John and Craig discuss the dynamics of fandom, attempting to chart how things get cool, then hot, then terrible. But how are fandoms organized? Where do subcultures start? And how should you engage with the community that forms around your work? We also look at an alternative screenplay format from one of last year’s best screenplays, and follow up on bake-offs, distracting accuracies in fiction, and UK writing credits. We then answer questions on original songs, packaging your script, and what you can do when you suspect you’ve been ripped off. In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig look at the many various fandoms and do their best to enrage them. Links: The Tiffany Problem ‘Harry Potter’ TV Series Zeroes In On Premise As Selected Writers Pitch Their Ideas To Max WGGB Screenwriting Credits Agreement Ig Nobel Prize – “Please stop, I’m Bored” Anatomy of a Fall – Screenplay Podcasters Took Up Her Sister’s Murder Investigation. Then They Turned on Her by Sarah Viren for the New York Times Geeks, MOPs, and sociopaths in subculture evolution by David Chapman Going Zero by Anthony McCarten The Devil by Jessica Mazin on Spotify Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram John August on Threads, Instagram and Twitter John on Mastodon Outro by Jessica Mazin (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.  

The DGA surprised the town yesterday, announcing an update to their already-signed agreement with the AMPTP. The new deal includes select pay bumps and the streaming bonus gained by WGA and SAG-AFTRA after their lengthy strikes. John and Drew are back to look at what we know about this off-cycle development and ask questions like huh? And how? And why? Links: DGA Announces Revisions To Film & TV Contract, Including Addition Of Streaming Bonus To Match WGA’s by Katie Campione for Deadline John on Twitter, Instagram and Mastodon Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John welcomes back Aline Brosh McKenna to look at how both you and your characters can become more “agentic.” What are the traps and pitfalls of going after what you want? How do you get people to engage with your protagonist, especially when the protagonist is yourself? Then it’s another round of How Would This be a Movie? We look at stories about a harm-reduction hotline, countertop cancer, loyalty testers and a mathematician who exploited the lottery. In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Aline talk about their strange new reality of being empty nesters. Links: How to be More Agentic by Cate Hall What’s Stopping You? by Neel Nanda Seven ways to become unstoppably agentic by Evie Cottrell “Agency” needs nuance by Evie Cottrell The Woman on the Line by Aymann Ismail and Mary Harris for Slate California workers who cut countertops are dying of an incurable disease by Emily Alpert Reyes and Cindy Carcamo for the LA Times Would Your Partner Cheat? These ‘Testers’ Will Give You an Answer by Gina Cherelus for the New York Times The man who won the lottery 14 times by Zachary Crockett for The Hustle Musely So you wanna de-bog yourself by Adam Mastroianni Aline Brosh McKenna Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram John August on Threads, Instagram and Twitter John on Mastodon Outro by Larry Douziech (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John and Craig investigate those details that are accurate and authentic, but can pull viewers out of the story. They look for ways to balance what is realistic with what is believable, and how to get rid of distractions and keep your audience focused on what matters. We also discuss popular names, follow up on Icelandic pronunciations and the Mazinga toy, and answer listener questions on period details, defining biopics, writing during production, and whether or not to read the script before watching the movie. In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig swallow their pride and ask, how can you tell when someone is just being nice? Links: First baby of the new year arrives at Dublin’s Rotunda Hospital Mazinger Z Regicide The Last of Us Comes in First at Saturday Creative Arts Emmys Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram John August on Threads, Instagram and Twitter John on Mastodon Outro by Sudarshan Kadam (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John and Craig take a look at the many For Your Consideration scripts suddenly available to read to see what lessons can be learned from movies that were actually made. They find best practices for establishing setting, using “we see” and “we hear,” complicated setups, directing on the page, and how to get right into your story. We also look at the possible sale of Paramount, the International Phonetic Alphabet and setting 2024 goals, before answering listener questions on UK credits and our writing routines. In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig chew on a difficult question — would we eat lab-grown human meat? Links: The Vultures Are Circling: Who Will Walk Away With Paramount? by Alex Weprin for The Hollywood Reporter The Holdovers by David Hemingson All of Us Strangers by Andrew Haigh May December by Samy Burch, story by Samy Burch & Alex Mechanik Saltburn by Emerald Fennell Killers of the Flower Moon by Eric Roth & Martin Scorsese Barbie by Greta Gerwig & Noah Baumbach Across the Spider-Verse by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller & Dave Callaham Oppenheimer by Christopher Nolan American Fiction by Cord Jefferson Weekend Read 2 Gartic Phone Dungeons & Dragons – Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram John August on Threads, Instagram and Twitter John on Mastodon Outro by Zach Lo (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

