John August

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Blindspots and Natural Structures

Episode - 522

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News, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig check character blindspots, looking at how ‘over-security’ drives characters to humor and heartbreak. We also discuss natural structure: how certain events (weddings, sports, school) can create narrative scaffolding.

The death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust has the industry talking about safety. Craig explains the protocols for guns on sets, while John urges decision-makers not to overfocus on the blanks-versus-vfx debate. More crew members die driving home from sets than on them.

In our bonus segment for premium members, we discuss work-life balance and the myths of time management.

Links:

* [Rust Movie Set Shooting](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/21/us/alec-baldwin-shooting-rust-movie.html)
* [Netflix to Change How It Measures a Title’s Viewers Post-‘Squid Game’](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/netflix-change-public-viewer-reporting-1235033741/)
* [There Is No Such Thing as Bragging Too Much About a Kidney Donation](https://slate.com/technology/2021/10/bad-art-friend-kidney-crisis-donation-altruism.amp)
* [Episode 480, The Wedding Episode](https://johnaugust.com/2020/the-wedding-episode)
* [The Premise by BJ Novak](https://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/the-premise)
* [College Degrees are Overrated](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/18/opinion/college-degrees-employers.html)
* [What is the Financial Value of my Degree?](https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/7583742/)
* [Kids These Days: The Making of Millennials](https://www.amazon.com/Kids-These-Days-Making-Millennials/) by Malcolm Harris (not the Kids are Alright!)
* [Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!](https://cottonbureau.com/people/scriptnotes-podcast)
* [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 Andrew Ryan ([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/522standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 11-8-21** The transcript for this episode can now be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2021/scriptnotes-episode-522-blindspots-and-natural-structure-transcript).

Action Density

News, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig talk action! They examine iconic scenes in classic movies to illustrate the relationship between intensity and density on the page.

We also host a Three Page Challenge: Spooky Edition, our segment that invites listeners to submit writing samples for critique. This week we’re specifically looking at thrilling and chilling scenes. We follow up on the IATSE vote and negotiations.

In our bonus segment for premium members, we talk scary movies, things that scared us as kids, and what’s continued to haunt us.

Links:

* [Hollywood Strike Averted As IATSE & AMPTP Reach Deal On New Film & TV Contract](https://deadline.com/2021/10/hollywood-strike-averted-iatse-amptp-reach-agreement-on-new-film-tv-contract-1234850563/)
* [Learned League](https://www.learnedleague.com/thorsten/whatis.php)
* [Learned League’s Classic Action Scenes](https://johnaugust.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Untitled-document.pdf)–play along with Craig!
* [Fractal Forest](https://johnaugust.com/index.php?gf-download=2021%2F10%2FFractal-Forest-3-Page-Challenge.pdf&form-id=1&field-id=4&hash=09ef60e375578582dcaf52e8f9abc7c61c3157fd593804d7ac3406965b747fdf) by Nicholas Nyhof
* [The Other Side of Night](https://johnaugust.com/index.php?gf-download=2021%2F10%2FEllen-Apswoude-The-Other-Side-of-Night-Three-Page-Challenge.pdf&form-id=1&field-id=4&hash=0ad0aadf23eb71cd8ef81f83e1610df5b0a502f1d92ec36c8f80417a66f79f03) by Ellen Apswoude
* [Big Evil](https://johnaugust.com/index.php?gf-download=2021%2F10%2FBig-Evil-Three-Page-Challenge.pdf&form-id=1&field-id=4&hash=7b50f3984902b4c0662a6dc94ab68a7670d3e4f814932d3682929318f8a0e742) by Lance Baughman
* Thanks to all our participants and our selected writers. You can submit your three pages [here](https://johnaugust.com/threepage) to be considered!
* [Way Too Interested podcast by Gavin Purcell](https://waytoointerested.com/)
* Respect your local school board! Also enjoy this [SNL sketch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2dj59Db1C4).
* [Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!](https://cottonbureau.com/people/scriptnotes-podcast)
* [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/521standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 10-31-21** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2021/scriptnotes-episode-521-action-density-transcript).

