Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Scriptnotes Podcast
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 746 - How Would This Be a Crime? | 04 Aug 2026 | 00:58:05 | |
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:
Get your copy of The Scriptnotes Book and become a Scriptnotes Premium member today! For more content on the craft of writing check out Inneresting our weekly-ish newsletter about screenwriting and things that are interesting to screenwriters. Scriptnotes is produced by Meredith Stedman and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Our Coordinator is Lauren Loesberg. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com. | |||
| 745 - Road Trip | 28 Jul 2026 | 01:01:46 | |
Buckle up! John and Craig discuss the elements that make up a classic road movie. They cover the quintessential scenes, common pitfalls, and the economic quandaries you'll find in the genre. They also answer listener questions about editing novels (versus screenplays) and the aesthetics of outlines and breakdowns. In our bonus segment for premium subscribers, John and Craig talk about their own memorable road trips. Links:
Get your copy of The Scriptnotes Book and become a Scriptnotes Premium member today! For more content on the craft of writing check out Inneresting our weekly-ish newsletter about screenwriting and things that are interesting to screenwriters. Scriptnotes is produced by Meredith Stedman and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Our Coordinator is Lauren Loesberg. Outro by Matthew Chilelli (send us yours!). Email us at ask@johnaugust.com | |||
| 737 - Studio-Adjacent | 26 May 2026 | 01:00:10 | |
John welcomes back Phil Hay (Destroyer, The Invitation) to ask, how do you get a movie made with independent financing? They look at how indie movies get made, where you get the money, deciding when to go indie, and whether streamers complicate the picture. We also follow up on testing movies with focus groups and answer listener questions on how to navigate the editing room, daily routines, and what to do when your story has too many themes. In our bonus segment for premium members, we look back on what Phil learned about D&D from his documentary The Dungeon Masters. Links:
Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here. | |||
| 736 - The Devil You Know | 19 May 2026 | 01:19:16 | |
John and Craig welcome back Aline Brosh McKenna (The Devil Wears Prada, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) to explore the timely questions about art and human labor posed by her long-awaited sequel, The Devil Wears Prada 2. We'll warn you now: Spoilers ahead! We also look at what AI knitting podcasts can tell us about the future of industrially-produced slop, and answer a listener question on how to approach the engine of a TV show. In our bonus segment for premium members, what would a hypothetical Scriptnotes Screenplay Club look like? Aline weighs in to make sure the design is impeccable. That's all. Links:
Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here. | |||
| 735 - The Flashforward Fallback | 12 May 2026 | 01:03:06 | |
John and Craig go back to the beginning to examine the mechanics of the flash-forward opening — or as it's known on this podcast, the "Stuart Special." They look at what makes a strong flash-forward, when to avoid them, and how to pay back the narrative debt they incur. We also follow up on the Scriptnotes survey and answer a massive grab-bag blitz of listener questions including the potential pitfalls of child protagonists, "unfilmable" elements, and how to end a scene. In our bonus segment for premium members, how do you socialize at Hollywood parties? We've made all the mistakes so you don't have to. Links:
Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here. | |||
| 734 - A Box Full of Teeth | 05 May 2026 | 01:01:35 | |
John and Craig welcome back Katie Dippold (Widow's Bay, Ghostbusters) to ask, what advice would you give to your younger self? They revisit the writers they used to be, offer specific guidance to each one, and demystify everything from "Why isn't a producer calling me back?" to "Should I join that sorority?" Most importantly, we look at how Katie turned her former writing sample into the hilarious and spooky new show, Widow's Bay. We also answer listener questions on calling out stolen ideas and how to pitch yourself when your past work doesn't line up with your voice. In our bonus segment for premium members, with the rise of AI, will there still be be movies and TV shows in ten or twenty years? Our best guesses lie just behind the paywall. Links:
Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here. | |||
| 733 - Learning Comedy | 28 Apr 2026 | 01:01:24 | |
