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 also investigate a question from former producer Stuart Friedel and dive into the history of foreign levies. We then make predictions on the future of movie-going by analyzing the history of megaplexes.

Finally, in our bonus segment for premium members we look at cliches versus conventions.

Links:

• WGA Parental Leave begins May 2!
• Learn more about foreign levies
• 99 Percent Invisible Podcast Episode: The Megaplex
• We’ve Outgrown the Ugly Duckling Transformation by Mina Le on Youtube
• TV Tropes
• Listener Guide Submissions send in your favorite episodes from 300-500!
• Upstep
• Check out the Screenwriting Life Podcast and this episode with John!
• Upstep – the review is positive!
• Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!
• Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription!
• John August on Twitter
• Craig Mazin on Twitter
• John on Instagram
• Outro by Peter Hoopes (send us yours!)
• Scriptnotes is produced by Megana Rao and edited by Matthew Chilelli.

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You can download the episode here.