Scriptnotes Podcast show

Scriptnotes Podcast

Summary: 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.

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Podcasts:

 MacGruber, McGarnagle, McBain | File Type: audio/x-m4a | Duration: 50:14

Craig and John tackle five listener questions on topics ranging from greedy managers and lazy agents to throwing in the towel.

 How to cut pages | File Type: audio/x-m4a | Duration: 41:11

John and Craig turn from the pen to the knife to talk through the whys and hows of cutting pages -- both the cosmetic trims and the deep cuts.

 Let’s run a studio! | File Type: audio/x-m4a | Duration: 47:29

Celebrating Leap Day, John and Craig play the game of "What If?" Specifically, what if we each were handed the reins of a major Hollywood studio?

 Etiquette for screenwriters | File Type: audio/x-m4a | Duration: 34:45

This week, Craig and John get all Miss Manners to talk about best practices, bad behavior and throwing writers under the bus.

 Optioning a novel, and the golden age of television | File Type: audio/x-m4a | Duration: 29:10

For their 25th podcast, John and Craig tackle listener questions. How does a screenwriter option a novel he wants to adapt? When can a writer say he "wrote" a movie -- particularly if there are other credited writers? Finally, should an aspiring writer focus on television or features?

 The Brotherhood of Screenwriters | File Type: audio/x-m4a | Duration: 32:16

John and Craig reach into the listener mailbag and come up with questions about laying out lyrics, foreign dialogue, overall deals and title trademarks.

 The Happy Funtime Smile Hour | File Type: audio/x-m4a | Duration: 33:58

After last week's depressing reality-check, Craig and John float back to the lands of joyful possibility with a look at theme, or central dramatic argument, or whatever you choose to call that narrative glue that helps hold a story together.

 Six figure advice | File Type: audio/x-m4a | Duration: 37:01

Following up on their conversation about "five figure advice" for newly-employed screenwriters, Craig and John discuss the changes and challenges that come when writers start making six figures -- that is, more than $100K per year.

 Casting and positive outcomes | File Type: audio/x-m4a | Duration: 34:29

Craig and John discuss the screenwriter's role in casting, then segue to the New York Times profile of producer/executive Lindsay Doran's approach to story.

 How credit arbitration works | File Type: audio/x-m4a | Duration: 47:54

John and Craig take an in-depth look at how screenwriting credits are determined. In some ways, credit arbitration is a luxury problem -- the movie you wrote got made! -- but it's one of the most controversial, contentious and misunderstood parts of a screenwriter's career.

 56 Days Later | File Type: audio/x-m4a | Duration: 52:55

Craig and John take a look the week's news, including the WGA nominations, Warner's shift to a 56-day video window, the folly of SOPA and the launch of Bronson Watermarker.

 Zen and the Angst of Kaufman | File Type: audio/x-m4a | Duration: 43:33

Craig and John discuss the year ahead, from resolutions (we don't have any) to reunions (20th!). Along the way, we discuss archery, piano and left-hand weakness. The bulk of the episode is a discussion of Charlie Kaufman's BAFTA speech about screenwriting and screenwriters, artistry and artifice.

 What do producers do? | File Type: audio/x-m4a | Duration: 41:31

Craig and John explain what producers do -- at least, what they're supposed to do -- and discuss the myriad subclasses of producers that litter the opening titles of many movies.

 Thirteen questions about one thing | File Type: audio/x-m4a | Duration: 34:49

Craig and John plug a book by their very first sponsor and discuss elective brain surgery, before tackling an exhaustive but illuminating list of questions from listener Daniel Barkeley.

 Screenwriting gurus and so-called experts | File Type: audio/x-m4a | Duration: 31:57

Craig and John look at why the books and seminars purporting to teach screenwriting are generally terrible, trying to reduce the hard work of the craft to a series of formulas and templates.

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