John welcomes five-time Emmy-winning writer Ali Barthwell (Last Week Tonight) to ask, can writers learn to be funny? Drawing from her time as a teacher at The Second City, they look at what writers can learn from sketch and improv, and how to reliably find ways to make an audience laugh. We also celebrate the WGA membership's ratification of the 2026 MBA, the educational future of the Scriptnotes book, and answer listener questions on the first scene of a comedy and when to stop taking assistant gigs and bet on yourself. In our bonus segment for premium members, Ali shares how she built a thriving writing career without ever having to live in New York or LA. Links:
Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here. | |||
| 732 - Something Very Bad is Going to Happen | 21 Apr 2026 | 00:45:17 | |
John welcomes writer/showrunner Haley Z. Boston for a post-mortem on her terrifying new series, Something Very Bad is Going to Happen. They look at how the series evolved from initial idea through production, her experience as a first-time showrunner, the special relationship between women and horror, and how she constructs terror on the page. We also chart her early career, and answer listener questions on splitting scenes and how to handle an overwhelming amount of development notes. In our bonus segment for premium members, it's spoiler territory as we look at what we can learn from the clever red herrings and misdirects of the series. Links:
Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here. | |||
| 731 - Avoidance and Other Anti-Quests | 14 Apr 2026 | 00:52:12 | |
John and Craig flip the idea of motivation on its head and ask, what are your characters running from? Using examples across film and TV, they look at the psychological underpinnings of discomfort, and how to use avoidance as a driving force of character and story. We've also been away for a minute, so there's a lot to catch up on! We follow-up on where the heck we've been, locked pages, a Scottish rap duo, and a new scientific answer for whether one page of script really equals one minute of movie. We also answer listener questions on the afterlife of residuals and writing with a significant other. In our bonus segment for premium members, we go through their feedback on our first ever video podcast and announce our plans for the future of the show. Links:
Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here. | |||
| SC39 - Sidecast: The 2026 MBA | 10 Apr 2026 | 00:17:53 | |
There's a brand new agreement between the WGA and the AMPTP! And since John was the co-chair of the negotiating committee, he's excited to share all the details of the 2026 MBA. Links:
Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here. | |||
| 89 - Writing effective transitions (Encore) | 07 Apr 2026 | 00:58:40 | |
John and Craig connect the dots on transitions and how they can be just as important as the scenes themselves. They look at how to get your scenes flowing into one another, the many different types of transitions, when to use "CUT TO," and how to use your cuts to tell your story. We also discuss those shots we no longer need to see in movies, and use a lawsuit filed by two GI Joe writers to examine some common issues created by prewriting. In our bonus segment for premium members, the Olympics are coming to Los Angeles and we have conflicting feelings! Links:
Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here. | |||
| 730 - A Frank Conversation About Screenwriting | 31 Mar 2026 | 00:49:13 | |
John sits down with the Northwest Screenwriters Guild at an event to promote the Scriptnotes book, and ends up having a poignant conversation about how the career of screenwriting has changed, missteps John made throughout his career, and how his approach to screenwriting has evolved over time. He also answers questions on kicking bad writing habits, screenwriting careers outside of Hollywood, what to look for in the projects you choose, whether age matters in a screenwriting career, writing your calling card movie, the sidekick problem, and the real story behind the Prince of Persia movie. In our bonus segment for premium members, John has been hanging out with sketch writers for the last few weeks and is excited to share what he's learned about writing sketch comedy. Links:
Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here. | |||
| 744 - The Invite with Rashida Jones and Will McCormack | 21 Jul 2026 | 00:56:26 | |
John and Craig invite over Rashida Jones and Will McCormack to chat about their new film The Invite, out in theaters now. Rashida and Will divulge the origin story and dynamics of their own writing partnership, as well as discuss the process of adapting an adaptation and writing to the truth of relationships. In our bonus segment for premium subscribers, the four swap stories about saying goodbye to creative projects that never came to pass. Links:
Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here. | |||
| 676 - Writing while the World is on Fire (Encore) | 14 Jul 2026 | 00:49:46 | |
