John August

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Highland for all

Apps

After hundreds of scripts and tremendous feedback from our early testers, we’re making our new app Highland available as a public beta. Anyone who wants to try it out is [welcome to download](http://quoteunquoteapps.com/highland).

You’ll see that a lot has changed since I last [blogged about it](http://johnaugust.com/2012/say-hello-to-highland).

For starters, there are now two views: Edit and Preview.

Highland is still at heart a conversion utility, letting you move between Fountain, PDF and FDX files. But we realized in testing that users often need to make minor changes, and having to round-trip through another text editor was too much hassle. So we added a basic editor. It’s not nearly as feature-rich as true screenwriting apps, but it’s surprisingly capable.

You could write a whole screenplay in Highland. I wouldn’t recommend it, but you could.

In addition to dragging in files, you can now create a new file and paste in text — perfect if you’re bringing in material from Google Docs or Mail.

The biggest change took the most time to implement: a robust report card system for tracking how well Highland is importing and exporting scripts. Because screenplays come with so many variations, we’re never going to convert every script perfectly. But with built-in feedback, we hope to keep improving with each update.

Highland is pretty stable, but this **really is a beta**, folks. It can crash. I say this not to scare you away, but to set proper expectations.

We’re not sure how long this public beta will last. Each build is designed to expire after 30 days, but with built-in updating, we’ll be able to send out new beta versions easily. Our goal is to have it available on the Mac App Store once it feels solid and ready.

Thanks again to our first-round beta testers for all their feedback. Now it’s time for the wider world to kick the tires, and let us know how it can get even better.

If you want to join in, you can [download Highland today](http://quoteunquoteapps.com/highland).

20 Questions with John and Craig

Episode - 38

Go to Archive

Film Industry, Los Angeles, QandA, Scriptnotes, WGA

John and Craig open the listener mailbag and sprint through twenty questions in just under an hour.

➤ When John sets a timer for himself, what is his work/break interval sweet spot? (1:12)

➤ How do you break up with your manager? (2:16)

➤ Are there any tricks for organizing files when writing out of order? (3:42)

➤ Why join the WGA? (5:35)

➤ What “lingo” do Craig and John use in story meetings? (13:48)

➤ Will a writer be held back by English being her second language? (17:33)

➤ Is it better to release a short through festivals or by putting it online in parts? (19:37)

➤ Do John and Craig have tips for juggling multiple writing jobs? (21:17)

➤ What is a safe LA neighborhood with good schools for a writer/father who is making the move? (25:56)

➤ Do Craig and John’s finished movies look like they imagined while they were writing them? (30:23)

➤ Is it a smart idea for a 23-year-old aspiring screenwriter to pick up and move to LA? (34:05)

➤ If a character’s race is not specifically mentioned, why is he or she assumed white? (34:57)

➤ Is it okay to refer to specific actors while pitching? What about in the script itself? (39:12)

➤ How did John and Craig meet and decided to collaborate on Scriptnotes? (41:18)

➤ Are screenwriting contests or studio writers’ programs the right step for a 30-year-old mother of one living in Ohio? (42:34)

➤ Why would anyone would want to become a screenwriter in today’s studio climate? (46:38)

➤ If your spec pilot begs to be a premise pilot, is it better to use a non-pilot episode as your sample? (49:15)

➤ Why does page length change when converting files from Movie Magic to Final Draft? Which page count is correct? (51:29)

➤ If your historical epic has a lot of required backstory, is it okay to meet the protagonist on page 30? (53:41)

➤ Is there shame in running with an idea someone else freely posted online? (55:23)

All this and just slightly more on episode 38 of Scriptnotes.

LINKS:

* [The Pomodoro Technique](http://www.pomodorotechnique.com/)
* Craig’s [Done Deal Pro forums post](http://messageboard.donedealpro.com/boards/showthread.php?t=65716&page=15) that prompted the question about “lingo”
* INTRO: [Skyhawks](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlOF1CG6vsk) intro (via Monte Ferraro)
* OUTRO: [Bach’s Prelude & Fugue No. 1 in C Major](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM6yMDB9wgE) by The Original Swingle Singers, 1963

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_38.m4a).

