John August

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Good actors and bad writing partners

Episode - 10

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QandA, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

Craig and John go through the mailbox to answer listener questions. Can great actors save bad writing? What happens when writing partners split up? Are flashbacks always a bad idea? Should a young British comedy writer move to America?

All this, plus discussion of Halloween, Screenwriting.io and dressing up dogs.

We have a Facebook fan page: [facebook.com/scriptnotes](http://www.facebook.com/scriptnotes). Like us, follow us and force your interests into your friends’ feeds.

LINKS:

* [Halloween pop-ups’ key to turning profit is no trick](http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/halloween-pop-up-stores-are-taking-over-area-shopping-centers/2011/10/13/gIQAg3AApL_story.html)
* [Jack Chick tracts](http://www.chick.com/default.asp)
* [American Horror Story](http://www.fxnetwork.com/shows/originals/ahs/)
* [I Am Wonder Woman](http://www.amazon.com/dp/0060565179/?tag=johnaugustcom-20) by Nina Jaffe
* Intro: [Wonder Woman Spins, season two](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RzfLXzebs4)
* Outro: [Songs that Answer Questions](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDfiGooHLeU) by the Gaither Vocal Band

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_10.m4a).

UPDATE 11-7-11: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2011/scriptnotes-ep-10-good-actors-and-bad-writing-partners-transcript).

Five figure advice

Scriptnotes, Transcribed

Craig and John tackle a listener question about the early stages of a screenwriting career: deciding which meetings to take, which projects to pursue, and how not to go broke in the process.

Once you’ve been hired for your first paid screenwriting job, the temptation is to pop the champagne corks and ditch that studio apartment in Koreatown. While every success is worth celebrating, the transition from “aspiring screenwriter” to “working screenwriter” can be unexpectedly brutal.

Checks come late, notes come often and opportunities can lead you astray.

Back when you were an aspiring screenwriter, anything seemed possible, because it was all make-believe anyway. Why *not* write a 14th-century comedy about strudel-makers?

Now screenwriting is your job, and that means making choices about what kind of career you want, what you’ll write, and how you’ll keep a roof over your head.

LINKS:

* [Austin Film Festival](http://www.austinfilmfestival.com/new/)
* [Nashville Screenwriters Conference](http://www.nashscreen.com/)
* Intro: [The Six Million Dollar Man TV intro](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HofoK_QQxGc)
* Outro: [Yellow Rose of Texas, performed by Wayne Shrubsall](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYlPJO6RrSE&feature=related)

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_09.m4a).

UPDATE 10-27-11: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2011/scriptnotes-ep-9-five-figure-advice-transcript).

Age of Monsters

Comics, Geek Alert

I helped make a new iPhone game that’s in the App Store starting today.

In a hurry? Here’s a link:

[Age of Monsters – Rock, Paper, Scissors](http://massivejoestudios.com/aomfw)

(It’s free.)

The game hails from Massive Joe Studios, the tiny shop run by illustrator/animator/whiz Jeff Matsuda (‘The Batman’ cartoon) and the indomitable Mike Su. I got involved with them early on, back when it was just a stupid/great idea that they would have gone ahead and done without me anyway. But still — I helped where I could.

Here’s the trailer:

So, yeah, it’s the most absurdly over-produced version of Rock, Paper, Scissors you’ll ever see. Until the feature.

The Good Boy Syndrome, and whether film school is worth it

Education, Psych 101, Scriptnotes, Transcribed

John and Craig discuss why screenwriters want to please people — and how it often hurts them and the movies they write — before a lengthy discussion of the pros and cons of going to film school.

We frame our film school discussion around John’s generic list of why people choose to go to college or graduate school:

1. The information
2. Certificate/degree
3. Access to special equipment
4. Structure
5. Professors/instructors/experts
6. Peers
7. Alumni
8. Enjoyment

That last point led to our alternate title for this podcast: *Film school: An expensive way to get laid.*

Craig got a new microphone, which seems like cause for celebration, but it picked up a tremendous amount of room noise. We’ll be working on that for next time.

Thank you to all the listeners who lavished [stars and praise](http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/scriptnotes-podcast/id462495496) upon us in iTunes. Being classic Good Boys, that kind of validation is like mana to us.

LINKS:

* [Cruft](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruft) definition
* The [human back is a compromise](http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/07/1/l_071_02.html)
* The [fourth trimester](http://www.parentmap.com/article/babys-fourth-trimester-helping-your-baby-make-a-peaceful-transition-from-womb-to-world)
* [Out of This World/Another World](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/another-world-20th-anniversary/id460076328?mt=8) for iOS
* [Life and Death](http://www.d4.dion.ne.jp/~motohiko/puppylove.htm#LIFE%20and%20DEATH), the Mac operating game
* Intro: [Atom, Filmation intro](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZXHVqrBpHw)
* Outro: [Swiss Top Secret Drum Corps](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJVdnMAGIt8) at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2009

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_08.m4a).

UPDATE 10-25-11: The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2011/scriptnotes-ep-8-the-good-boy-syndrome-and-whether-film-school-is-worth-it-transcript).