John August

Words on the page

Alt-universe panels

Episode - 61

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Follow Up, Scriptnotes, Transcribed, Words on the page

Craig and John ret-con the Austin Film Festival, placing themselves on panels in which they didn’t participate. It’s a chance to give the answers they would have given without the bother of being asked (or listening to other people’s opinions).

For example, Terry Rossio’s seminar on “The Throw” — his term for how you end a scene — was presumably terrific. We didn’t attend, but it’s fun to spitball what we would have said about this interesting and under-discussed aspect of screenwriting.

Other topics discussed this week include:

* Setiquette
* Kyle Killen’s secret shower
* Videogame storytelling
* Amazon Studios
* Pilots vs. presentations

Happy Halloween, everyone. Stay safe and dry.

LINKS:

* [Marti Noxon](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0637497/)
* [Kyle Killen](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3189831/)
* John’s [pitch and outline](http://johnaugust.com/library#dc) for D.C.
* [Amazon Studios panel write-up](http://johnaugust.com/2012/amazon-studios-at-aff)
* [Popcorn Fiction panel write-up](http://www.moveablefest.com/moveable_fest/2012/10/popcorn-fiction-derek-haas.html)
* [Terry Rossio](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0744429/)
* INTRO: [I Dream of Jeannie](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwpH_IYg0N8)
* OUTRO: [I Want to Be Evil](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS02GeKuWQ4), by Eartha Kitt

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_61.m4a).

**UPDATE** 11-2-12: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2012/scriptnotes-ep-61-alt-universe-panels-transcript).

Action is more than just gunfights and car chases

Scriptnotes, Three Page Challenge, Transcribed, Words on the page

John and Craig are all action this week, looking at how screenwriters write those things characters do in a movie.

It’s a part of the craft that often goes unnoticed — unlike dialogue, you don’t hear the writer’s work — but smartly-written action pays dividends, helping readers see the movie you want them to make.

We follow-up our discussion with a look at four (!) samples from the Three Page Challenge that focus on action, with ample praise for those that do it well and some suggestions for those who fumble a bit.

Also this week: a short history of (annoyed grunt), better known as d’oh!

If you’re listening to the podcast on the site, do us a favor and also [leave us a review](http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/scriptnotes-podcast/id462495496) on iTunes. Great reviews help other listeners find us, and further Craig’s singing-to-a-stadium agenda.

LINKS:

* Dan Castellaneta [explains Homer Simpson’s “D’oh!”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGiJOHDJEss)
* James Finlayson’s [“Doohh!”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P52rREUyPFo&t=49s)
* [Meltdown Comics](http://www.meltcomics.com/blog/)
* Three pages by [Ben Jacoby](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/BenJacoby.pdf)
* Three pages by [Trevor Hollen](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/TrevorHollen.pdf)
* Three pages by [Randall J. Knox & Jason Zahodnik](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/KnoxZahodnik.pdf)
* Three pages by [David Stripinis](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/DavidStripinis.pdf)
* [Sleepwalk With Me](http://www.sleepwalkmovie.com/), a film by Mike Birbiglia
* INTRO: [GI Joe Epic Opening](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EX_9jKFpQKM)
* OUTRO: [Raw (remix)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sYT0lo3d0A) by Big Daddy Kane

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_53.m4a).

**UPDATE** 9-7-12: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2012/scriptnotes-ep-53-action-is-more-than-just-gunfights-and-car-chases-transcript).

Grammar, guns and butter

QandA, Scriptnotes, Transcribed, Words on the page

Craig and John celebrate one year of the podcast by going H.A.M. on the passive voice, the present progressive and other reductive nonsense rules.

While you should feel free to split infinitives, we’d strongly recommend you avoid the 100+ lines of really bad dialogue you’ll hear far too often in movies. Thanks to Go Into the Story for compiling these.

After that, it’s time for six listener questions, on topics ranging from spec scripts 101, overseas copyright, to following up after a chance meeting.

All this and more on the first anniversary episode of Scriptnotes.

LINKS:

* [Passive voice](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive_voice)
* [Present progressive](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuous_and_progressive_aspects)
* [Clichéd dialogue](http://gointothestory.blcklst.com/2012/03/definitive-list-of-cliched-dialogue-3.html) from Go Into the Story
* [Throwing Shade](http://www.throwingshade.com/) podcast
* [Build & Analyze](http://5by5.tv/buildanalyze) podcst
* [5by5](http://5by5.tv/) podcast network
* Slate’s [Political Gabfest](http://www.slate.com/articles/podcasts/gabfest.html)
* [Nerdist Writer’s Panel](http://www.nerdist.com/podcast/nerdist-writers-panel/)
* Trailer for [The Right Hand](http://vimeo.com/47316693), a new book by Derek Haas
* Gizmodo on [the simplex algorithm](http://gizmodo.com/5934150/the-algorithm-that-controls-your-life)
* Audio-Technica [AT2020 Cardioid Condenser Microphone](http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/wired_mics/a0933a662b5ed0e2/index.html)
* INTRO: [CBS Special Presentation](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W9V9SZPHAY)
* OUTRO: [Oh My Dayum acoustic cover](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfbQ4gww7aI)

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_52.m4a).

**UPDATE** 8-30-12: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2012/scriptnotes-ep-52-grammar-guns-and-butter-transcript).

Dashes, ellipses and underground monsters

QandA, Scriptnotes, Three Page Challenge, Transcribed, Words on the page

John and Craig answer four listener questions, on topics ranging from scene headers to ticket sales. And which is better for an aspiring screenwriter: a low-level job at a major agency, or a steady 9-to-5 job that allows time to write?

Then it’s another round of the Three Page Challenge, with three new samples submitted by brave listeners. Our ongoing thanks to everyone who sent in pages. We have plenty — you don’t need to send more.

LINKS:

* Three pages by [Terrance Mulloy](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/TerranceMulloy.pdf)
* Three pages by [Mario DiPesa](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/MarioDiPesa.pdf)
* Three pages by [Andrew Lauwasser](http://johnaugust.com/Assets/AndrewLauwasser.pdf)
* [2012 box office YTD](http://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/?view2=ytdcompare&view=releasedate&p=.htm)
* [The Anarchist Cookbook](http://www.amazon.com/dp/0962303208/?tag=johnaugustcom-20), by William Powell
* [New Dorp Library](http://www.nypl.org/locations/new-dorp)
* [Meadows Library](http://boulderlibrary.org/locations/meadows.html)
* INTRO: [Scooby’s All Star Laff-a-Lympics](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ecjl9KCPiNk)
* [Killing the Blues](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgmbQnp_Sbk), performed by John Prine

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_51.m4a).

**UPDATE** 8-24-12: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2012/scriptnotes-ep-51-dashes-ellipses-and-underground-monsters-transcript).