In this compendium episode, John and Craig look at how we can best articulate our characters’ inner lives and get the audience invested in them. They discuss the intricacies of point of view, finding truthful emotional states, and why it’s so important for your characters to be liars. How do you engage an audience’s empathy? What makes an audience cry? What emotional response breaks their trust? Why is point of view important, and how can it be manipulated? How can lies be used to drive a character to emotional authenticity? And what is the best way to reveal your character’s secrets? In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig talk single-use characters and crown the greatest day-player of all time. Links: Scriptnotes Episode 358 – Point of View Scriptnotes Episode 472 – Emotional States Scriptnotes Episode 151 – Secrets and Lies Scriptnotes Episode 467 – Another Word for Euphemism Gödel’s incompleteness theorems Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram John August on Threads, Instagram and Twitter John on Mastodon Outro by Rajesh Naroth (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John and Craig are joined by the ghosts of Scriptnotes past and present (Megana and Drew) for a festive competition: discussing the perils of studio bake-offs — pitting writer against writer for one coveted job — while simultaneously judging three of LA’s finest holiday cookies. We also look at Netflix’s recently released viewership data, follow up on homonyms, AI coverage and voting, and answer a listener question on the definition of a drafts. But first, we investigate the origin of a very useful word that’s new to John and Craig. In our bonus segment for premium members, we travel to holidays past to discuss the best presents we ever received — and the gifts that got away. Links: Netflix Viewership Data The absolutely legitimate, incredibly useful Indian English word you’re not using by Diksha Madhok Homographs The Very Best Cookie In The Whole Wide World DeLuscious Cookies Levain Bakery Clue Conspiracy Dessert Person by Claire Saffitz Upright Steamer The Kelly Clarkson Connection Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram John August on Threads, Instagram and Twitter John on Mastodon Outro by Matthew Chilelli (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John welcomes writer and director Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight, Inception) to discuss experimentation, subjectivity and adaptation as they take an in-depth look at his screenplay, Oppenheimer. They explore Chris’ writing process, how to make non-linear structures work, finding the story in real-life events, being kinetic on the page, the importance of embracing editing, and why theme can be a tricky thing. In our bonus segment for premium members, Chris and John muse about the difficulties of dream sequences — and what makes them work. Links: Oppenheimer – The First Three Pages Christopher Nolan on IMDb. American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin The Open Mind by J. Robert Oppenheimer The Shepard Tone When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamín Labatut Infinite Mac Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram John August on Threads, Instagram and Twitter John on Mastodon Outro by Matthew Chilelli (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John and Craig look at several notable figures in the news and ask, How Would This Be a Biopic? They examine the lives of Henry Kissinger, Sandra Day O’Connor, George Santos, Rosalynn Carter, and Sam Altman to see which are best suited for the big screen, and declare once-and-for-all the proper way to pronounce “biopic.” We also follow up on VFX and AI, the two-column format, inner monologues, and Melissa Mazin sets the record straight on her role at Thanksgiving. In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig speculate about which event in history had the biggest negative impact on human civilization. Links: Sandra Day O’Connor Henry Kissinger Rosalynn Carter George Santos Sam Altman What happened at OpenAI? The Sam Altman saga, explained by Rachel Lehman for The Washington Post International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) Fallout – Trailer Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram John August on Threads, Instagram and Twitter John on Mastodon Outro by James Llonch (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John moderates Breaking the Stigma, a panel on addiction and mental health with guests Gemma Baker (creator of CBS’s Mom), Dr. Corey Waller (specialist in pain, addiction and emergency medicine), Dr. Holly Daniels (specialist in eating disorders and mental health issues), and journalist Zachary Siegel. We discuss how addiction and mental health issues are portrayed in film and TV, more authentic ways of telling these stories, and how writers and creators can take care of their own mental health. In our bonus segment for premium members, Drew joins John to talk about the etiquette of thank you notes and follow-up emails. Links: Episode 412 – Transcript Hollywood, Health & Society – USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center Eighth Grade 6 Balloons Motivational Interviewing Narcan Gemma Baker Dr. Holly Daniels Dr. Corey Waller on Twitter Zachary Siegel on Substack and Twitter Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram John August on Threads, Instagram and Twitter John on Mastodon Outro by Matthew Chilelli (send us yours!) This episode was originally produced by Megana Rao. Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.  

