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Screenwriters John August and Craig Mazin discuss screenwriting and related topics in the film and television industry, everything from getting stuff written to the vagaries of copyright and work-for-hire law.
Further podcasts by John August and Craig Mazin
Podcast on the topic TV und Film
All episodes
621 - How Would This Be a Biopic? from 2023-12-12T16:00
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, an...
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412 - Writing About Mental Health and Addiction (Encore) from 2023-12-05T16:00
620 - This Uncertain Age from 2023-11-28T16:00
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 ...
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619 - Comedy Episode from 2023-11-21T16:00
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 exp...
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618 - Clearing out the Mailbag from 2023-11-14T16:00
John offers a host of career-f...
SC37 - Sidecast: SAG-AFTRA has a deal from 2023-11-14T00:24
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,...
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386 - The Princess Bride (Encore) from 2023-11-07T16:00
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 p...
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617 - Monsters and You from 2023-10-31T15:00
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 fasci...
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616 - The One with Neil Gaiman from 2023-10-24T15:00
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...
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615 - The Mind’s Eye from 2023-10-17T15:00
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 wr...
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SC36 - Sidecast: WGA Ratifies its Contract from 2023-10-11T23:09
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 ...
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614 - Storytelling and the Strike from 2023-10-10T15:00
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, ...
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613 - Entering the Post-Strike Era from 2023-10-03T15:00
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 ...
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SC35 - Sidecast: On the SAG-AFTRA Picket Line from 2023-10-03T00:25
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 everyo...
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SC34 - Sidecast: What’s in the Deal from 2023-09-27T03:45
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.
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433 - The One with Greta Gerwig (Encore) from 2023-09-26T15:00
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 exp...
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SC33 - Sidecast: There’s a Deal! from 2023-09-25T04:14
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 hap...
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612 - The Wizard of Splash from 2023-09-19T15:00
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 pi...
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SC32 - Sidecast: Writers Who Read from 2023-09-19T00:10
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 peo...
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463 - Writing Action (Encore) from 2023-09-12T15:00
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 differe...
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SC31 - Sidecast: NYC Picketing from 2023-09-08T19:30
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 Wils...
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SC30 - Sidecast: Disability and Visibility on the Picket Line from 2023-09-05T22:02
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!
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It's a Thursday Episode from 2022-04-19T15:00:16
Episode 546 with Liz Meriwether and Liz Hannah will be released on Thursday 4/21/22 - we promise it's worth the wait!
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545 - The Nuclear Episode from 2022-04-14T15:00:37
John talks with Joan Rohlfing (Nuclear Threat Initiative, U.S. Department of Energy) and author/reporter David E. Hoffman (Washington Post) about nuclear energy, nuclear safety and nuclear war —...
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Thursday Not Tuesday from 2022-04-12T15:00:25
This week's episode of Scriptnotes is going to be released on Thursday not Tuesday. We'll be back on a normal Tuesday schedule soon!
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544 - 20 Questions with Craig from 2022-04-05T15:00
Craig answers listener questions ranging from craft to career: how do you find your voice? What questions should you ask before writing a new project? When should silence carry a scene? Craig of...
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543 - 20 Questions with John from 2022-03-29T15:00:47
John answers listener questions on craft and industry. When are you ready to send a script? How do you rewrite scenes during production? Is it cool to take a picture with your celebrity crush on...
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542 - Betrayed! from 2022-03-22T15:00:49
John and Craig investigate backstabs and double-crosses onscreen and share how writers can set up plot twists on the page.
We answer listener questions on imposter syndrome, negative feed...
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541 - Intelligence vs. Charisma from 2022-03-15T15:00:16
John and Craig breakdown the ideal attributes of the “screenwriter” character. Looking at the ratio of craft to charm, they debate which combinations lead to success in Hollywood.
We also...
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540 - Nice to Meet-Cute You from 2022-03-08T16:00:48
John and Craig bump into/trip over/spill coffee on the ‘Meet-Cute.’ They look at the history and mechanics of that moment when two lead characters meet each other in a romantic comedy, with advice ...
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539 - Science Movies from 2022-03-01T16:00:10
John welcomes writer/director Leigh Whannell (Saw, Upgrade, Invisible Man) and astrophysicist/science consultant Dr. Erin Macdonald (Star Trek) to explore the science of sci-fi. They follow the ...
