John August

Story and Plot

The One with Stephen Schiff

Episode - 337

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Film Industry, Scriptnotes, So-Called Experts, Story and Plot, Television, Transcribed, Writing Process

John is joined by The Americans’ executive producer Stephen Schiff at a live Scriptnotes taping in New York! They discuss grounding an outrageous premise in character, suspension of disbelief, premium act breaks, and writing for a foreign language.

We also answer audience questions about New York writers rooms, expert consultants, expecting comparisons, first drafts, and how to write a period piece when history is full of spoilers.

Links:

* [Stephen Schiff](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0771496/) currently works on [The Americans](http://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/the-americans). Its final season premieres on March 28th.
* Thank you, [McNally Jackson Independent Booksellers](http://www.mcnallyjackson.com/event/scriptnotes-live-podcast-recording-author-john-august) for hosting our live show!
* [Google Ngram Viewer](https://books.google.com/ngrams)
* Bookstore staff recommendations, which led John to [The End We Start From](http://www.amazon.com/dp/0802126898/?tag=johnaugustcom-20) by Megan Hunter
* [The Scriptnotes Listeners’ Guide!](johnaugust.com/guide)
* [The USB drives!](https://store.johnaugust.com/collections/frontpage/products/scriptnotes-300-episode-usb-flash-drive)
* [John August](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) on Twitter
* [Craig Mazin](https://twitter.com/clmazin) on Twitter
* [John on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en)
* [Find past episodes](http://scriptnotes.net/)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Matthew Chilelli ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_337.mp3).

**UPDATE 2-20-18:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2018/scriptnotes-ep-337-the-one-with-stephen-schiff-transcript).

Wait for It

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](http://www.wga.org/members/workplace-matters/sexual-harassment) regarding sexual harassment
* [The Wedding Planner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wedding_Planner), [Die Hard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Hard), [Three’s Company](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three%27s_Company), [Man Up](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_Up_(film)), and the [old ketchup commercials](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoLoyg3JKRQ) are great examples of suspense
* Thanks to [Katie Dippold](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1767754/), who pitched the idea for this episode
* [Weekend Read](https://quoteunquoteapps.com/weekendread/) has many of this season’s awards scripts posted for your reading pleasure
* [Flipflop Solitaire](http://www.flipflopsolitaire.com) by Zach Gage, who also made [Really Bad Chess](http://www.reallybadchess.com)
* Slate’s podcast, [Slow Burn](http://www.slate.com/articles/slate_plus/watergate.html)
* [The Scriptnotes Listeners’ Guide!](johnaugust.com/guide)
* [The USB drives!](https://store.johnaugust.com/collections/frontpage/products/scriptnotes-300-episode-usb-flash-drive)
* [John August](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) on Twitter
* [Craig Mazin](https://twitter.com/clmazin) on Twitter
* [John on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en)
* [Find past episodes](http://scriptnotes.net/)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Travis Newton ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_332.mp3).

**UPDATE 1-8-18:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2018/scriptnotes-ep-332-wait-for-it-transcript).

A Cop’s Cop Show

Genres, Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Television, Transcribed, Words on the page, Writing Process

John and Craig give notes on a pilot script by our Homecoming Live Show Winner, Andrew Thalheimer. The Harrows is an hour-long police drama that centers on the relationship between a straight-laced new recruit and his street-wise father after they are assigned to be each other’s partner.

In talking through The Harrows, we discuss the limits of suspension of disbelief, the importance of the central relationship, and the need to set up your series early.

Huge thank you to Andrew, who has courageously put his script in our crosshairs. You can find this first draft and the subsequent rewrite below.

Links:

* [The Harrows (original draft)](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/9-13_Thalheimer_pilot.pdf) by Andrew Thalheimer, Story by Robert Kulb & Andrew Thalheimer)
* [The Harrows (rewrite)](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/12-17_Thalheimer_Pilot.pdf) by Andrew Thalheimer, Story by Robert Kulb & Andrew Thalheimer
* [The Scriptnotes Listeners’ Guide!](johnaugust.com/guide)
* [The USB drives!](https://store.johnaugust.com/collections/frontpage/products/scriptnotes-300-episode-usb-flash-drive)
* [John August](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) on Twitter
* [Craig Mazin](https://twitter.com/clmazin) on Twitter
* [John on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en)
* [Find past episodes](http://scriptnotes.net/)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Andy Roninson ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_330.mp3).

