755 - Directing Your Writing
Scriptnotes Podcast
What changes when you take off your writer hat and put on your director hat? In this compendium episode, John, Craig, and Scriptnotes coordinator Lauren Loesberg review directing advice previously given on the podcast. John and Craig offer Lauren pointers on directing her next project. They also answer a listener question about directing actors “on the page.” In our bonus segment for premium subscribers, we discuss film festivals. Why would writers go? And what can you expect to get out of the experience? Links: by Josh Silver Download the episode ! Get your copy...
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754 - East of Eden with Zoe Kazan
Scriptnotes Podcast
John welcomes writer and actress Zoe Kazan (Ruby Sparks, The Big Sick, She Said) to talk about her sweeping and thorough reimagining of East of Eden, releasing on Netflix on October 1st. They discuss her approach to period piece dialogue, the process of adapting such an expansive novel, and the family history behind this particular project. Rich with biblical parallels, East of Eden is a perfect story for a discussion of archetypes. John invites Zoe to pull cards from the upcoming Character Creator Kit in a conversation about the iconic East of Eden antagonist, Cathy. In our bonus segment for...
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753 - The One with Aaron Sorkin
Scriptnotes Podcast
Today, we welcome longtime fantasy guest, Aaron Sorkin (A Few Good Men, The West Wing, The Social Network) to talk through his writing process and tease his upcoming film, The Social Reckoning. Does Aaron Sorkin use outlines? Where does he begin? And does he have any more ideas? All these questions and more will be answered. John also presents a couple of Sorkin’s own scenes as a case study on writing conflict. In our bonus segment for premium subscribers, we discuss Sorkin’s projects that never got produced. Now you see it… now you don’t. Links: Download the episode ! Get...
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752 - General Meetings
Scriptnotes Podcast
Think of this as a crash course in general meetings. In this compendium, John, Craig and Scriptnotes intern, Lauren, mine previous episodes for advice on the bewildering “general.” They aim to answer every question you’ve had about general meetings, over the years: What are they? What’s discussed? And how do you get one? In our bonus segment for premium subscribers, John and Craig swap stories about their best, worst, and first general meetings. Get your copy of and become a today! For more content on the craft of writing our weekly-ish newsletter about...
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751 - Assembling a Career with Erin Gibson
Scriptnotes Podcast
What if you zigged when you thought you should have zagged? As an actress, a writer, a showrunner, and a host, Erin Gibson’s career has been unpredictable. But look closer and you see it’s driven by consistent values, smart timing, and the universal currency of comedy. John seeks her insight on going with the flow. John and Erin answer listener questions about connecting with reps, sorting through your idea bank, and managing your emotions while writing. They also encourage listeners to praise colleagues and strangers. Just send the email! In our bonus segment for premium subscribers, John...
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750 - Quinceañera
Scriptnotes Podcast
The year was 2011. We had Occupy Wall Street, Hangover II, 50 Shades of Grey… and a podcast named Scriptnotes. On this episode, John and Craig celebrate their podcast Quinceañera, marking fifteen years together on mic. They reflect on their very first episode, the content and cultural moments that marked 2011, and everything that’s changed since. In our bonus segment for premium subscribers, John and Craig look forward fifteen years to make predictions on the year 2041. Links: Playlist by by John Stokes Get your copy of and become a today! For...
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749 - Famous People with Taffy Brodesser-Akner
Scriptnotes Podcast
John and Taffy sit down for a candid conversation surrounding fame, interacting with famous people, and the depiction of fame on screen. They also answer a listener question about cold email etiquette and the delicate art of asking for favors. In our bonus segment for premium subscribers, Taffy discusses the subject of her most recent “celebrity” profile: the controversial AI actress, Tilly Norwood. Links: by Taffy Brodesser-Akner by Taffy Brodesser-Akner Get your copy of and become a today! For more content on the craft of...
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748 - One Room Movies
Scriptnotes Podcast
John and Craig lock in on one-room movies. How does confinement change character behavior? What opportunities can a single location give you? Plus, they consider how much dithering a character should indulge. They also answer listener questions about “hyperlink cinema” and writing phone calls. In our bonus segment for premium subscribers, John and Craig discuss outgrowing their own tastes. Links: about faster kettles based on Houses of Deceit (FIFA movie) Get your copy of and become a today! For more content on the craft of...
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747 - Wrapping It Up with Hacks
Scriptnotes Podcast
John welcomes Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs to talk about the emotional and logistical process of closing out their five-season series, Hacks. Paul and Lucia also step up as guest readers for the Three Page Challenge, a segment where we look at the first three pages of a listener-submitted script and give honest feedback. In our bonus segment for premium subscribers, John, Lucia and Paul talk about cameos. How do they happen? What’s the real deal behind the scenes? Scripts: Links: by Cate Hall Gelato Get your copy of and become a today! For more...
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746 - How Would This Be a Crime?
Scriptnotes Podcast
In today’s edition of “How Would This Be a Movie?” John and Craig convert felonies into films. Together, they take a few crime-related news stories and decide how they might be adapted for the screen. They also discuss paracosms and the importance of daydreaming for budding screenwriters. In our bonus segment for premium subscribers, John and Craig discuss prediction markets. Bet you can guess how that goes. Episode Links: Freud’s 1908 essay “” Michele Root-Bernstein’s by Megan Garber Get your copy of and become a today! For more content...
info_outlineJohn welcomes back Aline Brosh McKenna to help figure out how to say goodbye… in your story. Using examples from some of their favorite movies, they explore how farewell scenes work, what sets them apart from the average see-you-later, and leaving a lasting effect on your characters and the audience.
We also look at the summer box office, George Gallo’s Bad Boys lawsuit, Sony’s purchase of Alamo Drafthouse, and answer listener questions on bad ex-managers, second steps, NDA’s, fairies, and how to take advantage of downtime in LA.
In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Aline discuss journaling. Should we be keeping track of what we’ve been doing all day?
Links:
- ‘Bad Boys’ Settlement by Dominic Patten for Deadline
- Why did Sony buy Alamo Drafthouse — and is it actually a good thing? by Ryan Faughnder for LA Times
- The Nine Enneagram Type Descriptions
- Farewell – Casablanca
- Farewell – Past Lives
- Farewell – Lost in Translation
- Farewell – Weekend
- Farewell – Philadelphia
- Farewell – The Shawshank Redemption
- Farewell – Harold and Maude
- Farewell – Terminator 2
- Farewell – The Way We Were
- Farewell – The Wizard of Oz
- Farewell – E.T.
- Farewell – Toy Story 3
- Farewell – Dead Poets Society
- Revival Hub LA
- Visit Malta
- Peel off lip stain
- Dirt Man by Carter Vail, and some of Aline’s favorite remixes, via TikTok
- Phil Collins’ Houdini
- 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 Eric Pearson (send us yours!)
- Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt with help from Jonathan Wigdortz. It is edited by Matthew Chilelli.
Email us at ask@johnaugust.com
You can download the episode here.