John August

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How credit arbitration works

Episode - 20

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Scriptnotes, WGA

John and Craig take an in-depth look at how screenwriting credits are determined. In some ways, credit arbitration is a luxury problem — the movie you wrote got made! — but it’s one of the most controversial, contentious and misunderstood parts of a screenwriter’s career.

Ideally, you’re the first, last and only writer employed on a movie. For Go and The Nines, that was the case. In situations where more than one writer works on a movie, figuring out who deserves credit can become an ordeal.

Most non-animated Hollywood features are written under a WGA contract. Part of that contract specifies that the WGA ultimately determines who receives screenplay and story credit (which collapses into “written by” credit if the same writer receives both). This week, we take a look at the rules, principles and guidelines, and offer advice for writers who find themselves facing a credit arbitration.

Plus, a quick visit to CES.

LINKS:

* [Mat Honan’s sad-and-accurate portral of CES](http://gizmodo.com/5875243/)
* [WGA’s screen credits manual](http://www.wga.org/subpage_writersresources.aspx?id=167)
* [Craig’s guide to writing an effective arbitration statement](https://web.archive.org/web/20080828070525/http://artfulwriter.com/?p=57)
* INTRO: [CHiPs opening titles](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYKdayl7BHM)
* OUTRO: [Stereophonics: You Sexy Thing](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpVgigAB1l8)

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_20.m4a).

UPDATE 1-18-12: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2012/scriptnotes-ep-20-how-credit-arbitration-works-transcript).

Using a wiki to outline a screenplay

Tools

Sveta writes in:

> Over the last several weeks I’ve been outlining a sci-fi/thriller piece, and had the hardest time keeping all the information organized. I used Scrivener, then I used the index cards in Final Draft, then I used actual index cards… but there was always too much loose information floating around. I couldn’t find a good way to stay organized.

> Finally, I decided to try a private wiki. And it’s been amazing. The home page is a plot synopsis with acts as headings–and links to a character page when they are mentioned. There are also links to past events, organizations of importance, fictional technologies, etc. Character pages have headings like “Early Life”, “Relationship with xyz”, and in standard wiki style, are interlinked. I also have a tab of snippets, with pages for loose notes, dialogue and ideas I’m not sure I’m going to use yet.

Nothing is overkill if it helps. The only danger I see is that you can spend so much time getting the wiki just right that you never actually write the movie.

I haven’t used it in years, but I remember loving [VoodooPad](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/voodoopad/id404057607?mt=12) for the Mac, which makes for a fast and nimble single-user wiki.

We’re using an industrial-strength [MediaWiki](http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/MediaWiki) for the bible on a very complicated project that involves a number of specialists. It’s been a good way to keep people on the same page over the 15+ months we’ve been in development and production.

56 Days Later

Awards, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

Craig and John take a look the week’s news, including the WGA nominations, Warner’s shift to a 56-day video window, the folly of SOPA and the launch of Bronson Watermarker.

Along the way, we discuss Hoda Kotb, Marcus Bachman, and how great HBO Go is. (Really, it’s great, and other studios should follow its lead.)

All this and more in episode 19 of Scriptnotes.

LINKS:

* SNL’s [Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee sketches](http://www.hulu.com/watch/132874/saturday-night-live-today-show)
* Marcus Bachman [bought sunglasses for their dog](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abTKQWWfJ74)
* [WGA nominations](http://www.wga.org/awards/awardssub.aspx?id=1516)
* [Warners moves to a 56-day window](http://www.thewrap.com/movies/article/warner-bros-pushing-56-day-release-window-delays-report-34143)
* [HBO Go](http://www.hbogo.com/)
* [SOPA, explained](http://www.theverge.com/2011/12/22/2648219/stop-online-piracy-act-sopa-what-is-it)
* [Bronson Watermarker](http://quoteunquoteapps.com/bronson)
* INTRO: [WFIL news theme](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ62nY68eWo)
* OUTRO: [OK Go’s Last Leaf](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9dtDmQLiOo&feature=related) as covered by Allison Dole. (Original is [available on iTunes](http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/last-leaf/id375464312?i=375464915).)

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_19.m4a).

UPDATE 1-11-12: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2012/scriptnotes-ep-19-56-days-later-transcript).

Zen and the Angst of Kaufman

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

Craig and John look at the year ahead, from resolutions (we don’t have any) to reunions (20th!). Along the way, we discuss archery, piano and left-hand weakness.

The bulk of the episode is a discussion of Charlie Kaufman’s BAFTA speech about screenwriting and screenwriters, artistry and artifice. Which of us comes down on the side of self-examination and the purity of intentions? The answer may surprise you!

LINKS:

* [Austrian wines](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austrian_wine)
* [Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance](http://www.amazon.com/dp/0061673730/?tag=johnaugustcom-20) by Robert M. Pirsig
* [Zen in the Art of Archery](http://www.amazon.com/dp/0375705090/?tag=johnaugustcom-20) by Eugen Herrigel
* [Zen Driving](http://www.amazon.com/dp/0345353501/?tag=johnaugustcom-20) by K. T. Berger
* [BAFTA: British Academy of Film and Television Arts](http://www.bafta.org/)
* [Charlie Kaufman speech at BAFTA](http://guru.bafta.org/charlie-kaufman-screenwriters-lecture-video)
* [Transcript of his speech](http://guru.bafta.org/sites/learning/files/guru_sws_ck_transcript_final.pdf) as a .pdf
* Craig’s short story [Lightning in a Bottle](http://www.mulhollandbooks.com/popcornfiction/stories/Lightning_in_a_Bottle_by_Craig_Mazin.html)
* John’s short story [The Variant](http://johnaugust.com/variant)
* John’s short story [Snake People](http://www.amazon.com/Snake-People-ebook/dp/B004H8GF0U) on Kindle
* INTRO: [HBO 1983 intro](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1NKoMNy5bY)
* OUTRO: [Man in the Mirror (Acoustic)](http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/man-in-mirror-acoustic-single/id379339709) by James Morrison

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_18.m4a).

UPDATE 1-9-12: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2012/scriptnotes-ep-18-zen-and-the-angst-of-kaufman-transcript).