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538 - On Being A Screenwriter from 2022-02-22T16:00:54
John and Craig discuss the craft of leading a creative life: What counts as practice? How do you make friends? When is it okay to take a break?
A Scriptnotes listener suggested a lifestyl...
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537 - The One with Mike Schur from 2022-02-15T16:00:48
John invites writer/creator Michael Schur (The Office, Parks and Recreation, The Good Place) to discuss the history of comedy, specifically the evolution of the half hour sitcom.
We also cover m...
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536 - Adaptation and Transition from 2022-02-08T16:00:46
John and Craig talk about adapting in Hollywood: the process of reimagining existing properties for the screen and career transitions. They cover why some adaptations don’t work, revisiting source ...
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535 - Main Character Energy from 2022-02-01T16:00:56
John and Craig discuss the Main Character Energy meme. What does it mean for writers when real life people cast themselves in the leading role? We break down main characters vs. protagonists and th...
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534 - Halfway There from 2022-01-25T16:00:28
John and Craig look at midpoints, the murky middle of the movie, and why writers shouldn’t overthink them.
We follow up on script formatting, firing your reps, screenplay “rules,” and how...
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533 - We See and We Hear from 2022-01-18T16:00
John and Craig rant about prohibitive screenwriting advice and declare their allegiance to the “we see/we hear” convention. They analyze scripts from this year’s awards season to argue good stor...
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532 - Mistakes of Yes from 2022-01-11T16:00
John and Craig consider the choices writers and characters make based on fear, flattery, or FOMO. They offer guidance on how to make authentic choices and discern between want vs. being wanted.<...
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531 - Scene to Scene from 2022-01-04T16:00
John and Craig welcome the new year by discussing the art of transitions. They go beyond screenplay-specific terms to examine the psychology of moving through story beats.
We cover the hi...
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379 - Holiday Live Show 2018 - Extended from 2021-12-28T16:00
John and Craig revisit ghosts of Christmas past in our Holiday Live Show 2018. They’re joined by Pamela Ribon (Ralph Breaks the Internet, Smurfs: The Lost Village), Phil Lord and Chris Miller (I...
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530 - The One with Jack Thorne from 2021-12-21T16:00
John and Craig welcome writer/producer/playwright Jack Thorne (The Aeronauts, Wonder, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) to take a look at making television in the UK and what writers on both si...
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529 - The Journey, the Destination, and Movie Lego from 2021-12-14T16:00
John and Craig examine how writers balance the needs of each scene while keeping the entire story in mind. Then it’s another a round of the Three Page Challenge, where we look at scenes submitte...
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528 - M is for Minimum from 2021-12-07T16:00
John and Craig define and discuss important terms for writers: backends, profits, scales, floors, ceilings, and minimums. They trace the flow of money from WGA contracts to residuals and the dow...
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Extra - Way Too Interested in Supply Chains from 2021-12-03T03:20:36
John joins Gavin Purcell’s Way Too Interested Podcast to discuss supply chain management and the current issues posed by the pandemic. Expert and reporter, Peter S. Goodman, joins to explain the...
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527 - Die Hard from 2021-11-30T16:00
John and Craig celebrate the holidays by releasing a special premium episode on the 1988 Christmas classic: DIE HARD.
Die Hard created a new template for action movies, heroes, and villai...
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526 - Just One Question from 2021-11-23T16:00
John invites some favorite guests on to answer a single question about their current projects. Matt Manfredi and Phil Hay explain how they moved the second season of The Mysterious Benedict Soci...
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525 - The Story This Was Based On from 2021-11-16T16:00
John and Craig invite investigative reporter Zeke Faux (Bloomberg) for a new round of How Would This Be A Movie. They cover stories ranging from the secret history of sushi to fake Scottish rapp...
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524 - The Home Stretch from 2021-11-09T16:00
John and Craig coach writers through the final laps of a screenplay. They revisit conversations on how to plan for a successful conclusion, navigate the second half of Act Two (joined by Aline!)...
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523 - A Screenwriter's Guide to Bullshitting from 2021-11-02T15:00
John and Craig offer guidance on how to navigate an industry built on embellishment, vamping, and saving face. Did you really love that movie? Have you even started that rewrite? In many cases, ...
