John August

WGA

Fun with Numbers

Episode - 232

Go to Archive

Film Industry, Follow Up, QandA, Random Advice, Scriptnotes, So-Called Experts, Story and Plot, Transcribed, WGA, Words on the page

Craig and John discuss the impact of Star Wars knocking down all the records, both for the industry and big-screen sci-fi.

We also look at yet another start-up that promises to separate hits from flops, the shocking revelation that critics are humans, and three new WGA proposals. Finally, we look at ways to let an audience know a character’s name.

Note: This is also the long-promised vaginosis episode.

Links:

* [Mexican Coke](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_Coke), [New Coke](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Coke) and [the history of Coca-Cola](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca-Cola#History) on Wikipedia
* Bacterial vaginosis [at the Center for Disease Control](http://www.cdc.gov/std/bv/stdfact-bacterial-vaginosis.htm) and [on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacterial_vaginosis)
* [Vaginal douching](http://www.webmd.com/women/guide/vaginal-douching-helpful-or-harmful) on WebMD
* [Scriptnotes, 112: Let me give you some advice](http://johnaugust.com/2013/let-me-give-you-some-advice) and [Dear J.J. Abrams](http://www.dearjjabrams.com/)
* [Star Wars: The Force Awakens](http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=starwars7.htm) on Box Office Mojo
* [Get your tickets now for Scriptnotes, Live on January 25](http://hollywoodheart.org/upcoming/) with [Jason Bateman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Bateman) and [Lawrence Kasdan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Kasdan), a benefit for [Hollywood HEART](http://hollywoodheart.org)
* [ScriptBook](http://scriptbook.io/) and [The startup story of Scriptbook](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COOQU-8S_yM)
* [Box Office Shocker: Movie Reviews Matter in 2015](http://www.thewrap.com/box-office-shocker-movie-reviews-matter-in-2015/) from The Wrap
* [WGA Asks Members To Amend Guild’s Constitution](http://deadline.com/2015/12/wga-members-considering-guild-constitutional-amendments-1201673993/) on Deadline
* [Ghost Streets of Los Angeles](http://www.bldgblog.com/2015/12/ghost-streets-of-los-angeles/) on BLDGBLOG
* Vilmos Zsigmond on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vilmos_Zsigmond), [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005936/) and [remembered in Variety](http://variety.com/2016/film/news/vilmos-zsigmond-dead-dies-cinematographer-1201670799/)
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Mary Webb ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_232.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_232.mp3).

**UPDATE 1-14-16:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2016/scriptnotes-ep-232-fun-with-numbers-transcript).

Campaign statements and residual statements

Film Industry, Follow Up, International, Los Angeles, News, QandA, Scriptnotes, Transcribed, WGA

John and Craig discuss the WGA election results, and take a look at the issues that dominated the campaigns. What is a paper team? Do screenwriters really retire? And why does it take us so long to get paid?

We also dive into the mailbag and take questions on visiting Los Angeles, backend and residuals, and what an unrepped writer should do if there is interest in her project.

T-shirts are being folded and packaged this week, and should be in the mail by the time next episode airs. Keep a lookout in your mailbox, and be sure to pack them for Austin.

Links:

* [WGAw 2015 election results](http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=5938)
* John and Craig [on The Black List Table Reads podcast with Franklin Leonard](http://blacklist.wolfpop.com/audio/39626/john-august-and-craig-mazin)
* Melissa Mazin will be at the [Austin Film Festival 2015 Screenwriting Conference](https://austinfilmfestival.com/festivalandconference/conference/)
* [Reaper Miniatures](https://www.reapermini.com/), and [Miniature Painting 101](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB0292071C3B38CAC) on YouTube
* [All the ‘Happy Birthday’ song copyright claims are invalid, federal judge rules](http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-happy-birthday-song-lawsuit-decision-20150922-story.html) from the LA Times
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) sent in by Luke Yoquinto ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_217.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_217.mp3).

**UPDATE 10-2-15:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2015/scriptnotes-ep-217-campaign-statements-and-residual-statements-transcript).

NDAs and other acronyms

Film Industry, Follow Up, Formatting, International, QandA, Scriptnotes, Transcribed, Weekend Read, WGA

Craig and John open the mailbag to answer questions on acronyms in dialogue, off-the-air specs and international WGA jurisdiction. Plus we look at the growing trend of non-disclosure agreements on studio projects, and whether the nature of film requires less complex characters.

