John August

Television

Television Economics for Dummies

Episode - 253

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Film Industry, Producers, Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Television, Transcribed

Jonathan Groff — the Black-ish writer/producer, not the actor — joins John and Craig to explain the new vocabulary of television and why companies are all about ownership.

Then it’s another round of How Would This Be a Movie (or an episode of network comedy). We tackle Peter Thiel, Swiss banks, psychotic sheep, and absent-minded grampas.

Our track record of predicting which of these ideas will go into development has been quite good. Let us know what you think on our Facebook page or Twitter.

Links:

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 6-10-16: The transcript of this episode can be found here.

An Alliance with House Mazin

Follow Up, QandA, Rights and Copyright, Scriptnotes, Story and Plot, Television, Transcribed

It’s a craft episode, with Craig and John discussing allies and allegiances in film and television. Enemies are easy; friends are difficult. We talk through the types relationships characters find themselves in, and strategies for making the most of them.

(This episode has a lot of Game of Thrones geekery, but very few spoilers.)

Also this week, we discuss geographic accuracy, release forms, and showing snippets of plays within movies.

Links:

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 6-2-16: The transcript of this episode can be found here.

They Won’t Even Read You

Film Industry, Follow Up, QandA, Scriptnotes, Television, Three Page Challenge, Words on the page

John and Craig look at how the push to increase diversity in TV writing rooms impacts writers looking to staff for the first time.

Fan outrage over the death of a gay character — and the trope it perpetuates — has prompted an online pledge for writers. But is it a good idea? (Not really.)

We also take a look at three new entries in the Three Page Challenge, with visits to Koreatown, Silicon Valley and exploding Greek diners.

Lastly, a request: this podcast is named Scriptnotes, not ScriptNotes. The “n” isn’t supposed to be capitalized. Thanks!

Links:

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 5-30-16: The transcript of this episode can be found here.

How to Introduce Characters

Film Industry, How-To, QandA, Scriptnotes, Television, Transcribed, Words on the page, Writing Process

John talks with Rachel Bloom and Aline Brosh McKenna, co-creators of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, about how they pitched and wrote their critically-acclaimed show.

We focus on the ways they introduced recurring characters in the pilot, and how casting influenced the series. Given recent controversy over casting of Asian roles, our discussion of the Josh Chan character feels particularly relevant.

This episode was recorded live as part of WGFestival 2016 Craft Day. Our thanks to the Writers Guild Foundation and The Academy for hosting us.

John deeply regrets passing up the opportunity to sing the West Covina reprise.

(The script for the Crazy Ex-Girlfriend pilot is available in Weekend Read.)

Links:

You can download the episode here.

UPDATE 5-13-16: The transcript of this episode can be found here.