John August

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The Third Season

Episode - 645

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Scriptnotes

John welcomes Meredith Scardino (Girls5eva) and Jen Statsky (Hacks) to discuss the highs and lows of writing the third season of a hit comedy. But how do you push a series forward without violating the premise or retreading familiar terrain? Are the shows still the shows they pitched? How has streaming changed since their shows first went on the air? And how do you plan for your series’ future?

They also answer listener questions on non-binary characters, past tense emotions in action lines, and how to make the most of a mentorship.

In our bonus segment for premium members: Two years ago John sent a letter to Jen with his predictions for what would happen in the third season of Hacks. That letter has remained sealed until now. Were John’s predictions correct, close, or way off the mark?

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 7-12-24: The transcript for this episode can be found here.

The Power of the Cold Open

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig explore one of the most powerful and versatile tools in episodic television: the cold open. But how does it work? What kind of scenes does it showcase best? How can it play with point of view, perspective and time? What makes it memorable? And how do you make it work for your story?

We also discuss new requirements for loan-out corporations, follow up on streaming ads and AI-generated coverage, and answer listener questions on titles, exposition and disabled representation.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig check out OpenAI’s flirty new chat capabilities and ask, do they have any love for talking to human-like AI’s?

Links:

* [Scriptnotes hats](https://cottonbureau.com/p/UMVJ36/hat/jon-bon-jovi-of-podcasts#/20330764/hat-unisex-dad-hat-dark-grey-100percent-cotton-adjustable) and [drinkware!](https://cottonbureau.com/p/JBYJB4/drinkware/scriptnotes-gold-standard#/20331064/tumbler-everyday-tumbler-black-powder-coat-20-oz.)
* [John jumps out of a plane](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C66u0u6pbBG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==) on Instagram
* [Corporate Transparency Act: An Overview of Impending Reporting Obligations](https://www.faegredrinker.com/en/insights/publications/2023/10/corporate-transparency-act-an-overview-of-impending-reporting-obligations)
* [MoviePass, MovieCrash | Official Trailer](https://youtu.be/3G75RASEmUI?si=b5W5zEmpV4r8UzCT) from HBO
* [The Film Fund](https://www.thefilmfund.co/) and [the Reddit thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/Filmmakers/comments/16ftex6/is_the_film_fund_a_reliable_website/)
* [LOST – Desmond in the Hatch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgsNjTyGsRk)
* [Suwada Nail Clippers](https://www.suwada.co.jp/en/products_en/nailnippers)
* [Song Exploder – Madonna’s “Hung Up”](https://songexploder.net/madonna)
* [The Ladder](https://www.hatchescapes.com/the-ladder) by Hatch Escapes
* [Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!](https://cottonbureau.com/people/scriptnotes-podcast)
* [Check out the Inneresting Newsletter](https://inneresting.substack.com/)
* [Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/gifts) or [treat yourself to a premium subscription!](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/)
* Craig Mazin on [Threads](https://www.threads.net/@clmazin) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/clmazin/)
* John August on [Threads](https://www.threads.net/@johnaugust), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/johnaugust)
* [John on Mastodon](https://mastodon.art/@johnaugust)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Eric Pearson ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))
* Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by [Matthew Chilelli](https://twitter.com/machelli).

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/644standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 7-12-24:** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2024/scriptnotes-episode-644-the-power-of-the-cold-open-transcript).

Working It Out: Screenwriting Advice You’ll Actually Use

Scriptnotes

John joins Mike Birbiglia on his podcast Working It Out to share direct, practical screenwriting advice that you’ll actually use, whether you’re an aspiring screenwriter or you want to pursue creative work of any kind.

They explore John’s screenwriting process, from defining his expression “breaking the back of the script,” through the different forms of conflict and navigating the murky middle of the story. John shares the best writing advice he’s ever received, the screenplays everyone should read, what he appreciates in standup specials and why cool people aren’t funny. They also revisit the gains made on AI as a result of the writers strike.