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522 - Blindspots and Natural Structures from 2021-10-26T15:00
John and Craig check character blindspots, looking at how ‘over-security’ drives characters to humor and heartbreak. We also discuss natural structure: how certain events (weddings, sports, scho...
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521 - Action Density from 2021-10-19T15:00
John and Craig talk action! They examine iconic scenes in classic movies to illustrate the relationship between intensity and density on the page.
We also host a Three Page Challenge: Spo...
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520 - You Can't Even Imagine from 2021-10-12T15:00
John and Craig discuss how the screenplay guides production — not just in what happens, but how it feels. They look at how the words on the page steer and inspire other departments, starting wit...
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519 - How to Forget from 2021-10-05T15:00
John and Craig discuss the art of planning and forgetting. How do you stay present in a scene when you know where the story is going? The guys offer tips for making sure your characters are driv...
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518 - Knives Outback from 2021-09-28T15:00
John and Craig brainstorm How Would This Be A Movie, looking at articles featuring kangaroo feuds in Australia, squatters in the Hamptons, and ghost historians in Pal...
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517 - Smart People Talking About TV from 2021-09-21T15:00
This week, we revisit some of our favorite conversations with TV writers, including Mindy Kaling (The Mindy Project), Alison McDonald (American Dad!), Ryan Knighton (In the Dark), Aline Brosh Mc...
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516 - 10 Year Anniversary from 2021-09-14T15:00
Editor and critic Julia Turner puts John and Craig in the hot seat to review the past ten years of Scriptnotes. They cover the original mission, behind scenes fights, notable guests, and their b...
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515 - Ashley is Back from 2021-09-07T15:00
John welcomes back writer/performer Ashley Nicole Black (A Black Lady Sketch Show, Ted Lasso, The Amber Ruffin Show) to prove good things come in twos. They dive into her two Emmy nominations, j...
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514 - Looking Back and Forward from 2021-08-31T15:00
John and Craig take a look at the WGA East elections, specifically the debate over who the WGA should represent and how to prepare for new trends in digital media.
We revisit predictions ...
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513 - Writing for Stars from 2021-08-24T15:00
John welcomes back writer/producer Kelly Marcel (Venom, Cruella) for an action-packed episode. They break down a scene on the page, and then Kelly walks John through how she adapts and rewrites ...
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512 - There is No Conspiracy from 2021-08-17T15:00
John and Craig host another round of the Three Page Challenge, analyzing a range of listener submissions from scripts set in rural Japan to Manhattan strip clubs. They discuss establishing setti...
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378 - The Worst of the Worst from 2021-08-10T15:00
John and Craig examine why and how writers need to make bad things happen to their characters, and the ways in which hero suffering differs between features and television.
We also answer...
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511 - Framing the Episode from 2021-08-03T15:00
John and Craig zoom out to analyze how the cultural context affects the perception of a movie, and the choices writers have to make.
We look at vaccine mandates for productions and answer...
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510 - Craft Compendium from 2021-07-27T15:00
John and Craig curate a collection of craft topics: character wants and needs, point of view, and letting your heroes drive scenes. From internal struggles to the external obstacles, they share ...
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509 - Foreshadowing from 2021-07-20T15:00
John and Craig hint at the best ways to tease expectations in their discussion of foreshadowing. They take a look at popular examples, the difference between foreshad...
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508 - Creating a TV Comedy from 2021-07-13T15:00
John welcomes writer/producer/creator Jen Statsky to discuss getting started writing comedy, from late night to The Onion to The Good Place. Then it’s a deep dive on the Hacks pilot, looking at ...
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507 - Preproduction from 2021-07-06T15:00
John and Craig discuss preproduction, with Craig sharing how he’s prepping for an entire season of television. From costumes to casting, we look at the showrunner’s decisions beyond just the wor...
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506 - Good News, Bad News from 2021-06-29T15:00
John welcomes back Liz Hannah (The Post, The Long Shot, All the Bright Places) to explore the bad side of good news. They discuss the challenges of celebrating accomplishments in a mercurial ind...
