John August

Words on the page

Uncluttered by Ignorance

Episode - 189

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Adaptation, QandA, Scriptnotes, Transcribed, Words on the page

John and Craig dig into the overstuffed mail bag to answer listener questions about scenes, stagnation, subtitles and script breakdowns. Plus we reveal the consensus opinions on whether we should have ads, and look at possibilities for the Full Script Challenge.

We also have a lengthy digression into probability and the proper way to pronounce Los Feliz.

Links:

* [‘Los Feliz’: How you say it tells about you and L.A.](http://www.latimes.com/local/great-reads/la-me-los-feliz-20130507-dto-htmlstory.html) from the LA Times
* [How To Pronounce ‘Los Feliz’](http://atwater-village.blogspot.com/2006/08/how-to-pronounce-los-feliz.html) from the Atwater Village Newbie blog
* Screenwriting.io on [what constitutes a scene](http://screenwriting.io/what-constitutes-a-scene/)
* A [sample short film budget](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/Shortworkingbudget.pdf)
* [u/temptotosssoon’s story of waking up and realizing he’d dreamt the past decade of his life](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/oc7rc/have_you_ever_felt_a_deep_personal_connection_to/c3g4ot3) on Reddit
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Scriptnotes listener 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_189.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_189.mp3).

**UPDATE 3-30-15:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2015/scriptnotes-ep-189-uncluttered-by-ignorance-transcript).

The Rules (or, the Paradox of the Outlier)

Apps, Film Industry, Follow Up, Formatting, News, Scriptnotes, So-Called Experts, Story and Plot, Transcribed, Words on the page, Writing Process

John and Craig discuss this year’s screenplay Oscar winners, including the success of Birdman’s outside-the-box approach and Graham Moore’s speech.

Craig asked Reddit’s r/screenwriting sub to collect a list of the so-called rules budding screenwriters are told to follow. From the rules of the page to the rules of the industry, John and Craig look at these commonly-cited rules one-by-one, discussing which ones have merit and which ones are better ignored.

All this, plus follow-up on Tess Gerritsen’s Gravity lawsuit.

Also, John has a new app in the App Store called Assembler. Find out more in the links below.

Links:

* [Scriptnotes, 185: Malcolm Spellman, a Study in Heat](http://johnaugust.com/2015/malcolm-spellman-a-study-in-heat)
* [Jiminy Cricket educational serials](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Jiminy_Cricket_educational_serials) on Wikipedia
* [87th Academy Awards](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/87th_Academy_Awards) on Wikipedia
* [Scriptshadow’s review of Birdman](http://scriptshadow.net/screenplay-review-birdman/)
* [Graham Moore’s speech after winning Best Adapted Screenplay](http://oscar.go.com/video/2015-awards-ceremony-highlights/_m_VDKA0_4756q5vd)
* [Paddy Chayefsky at the 1978 Oscars](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JupkXrn1ahU)
* [LA Times retracts an incorrect assumption about Graham Moore’s sexuality](http://www.latimes.com/local/corrections/la-a4-correx-20150225-story.html)
* [Rashida Jones on the red carpet at the 2015 SAG awards](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtj57Vg80SQ)
* [Scriptnotes, 183: The Deal with the Gravity Lawsuit](http://johnaugust.com/2015/the-deal-with-the-gravity-lawsuit)
* [Tess Gerritsen’s amended complaint](https://pmcdeadline2.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/gravity-lawsuit-amended-complaint.pdf)
* [My Cyborg Ear: How a Surgeon and Titanium Cured My Lifelong Deafness](http://gizmodo.com/my-cyborg-ear-how-a-surgeon-and-titanium-cured-my-life-1601254003) by Adam Clark Estes
* [Mike Tyson Mysteries](http://www.adultswim.com/videos/mike-tyson-mysteries/) on adult swim
* [I’m no fool with a bicycle](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LmORiZfEJU)
* [Assembler](http://quoteunquoteapps.com/assembler/) is in the Mac App Store now
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Scriptnotes listener Jeff Harms ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_186.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_186.mp3).

**UPDATE 3-10-15:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2015/scriptnotes-ep-186-the-rules-or-the-paradox-of-the-outlier-transcript).