John and Craig investigate their anxiety and ask, why is the future so hard to predict right now? They discuss everything from what’s going at OpenAi, the upcoming elections, a new service that uses AI to generate script coverage, and muse about how to move forward in a time of unprecedented uncertainty. We also follow up with two listeners who wrote in for advice, and answer new questions on composite characters, being inspired by reddit, and how to maintain a long running D&D group. In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig freestyle the introduction to the upcoming Scriptnotes Book. Links: The Strange $55 Million Saga of a Netflix Series You’ll Never See by John Carreyrou for the New York Times Digital background actors in Disney’s Prom Pact Sacking, revolt, return: how crisis at OpenAI over Sam Altman unfolded by Dan Milmo for The Guardian Alex Edelman: Just for Us Weber Connect Smart Grilling Hub Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram John August on Threads, Instagram and Twitter John on Mastodon Outro by Alex Winder (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John welcomes Jesse David Fox (Comedy Book, Good One) and Greg Iwinski (Last Week Tonight, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert) to “explain the joke” and discuss how comedy works. They explore everything from harnessing your comedic voice, building a career in comedy, the importance of diversity in late night, to fundamental questions about the art form: How do jokes work? Is laughter always the primary goal of a comedy? Do you need to put your work online? How has the algorithm changed our consumption of comedy? And where does comedy go from here? In our bonus segment for premium members, Greg, Jesse and John talk about their shared love for The Simpsons. What makes it so funny, and how has it shaped a generation of comedy nerds? Links: Greg Iwinski on Twitter and Instagram Jesse David Fox on Instagram and Twitter Comedy Book: How Comedy Conquered Culture–and the Magic That Makes It Work by Jesse David Fox Good One: Podcast About Jokes by Jesse David Fox Julia on MAX The Great Stewardess Rebellion by Nell McShane Wulfhart Everything You Want (ft. MUNA) – Matt Rogers, from his album Have You Heard of Christmas? Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram John August on Threads, Instagram and Twitter John on Mastodon Outro by Jonathan Petkau (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John offers a host of career-focused insights as he tackles our overflowing mailbag to answer as many listener questions as he can. What’s the best way to keep track of shower thoughts? How do you build a good creative workplace? How do you disclose your past wrongs to a future employer? What is Appendix A? And who picks up the tab at a coffee meeting? In our bonus segment for premium members, bells are ringing as John and newlywed Drew discuss what makes a wedding work. Links: Oppenheimer: The Official Screenplay by Christopher Nolan WGA Appendix A An Extremely Detailed Map of New York City Neighborhoods by Larry Buchanan, Josh Katz, Rumsey Taylor and Eve Washington for the New York Times TFI Photo Lab in Danvers, MA Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram John August on Threads, Instagram and Twitter John on Mastodon Outro by Nico Mansy (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.  

After 118 days on strike, SAG-AFTRA has a tentative deal with the AMPTP. John and Drew look through the details of the agreement to see what gains the actors union was able to make on streaming, self-tapes, performance capture, AI protections, and residuals. What are the current effects of this agreement? And what’s next for organized labor in Hollywood? Links: SAG-AFTRA Summary of 2023 Tentative Agreement SAG-AFTRA 2023 TV/Theatrical Contracts Hub John on Twitter, Instagram and Mastodon Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John and Craig host an in-depth look at the 1987 classic, The Princess Bride, recorded live at the WGA Theatre in 2019. They discuss how the “abridged” structure brings us only the best parts of the story and what this means for the characters and world. From the frame story to the myth of the Dread Pirate Roberts, The Princess Bride shaped decades of screenwriters but would be inconceivable to produce today. In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig discuss William Goldman’s famous (and often misapplied) quote abut Hollywood: “Nobody knows anything.” Links: Episode 386 – The Princess Bride Episode 221 – Nobody Knows Anything (including what this quote means) The Princess Bride The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern’s Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure by William Goldman Adventures in the Screen Trade by William Goldman The Dread Pirate Roberts The Bechdel Test Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram John August on Threads, Instagram and Twitter John on Mastodon Outro by Cole Parzenn (send us yours!) This episode was originally produced by Megan McDonnell. Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

