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No Stars, Please

Episode - 567

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September 20, 2022 Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig discuss movie and television stars. When do you want to cast a huge star, and when is it not a good idea? From big names in small parts to new names in big parts, they try to calculate how much fame a role requires.

We follow up on the editing process and share advice on staying nimble. We also answer listener questions on recorded pitches, writing left behind, and time management with multiple contracts.

In our bonus segment for premium members, we play a round of Two Truths and a Lie to test our deception skills.

Links:

* Get tickets for the Scriptnotes Live Show [Livestream](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/scriptnotes-live-tickets-412411342427?mc_cid=a8cb30ff80&mc_eid=7f069b381e)
* [Order Writer Emergency Pack XL here](https://bit.ly/3qO8vRB)!
* Learn more about the original [Writer Emergency Pack here](https://writeremergency.com/)
* [WGA No Writing Left Behind](https://www.wga.org/members/employment-resources/no-writing-left-behind)
* [A Year Ago, Nicole Kidman Tried To Save The Movies. She Had No Idea What Would Come Next.](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/davidmack/nicole-kidman-amc-ad) by David Mack for Buzzfeed
* [Murray Bartlett](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0058864/) and his Emmy’s [acceptance speech](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tomcy8r5Kk).
* [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://twitter.com/clmazin) on Twitter
* [John August](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) on Twitter
* [John on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Adam Pineless ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))
* Scriptnotes is produced by [Megana Rao](https://twitter.com/MeganaRao) 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/567standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 10-31-22** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2022/scriptnotes-ep-567-no-stars-please-transcript).

Not Controversial At All

September 13, 2022 Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John invites writer/producer/actor Ashley Nicole Black (Ted Lasso, Black Lady Sketch Show) to discuss fandoms, cultural appropriation and boycotts over abortion access.

They also answer simpler listener questions: What do TV producer titles really mean? When should you attach a showrunner? And what happens when you disagree with your manager?

In our bonus segment for premium members, they talk parties! John and Ashley discuss the new norms for hosting people post-pandemic.

Links:

* Our first post-pandemic live show on October 19 is sold out, but you can still get tickets to the [livestream here](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/scriptnotes-live-tickets-412411342427?mc_cid=a8cb30ff80&mc_eid=7f069b381e)!
* [WGA West Elections](https://www.wga.org/news-events/news/press/writers-guild-of-america-west-announces-final-candidates-for-2022-board-of-directors-election)
* [Coalition Of 1,425 Showrunners & Directors Raises $2.5M To Help Women Gain Access To Abortions While Calling On Studios To Step Up](https://deadline.com/2022/08/coalition-of-1425-showrunners-directors-raises-2-5m-to-help-women-gain-access-to-abortions-while-calling-on-studios-to-step-up-1235092901/) on Deadline
* [Scriptnotes Episode 533, We See and We Hear Transcript](https://johnaugust.com/2022/scriptnotes-episode-533-we-see-and-we-hear-transcript)
* Find out more about Nisi Shawl and Cynthia Ward’s [Writing the Other](https://writingtheother.com/) book and workshops
* [Hiromi Goto’s 6 Questions](https://www.hiromigoto.com/appropriation-of-voice-part-1/) on cultural appropriation
* [Black Lady Sketch Show – Basic Ball](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjtkP-TJpq8)
* [Critics and Fans Have Never Disagreed More About Movies](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2022-08-28/critics-and-fans-have-never-disagreed-more-about-movies?sref=W6GJF3MS) by Lucas Shaw for Bloomberg
* [Mack’s AquaBlock Swimming Earplugs](https://amzn.to/3cGcCMd)
* [Thigh Society](https://www.thighsociety.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/)
* [Ashley Nicole Black](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2730724/) on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/ashleyn1cole)
* [Craig Mazin](https://twitter.com/clmazin) on Twitter
* [John August](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) on Twitter
* [John on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Bryan C. Sanchez ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))
* Scriptnotes is produced by [Megana Rao](https://twitter.com/MeganaRao) 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/566standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 9-27-22** The transcript for this story can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2022/scriptnotes-episode-566-not-controversial-at-all-transcript).

Sorry to Splaflut

September 6, 2022 Scriptnotes, Three Page Challenge, Transcribed

John and Craig host a round of the Three Page Challenge, a segment where they offer feedback on listeners’ scripts. This week they discuss the whiplash of cutting too quickly, captivating title pages, and V.O. narration that actually works.

We also cover the return of MoviePass, 25 years of Netflix, and AI generated language.

In our bonus segment for premium members, we discuss senior year.