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180 - Rebroadcast: Bad Teachers, Good Advice and the Default Male from 2021-06-22T15:00
In this rebroadcast, Aline Brosh McKenna joins John and Craig to discuss how movies featuring good mentors (Dead Poet’s Society, To Sir with Love) differ from films with bad mentors (Whiplash, T...
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505 - Making TV Like Features (But Better) from 2021-06-15T15:00
John and Craig welcome back writing partners Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi (The Invitation, Ride Along, The Mysterious Benedict Society) to discuss their transition from film to television. They ch...
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504 - Writing a Script in (insert number) Days from 2021-06-08T15:00
John and Craig discuss what comes after you land a movie deal–writing the script by a certain date. They offer tips, strategies, and calculations for budgeting time to deliver a draft.
We...
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503 - When You're Given the Character from 2021-06-01T15:00
John welcomes writer/showrunner Dana Fox (Cruella, Home Before Dark, Isn’t it Romantic), writer/director Jac Schaeffer (WandaVision, Black Widow, Timer), and filmmaker/producer Lance Oppenheim (...
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502 - Free Will (Or, It's Okay to Not Be a Screenwriter) from 2021-05-25T15:00
John and Craig discuss the concept of free will, specifically how it relates to fictional characters. They outline the tightrope screenwriters walk balancing characters with agency against obsta...
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501 - Patterns of Success from 2021-05-18T15:00
John and Craig reflect on the traits they’ve noticed in successful writing careers. Should you write everyday? Do you have to be good in a room? Is it more important to be original or flexible?<...
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500 - The Quincenterary from 2021-05-11T15:00
John and Craig celebrate the 500th episode of Scriptnotes by welcoming back former Scriptnotes producers Stuart Friedel (Clifford the Big Red Dog, Vampirina), Godwin Jabangwe (Tunga), Megan McDo...
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499 - Live and In Person! from 2021-05-04T15:00
John welcomes Craig back into the studio to chat face to face for the latest How Would This Be A Movie, looking at trapped Russian pop stars, relationship saboteurs and an abandoned Cinderella c...
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498 - Small Plates from 2021-04-27T15:00
John and Craig offer a tasting menu this week starting with comedy/rejection, followed by a meaty discussion on copyright and topped with a sampling of listener questions.
We get an updat...
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497 - When You're the Boss from 2021-04-20T15:00
John and Craig welcome back writer-producer Aline Brosh McKenna (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The Devil Wears Prada), who brings a basket of topics for the guys to unpack. They discuss the best way to g...
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496 - The Thing You're Not Writing from 2021-04-13T15:00
John and Craig discuss the projects they’re not currently working on. From the sunk cost fallacy to grudge writing, they offer advice for when you should rescue an idea from the Maybe-write list...
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495 - The Title of This Episode from 2021-04-06T15:00
John and Craig tackle the tricky territory of movie titles: what makes them great, why they’re important, and how a bad one can tank a good movie.
We answer listener questions on writing ...
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494 - Screenwriting in Color from 2021-03-30T15:00
John and Craig discuss the use of color in film by highlighting iconic scenes and sharing how they think about color palettes in their own writing.
We then host another Three Page Challen...
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493 - Opening Scenes from 2021-03-23T15:00
John and Craig discuss the craft of constructing beginnings: what they consider when writing the first line of a script and how opening scenes have evolved with audience expectations.
We ...
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492 - The Gray Areas from 2021-03-16T15:00
John and Craig wade into the murky ethical challenges screenwriters face in Hollywood: When do you speak out against a peer? How do you claim an idea? Should you accept money from shady sources?...
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491 - The Deal with Deals from 2021-03-09T16:00
John and Craig talk about writer deals of various types, including a deep dive into new data published by the WGA on feature writer pay.
We also follow up on female redemption arcs and Jo...
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490 - Secrets and Lies from 2021-03-02T16:00
John and Craig investigate the cyclical relationship between secrets and lies. They discuss character motivations for lying and how the tension of a secret can hold a story together. To illustra...
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489 - Kingdom of Cringe from 2021-02-23T16:00
John and Craig tackle the growing mailbag to answer listener questions on writing uncomfortable scenes, options vs. sales, and portraying internet stories on screen.
We also follow up on ...