Mad scientists John and Craig dissect monsters and how they function in the stories we tell. How do monsters differ from the average villain? What makes them tick? And how do you make them fascinating? We also discuss how narratives are applied to real-life news, follow up on aphantasia and diabetes, and answer a listener question on characters in cosplay. In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig fire up their dial-up modems to reminisce about the old internet. Links: Aaron Sorkin on This Cultural Life from BBC Radio 4 Serious Trouble podcast from Josh Barro and Ken White LEGO Titanic Internet Artifacts Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram John August on Threads, Instagram and Twitter John on Mastodon Outro by Matthew Chilelli (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt with help from Chris Csont, and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John and Craig welcome Neil Gaiman (The Sandman, Good Omens) to discuss the serialized storytelling of comics and screenwriting. Using Neil’s script for issue 24 of The Sandman, they look at how comics are written, communicating with other artists, using the medium to your advantage, and finding unique ways to deliver your story. Neil also shares how he developed his voice as a writer, from the origin of his religious and mythological curiosities to the importance of doing it wrong, defining style, and his advice to young writers. In our bonus segment for premium members, Neil sticks around to talk with John and Craig about the projects we never got around to writing. Links: Neil Gaiman on Instagram and Twitter Read Neil’s script for The Sandman #24 Starfield An American Puzzle: Fitting Race in a Box The Riddle of the Traveling Skull by Harry Stephen Keeler Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram John August on Threads, Instagram and Twitter John on Mastodon Outro by Owen Danoff (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John and Craig talk about the importance of visualization for screenwriters, and the fact that some very successful writers can’t do it. They share what’s going on inside their brains as they write, their processes for imagining a scene, and what writing is like across the spectrum of aphantasia. But first, we look at Marvel’s new approach to TV and follow-up on diabetes, studio distribution, and a word John has been using incorrectly for years. We also answer listener questions about choosing the right medium for your story, credit in anthology films, and co-writing credit disputes. In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig discuss the pros and cons of being given the opportunity you’ve always dreamt of. Links: ‘Daredevil’ Hits Reset Button as Marvel Overhauls Its TV Business by Borys Kit for The Hollywood Reporter Episode 530: The One with Jack Thorne John Green Tweet Discovering aphantasia by Austin Kelon Aphantasia – A Different Kind of Blindness by Lee LeFever Here’s What It’s Like To Not Have An Internal Monologue by Caroline Steber for Bustle WGA Membership Department Boobie_Klapper on Instagram Uniqlo Colorful 50 Socks Uniqlo RFID Automated Checkout Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram John August on Threads, Instagram and Twitter John on Mastodon Outro by Han Lundberg (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

It’s official – the WGA has ratified its contract with the AMPTP. John and Drew look at how the votes were distributed, what happens next, and what to keep in mind as SAG-AFTRA moves forward in their negotiations. Links: 2023 MBA Ratified – WGA SAG-AFTRA on Strike! WGA Solidarity with SAG-AFTRA John on Twitter, Instagram and Mastodon Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John sits down with WGA Negotiating Committee co-chair Chris Keyser to look at how writers crafted the narrative of the strike. From establishing the premise and themes, identifying characters, and all the way down to specific word choices, we dissect the choices, revisions, and tactics used to guide the MBA negotiations to a successful conclusion. We also answer listener questions on foreign levies and writers’ relationship with the studios going forward. In our bonus segment for premium members, we discuss Chris Keyser’s debate career and make a strong argument for how it shaped his skills as an orator. Links: Chris Keyser’s speech to members at the start of negotiations Scriptnotes, Episode 389 – The Future of the Industry One Revolution Per Minute by Erik Wernquist American Dream on IMDb Christopher Keyser on IMDb Chris Keyser at The Oxford Union Society vs. The Harvard Debate Council, 1982 Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram John August on Threads, Instagram and Twitter John on Mastodon Outro by Rajesh Naroth (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John and Craig take an in-depth look at the deal points of the WGA’s tentative agreement with the AMPTP, which ended the 2023 WGA strike after 148 days. Together they break down what gains were made, how they work, and why they are important for writers everywhere. We also open a time-capsule email from 2018, follow up on five year old predictions, and send our predictions for 2028 off into the future. In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig discuss a topic we’ve slept on for too long: dreams! Links: WGA Tentative Agreement Summary Scriptnotes, Episode 369 – What is a Movie, Anyway? from 2018 Scriptnotes, Episode 108 – Are two screens better than one? from 2013 24 Hours in an Invisible Epidemic by Alvin Chang Melissa Smith, longtime head of ACT’s MFA program, dies at 64 by Sam Hurwitt Rusty Lake Underground Blossom Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram John August on Threads, Instagram and Twitter John on Mastodon Outro by Holland Gallagher (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and is edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

Recorded live from Paramount and Amazon Studios, John and Drew talk with actors and writers marching in support of SAG-AFTRA as they re-enter negotiations with the AMPTP. Thanks to everyone who talked with us! Links: SAG-AFTRA on Strike! WGA Solidarity with SAG-AFTRA WGA Contract Ratification – Vote Here WGA Contract 2023 Tentative Agreement John on Twitter, Instagram and Mastodon Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John, Drew and Megana read through the details of the WGA’s Tentative Agreement to see what was initially proposed and what was ultimately won. Links: WGA Tentative Agreement Summary 2023 MBA Tentative Agreement Megana Rao on Twitter John on Twitter, Instagram and Mastodon Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John and Greta Gerwig (Barbie, Little Women and Lady Bird) discuss adaptation, ambition and authorship. With the screenplay in front of them, they look at specific scenes in Little Women and explore how its non-linear timeline changed how the movie works. We also answer listener questions on writing for the page and starting a family as an aspiring writer. In our bonus segment for premium members, Craig shares what it was like winning a Golden Globe for Chernobyl. Links: The Original Episode: 433 – The One with Greta Gerwig Follow along with the Little Women script in Weekend Read 2 Little Women Script Greta Gerwig Hollywood Assistants Are Fed Up by Rachel Abrams for the New York Times Mothers: An Essay on Love and Cruelty by Jacqueline Rose New York in Color Jigsaw Puzzle Behave by Robert Sapolsky Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram John August on Threads, Instagram and Twitter John on Mastodon Outro by Jemma Moran (send us yours!) This episode was originally produced by Megana Rao. Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and is edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

