Rights and Copyright

The End of the Beginning

Episode - 333

January 9, 2018 Adaptation, Film Industry, Follow Up, Rights and Copyright, Scriptnotes, Transcribed, Videogames, WGA, Writing Process

John and Craig tackle that tricky stretch of screenplay between crystalizing what the story is going to be and the protagonist actually embarking upon it: the end of Act 1.

We also answer listener questions about writing for new media, why working outside of a WGA contract hurts everyone, what people want when asking for a “writing sample,” and adapting novels without the rights.

Links:

Bathe in my Milk and the NY Post article about it.
The Apple Pencil works pretty well! You can use it with Notability.
The Scriptnotes Listeners’ Guide!
The USB drives!
John August on Twitter
Craig Mazin on Twitter
John on Instagram
Find past episodes
Outro by Rajesh Naroth (send us yours!)

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 1-16-18: The transcript of this episode can be found here.

Wait for It

January 2, 2018 Arlo Finch, Film Industry, Follow Up, Formatting, Rights and Copyright, Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Weekend Read, WGA, Words on the page, Writing Process

John and Craig discuss suspense and its function in all genres, from thrillers to romcoms. They examine suspense of the known and of the unknown and the techniques available to construct it.

We also answer listeners questions about registering scripts with the WGA, how to overcome creative paralysis and unconventional sluglines.

Links:

The WGA’s page regarding sexual harassment
The Wedding Planner, Die Hard, Three’s Company, Man Up, and the old ketchup commercials are great examples of suspense
Thanks to Katie Dippold, who pitched the idea for this episode
Weekend Read has many of this season’s awards scripts posted for your reading pleasure
Flipflop Solitaire by Zach Gage, who also made Really Bad Chess
Slate’s podcast, Slow Burn
The Scriptnotes Listeners’ Guide!
The USB drives!
John August on Twitter
Craig Mazin on Twitter
John on Instagram
Find past episodes
Outro by Travis Newton (send us yours!)

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 1-8-18: The transcript of this episode can be found here.

We Had the Same Idea

December 26, 2017 Citizenship, Film Industry, Follow Up, How-To, Producers, Random Advice, Rights and Copyright, Scriptnotes, Television, Transcribed

John and Craig offer advice to those who suspect their work has been stolen, providing a checklist to help determine if a claim has merit and suggestions for how to best proceed if it does.

We also answer listener questions about taxes on agent commission, being a conservative voice in a writers’ room, and using real celebrities as characters.

Links:

Firelight, the How Could This Be A Movie that is, indeed, a movie
Amazon’s deal for The Lord of the Rings TV rights
Amanda Hess’ Twitter response to Sarah Sahim’s accusation of plagiarism
Nokia Thermo
Google Maps’s Moat by Justin O’Beirne
The Scriptnotes Listeners’ Guide!
The USB drives!
John August on Twitter
Craig Mazin on Twitter
John on Instagram
Find past episodes
Outro by Matthew Chilleli and the Children’s Bell Choir of Akita (send us yours!)

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 1-2-18: The transcript of this episode can be found here

(Adjective) Soldier

November 14, 2017 Adaptation, Film Industry, Resources, Rights and Copyright, Scriptnotes, Transcribed, Web series, Writing Process

Craig and John open the overflowing listener mailbag to tackle questions on everything from montages to life rights to passive heroes. Plus, we have a definitive answer on whether to number minor characters. (Don’t.)

We also finally address a major controversy: Craig’s missing cover of “Killing the Blues” from Episode 109. It exists, and you can listen to it today.

The Scriptnotes 2017 Holiday Live Show will be December 7th in Hollywood. Mark your calendars! Tickets available soon.

Links:

Tickets available for the Holiday Live Show now!
Team America: World Police’s defense of “Montage”
NOLO’s Getting Permission: Using & Licensing Copyright-Protected Materials Online & Off, a handy legal guide for rights and rights purchases.
Cosmo Kramer, from Seinfeld, is based on Kenny Kramer, who sued a writer for defamation
James Bond and the Berne Convention
Trademark, Copyright, and a snazzy video on the difference between them from the USPTO.
The Copyright Term Extension Act, AKA the Sonny Bono Act, AKA the Mickey Mouse Protection Act.
Charles Dickens’ struggle with piracy in the US is illuminated in Fifty Inventions that Shaped the Modern World by Tim Harford.
Go’s character, Spider Marine, comes from John’s mishearing the Smashing Pumpkins lyric “despite all my rage.”
Craig’s cover of “Killing the Blues,” by Rowland Salley.
The South Park video game, South Park: The Fractured but Whole (a sequel to The Stick of Truth) *all possible trigger warnings apply
The Adelante Shoe Co. makes shoes for the discerning global citizen.
Next week’s episode is the 2017 Austin Live Three Page Challenge — you can check out the pages here or on Weekend Read.
Matthew Chilelli’s video about his definitely-not-haunted apartment in Japan
The Scriptnotes Listeners’ Guide!
The USB drives!
John August on Twitter
Craig Mazin on Twitter
John on Instagram
Find past episodes
Outro by Rowland Salley, performed by Craig Mazin (send us yours!)

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 11-20-17: The transcript of this episode can be found here.

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