John August

Rights and Copyright

The Tentpoles of 2019

Episode - 167

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Film Industry, Follow Up, Genres, How-To, Pitches, Projects, Rights and Copyright, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

Craig and John discuss the 31 superhero movies slated for the next few years. Is it good business or a trainwreck in the making?

How do you move from a vague idea to an actual pitch? We talk about what you say when you’re in the room pitching on a project, and why passion trumps plot in most cases.

We also look at copyright and how the current system is broken for everyone.

Next week will be Craig-less, because we’re recording live at the Austin Film Festival with a bunch of amazing guests.

Links:

You can download the episode here: AAC | mp3.

UPDATE 11-4-14: The transcript of this episode can be found here.

Threshers, Mergers and the Top Two Boxes

Film Industry, Rights and Copyright, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

Craig and John discuss the accusations of plagiarism surrounding True Detective — and what plagiarism even means in the context of filmed entertainment. Movies don’t have footnotes, so how should screenwriters give attribution?

Next it’s time for a look at the major Hollywood studios, and what would happen if any of them were to merge, like Fox and Warners seemed poised to do. Following that, we take a look at the test screening process.

Finally, John wants to talk about the Canadian “about,” which isn’t “aboot,” and is a lot more complicated than you’d think.

Links:

You can download the episode here: AAC | mp3.

UPDATE 8-15-14: The transcript of this episode can be found here.

Uncomfortable Ambiguity, or Nobody Wants Me at their Orgy

Adaptation, Follow Up, QandA, Rights and Copyright, Scriptnotes, Television, WGA, Words on the page

Nothing is cut-and-dried this week. John and Craig talk Game of Thrones rape, allegations against director Bryan Singer and the new report showing the same low employment numbers for female writers in film and TV.

Then, what happens when a writer writes fan fiction for the novel she wrote but doesn’t own? We talk about the weird situation L.J. Smith finds herself in with The Vampire Diaries, and what it could mean for screenwriters.

We’re now taking entries for the special live Three Page Challenge on May 15th. Click the link in the notes for details. We’re delighted to have Susannah Grant as our special guest judge for the evening.

LINKS:

You can download the episode here: AAC | mp3.

UPDATE 5-2-14: The transcript of this episode can be found here.

Draw Your Own Werewolf

Film Industry, Follow Up, QandA, Rights and Copyright, Scriptnotes, Television, Transcribed, Words on the page

Craig delights as John gets @-napped in a Twitter thread about copyright infringement. Then they talk disruption in television, and how it affects writers.

Finally, they answer listener questions about underlining, fan fiction scripts and whether a professional writer’s script would fare well in the Three Page Challenge.

Links:

You can download the episode here: AAC | mp3.

UPDATE 4-3-14: The transcript of this episode can be found here.