**UPDATE 12-26-17:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2017/scriptnotes-ep-330-a-cops-cop-show-transcript)

Austin Live Show 2017 (AKA Too Many Scotts)

Directors, Film Industry, Producers, Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Television, Transcribed, Travel, Writer Emergency Pack, Writing Process

John and Craig talk with uber-screenwriter Scott Frank (Out of Sight, Get Shorty, Minority Report, Logan) about how his feature script Godless ended up as a miniseries at Netflix.

We then invite more guests up to discuss what movies can learn from the success of TV:

– Guinevere Turner (American Psycho, Go Fish)
– Scott Alexander (Ed Wood, The People v. O.J. Simpson,)
– Tess Morris (Man Up, “You Had Us At Hello” podcast)
– Lindsay Doran (producer of Stranger Than Fiction, Sense and Sensibility)

In our final segment, we’re joined by a new batch of writers to play “The Studio Has Notes.”

– Dana Fox (How to Be Single, Ben and Kate)
– Megan Amram (The Good Place, The Simpsons)
– Oren Uziel (22 Jump Street, Shimmer Lake)
– Jason Fuchs (Wonder Woman, Ice Age: Continental Drift)
– Scott Rosenberg (High Fidelity, Beautiful Girls)

Can our lucky audience member pick out the one fake note among the five real ones? Can you?

Recorded live from the Driskill Ballroom at the 2017 Austin Film Festival.

Thanks to the Austin Film Festival for hosting us, and to a great audience. It’s one of our highlights each year.

Links:

* Scriptnotes T-shirts are [here](https://cottonbureau.com/people/scriptnotes-podcast)! We’ve got [Classic](https://cottonbureau.com/products/scriptnotes-classic) (in light and dark mode), the [Umbrage Strikes Back](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/umbrage_strikes_back_shirt.jpg), and [Umbrage & Reason](https://cottonbureau.com/products/scriptnotes-umbragereason).
* Thank you, [Austin Film Festival](https://www.austinfilmfestival.com/aff/live/)!
* [Scott Frank](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Frank)’s [IMDB](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0291082/) and on [twitter](https://twitter.com/scottfrank). And don’t miss the [trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMUiRYoc76A) for Godless, his upcoming miniseries on Netflix.
* [Guinevere Turner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinevere_Turner)’s [IMDB](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0877587/) and on [twitter](https://twitter.com/turnerguinevere)
* Scott Alexander’s [IMDB](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0018735/)
* [Tess Morris](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tess_Morris)’s [IMDB](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2208729/) and on [twitter](https://twitter.com/TheTessMorris)
* [Lindsay Doran](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindsay_Doran)’s [IMDB](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0233386/)
* [Dana Fox](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dana_Fox)’s [IMDB](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1401416/) and on [twitter](https://twitter.com/inthehenhouse)
* [Megan Amram](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megan_Amram)’s [IMDB](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1689290/) and on [twitter](https://twitter.com/meganamram)
* Oren Uziel’s [IMDB](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3349927/) and on [twitter](https://twitter.com/orenuziel)
* [Jason Fuchs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Fuchs)’s [IMDB](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0297229/) and on [twitter](https://twitter.com/JasonIsaacFuchs)
* [Scott Rosenberg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Rosenberg)’s [IMDB](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0003298/)
* “The Studio Has Notes” [notes](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/Studio_Has_Notes_AFF.pdf)
* [The Scriptnotes Listeners’ Guide!](johnaugust.com/guide)
* [The USB drives!](https://store.johnaugust.com/collections/frontpage/products/scriptnotes-300-episode-usb-flash-drive)
* [John August](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) on Twitter
* [Craig Mazin](https://twitter.com/clmazin) on Twitter
* [John on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en)
* [Find past episodes](http://scriptnotes.net/)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Matthew Chilelli ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_323-v2.mp3).

**UPDATE 11-6-17:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2017/scriptnotes-ep-323-austin-live-show-2017-aka-too-many-scotts-transcript).