Links:

* Our first post-pandemic liveshow will be on October 19, 2022 and tickets will be available to premium members on September 9!
* [Order your new Scriptnotes Shirt here!](https://cottonbureau.com/p/GXNTRN/shirt/jon-bon-jovi-of-podcasts#/15427431/tee-men-standard-tee-vintage-black-tri-blend-s)
* [Things I Think Are Awesome: Hunger Stones and Stability, Lynn Cherny’s substack](https://arnicas.substack.com/p/titaa-33-hunger-stones-and-stability?utm_source=email)
* [Made-Up Words Trick AI Text-To-Image Generators](https://www.discovermagazine.com/technology/made-up-words-trick-ai-text-to-image-generators) Discover Magazine
* [This Word Does Not Exist](https://www.thisworddoesnotexist.com)
* [@Dribnet’s Twitter Thread on Splaflut](https://twitter.com/dribnet/status/1531962064528211968)
* [MoviePass beta](https://www.moviepass.com/?utm_source=TestC&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=OpenWaitlist)
* [MoviePass Will Work This Time*](https://slate.com/business/2022/08/moviepass-return-work-fail-who-is-to-say.html) Alex Kirshner writing for Slate
* [Netflix turns 25](https://deadline.com/2022/08/netflix-turns-25-cues-up-nostalgia-reel-for-its-red-envelope-days-1235101238/)
* [HBO Max Cynthia Littleton for Variety](https://variety.com/2022/biz/news/hbo-max-wb-discovery-content-remove-inventory-1235352588/)
* [Secret History of Mac Gaming](https://secrethistoryofmacgaming.com/)
* Happy Halpinmas [Mark Halpin’s Labor Day Puzzles](http://www.markhalpin.com/puzzles/puzzles.html)
* Three Page Challenge Selections: [Oculum by Larry Bambrick](https://johnaugust.com/index.php?gf-download=2022%2F08%2FThree-Page-Challenge-Oculum-.mmsw-1.pdf&form-id=1&field-id=4&hash=e8e6e97eff07f94c5a12974353327fb756af4a6370d963e0ef46e036c05303f4), [We’re All Very Tired by Marissa Gawel](https://johnaugust.com/index.php?gf-download=2022%2F08%2FWere-All-Very-Tired_3-pages_Gawel.pdf&form-id=1&field-id=4&hash=64231d152cf3527350dfb7dfd2a659bf00b1098aa0b9ffffda74956d5d7ea599), [Wake by Jordan Johnson](https://johnaugust.com/index.php?gf-download=2022%2F08%2FWake-Jordan-Johnson-Three-Page-Challenge.pdf&form-id=1&field-id=4&hash=75024d61cf2881f09e4bdd879e8d98a0304b09972f1ab97aded91280d19997c6)
* [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://twitter.com/clmazin) on Twitter
* [John August](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) on Twitter
* [John on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Matthew Jordan ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))
* Scriptnotes is produced by [Megana Rao](https://twitter.com/MeganaRao) 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/565standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 9-23-22** The transcript for this episode can now be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2022/scriptnotes-episode-565-sorry-to-splaflut-transcript).

Brocal Fry

August 30, 2022 Scriptnotes

John and Craig answer questions from listeners teetering on the precipice of success. What projects do you take after a big win? How can you make the most money in your career? And how do you move forward when your dream project dies?

We follow up on vocal fry/linguistic tics, HBO Max’s recent announcements, and the trades.

In our bonus segment for premium members, the guys look at whether the start-up mentality of ‘failing fast’ can be applied to screenwriting.

Links:

* [HBO Max to Remove 36 Titles, Including 20 Originals, From Streaming](https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/hbo-max-originals-removed-1235344286/)
* Gabriella’s short film recommendations: [Squirrel](https://vimeo.com/349748860), [Bev](https://vimeo.com/189287773), [Savasana](https://vimeo.com/152139989), [Learning to Walk](https://vimeo.com/225793466), [Lavender](https://vimeo.com/user50707716), [Home](https://vimeo.com/400449901)
* [OXO Coffee Grinder](https://amzn.to/3c0t61r)
* [Fluid Morph](https://www.provideocoalition.com/the-literal-invisible-cut-mastering-the-fluid-morph/)
* [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://twitter.com/clmazin) on Twitter
* [John August](https://twitter.com/johnaugust) on Twitter
* [John on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Matthew Chilelli ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))
* Scriptnotes is produced by [Megana Rao](https://twitter.com/MeganaRao) 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/564standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 2-12-23** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2023/scriptnotes-episode-564-brocal-fry-transcript).

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