**UPDATE** 5-24-12: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2012/scriptnotes-ep-38-20-questions-with-john-and-craig-transcript).

Let’s talk about dialogue

QandA, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

Screenwriters can learn story and structure, but the ability to create real, tangible characters is more elusive — and ultimately more important.

The best gauge of good writing is whether a screenplay’s characters feel distinct and alive. A lot of that comes from how the characters speak: what they say and how they say it.

John and Craig offer some tests to see if your screenplay’s dialogue works:

* Could you take one character’s words and have another say them?
* Can you picture a specific actor speaking each character’s lines? Or, even better, are there actors you *can’t* picture saying them?
* Do the characters all sound like you, the writer? Or do they have distinct voices?

This week’s listener questions include recycling material, writing large-group action scenes, and possible novels. Craig then rants about the evils of Zynga and the wonder of 1Password.

How do you do an imitation of Denzel Washington? Find out on episode 37 of Scriptnotes.

LINKS:

* Jay Mohr’s [Mohr Stories](http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/mohr-stories-smodcast.com/id448795390)
* Jane Espenson (and Douglas Petrie) on the [Nerdist Writers Panel](http://www.nerdist.com/2012/05/nerdist-writers-panel-37-jane-espenson-and-douglas-petrie/)
* Derek Haas’s [Popcorn Fiction](http://www.mulhollandbooks.com/popcornfiction/)
* [Lightning in a Bottle](http://www.mulhollandbooks.com/popcornfiction/stories/Lightning_in_a_Bottle_by_Craig_Mazin.html) by Craig Mazin, on Popcorn Fiction
* [Snake People](http://www.mulhollandbooks.com/popcornfiction/stories/Snake_People_by_John_August.html) by John August, on Popcorn Fiction
* [1Password](https://agilebits.com/onepassword)
* [Ski Safari](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ski-safari/id503092422?mt=8)
* INTRO: [Misfits of Science](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT6pJyuyez8) stereo remix by Stiks1969
* OUTRO: [No Frills Love (Extended Dance Remix)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjCSQGlNCbU) by Jennifer Holiday

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_37.m4a).

**UPDATE** 5-18-12: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2012/scriptnotes-ep-37-lets-talk-about-dialogue-transcript).

Writer’s block and other romantic myths

QandA, Scriptnotes, Transcribed, Writing Process

John and Craig open the 36th Scriptnotes with a brief discussion about contracts, and then face writer’s block head on.

“Writer’s block” is an overused term. When a writer claims to be suffering from it, he is usually wrestling with some combination of three common problems: procrastination, perfectionism, and fear. “Writer’s block” is a romanticized catch-all that distracts from these real issues.

Screenwriters can use a range of techniques to get over the hump, from setting a kitchen timer, to breaking work down into manageable chunks, to writing in an order that makes sense for the way you work.

They then take two quick listener questions before closing out the episode with this week’s One Cool Thing (TM).

It’s Tuesday! So head over to Panda Express and get yourself a celebratory meal to enjoy with episode 36 of Scriptnotes.

LINKS:

* [Jajangmyeon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jajangmyeon), Craig’s Korean noodles
* George Lucas, Seven Spielberg, and Lawrence Kasdan’s [Raiders Story Conference](http://mysterymanonfilm.blogspot.com/2009/03/raiders-story-conference.html)
* [Old Jews Telling Jokes](http://oldjewstellingjokes.com/)
* Charlie Seibel, [Giving a Bull an Enema](http://oldjewstellingjokes.com/post/22190142833) on OJTJ
* [iScore](http://iscorecentral.com/baseball/)
* INTRO: [Simon & Simon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDhz_mVcVCQ) theme
* OUTRO: [Umbrellas](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9qF1W5xX8Q) by Fredo Viola

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_36.m4a).

**UPDATE** 5-9-12: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2012/scriptnotes-ep-36-writers-block-and-other-romantic-myths-transcript).