Random Advice

Becoming a Professional Screenwriter

Episode - 381

January 1, 2019 Education, Film Industry, Los Angeles, QandA, Random Advice, Scriptnotes, Transcribed, WGA

John welcomes Tess Morris, Christina Hodson, Nicole Perlman, and Jason Fuchs to discuss their paths to becoming a professional screenwriter. They track the progression from glass bead day jobs to navigating general meetings to planning inconsistent finances to actually calling oneself a writer and even getting paid.

We also answer audience questions about career longevity and leaving writing behind.

Links:

Thank you, Tess Morris, Christina Hodson, Nicole Perlman, and Jason Fuchs!
T-shirts are available here! We’ve got new designs, including Colored Revisions, Karateka, and Highland2.
John August on Twitter
Craig Mazin on Twitter
Tess Morris on Twitter
Nicole Perlman on Twitter
Jason Fuchs on Twitter
John on Instagram
Find past episodes
Scriptnotes Digital Seasons are also now available!
Outro by Matthew Chilelli (send us yours!)

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 1-9-18: The transcript of this episode can be found here.

Tying Things Up

September 4, 2018 Books, Film Industry, Follow Up, Go, News, Random Advice, Rights and Copyright, Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Videogames, Words on the page, Writing Process

John and Craig cover endings, both for craft and for business. First they articulate the importance of the denouement and the social contract it fulfills with the audience. Then they discuss what happens to a writer’s work after their death.

We also follow up on pitching, and introduce a new segment: Change Craig’s Mind. This week: Ventriloquists!

Links:

You can listen to John & Craig on another podcast: Jordan, Jesse, Go!
You can check out our episode with Mindy Kaling, or our episode with Susanna Fogel and David Iserson for some context in this week’s follow-up.
John’s attempt at “Changing Craig’s Mind” about ventriloquism: Nina Conti
Edward Albee’s estate has special rules about casting for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.
Erin Gibson: Throwing Shade podcast, Gay of Thrones, and her new book, Feminasty: The Complicated Woman’s Guide to Surviving the Patriarchy Without Drinking Herself to Death.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge: Killing Eve, Fleabag, and she’s the robot, L3-37, in Solo
The Witcher 3: Blood And Wine DLC
The USB drives!
John August on Twitter
Craig Mazin on Twitter
John on Instagram
Find past episodes
Scriptnotes Digital Seasons are also now available!
Outro by Rajesh Naroth (send us yours!). And thank you, Luke Davis, for Craig’s musical intro!

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 9-12-18: The transcript of this episode can be found here.

Michael Arndt on Endings

July 2, 2018 Genres, Random Advice, Story and Plot

Screenwriter Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine, Toy Story 3) has been thinking a lot about endings. He’s put his observations together as a terrific video that offers great insights and practical advice.

After you’ve watched this, go back and check out his video on Beginnings.

Getting Paid for It

March 20, 2018 Film Industry, Follow Up, Random Advice, Rights and Copyright, Scriptnotes, Transcribed, WGA

John and Craig delve into the business of screenwriting from money to managers to medical plans.

We answer listener questions about collecting unemployment, registering as a corporation, firing a rep, quitting your day job and handling the anxiety that comes with such an uncertain career path.

Links:

Alto’s Odyssey
An ambiguously threatening advertisement for British pork from 1984
Champions on NBC, created by Charlie Grandy and Mindy Kaling, directed by Michael Spiller
The Scriptnotes Listeners’ Guide!
The USB drives!
John August on Twitter
Craig Mazin on Twitter
John on Instagram
Find past episodes
Outro by Rajesh Naroth (send us yours!)

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 3-27-18: The transcript of this episode can be found here.

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