The One with Rebel Wilson and Dan Savage

Film Industry, Follow Up, Scriptnotes, Television, Transcribed, Words on the page

John and Craig discuss exploding scripts and stock scenes. Then in the second half of the show, we welcome two very special guests.

Actress, writer and comedian Rebel Wilson joins us to talk about writing for television and Tall Poppy Syndrome.

Author and sex advice columnist Dan Savage tells us what he’d like to see Hollywood do better when in comes to sex on screen.

Both segments are out-takes from the much longer and much filthier Dirty Show available only on the premium feed. Our thanks to the 1,000 subscribers who made it possible, and to Rebel and Dan for joining us to talk about fish baskets, berets, anal sex and The Blue Lagoon.

Links:

* The Dirty Episode will soon be available to premium subscribers on [scriptnotes.net](http://scriptnotes.net/) and on the newly-updated Scriptnotes app for [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)
* Buffy the Vampire Slayer, S5E16, “The Body” on [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Body_%28Buffy_the_Vampire_Slayer%29) and [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/buffy-vampire-slayer-season/id370695714)
* [Bronson Watermarker PDF](http://quoteunquoteapps.com/bronson/)
* Rebel Wilson on [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2313103/), [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebel_Wilson) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/rebelwilson)
* [Dan Savage](http://www.savagelovecast.com/) on [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Savage) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/fakedansavage)
* [Be My Eyes](http://www.bemyeyes.org/)
* Alex Blumberg on [How to Create a Blockbuster Podcast](http://fourhourworkweek.com/2015/01/29/alex-blumberg/)
* [Slate’s Culture Gabfest raw, unfiltered, and unedited](http://www.slate.com/articles/podcasts/behind_the_scenes/2014/12/slate_s_culture_gabfest_raw_unfiltered_and_unedited.html)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Scriptnotes editor Matthew Chilelli ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_182.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_182.mp3).

**UPDATE 2-6-15:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2015/scriptnotes-ep-182-the-one-with-rebel-wilson-and-dan-savage-transcript).

INT. THE WOODS – NIGHT

Film Industry, Follow Up, QandA, Resources, Scriptnotes, So-Called Experts, Transcribed, WGA, Words on the page

John and Craig pick up loose ends, with follow-up on previous episodes about “friends,” conflict, improv, Kindles, and defibrillation.

Then it’s that Peter Bart episode, which is enough to cause a heart attack.

Finally, we get to some listener questions about referring to collective characters, INT/EXT, deaf assistants and ellipses.

Next week, we hope to have two episodes: a normal one and the NSFW dirty show for the premium feed.

Links:

* StartUp, #12: [Burnout](http://gimletmedia.com/episode/12-burnout/)
* [Weekend Read 1.5 now in beta, adds iPad and iCloud support](http://johnaugust.com/2015/weekend-read-1-5-now-in-beta-adds-ipad-and-icloud-support)
* [Screenplays on the Kindle, 2015 edition](http://johnaugust.com/2015/screenplays-on-the-kindle-2015-edition)
* WGA’s [FYI Listings: Ask the Expert](http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=165)
* [The Science & Entertainment Exchange](http://www.scienceandentertainmentexchange.org/)
* [Are Screenwriters Becoming Obsolete in Hollywood?](http://variety.com/2015/voices/opinion/hollywood-doesnt-seem-to-value-screenwriters-anymore-1201405150/)
* [What is the difference between an em-dash/double-hypen and an ellipsis?](http://screenwriting.io/what-is-the-difference-between-an-em-dashdouble-hypen-and-an-ellipsis/) on screenwriting.io
* [Lumino City](http://www.luminocitygame.com/), and [how it’s made](http://youtu.be/JO6t6H19CUk)
* [Things to Make and Do in the Fourth Dimension: A Mathematician’s Journey Through Narcissistic Numbers, Optimal Dating Algorithms, at Least Two Kinds of Infinity, and More](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JD1LBBY/?tag=johnaugustcom-20) by Matt Parker
* [Flatland](http://www.amazon.com/dp/1623750318/?tag=johnaugustcom-20) by Edwin A. Abbott
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Scriptnotes listener 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_181.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_181.mp3).

**UPDATE 1-29-15:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2015/scriptnotes-ep-181-int-the-woods-night-transcript).