The big news: we have new Scriptnotes t-shirts! They’re available only by pre-order, and only for a short time. Join us at the store as we talk through the three designs, ranging from the classic logo, to vintage Camp Scriptnotes to an all-new Three-Act Structure blueprint by listener Taino Soba. Orders must be in by THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17th. (Link below)

Links:

* [Scriptnotes shirts are available for pre-order in the John August Store](http://store.johnaugust.com/)
* [Dewalt hex bit set](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000628SO2/?tag=johnaugustcom-20) and a [magnetic bit extensions set](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004V3TQP2/?tag=johnaugustcom-20)
* This is the last week of the summer for [Featured Fridays](http://johnaugust.com/2015/weekend-read-featured-fridays) on [Weekend Read](http://quoteunquoteapps.com/weekendread/)
* Scriptnotes, 130: [Period space](http://johnaugust.com/2014/period-space)
* [South Park popularity is soaring in Taiwan](http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2000-12-28/features/0012280062_1_taiwan-south-park-four-musketeers) from The Baltimore Sun
* [Non-disclosure agreements](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-disclosure_agreement) on Wikipedia
* Screenwriting.io on [handling numbers in dialogue](http://screenwriting.io/how-should-you-handle-numbers-or-confusing-jargon-in-dialogue/)
* Screenwriting.io on [spec scripts](http://screenwriting.io/what-is-a-%E2%80%9Cspec-script%E2%80%9D/)
* Scriptnotes, 11: [How movie money works](http://johnaugust.com/2011/how-movie-money-works)
* [Dead Synchronicity](http://www.deadsynchronicity.com/en/home/)
* [Mr. Robot](http://www.usanetwork.com/mrrobot) on USA
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Duncan Pflaster ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_213.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_213.mp3).

**UPDATE 9-3-15:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2015/scriptnotes-ep-213-ndas-and-other-acronyms-transcript).

The International Episode

Adaptation, Film Industry, Follow Up, International, News, Scriptnotes, Transcribed, Travel, WGA

Craig and John look at how movies are translated, including an interview with a guy who does subtitles for a living. Plus, how Pixar and other companies are localizing movies for international audiences, and what happens when China becomes the largest film market.

The USB drives are back in the store, and we’re close to announcing our picks for the next Scriptnotes t-shirt. (You can see some of the entries on our Facebook page.)

Links:

* [A limited number of 200 episode USB drives are back in the John August Store](http://store.johnaugust.com/)
* [Scriptnotes on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/scriptnotes)
* Scriptnotes, 208: [How descriptive audio works](http://johnaugust.com/2015/how-descriptive-audio-works)
* [Emmanuel Denizot](http://www.emmanueldenizot.webs.com/), and his [First Person entry on johnaugust.com](http://johnaugust.com/2013/subtitling-for-screenwriters)
* [Inside Out Director Pete Docter Explains Why Pixar Remade Certain Scenes for Foreign Viewers](http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2015/07/30/inside_out_director_pete_docter_explains_why_pixar_re_animated_certain_scenes.html) on Slate
* [China becomes world’s second-biggest movie market](http://www.bbc.com/news/business-21891631) on BBC
* [Hollywood Pays Attention As China’s Movie Box Office Grows By 50%; Nation Adds Nearly 30 Screens A Day](http://www.ibtimes.com/hollywood-pays-attention-chinas-movie-box-office-grows-50-nation-adds-nearly-30-2011328) on IBT
* [WGAw Announces Candidates for 2015 Officers and Board of Directors Election](http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=5830)
* [3rd & Fairfax: The WGAw Podcast](http://www.wga.org/3rdandfairfax/), hosted by Aaron Fullerton & Steve Trautmann
* [Microsoft Translator](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-translator/id1018949559?mt=8) for iOS and Apple Watch
* [XMarks Bookmark Sync](https://www.xmarks.com/)
* [Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp](http://www.netflix.com/title/80039813) is now streaming on NetFlix
* [Outro](http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros) by Jonah Bech Vestergard ([send us yours!](http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed))

You can download the episode here: [AAC](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_211.m4a) | [mp3](http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_211.mp3).

**UPDATE 8-21-15:** The transcript of this episode can be found [here](http://johnaugust.com/2015/scriptnotes-ep-211-the-international-episode-transcript).