After 146 days on the picket line, the WGA has reached a tentative deal with the AMPTP. John walks through the very exciting email that was sent out to members, outlining what it means, what happens next, and reflects on how far we’ve come. Links: Summary of Negotiations: WGA proposals and AMPTP responses SAG-AFTRA Picket Schedule and Locations Strike Rules FAQ Find more about the 2023 WGA negotiations here at WGAContract2023.org John on Twitter, Instagram and Mastodon Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John and Craig test out a dreamy thesis: that all fish out of water stories are either The Wizard of Oz or Splash. What are the differences? Are Splash movies funnier? And what are the hidden pitfalls of placing our characters in unfamiliar worlds? We also look at how Rotten Tomatoes works (and how it’s manipulated). But first, we follow up on physical media and lining up in size order before answering a listener question on writing gibberish. In our bonus segment for premium members, Craig shares a personal diagnosis in an effort to help other adults with diabetes. Links: The Decomposition of Rotten Tomatoes by Lane Brown for Vulture Read the Frankenweenie script here and on Weekend Read 2 Starfield Manhattan Bus Map by MTA Highland 2 Writer Emergency Pack XL Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram John August on Threads, Instagram and Twitter John on Mastodon Outro by Nico Mansy (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and is edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John and Drew talk about one of the best things writers can do to keep their skills sharp during the strike: reading. They discuss where to find scripts, what you can learn from other people’s writing, and what they’ve been working on while pencils are down. Links: Weekend Read 2 on the App Store Scriptslug.com Summary of Negotiations: WGA proposals and AMPTP responses 2023 WGA Strike Rules Strike Rules FAQ Picket Schedules and Locations Find more about the 2023 WGA negotiations here at WGAContract2023.org John on Twitter, Instagram and Mastodon Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John and Craig talk action! It’s an all-craft episode about how words on the page become high-adrenaline events on the screen. Using a variety of different scripts, we look at how different styles of action sequences can be used to clearly communicate what is meant to happen in a scene and how it’s supposed to feel. In our bonus segment for premium members we try to discuss the Emmys but mostly talk about teenage girls’ obsession with Criminal Minds. Links: Action Scenes PDF Scriptnotes Episode 463: Writing Action Entertainment Community Fund – Emergency Financial Assistance CAA Lays Off Agents and Employees From 2020: WGA East and West members voted to approve the new contract Good Sudoku Good Sudoku App Ghosts of Tsushima Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram John August on Threads, Instagram and Twitter John on Mastodon Outro by Matthew Chilelli (send us yours!) This episode was originally produced by Megana Rao. Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and is edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

Live from New York, John talks with writers and actors about the differences between LA and NYC pickets, anxiety, and how joy can be a form of protest. Featuring Christopher Kyle and Wilson Cruz. Big thanks to everyone who talked with us! Links: East & NY Strike Resources Writers Guild of America East Summary of Negotiations: WGA proposals and AMPTP responses 2023 WGA Strike Rules Strike Rules FAQ Picket Schedules and Locations Find more about the 2023 WGA negotiations here at WGAContract2023.org John on Twitter, Instagram and Mastodon Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt with help from Cory Reeder. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

Cory Reeder interviews writers and performers at the joint WGA/SAG-AFTRA disability picket at Disney. Big thanks to Cory and everyone he spoke with! Links: WGAw Disabled Writers Committee SAG-AFTRA Diversity Committees SAG-AFTRA Empowering Performers with Disabilities on Set Summary of Negotiations: WGA proposals and AMPTP responses 2023 WGA Strike Rules Strike Rules FAQ Picket Schedules and Locations Find more about the 2023 WGA negotiations here at WGAContract2023.org John on Twitter, Instagram and Mastodon Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt with help from Cory Reeder. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John and Craig investigate our primal instincts and how they motivate our characters. Often referred to as the four F’s, these are the impulses hardwired into every animal in order to survive. But how do these base impulses guide a character’s behavior? And how can they be harnessed to make sure you don’t overcomplicate your character’s want? We also look at impermanence in our digital world and the ways people are trying to preserve lost media. But first we answer listener questions on comics, digital de-aging, and closed captions. In our bonus segment for premium members, we ask: why are we better swimmers as kids than we are as adults? Links: Can’t Hear the Dialogue in Your Streaming Show? You’re Not Alone by Brian X. Chen for the New York Times No, You Do Not Have a Lizard Brain Inside Your Human Brain from Mind Matters Prey Drive Scriptnotes, Episode 364 – Netflix Killed the Video Store The Dream Was Universal Access to Knowledge. The Result Was a Fiasco by David Streitfeld for the New York Times Baldur’s Gate 3 Tweet by Chris Miller Hydrostatic Life Vests British Airways safety video Highland 2 Writer Emergency Pack XL Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram John August on Threads, Instagram and Twitter John on Mastodon Outro by Adam Pineless (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and is edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.  

