John August

Television

The Post-Weinstein Era

Episode - 322

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Citizenship, Film Industry, News, Random Advice, Scriptnotes, Television, Transcribed, WGA

John and Craig welcome Daley Haggar and Dara Resnik to examine the potential impacts of the Harvey Weinstein revelations on Hollywood.

What should have been done? And what should happen next to foster a safer, saner and more inclusive industry culture?

We also explore gender dynamics in a television writers room, discuss ways to address power imbalances and learn what it means to dial something in on the “Penis Phone.”

Links:

* Scriptnotes T-shirts are [here](https://cottonbureau.com/people/scriptnotes-podcast)! We’ve got Classic (in [light](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/classic_shirt_light.jpg) and [dark](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/classic_shirt_dark.jpg) mode), the [Umbrage Strikes Back](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/umbrage_strikes_back_shirt.jpg), and [Umbrage & Reason](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/umbrage__and_reason_shirt.jpg).
* We’ll be at the [Austin Film Festival](https://www.austinfilmfestival.com/aff/live/) for our Live Show and Three Page Challenge.
* If you encounter a late night submission packet that seems iffy, you can email them to contracts@wga.org.
* Daley Haggar’s [“Why I’m Snitching on Hollywood Sexism”](http://www.lennyletter.com/work/a1024/why-im-snitching-on-hollywood-sexism/) for Lenny Letter.
* Dara Resnik and Gillian Boher’s [“Don’t be so sure Harvey Weinstein is going away for good”](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/posteverything/wp/2017/10/13/dont-be-so-sure-harvey-weinstein-is-going-away-for-good/?utm_term=.76dbbe5b0dc3) for The Washington Post.
* Here is some information about [Harvey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_Weinstein) and [Bob](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Weinstein) Weinstein who founded [Miramax](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miramax) and [The Weinstein Company,](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Weinstein_Company) for reference.
* [“Harvey Weinstein Paid Off Sexual Harassment Accusers for Decades”](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/05/us/harvey-weinstein-harassment-allegations.html) by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey for The New York Times, and Harvey Weinstein’s official [response](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/10/05/us/statement-from-harvey-weinstein.html).
* [“From Aggressive Overtures to Sexual Assault: Harvey Weinstein’s Accusers Tell Their Stories”](https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/from-aggressive-overtures-to-sexual-assault-harvey-weinsteins-accusers-tell-their-stories) by Ronan Farrow for The New Yorker.
* [“Harvey Weinstein Is Fired After Sexual Harassment Reports”](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/08/business/harvey-weinstein-fired.html) by Megan Twohey for the New York Times.
* [“‘Beautiful Girls’ Scribe Scott Rosenberg On A Complicated Legacy With Harvey Weinstein”](http://deadline.com/2017/10/scott-rosenberg-harvey-weinstein-miramax-beautiful-girls-guilt-over-sexual-assault-allegations-1202189525/)
* The case of [Lyle v. Warner Brothers](http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/05/04/grossman.friends/index.html) (aka the Friends lawsuit) and [the Supreme Court’s dismissal](http://articles.latimes.com/2006/apr/21/local/me-friends21)
* The last [Disneyland Half Marathon](https://www.rundisney.com/super-heroes-half-marathon/) (at least for a while)!
* The [CIA’s twitter account](https://twitter.com/cia) (feat. dogs).
* Rihanna [can’t wink.](http://www.vulture.com/2016/08/can-rihanna-actually-wink-a-twitter-expose.html)
* And Mariah Carey [doesn’t dance](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWyfuaAjUiI).
* [The Scriptnotes Listeners’ Guide!](johnaugust.com/guide)
* [The USB drives!](https://store.johnaugust.com/collections/frontpage/products/scriptnotes-300-episode-usb-flash-drive)
* [Daley Haggar](https://twitter.com/d_haggar) on Twitter
* [Dara Resnik](https://twitter.com/BadassMomWriter) on Twitter
* [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 Chilleli ([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_322.mp3).

**UPDATE 10-31-17:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2017/scriptnotes-ep-322-the-post-weinstein-era-transcript).

Scriptnotes Voice: Snitching on Sexism

Film Industry, Scriptnotes, Television

Daley Haggar shares her experience in the writers room. Originally posted on [Lenny Letter](http://www.lennyletter.com/work/a1024/why-im-snitching-on-hollywood-sexism/).