Links:

* [Mike Birbiglia’s Working It Out](https://www.birbigs.com/working-it-out-pod)
* [Watch this episode of Working It Out on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WC0brJwM8A)
* [See Mike Birbiglia Live](https://www.birbigs.com/)
* [The Old Man & the Pool](https://www.netflix.com/title/81665900) on Netflix
* [Scriptnotes, Ep 179: The Conflict Episode](https://johnaugust.com/2015/scriptnotes-ep-179-the-conflict-episode-transcript)
* [Aliens screenplay by James Cameron](https://assets.scriptslug.com/live/pdf/scripts/aliens-1986.pdf)
* [Sex, lies and videotape screenplay by Steven Soderbergh](https://assets.scriptslug.com/live/pdf/scripts/sex-lies-and-videotape-1992.pdf)
* [Miry’s List](https://miryslist.org/)
* [Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!](https://cottonbureau.com/people/scriptnotes-podcast)
* [Check out the Inneresting Newsletter](https://inneresting.substack.com/)
* [Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/gifts) or [treat yourself to a premium subscription!](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/)
* Craig Mazin on [Threads](https://www.threads.net/@clmazin) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/clmazin/)
* John August on [Threads](https://www.threads.net/@johnaugust), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/johnaugust)
* [John on Mastodon](https://mastodon.art/@johnaugust)
* Working It Out is produced by Mike Birbiglia, Peter Salomone, Joseph Birbiglia and Mabel Lewis. Associate producer: Gary Simons. Consulting producer: Seth Barrish. Video consultant: Graham Willoughby.
* Special Thanks to Marissa Hurwitz, Josh Upfal, David Raphael, Nina Cwik, J. Hope Stein, and Oona. Music by Jack Antonoff and Bleachers
* Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by [Matthew Chilelli](https://twitter.com/machelli).

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

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

Agents and Managers 101

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

In this compendium episode, John and Craig demystify the the relationship between writers and the people who represent them, looking at how to acquire, work with and (if necessary) fire your agents and managers.

How do you get an agent or a manager? What are they looking for in a potential client? What frustrates them? How do you position yourself for success? And what should you be looking for in an agent? How should they treat their clients? What is in their job description? How do you navigate disagreements, and what are best practices for when you have to part ways?

In our bonus segment for premium members, John discusses how and why he changed his mind and signed with his first-ever manager just a few weeks ago.

Links:

* [Episode 2 – How to get an agent and/or manager](https://johnaugust.com/2011/scriptnotes-episode-2)
* [Episode 172 – Franz Kafka’s brother, and the perfect agent](https://johnaugust.com/2014/franz-kafkas-brother-and-the-perfect-agent)
* [Episode 7 – Firing a manager, and trying new software](https://johnaugust.com/2011/firing-a-manager-and-trying-new-software)
* [How ‘Go,’ the Wildest, Druggiest, Horniest Cult Movie of 1999 Got Made (And Almost Didn’t)](https://www.gq.com/story/how-the-craziest-cult-movie-of-1999-got-made) by Paul Schrodt for GQ
* [Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!](https://cottonbureau.com/people/scriptnotes-podcast)
* [Check out the Inneresting Newsletter](https://inneresting.substack.com/)
* [Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/gifts) or [treat yourself to a premium subscription!](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/)
* Craig Mazin on [Threads](https://www.threads.net/@clmazin) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/clmazin/)
* John August on [Threads](https://www.threads.net/@johnaugust), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/johnaugust)
* [John on Mastodon](https://mastodon.art/@johnaugust)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by James Llonch ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))
* This episode’s segments were originally produced by [Stuart Friedel](https://stustustu.com/). Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by [Matthew Chilelli](https://twitter.com/machelli).

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/643standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 6-24-24:** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2024/scriptnotes-episode-643-agents-and-managers-101-transcript).