John answers the most common questions he hears out on the picket line, including the nervous, “Wait, why are you here? Is something wrong?” Links: wgacontract2023.org It’s All Relative on YouTube Summary of Negotiations: WGA proposals and AMPTP responses 2023 WGA Strike Rules Strike Rules FAQ Picket Schedules and Locations Find more about the 2023 WGA negotiations here at WGAContract2023.org John on Twitter, Instagram and Mastodon Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John and Craig examine the foundation of every story: the premise. What is your story really about? What questions is it trying to answer? How does that differ from your logline? And what should writers do to make sure those things match up? We also follow up on AI copyright, physical media, Esperanto and lingua franca. We then answer listener questions on the usefulness of “Fade in,” what studios actually do, and whether or not to put spec scripts on your website. In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig reminisce about the highs and lows of going back to school. Links: AI-Created Art Isn’t Copyrightable, Judge Says in Ruling That Could Give Hollywood Studios Pause by Winston Cho for The Hollywood Reporter Thaler v. Perlmutter The Mandalorian, Loki, And WandaVision Are Getting Limited Edition 4K And Blu-Ray Releases by Ryan Scott for Slash Film Lingua franca Where Story Begins – Premise by Michael Tabb for Script Magazine The premise, or what’s the point? by John August We Need to See More Parents Having Abortions in Film and Television by Danielle Campoamor for Marie Claire Dungeons & Dragons: Trials of Tempus Highland 2 Writer Emergency Pack XL Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram John August on Threads, Instagram and Twitter John on Mastodon Outro by Adam Pineless (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and is edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John and Drew inspect the Federal Trade Commission’s proposed merger guidelines and why they’re important for everybody – not just writers – to read and comment on. Links: FTC and DOJ Seek Comment on Draft Merger Guidelines by the Federal Trade Commission Publicly Comment on the FTC Draft Merger Guidelines WGA Template and Call to Action FTC proposes new merger guidelines by John August Financial Interest and Syndication (Fin-Syn) Rules on Wikipedia Paramount Decree on Wikipedia Picket hours and information 2023 WGA Strike Rules Strike Rules FAQ Find more about the 2023 WGA negotiations here at WGAContract2023.org John on Twitter, Instagram and Mastodon Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John and Craig look at how well-written dialogue is used to give characters a unique voice. Using clips from previous episodes they present a history of dialogue and its evolution, how it informs your actors, and how communicating an idea sometimes comes down to the smallest words our characters say. How can writers use dialogue to make their characters feel distinct and alive? What are tests for character voice? What can memorizing dialogue can teach us about writing it? And how do you keep all your characters active (and your actors happy) in group scenes? In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig stay on-topic to look at the pros and cons of dual dialogue. Links: Scriptnotes Episode 37 – Let’s talk about dialogue Scriptnotes Episode 286 – Script Doctors, Dialogue and Hacks Scriptnotes Episode 371 – Writing Memorable Dialogue Highland 2 Writer Emergency Pack XL Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram John August on Threads, Instagram and Twitter John on Mastodon Outro by Matthew Chilelli (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt, featuring segments originally produced by Stuart Friedel, Godwin Jabangwe, Megan McDonnell and Megana Rao. It is edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

With union elections on the horizon, John and Drew present an overview of the voting process and governing structures of the WGA, DGA and SAG-AFTRA.   Links: SAG-AFTRA 2023 Elections and Voter Guides SAG-AFTRA Governance DGA Leadership WGAw 2023 Elections WGAe 2023 Elections Find more about the 2023 WGA negotiations here at WGAContract2023.org John on Twitter, Instagram and Mastodon Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John and Craig welcome guests Quinta Brunson, Rachel Bloom and Natasha Lyonne to join them for a live benefit for Hollywood HEART. Since they cannot discuss the shows they’re currently working on (strike rules!) they instead reflect on the surprising paths of their careers, how acting has influenced them as writers and directors, and how much is learned at every step of production. We’re also joined by AMPTP spokesperson Nancy Sullivan to discuss our concerns with the ongoing strike, what she enjoys about her job, and why she finds it so fulfilling! Big thanks to our live audience, the staff of Dynasty Typewriter, and everyone at Hollywood Heart for putting the event together. Links: HollywoodHEART Quinta Brunson on IMDb and Instagram Rachel Bloom on IMDb and Instagram Natasha Lyonne on IMDb and Instagram Quinta Brunson’s The Girl Who’s Never Been on a Nice Date Quinta Brunson on BuzzFeed Rachel Bloom: Death, Let Me Do My Show at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, New York City Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram John August on Threads, Instagram and Twitter John on Mastodon Outro by Matthew Chilelli (send us yours!) Our ASL interpreter was Elliott Aronson Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.  