How do you keep doing creative work when the world is falling apart around you? To sift through the despair and doubt, John welcomes back legendary Scriptnotes guest, writer-turned-psychotherapist Dennis Palumbo. They discuss the many feelings that catastrophic events can bring up in artists, the personal narratives that often inform those feelings, and how to keep moving forward when you feel like the band on the Titanic. We also follow up on AI, and answer listener questions on competing with brain trusts and how to support a friend embroiled in controversy. In our bonus segment for premium members, Dennis guides us through the best examples and worst mistakes of portraying therapists on screen. Links:
Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here. | |||
| 743 - Thinking on Your Feet with Ryan Condal | 07 Jul 2026 | 01:08:57 | |
John and Craig sit down with Ryan Condal, showrunner of House of the Dragon, just as its third season airs. They dive into Ryan's late start in Hollywood, spec scripts, the anatomy of a writers room, and thinking as a product of movement. They also answer a listener question about the mechanics of writing a sequel. In our bonus segment for premium subscribers, John, Craig and Ryan discuss perhaps the most popular fictional creatures ever: dragons! Links:
Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here. | |||
| 742 - Obsession with Curry Barker | 30 Jun 2026 | 01:05:59 | |
John and Craig welcome Curry Barker, the writer-director behind this summer's surprise blockbuster, Obsession. It's a rom-com, a horror film and a great example of trusting your audience. We discuss Curry's roots, his writing process, learning from YouTube, as well as the pressure to follow up a hit. In our bonus segment for premium subscribers, John and Craig pose the #1 most important question for all filmmakers to consider: What will the popcorn bucket be? Links:
Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here. | |||
| 741 – Craig Takes Questions | 23 Jun 2026 | 00:49:26 | |
This week, Craig answers listener questions about rewriting on set, AI coverage, when and how to kill off characters, sizing up producers, and more. There's also an extra-special guest appearance for this week's One Cool Thing. In the bonus segment for premium subscribers, Craig discusses how to be wrong—something he feels he knows all too well. Links:
Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here. | |||
| 740 - On Competence | 16 Jun 2026 | 00:59:29 | |
Why is it so satisfying to watch a highly-skilled character complete their goals? And why can it be equally hilarious to watch an incompetent character bumble through a slew of screw-ups? In this episode, John and Craig discuss how to play with competence in your characters. We also say goodbye to our producer Drew Marquardt with a thoroughly embarrassing exit interview, and reveal our new producer. However, it's not really goodbye, because Drew will be staying on to work with John on an upcoming project (TBA). In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig deliberate on the question: Should you quit LOUDLY? Links: Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here. | |||
| 739 - The One with David E. Kelley | 09 Jun 2026 | 00:57:15 | |
John and Craig welcome writer and showrunner David E. Kelley (Big Little Lies, Ally McBeal) to look at his process for adapting books to TV, particularly with his latest series Margo's Got Money Troubles. They explore where to find your act breaks, crafting complicated tones, and when to trust the writer of the book. We also look at how TV has changed over David's storied career, how he runs a writers room, creating story engines, the difference between writing for broadcast TV and streaming, and the one thing a TV show should never be. In our bonus segment for premium members, David coaches John and Craig on how to survive a long running series. Links:
Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here. | |||
| 738 - Building Your Audience with Courtney Kemp | 02 Jun 2026 | 00:57:35 | |
John welcomes writer and showrunner Courtney Kemp (Power, Nemesis) to ask, how do you find an audience and build momentum on television? They look at how writers can match their voice to an underserved audience, the pitfalls of being boxed in by a niche, and what new writers can do to get people excited about their work. We also chart how Courtney built her career from magazine writer to creating the television franchise Power, look at the exciting success of Obsession and Backrooms, and answer listener questions on talking to your reps about financial struggles, and how to find your project's "why now?" In our bonus segment for premium members, Courtney shot her new show Nemesis entirely in Los Angeles, and you can too! Links:
Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here. | |||