have it by now. So if it’s not in your hands, email Stuart at [orders@johnaugust.com](mailto:orders@johnaugust.com) to investigate.

There was confusion about the Golden Ticket. If you got a card saying, “This is the Golden Ticket!” then you have the Golden Ticket. If not, you just have a lovely card with your shirt.

There will probably be a standby line for the Live 100th episode on July 25th in Hollywood. Follow [@johnaugust](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) or [@clmazin](https://twitter.com/clmazin) on Twitter for details.

LINKS:

* [TidBITS](http://tidbits.com/article/13912) on the Apple eBooks price fixing suit, and [Fortune](http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2013/07/10/apple-ebook-verdict-appeal/)’s article on the same
* [The New York Times](http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/12/business/media/new-designation-signifies-i-was-really-a-producer-of-this-film.html?_r=1&) on the PGA’s new mark, and the [PGA](http://www.producersguild.org/blogpost/923036/164597/The-Producers-Mark–What-it-means-where-it-comes-from-and-how-you-can-get-it) on what it is and how you get it
* [Why are Hollywood movies so long?](http://priceonomics.com/why-are-hollywood-movies-so-long/)
* [Velib](http://en.velib.paris.fr/) bike sharing in Paris
* Tesla [battery swap](http://www.teslamotors.com/batteryswap) is worth watching
* [Send us](mailto:ask@johnaugust.com) a link to your downloadable Scriptnotes outro
* Outro by Scriptnotes listener Matthew Chilelli

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_98.m4a).

**UPDATE** 7-19-13: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-ep-98-long-movies-producer-credits-and-price-fixing-transcript).

Notes on the death of the film industry

Film Industry, Producers, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig discuss the death of the film industry as foretold by four prominent filmmakers. Is the way we make movies unsustainable? Is the system fundamentally broken, or just changing into something new? And why don’t we make romantic comedies anymore?

A big thanks to everyone who bought Scriptnotes t-shirts. They ship starting July 1st, which is coincidentally the date tickets for the live 100th episode taping will go on sale.

This Saturday, June 29th, Craig and John will be part of the Writers Guild Foundation Craft Day, doing a live Three Page Challenge. Join us! Tickets available in the links.

LINKS:

* The Writers Guild Foundation presents [The Screenwriter’s Craft: Finding Your Voice](https://www.wgfoundation.org/screenwriting-events/the-screenwriters-craft-finding-your-voice/) featuring Scriptnotes Live
* John’s blog post on [this summer’s two live shows](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-live-in-la)
* [Why Spielberg And Lucas Are Wrong About The Film Industry ‘Implosion’](http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2013/06/20/why-spielberg-and-lucas-are-wrong-about-the-film-industry-implosion/)
* [Independent Film in Hollywood and France](http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/movies/2013/06/the-ingredients-for-a-healthy-cinema.html)
* Watch [Steven Soderbergh’s ‘State of Cinema’ address from the San Francisco Film Festival](http://www.indiewire.com/article/watch-full-video-recording-of-steven-soderberghs-impassioned-state-of-cinema-address-from-the-san-francisco-film-festival)
* [Lynda Obst: Hollywood’s completely broken](http://www.salon.com/2013/06/15/lynda_obst_hollywoods_completely_broken/)
* [Cicada Mania](http://www.cicadamania.com/) is dedicated to cicadas
* [Feedbin](https://feedbin.me/): A fast, simple RSS feed reader
* [RSS](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS) on Wikipedia

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_95.m4a).

**UPDATE** 6-28-13: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-ep-95-notes-on-the-death-of-the-film-industry-transcript).

Talking Austen in Austin

Film Industry, Producers, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

Craig and John chat with Lindsay Doran, a producer and former studio exec who’s made terrific movies, ranging from Sense and Sensibility to Stranger than Fiction.

Topics include the role of producers, developing scripts with screenwriters, and the importance of good hair.

* [Lindsay Doran](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0233386/) on IMDb
* The New York Times [on Lindsay Doran](http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/15/movies/lindsay-doran-examines-what-makes-films-satisfying.html?pagewanted=all) (including a great photo of her hair)
* Lindsay’s TEDx presentation: [Saving the World vs Kissing the Girl](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=752INSLlyf0)
* Scriptnotes, Episode 17: [What do producers do?](http://johnaugust.com/2011/what-do-producers-do)
* INTRO: “Throw the Coins” from [Sense and Sensibility](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUuXRfy5jSY) score by Patrick Doyle
* OUTRO: [Whip My Hair](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp-wFsrM-Ng) cover by katiegavs

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_68.m4a).

**UPDATE** 12-19-12: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2012/scriptnotes-ep-68-talking-austen-in-austin-transcript).