John August

Story and Plot

Let me give you some advice

Episode - 112

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Film Industry, Indie, Producers, QandA, Random Advice, Scriptnotes, So-Called Experts, Story and Plot, Transcribed, Words on the page

Craig and John go back to basics with an all advice episode, looking at the Dear J.J. recommendations for Star Wars, Tony Gilroy’s advice to screenwriters and whatever’s up with Max Landis.

From there, they open the listener mailbag to answer questions ranging from mastering characters’ voices to indie financing.

Links:

* [4 Rules to Make Star Wars Great Again](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_joDNOpeWWo&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D_joDNOpeWWo&app=desktop)
* Clerks on [Death Star politics](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGOVbXF7Iog)
* Eddie Izzard on [the Death Star cantina](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ2yRTRlMFU)
* Tony Gilroy’s [Top 10 tips for writing a Hollywood blockbuster](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24348113)
* The New York Times on [Rethinking Gender Bias in Theater](http://theater.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/theater/24play.html?_r=1&)
* [Max Landis](http://shelbysells.com/2013/09/30/interview-series-max-landis/) on the Pillow Talk interview series
* Wikipedia on [Bitcoin mining](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitcoin_mining#Bitcoin_mining)
* John’s 2011 blog post on [Blue Valentine and adoption](http://johnaugust.com/2011/dear-cindy-in-blue-valentine)
* [WinesTilSoldOut](http://wtso.com/)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Scriptnotes listener The Face of Human Error

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_112.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_112.mp3).

**UPDATE** 10-10-13: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-ep-112-let-me-give-you-some-advice-transcript).

Scriptnotes Live from New York

Big Fish, Broadway, Follow Up, Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Transcribed

John and Craig welcome their largest live audience yet for a conversation about Kickstarter, movie pilots and musicals. Joined by special guest Andrew Lippa, they talk about the special challenges and opportunities that arise when characters break into song.

It’s the biggest, gayest, most musical episode yet. Everyone sings.

Links:

* See [Big Fish on Broadway](http://www.bigfishthemusical.com/)
* If you don’t have your Scriptnotes USB drive yet, [email Stuart and let him know](mailto:orders@johnaugust.com)
* [Back episodes](http://johnaugust.com/scriptnotes) are available now
* The Yank! Original Cast Album [has been funded](http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1046922831/yank-original-cast-album)
* Aaron Cooley asks: [Why don’t movie studios make pilots?](http://hollywoodjournal.com/industry-impressions/why-dont-movie-studios-make-pilots/20130920/)
* [Andrew Lippa](http://andrewlippa.com/), and [on Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Lippa)
* [Recette](http://recettenyc.com/) restaurant
* [Bid now](https://www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_items/371106) for a Big Fish backstage tour with John and Andrew (and support a Los Angeles public school)
* [Let us know](mailto:ask@johnaugust.com) if you’re in Vienna and willing to meet up with Craig
* The [Falsettoland cast album](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000V9WJ68/?tag=johnaugustcom-20), and [on Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falsettoland)
* Thank you and congrats to pianist and soon-to-be husband [Daniel Green](http://www.danielgreenmusic.com)

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_109.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_109.mp3).

**UPDATE** 9-27-13: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-ep-109-scriptnotes-live-from-new-york-transcript).

Ender’s Game, one-hours and alt-jokes

Adaptation, Film Industry, Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Television, Transcribed, Words on the page

John and Craig discuss the impact of author Orson Scott Card’s personal toxicity on Ender’s Game, and what it means for that movie and how it will affect studio decisions moving forward.

That, plus alternate jokes, One Cool Things, and a Golden Ticket-inspired discussion on one hour spec pilots.

LINKS:

* The [Ender’s Game](http://www.if-sentinel.com/) movie
* AV Club on [Orson Scott Card’s recent comments](http://www.avclub.com/articles/oh-hey-orson-scott-card-also-wrote-about-obama-bec,101703/)
* Big Fish’s Zachary Unger [sings the National Athem](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEnK734bIpg) at this weekend’s Jets game
* [Happy Endings script pages](http://www.uproxx.com/tv/2013/07/a-happy-endings-writer-tweeted-a-bunch-of-rejected-jokes-after-the-show-officially-ended/) with alternate jokes
* [Portlandia](http://www.ifc.com/shows/portlandia) on IFC
* [Microsoft Sculpt](http://www.theverge.com/2013/8/13/4617468/microsoft-sculpt-keyboard-and-mouse-aim-for-ergonomic-cool) ergonomic keyboard (from [@jeremycohen](https://twitter.com/jeremymcohen/status/367453556967620609))
* If you’re coming to Big Fish on Broadway, [email](mailto:ask@johnaugust.com) or [tweet](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) us to let us know!
* And feel free to [Tweet Craig](https://twitter.com/clmazin), too. But no lists.
* Outro by Scriptnotes listener Olivia Neutron Bomb

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_104.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_104.mp3).

**UPDATE** 8-22-13: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-ep-104-enders-game-one-hours-and-alt-jokes-transcript).

Disaster Porn, and Spelling Things Out

Broadway, Film Industry, Follow Up, News, Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Transcribed, Words on the page

John and Craig discuss Damon Lindelof’s interview about how plot stakes have escalated lockstep with budget, perhaps to the point of absurdity.

Then it’s a look at why screenwriters get the note to “spell things out,” and the situations in which it’s okay or troubling to have characters speak story points. Finally, we tackle the media’s obsession with Hollywood’s demise, and why you never read a story about “what went right.”

All this, plus hedge funds, Big Fish discounts and crossword magic in the new Scriptnotes.

LINKS:

* Scriptnotes First 100 Episodes flash drives [are available until Friday, 8/16](http://store.johnaugust.com/)
* Daniel Loeb’s [Variety interview](http://variety.com/2013/film/news/exclusive-interview-daniel-loeb-vows-to-end-sony-spinoff-quest-at-least-for-now-1200572856/)
* Vulture: [Star Script Doctor Damon Lindelof Explains the New Rules of Blockbuster Screenwriting](http://www.vulture.com/2013/08/script-doctor-damon-lindelof-on-blockbuster-screenwriting.html)
* Use discount code SCRIPT for a deal on select [Big Fish on Broadway tickets](http://www.bigfishthemusical.com/) (And be sure to [tweet](https://twitter.com/stuartfriedel) or [email](mailto:ask@johnaugust.com) Stuart and let him know when you’ll be there)
* David Kwong’s [crossword puzzle magic](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1VPUZDr-fY) will blow your mind
* Outro by Scriptnotes listener Bryan Duke

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_103.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_103.mp3).

**UPDATE** 8-15-13: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-ep-103-disaster-porn-and-spelling-things-out-transcript).