John August

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It’s Brutal Out Here

Episode - 642

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Scriptnotes, Transcribed

Why are things so rough in Hollywood right now? John and Craig look at the industry’s current contraction, its historical analogues, and offer suggestions for what might fix it.

We also follow up on streaming ad breaks and New York accents, before answering listener questions on being paralyzed, whether it’s by your second draft or writing professional emails.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig wonder what to do with their digital lives once they’ve shuffled off this mortal coil, and how do you keep it from getting creepy?

Links:

* [The Life and Death of Hollywood](https://harpers.org/archive/2024/05/the-life-and-death-of-hollywood-daniel-bessner/) by Daniel Bessner for Harpers
* [One weird trick for fixing Hollywood](https://maxread.substack.com/p/one-weird-trick-for-fixing-hollywood-6f0) by Max Read
* [Moloch Trap](https://www.lesswrong.com/tag/moloch)
* [Lola Dupre](https://loladupre.com/archive)
* [Codenames Duet](https://codenames.game)
* [2 Kings 2:23-24](https://www.bible.com/bible/116/2KI.2.23-24.NLT)
* [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 Ben Singer ([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/642standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 6-24-24:** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2024/scriptnotes-episode-642-its-brutal-out-here-transcript).

What Characters Know

Scriptnotes

John and Craig investigate what characters know and how we know they know what they know. It’s something that can be as confusing as that last sentence was, but they offer clear guidance on building informed characters, audience expectations, and how to get everybody on the same page.

We also look at how ad breaks in streaming are interrupting established act breaks. But first we follow up on AI transcription and character voice, and answer listener questions on authentic depictions and how to ask for a WGA contract.

In our bonus segment for premium members, how should you act when you meet a famous person? John and Craig have big (but well-concealed) feelings.

Links:

* [Do I Sound Gay? Documentary](https://www.doisoundgay.com/)
* [International Dialects of English Archive](https://www.dialectsarchive.com/)
* [Accent Tag on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=accent+tag)
* [Chilean beer ads in Star Wars](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSgMWAi9YPA)
* [Letter Jam](https://czechgames.com/for-press/lj.html)
* [TacticalMap](https://tactical-map.com/)
* [Fallout](https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0CN4HV16N/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r) on Prime Video
* [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 Nica Brooke ([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/641standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 6-14-24:** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2024/scriptnotes-episode-641-what-characters-know-transcript).

Can You Believe It?

Scriptnotes

John welcomes writer and comedian Alex Edelman to look at how he wrote his solo show Just For Us, and dig into the meaning of “write what you know.” They discuss finding your voice as a writer, developing your story with an audience, why Alex doesn’t write his shows down, and the sample that first got him staffed.

We also answer listener questions on what to do when your manager doesn’t understand your comedy, and the value of characters speaking to themselves.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John asks Alex, how do you set boundaries on material when you’re dating another comedian?

Links:

* [Alex Edelman](https://www.alexedelmancomedy.com/)
* [Just For Us on HBO](https://www.hbo.com/movies/alex-edelman-just-for-us)
* [Replay by Jordan Mechner](https://www.jordanmechner.com/en/books/replay/)
* [Replay by Ken Grimwood](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/341735)
* [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 Ali Clifton ([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/640standardV2.mp3).

**UPDATE 6-3-24:** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2024/scriptnotes-episode-640-can-you-believe-it-transcript).

Intrinsic Motivation

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig can’t help but look at intrinsic motivations — those specific internal drives that guide characters behavior. They discuss how to structure and expose that internal drive, the importance of an innate irritability, how it can stop your characters from becoming flat, and rewarding that intrinsic motivation with choice.

But first, we follow up on AI training, blueprints and “important” movies. We also weigh in on a high-school senior’s college dilemma and answer a listener question on writing with your trailer in mind.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig parse out their reasons for why humans may – or may not – ever leave the solar system.

Links:

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 6-3-24: The transcript for this episode can be found here.