On the 100th day of striking against the AMPTP, John heads to the picket line to speak with writers about what they’ve learned, how they’re feeling, and what has changed. Thanks to everyone who talked to us! Links: 2023 WGA Writer’s Strike Gallery by J. W. Hendricks Summary of Negotiations: WGA proposals and AMPTP responses Updated picket hours and information 2023 WGA Strike Rules Strike Rules FAQ Picket Schedules and Locations Find more about the 2023 WGA negotiations here at WGAContract2023.org John on Twitter, Instagram and Mastodon Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John and Craig ponder the nature of words and what gives them meaning. Using new information on how large language models function, they look at the dizzying amount of connections words can create with other words, between humans, and their profound effect on the nature of consciousness. We promise we’re not high. We also follow up on racist characters before answering listener questions on balancing deadlines with an artistic process and our ideal press junket questions. In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig reflect on the impact left on them by the art and life of Sinéad O’Conner. Links: Scriptnotes LIVE! at Dynasty Typewriter in Los Angeles benefitting HollywoodHEART Weekend Read 2, now available on MacOS. Large language models, explained with a minimum of math and jargon by Timothy B Lee and Sean Trott Word Vectors Decrypto Matt Gaffney’s Weekly Crossword Contest This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone Sinéad O’Connor – Troy (Live At The Dominion Theatre, 1988) Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram John August on Threads, Instagram and Twitter John on Mastodon Outro by Jake Weisblat (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

The AMPTP has reached out to set a meeting with the WGA. What does this mean? How should we feel? And can John find a metaphor for it? Links: WGA Announcements: Discussion with AMPTP about Negotiations Scriptnotes LIVE! At Dynasty Typewriter Writing Is Our Home by WGA Negotiating Committee Co-Chair Chris Keyser Summary of Negotiations: WGA proposals and AMPTP responses Updated picket hours and information 2023 WGA Strike Rules Strike Rules FAQ Picket Schedules and Locations Find more about the 2023 WGA negotiations here at WGAContract2023.org John on Twitter, Instagram and Mastodon Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

Craig hosts a solo episode presenting his general theory on screenwriting. He covers the central dramatic argument, the ‘why’ behind plot points, and of course, umbrage on common script diagrams. Good luck, and go torture your heroes! In our bonus segment for premium members, John Gatins (Flight, Real Steel) tells us about his history with HollywoodHEART, the charity behind our Scriptnotes LIVE show. Get your tickets for this year’s show through the link in our show notes! Links: Scriptnotes LIVE! at Dynasty Typewriter in Los Angeles benefitting HollywoodHEART The Original Episode 403 – How to Write A Movie Aristotle’s Poetics José Fernández Lava, Pixar Short Finding Nemo Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Instagram John August on Twitter John on Instagram John on Mastodon Outro by Matthew Chilelli (send us yours!) This episode was originally produced by Megana Rao. Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John has opinions on the AMPTP’s new assertion that the studios are bearing all the risk when it comes to making a movie or a series, and therefore should be receiving all the reward. Links: AMPTP response to SAG-AFTRA ‘Idiots’: Wall Street Analysts Unload on Hollywood by Claire Atkinson for The Ankler Summary of Negotiations: WGA proposals and AMPTP responses Updated picket hours and information 2023 WGA Strike Rules Strike Rules FAQ Picket Schedules and Locations Find more about the 2023 WGA negotiations here at WGAContract2023.org John on Twitter, Instagram and Mastodon Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John welcomes back Pamela Ribon (My Year of Dicks, Moana) to talk about how to fit the right characters to your story. We know story comes from characters, but often an idea starts with a world, so how do writers find the right characters to build their story around? We also talk about writing for animation, working in reality TV and the forgotten art of television recapping. We then answer listener questions about choosing a character’s sex and gender, and gauging page count from an outline. And in our bonus segment for premium members, we explore Pamela’s own podcast, Listen to Sassy, about the greatest teen magazine of all time. Links: Pamela Ribon on IMDb Listen To Sassy Television Without Pity Get Real (1999-2000) on IMDb How to Hire a Pop Star for Your Private Party by Evan Osnos for The New Yorker The Secret to Judd Apatow’s Comedy? A Huge Library of Self-Help Books by Clay Skipper Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Instagram John August on Twitter John on Instagram John on Mastodon Outro by Adam Pineless (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John and Drew take a look at SAG-AFTRA’s summary of negotiations to see what was asked for, what was offered, and what writers need to know. They also share insights on SAG-AFTRA’s new captain system. Links: SAG-AFTRA Summary of Negotiations SAG-AFTRA Strike Information Portal kate bond’s thread on Twitter Summary of Negotiations: WGA proposals and AMPTP responses Updated picket hours and information 2023 WGA Strike Rules Strike Rules FAQ Picket Schedules and Locations Find more about the 2023 WGA negotiations here at WGAContract2023.org John on Twitter, Instagram and Mastodon Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John and Craig look at four tales of science, medicine and mayhem and ask, how would this be a movie? Stories include a catatonic woman who woke up after 20 years, a white supremacist transformed by MDMA, a drugged crypto lawyer, and an in-depth account of alien biology. But first we have a very special announcement: Scriptnotes LIVE is back! We also follow-up on recent episodes before Drew and Halley look at statements John and Craig made years ago to see if either of them have changed their tune. In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig discuss the changes that are coming to the world of Dungeons and Dragons with ONE D&D. Links: Scriptnotes LIVE! at Dynasty Typewriter in Los Angeles benefitting HollywoodHEART A catatonic woman awakened after 20 years. Her story may change psychiatry by Richard Sima for Stuff How a dose of MDMA transformed a white supremacist by Rachel Nuwer for BBC He Went After Crypto Companies. Then Someone Came After Him. by John Carreyrou for the New York Times Alien biology post on Reddit Awakenings and Lorenzo’s Oil Scriptnotes episodes 74, 176, 238 and 251. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Larry Turman on IMDb and Wikipedia. Dan Goldberg on IMDb and Wikipedia. Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Instagram John August on Twitter John on Instagram John on Mastodon Outro by Jon Spurney (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt with help from Halley Lamberson, and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

