John August

Story and Plot

Only haters hate rom-coms

Episode - 225

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Follow Up, Genres, QandA, Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Transcribed

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.

Links:

* [Buy your tickets now for the 2015 Scriptnotes Holiday Show on December 9th](https://www.wgfoundation.org/screenwriting-events/scriptnotes-holiday-live-show-with-john-august-and-craig-mazin) with guests [Riki Lindhome, Natasha Leggero](http://www.cc.com/shows/another-period) and [Malcolm Spellman](http://johnaugust.com/2015/malcolm-spellman-a-study-in-heat)
* [Jon Bon Jovi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Bon_Jovi) on Wikipedia
* [Amazon Storywriter](https://storywriter.amazon.com/) and [Fountain](http://fountain.io/)
* Scriptnotes, 224: [Whiplash, on paper and on screen](http://johnaugust.com/2015/whiplash-on-paper-and-on-screen)
* Tess Morris on [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2208729/) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/TheTessMorris), and [Man Up](http://www.manupfilm.co.uk/) on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_Up_(film)) and [Rotten Tomatoes](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/man_up_2015/)
* [Why Are Romantic Comedies So Bad?](http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/03/why-are-romantic-comedies-so-bad/309236/) by Christopher Orr
* CinemaBlend’s [30 Best Romantic Comedies Of All-Time](http://www.cinemablend.com/new/30-Best-Romantic-Comedies-All-Time-43134.html)
* The New Yorker on [Nick Bostrom](http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/11/23/doomsday-invention-artificial-intelligence-nick-bostrom)
* Wait But Why on [The Fermi Paradox](http://waitbutwhy.com/2014/05/fermi-paradox.html)
* [Fallout 4](https://www.fallout4.com/age-gate), and [on Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B016E70408/?tag=johnaugustcom-20)
* [The Vista Theatre](http://www.vintagecinemas.com/vista/)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Jon Spurney ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_225.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_225.mp3).

**UPDATE 11-27-15:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2015/scriptnotes-ep-225-only-haters-hate-rom-coms-transcript).

The Martian, or Making Things Going Wrong Well

Adaptation, Story and Plot

Next month, I’ll be chatting with Drew Goddard, screenwriter of The Martian, for a Writers Guild Foundation event.

One of the things I want to talk about is how cleverly The Martian sets expectations and then defeats them in surprising ways. The film is marketed as a story of survival and ingenuity, but on a screenwriting level it’s a series of carefully-structured hopes denied.

As The Bitter Script Reader [points out](http://thebitterscriptreader.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-martian-is-kind-of-film.html):

> A good rule of thumb in film is that if we’re explained a plan in painstaking detail, […] things will not go to plan. The way things NEED to happen is laid out for us so that when we’re in the thick of it, we’ll have that “oh shit!” reaction as things come apart.

On [today’s Scriptnotes](http://johnaugust.com/2015/features-are-different), Craig and I talk about on why this kind of constant denial engine — and the life-or-death stakes it helps feed — makes The Martian a movie idea rather than a TV idea. It’s a journey this character can only take once. And it’s Goddard and Scott’s terrific execution that makes it such an enjoyable ride.

If you want to join me for the conversation with Goddard, [tickets are available now](https://www.wgfoundation.org/screenwriting-events/writers-on-writing-with-drew-goddard/).

Features are different

Follow Up, Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Television, Three Page Challenge, Transcribed, Writing Process

John and Craig look at how writing feature films is fundamentally different than writing television, and how that difference begins at the point of story inception. It’s not just that movies are longer; they’re also built to be unique events, with characters embarking on once-in-a-lifetime journeys. We discuss how to decide whether an idea is better suited for features or series, and lessons learned from properties that have existed in both worlds.

Then it’s another Three Page Challenge, with entries taking us from dark cellars to the edge of the galaxy.

Links:

* Scriptnotes Premium Bonus episode, with [Black Mass screenwriter Mark Mallouk](http://scriptnotes.net/black-mass-screenwriter-mark-mallouk)
* [Austin Film Festival 2015 panel schedule](https://austinfilmfestival.com/festivalandconference/conference/2015-panels/)
* [Sign up for Scriptnotes premium access](https://my.libsyn.com/show/view/id/44610)
* [Emma Coats’s Pixar Story Rules](http://www.pixartouchbook.com/blog/2011/5/15/pixar-story-rules-one-version.html)
* [Submit your Three Pages](http://johnaugust.com/threepage)
* Three Pages by [Dan Maurer](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/DanMaurer.pdf)
* Three Pages by [Kate Jeffrey](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/KateJeffrey.pdf)
* Three Pages by [Sehaj Sethi](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/SehajSethi.pdf)
* [A24](http://a24films.com/), and Slate on [The Distributor as Auteur](http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2015/09/profile_of_the_independent_film_distributor_a24_the_company_behind_spring.html)
* Hamilton, the Original Broadway Cast Recording on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hamilton-original-broadway/id1025210938) and on [Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B013JLBPGE/?tag=johnaugustcom-20)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Rajesh Naroth ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_218.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_218.mp3).

**UPDATE 10-8-15:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2015/scriptnotes-ep-218-features-are-different-transcript).

Screenwriter Mark Mallouk on Black Mass

Adaptation, News, Story and Plot, Writing Process

In addition to today’s normal Scriptnotes episode, premium subscribers can find a [half-hour interview](http://scriptnotes.net/black-mass-screenwriter-mark-mallouk) I did with Black Mass screenwriter Mark Mallouk.

We discuss the film’s long journey from book to screen, including how the sudden reappearance of Whitey Bulger in 2011 changed both the script and the production. This Q&A was recorded following the WGA screening on September 26, 2015. Thanks to Mike from the Writers Guild Theater for providing the audio.

Scriptnotes is free every Tuesday. Bonus episodes like this one are part of the $2/month premium feed, which also gives you access to all of the back catalog. I’m trying to get in the habit of pulling out the audio recorder when talking with writers, so look for more of these bonus interviews as we head into awards season.

If you want to subscribe to the premium feed, visit [scriptnotes.net](http://scriptnotes.net).

Once subscribed, you can access episodes through the app, available for both [iOS](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/scriptnotes/id739117984?mt=8) and [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.johnaugust.android.scriptnotes&hl=en).