You Can’t Even Imagine

Scriptnotes

John and Craig discuss how the screenplay guides production — not just in what happens, but how it feels. They look at how the words on the page steer and inspire other departments, starting with the very first hires.

We also cover getting in over your head and what it’s like to have no visual imagination.

In our bonus segment for premium members, we wade into the Bad Art Friend discourse.

Links:

* [Netflix 2-minute Viewership](https://screenrant.com/netflix-2-minutes-veiwership-numbers-why/) on ScreenRant
* [Twitter Thread on Netflix Thumbnails](https://twitter.com/trungtphan/status/1445768087832182796?s=21)
* [Harvey Weinstein Orc in Lord of the Rings](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/oct/05/elijah-wood-lord-of-the-rings-orc-modeled-harvey-weinstein)
* [Dana Covarrubias explains “What the Clothes in Only Murders in the Building Say About the Show’s Characters”](https://slate.com/podcasts/working/2021/10/only-murders-building-costume-designer-dana-covarrubias-creative-process) in Slate Working Podcast
* [Aphantasia](https://aphantasia.com/what-is-aphantasia/)
* [Many People Have a Vivid Mind’s Eye While Others Have None at All](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/08/science/minds-eye-mental-pictures-psychology.html?smid=url-share) on the NYT
* [LA County Adopt A Family](https://dpss.lacounty.gov/en/community/volunteer.html)
* [Bad Art Friend](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/05/magazine/dorland-v-larson.html) by Robert Kolker
* [Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!](https://cottonbureau.com/people/scriptnotes-podcast)
* [Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/gifts) or [treat yourself to a premium subscription!](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/)
* [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 Layn Pieratt ([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/520standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 10-10-21** The transcript for this episode can be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2021/scriptnotes-episode-520-you-cant-even-imagine-transcript).

How to Forget

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig discuss the art of planning and forgetting. How do you stay present in a scene when you know where the story is going? The guys offer tips for making sure your characters are driving the story — but on roads you built.

We answer listener questions on setting the mood, manager requests, and insurance struggles for writing partners. We also follow up on the IATSE strike, the CAA-ICM acquisition, and streaming data.

In our bonus segment for premium members we discuss fame in 2021: one-sided relationships, attention vs. recognition, and advice for writers managing a public persona.

Links:

* [Scarlett Johanssen and Disney Reach Agreement](https://deadline.com/2021/09/disney-black-widow-lawsuit-scarlett-johansson-rsettlement-1234847437/)
* [CAA Acquires ICM](https://deadline.com/2021/09/caa-acquiring-icm-partners-1234844517/)
* [Academy Museum](https://www.academymuseum.org/en/) featuring [Wizard of Oz](https://twitter.com/johnaugust/status/1443330652586143744) Script Page
* [Netflix Data Dump](https://deadline.com/2021/09/bridgerton-stranger-things-scarlett-johansson-netflix-ted-sarandos-code-conference-interview-1234845341/)
* Caroline Graham and Kylie Stevenson’s podcast [Lost in Larrimah](https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/lost-in-larrimah/id1377413462) and book, [Larrimah](https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/general-books/true-crime/Larrimah-Caroline-Graham-and-Kylie-Stevenson-9781760877835)
* [Twitter Thread by Dylan Park](https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1443729354324779008.html)
* [How Blogs Broke the Web by Amy Hoy](https://stackingthebricks.com/how-blogs-broke-the-web/)
* [History of JohnAugust.com](https://johnaugust.com/history) and [John’s 1996 Blog](https://johnaugust.com/1996/)
* [Death Loop](https://bethesda.net/en/game/deathloop)
* [The Era of Mass Fame](https://www.newyorker.com/news/essay/on-the-internet-were-always-famous) by Chris Hayes
* [Wells for Boys](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BONhk-hbiXk) SNL Sketch
* [Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!](https://cottonbureau.com/people/scriptnotes-podcast)
* [Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/gifts) or [treat yourself to a premium subscription!](https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/)
* [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 Owen Danoff ([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/519standard.mp3).

**UPDATE 10-8-21** The transcript for this episode can now be found [here](https://johnaugust.com/2021/scriptnotes-episode-519-how-to-forget-transcript).