On the first day of the the SAG-AFTRA strike, actors and writers on the picket lines tell us why this strike is so important to them and what advice they have for first-time picketers. Featuring Jim Rash and SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee members Nicole Cyrille and Joseph Melendez. Thanks to everyone who talked to us! Links: SAG-AFTRA Strike Notice to Members Summary of Negotiations: WGA proposals and AMPTP responses Updated picket hours and information 2023 WGA Strike Rules Strike Rules FAQ Picket Schedules and Locations Find more about the 2023 WGA negotiations here at WGAContract2023.org John on Twitter, Instagram and Mastodon Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

SAG-AFTRA, the union that represents all the film and television actors in the US, has announced that their members are going on strike. John and Drew look at what that means, what to expect, and how it will impact the ongoing writers strike. Links: SAG-AFTRA Strike Notice to Members A Message from the SAG-AFTRA President and Chief Negotiator AMPTP Responds To SAG-AFTRA Strike by Erik Pedersen for Deadline Summary of Negotiations: WGA proposals and AMPTP responses Updated picket hours and information 2023 WGA Strike Rules Strike Rules FAQ Picket Schedules and Locations Find more about the 2023 WGA negotiations here at WGAContract2023.org John on Twitter, Instagram and Mastodon Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John welcomes Alison McDonald (Russian Doll, #BlackAF) and Ryan Knighton (In the Dark, Billions) to reveal the fundamentals and unspoken rules of working in a TV writers room. How did they get the job? How much should new writers talk? What should you wear? How much money do you make? And what’s for lunch? Our bonus segment is for everyone this week! John invites Ryan Knighton back to talk about travel writing and the mixed blessings of tourism. Links: The original Episode 368: Advice for a New Staff Writer Alison McDonald on IMDb Ryan Knighton on Twitter The Case Against Travel by Agnes Callard for The New Yorker ‘Designing Women’ Creator Goes Public With Les Moonves War: Not All Harassment Is Sexual, a guest column by Linda Bloodworth Thomason for the Hollywood Reporter Succession on HBO Be My Eyes app UCB Training Center Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Instagram John August on Twitter John on Instagram John on Mastodon Outro by Rajesh Naroth (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Our intern is Halley Lamberson. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here. The original transcript of this episode can be found here.

A lot of people have been singled out as either heroes or villains of this writer’s strike, but does any individual deserve that title? John and Drew look at these narratives, the motivations behind them, and celebrate their own personal heroes of the strike. Links: David Zaslav Article Taken Down By GQ After Warner Bros. Discovery Raises Objections by Dave Hayes for Variety Summary of Negotiations: WGA proposals and AMPTP responses Updated picket hours and information 2023 WGA Strike Rules Strike Rules FAQ Picket Schedules and Locations Find more about the 2023 WGA negotiations here at WGAContract2023.org John on Twitter, Instagram and Mastodon Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.