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download this Scriptnotes Voice [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_voice_Daley_Haggar.mp3).

Writing Other Things

Books, Broadway, How-To, International, Scriptnotes, Television, Transcribed, Writing Process

John and Craig welcome back Aline Brosh McKenna to talk about writing projects outside the familiar constraints of screenwriting.

We discuss the surprises and adjustments involved in the creative processes of different media: Aline’s graphic novel Jane, Craig’s HBO miniseries Chernobyl, and John’s original song, “Rise.” We also dig into why screenwriters sometimes need to be amateurs again.

Then we answer listener questions about making fair deals as someone in a different country, and how best to read one’s script before rewriting.

Links:

* [Submit](http://johnaugust.com/threepage) to the Three Page Challenge and check the box if you’ll be in Austin for the Austin Film Festival
* The [new season](http://www.cwtv.com/shows/crazy-ex-girlfriend) of [Crazy Ex Girlfriend](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazy_Ex-Girlfriend_(TV_series)) premieres Friday October 13th
* John Gatins’ [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0309691/)
* Order Aline Brosh McKenna’s new graphic novel, [Jane](https://www.amazon.com/Jane-Aline-McKenna/dp/1608869814)
* Ramón K. Pérez’s [website](http://www.ramonperez.com/v4/), [twitter](https://twitter.com/theramonperez?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor) and [graphic novel, Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand](http://www.amazon.com/dp/1936393093/?tag=johnaugustcom-20)
* “Rise” composer Sam Davis’ [website](http://www.samdavismusic.com/)
* The [Original Melody](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/Rise_sam_original_piano_melody.m4a), John’s [Snap Track](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/Rise_john_snap_trim.m4a), and the [demo track](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/Rise_demo.wav) with vocalist [Curt Hansen](https://twitter.com/curt_hansen?lang=en) for “Rise”
* Or you can check out this [post](http://johnaugust.com/rise) for more details about “Rise”
* [Mark Halpin Puzzles](http://www.markhalpin.com/puzzles/puzzles.html)
* [Insecure](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insecure_(TV_series)) on [HBO](http://www.hbo.com/insecure)
* [Out on the Wire](http://www.amazon.com/dp/0385348436/?tag=johnaugustcom-20) by Jessica Abel
* [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
* [Aline Brosh McKenna](https://twitter.com/alinebmckenna?lang=en) 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 John August (lyrics) and Sam Davis (music) ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

Credits:
Produced by Megan McDonnell
Edited by Matthew Chilelli
With Nima Yousefi and Dustin Bocks

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_318.mp3).

**UPDATE 9-26-17:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2017/scriptnotes-ep-318-writing-other-things-transcript)

Scriptnotes Live Homecoming Show

Film Industry, Scriptnotes, Television, Transcribed

John and Craig welcome special guests Megan Amram (The Good Place), Tom Schnauz (Better Call Saul) and Matt Selman (The Simpsons) to talk about writing television, from staffing to breaking story to the challenge of short seasons.

Then we try out two new segments: How Could This Be Funny and An Aubry Plaza Type. Do they work? It’s debatable!

There is also a Q&A, which you can find as a bonus episode for subscribers at scriptnotes.net.

Recorded live at the Writers Guild Theater on July 25, 2017. Thanks to the Writers Guild Foundation for hosting us, and a terrific audience.

Links:

* Megan Amram on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megan_Amram), [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1689290/) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/meganamram)
* Thomas Schnauz on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Schnauz), [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1041475/) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/TomSchnauz)
* Matt Selman on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Selman), [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0783468/) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/mattselman), and as host of [Duly Noted: The Scriptnotes Aftershow](http://johnaugust.com/2016/duly-noted-lets-talk-about-episode-259)
* [Massive Iceberg Breaks Off from Antarctica](https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2017/massive-iceberg-breaks-off-from-antarctica)
* [Donald Trump Jr.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_Jr.)
* [Sperm Count Dropping in Western World](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/sperm-count-dropping-in-western-world/)
* [O.J. Simpson Wins Parole, Claiming He Has Led a ‘Conflict-Free Life’
](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/20/us/oj-simpson-parole.html?_r=0)
* Thanks to the [Writers Guild Foundation](https://www.wgfoundation.org/) for hosting us
* [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 Rajesh Naroth ([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_311.mp3).

**UPDATE 8-7-17:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2017/scriptnotes-ep-311-scriptnotes-live-homecoming-show-transcript).