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Group Dynamics

Episode - 599

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May 23, 2023 Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig work together to look at team movies and what writers need to be thinking about when they have more than one protagonist. From *Charlie’s Angels* to *The Hangover* and every *Ocean* in between, they break down how to create narrative drive and tension with so many characters, and how to bring them all together in the end.

We also take a look at a new study that compares releasing TV episodes weekly vs. the binge model before following up on tone meetings and TV movies. We then answer listener questions about pitch decks and using translations of public domain works.

In our bonus segment for premium members – Hey! Listen! – John and Craig discuss the best way to set yourself up when you start playing an RPG.

Links:

* [Study: Both Binge, Episodic Release Models Have Their Benefits, but Have to Be Deployed Strategically](https://thestreamable.com/news/study-both-binge-episodic-release-models-have-their-benefits-but-have-to-be-deployed-strategically) by Matt Tamanini
* [Patton Oswalt stands still for an entire scene](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NA90rOwmkJ4)
* [The Hanson Brothers in Slap Shot](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUbn5ss8j9c)
* [The Center for Transyouth Health and Development](https://www.chla.org/the-center-transyouth-health-and-development)
* [Holedown](https://holedown.com/)
* [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](https://www.instagram.com/clmazin/) on Instagram
* [John August](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) on Twitter
* [John on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en)
* [John on Mastodon](https://mastodon.art/@johnaugust)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Heidi Lauren Duke ([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/599standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 6-20-23:** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2023/scriptnotes-episode-599-group-dynamics-transcript).

Sidecast: A New SAV

May 18, 2023 Scriptnotes, Sidecast, WGA

The actors union has called for a Strike Authorization Vote ahead of their negotiations with the AMPTP. John and Drew look at what that means, and what impact it may have on the writers strike.

Links:

* [SAG-AFTRA Strike Authorization Vote](https://www.sagaftra.org/sag-aftra-strike-authorization-vote)
* [Lukas Gage audition video](https://twitter.com/lukasgage/status/1329891756020695041?s=20) by Lukas Gage on Twitter
* [Summary of Negotiations: WGA proposals and AMPTP responses](https://www.wgacontract2023.org/uploadedfiles/members/member_info/contract-2023/wga_proposals.pdf)
* [2023 WGA Strike Rules](https://www.wgacontract2023.org/strike/strike-rules)
* [Strike Rules FAQ](https://www.wgacontract2023.org/strike/strike-rules-faq)
* [Picket Schedules and Locations](https://www.wgacontract2023.org/strike/picket-schedules-and-locations)
* Find more about the 2023 WGA negotiations [here at WGAContract2023.org](https://www.wgacontract2023.org/)
* John on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/johnaugust), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en) and [Mastodon](https://mastodon.art/@johnaugust)
* Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/SC11standard.mp3).

The One with Vince Gilligan

May 16, 2023 Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig sit down with legendary writer, director and showrunner Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul) to discuss his prolific career and how to make great television. Vince leads us through how he develops a premise, balancing creative surprises with rigorous planning, and his advice for up-and-coming showrunners.

We also discuss re-writing features before following up on the old dancing prospector archetype — only to discover it’s a character Vince has a long personal history with.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John, Craig and Vince get tired of re-runs and ask, which old TV shows do they want to re-boot?

Links:

* [Vince Gilligan](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0319213/) on IMDb
* [Vince Gilligan plays a prospector on Community (S5 E9)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwRzZQGQHd0)
* [Walter Houston’s dance in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pWx7N8gSoY)
* [Dracula’s Kung-Fu Theatre](https://draculaskungfutheatre.com/)
* [Alien Tape](https://www.tryalientape.com/)
* [Today Years Old](https://twitter.com/todayyearsoldig) on Twitter
* [Robot Puppet Sings “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb5y-kY6nVw) by Ben Howard on YouTube
* [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](https://www.instagram.com/clmazin/) on Instagram
* [John August](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) on Twitter
* [John on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en)
* [John on Mastodon](https://mastodon.art/@johnaugust)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Matt Davis ([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/598standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 5-30-23:** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2023/scriptnotes-episode-598-the-one-with-vince-gilligan-transcript).

Sidecast: Neutral Gates

May 15, 2023 Scriptnotes, Sidecast, WGA

John and Megana Rao return from the picket line to ask, what’s the deal with neutral gates? Using the Teamsters as a guide, we look at the rules that govern neutral gates, why we have them, their history, and how they can guide our best practices for picketing as we enter the third week of the strike.

Links:

* [Teamsters local 399 FAQ](https://www.ht399.org/app/uploads/2023/05/Teamsters-FAQ-2.pdf)
* [Summary of Negotiations: WGA proposals and AMPTP responses](https://www.wgacontract2023.org/uploadedfiles/members/member_info/contract-2023/wga_proposals.pdf)
* [2023 WGA Strike Rules](https://www.wgacontract2023.org/strike/strike-rules)
* [Strike Rules FAQ](https://www.wgacontract2023.org/strike/strike-rules-faq)
* [Picket Schedules and Locations](https://www.wgacontract2023.org/strike/picket-schedules-and-locations)
* Find more about the 2023 WGA negotiations [here at WGAContract2023.org](https://www.wgacontract2023.org/)
* John on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/johnaugust), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en) and [Mastodon](https://mastodon.art/@johnaugust)
* [Megana Rao](https://twitter.com/MeganaRao) on Twitter
* Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode [here](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/SC10standard.mp3).

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