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488 - What Actually Happened in the Agency Battle from 2021-02-16T16:00
John and Craig take a look back at the WGA-Agency campaign, revisiting the initial assumptions, what went right, what went wrong, and what lessons were learned. Then they finally decode the encr...
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487 - Getting Staffed in 2021 from 2021-02-09T16:00
John and Craig debate best practices for writers looking to staff for television rooms–including whether you should be on social media and how to approach a showrunner meeting.
We also ta...
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486 - Sexy Ghosts of Chula Vista from 2021-02-02T16:00
John and Craig discuss how screenwriters use irony to build tension and texture, and why the term should be freed from its pedantic literary shackles.
Then it’s another round of the Three...
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485 - Unions and Guilds from 2021-01-26T16:00
John and Craig explain Hollywood’s guilds and unions. They cover the history, the challenges, and their hopes for the future.
We also look at character alignments and whether it’s helpful...
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484 - Time Lords from 2021-01-19T16:00
John and Craig look at how writers manipulate time on macro and micro levels, and the impact of these choices on narrative. We then share our strategies for compressing, twisting, and trimming t...
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483 - Philosophy for Screenwriters from 2021-01-12T16:00
John and Craig discuss their personal philosophies and how writers can approach philosophical questions in terms of theme (central dramatic question) and character (moral codes and motivation).<...
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482 - Batman and Beowulf from 2021-01-05T16:00
John and Craig explore Batman’s strange and unique position as a fantasy of American frontier justice and how filmmakers have approached this IP. Then they invite aut...
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481 - Random Advice 2020 from 2020-12-29T16:00
John and Craig welcome back writer/producer Nichelle Tramble Spellman (Truth Be Told, The Good Wife) to share wisdom on listener questions that are interesting but unrelated to screenwriting. Listen
480 - The Wedding Episode from 2020-12-22T17:00
Craig and John talk movie weddings with special guest Aline Brosh McKenna. We look at the tropes, the challenges and the unique opportunities wedding scenes provide.
We also look at the a...
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479 - On Losing A Parent from 2020-12-15T17:00
John and Craig talk about losing a parent on screen and in real life, with a look at the emotional journey and some practical advice for navigating the experience.
We also discuss updates...
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11 - How Movie Money Works, Rebroadcast from 2020-12-08T17:00
John and Craig discuss the trend of studios releasing movies straight to streaming by revisiting an old discussion on movie accounting.
We cover above the line and below the line costs, h...
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478 - The One Hour Drama from 2020-12-01T17:00
John welcomes writer-producers Dailyn Rodriguez (Queen of the South, Ugly Betty) and Chad Gomez Creasey (NCIS: New Orleans, Castle) to talk about writing network dramas and production during a p...
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477 - Counting Clowns from 2020-11-24T17:00
John and Craig host another round of the Three Page Challenge. This week they cover how to use voice over, build suspense, and write alter egos for the screen.
In follow up, we look at th...
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476 - The Other Senses from 2020-11-17T17:00
John and Craig welcome back writer-director Scott Frank (Out of Sight, Minority Report, Godless) to discuss his new series The Queen’s Gambit and writing scenes that use senses beyond just sight...
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475 - The One with Eric Roth from 2020-11-10T17:00
John welcomes legendary screenwriter Eric Roth (Forrest Gump, A Star is Born, Dune) to discuss his writing practice and how he gets in the head of his characters.
We answer audience quest...
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474 - The Calm One from 2020-11-03T18:27:04
John and Craig explore quiet scenes of reflection and why these calm moments between big set pieces are so meaningful to characters and viewers.
We also help a writer figure out how to pi...
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473 - I Regret My Quibi Tattoo from 2020-10-27T16:00
John and Craig reflect on Quibi, the short-lived short-form video company that announced its end. They talk about what happened and prognosticate wildly about the future of the entertainment ind...
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472 - Emotional States from 2020-10-20T17:00
Craig and John get emotional. They look at characters’ inner emotional states–why they matter and how to approach them as writers.
We also examine the state of feature residuals and answe...
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179 - The Conflict Episode, Rebroadcast from 2020-10-13T17:00
Craig and John discuss conflict — why it’s bad in real life but essential in screenwriting. We define six forms of conflict common in movies, then look at ways to sustain conflict within a scene...
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