John and Craig discuss the Main Character Energy meme. What does it mean for writers when real life people cast themselves in the leading role? We break down main characters vs. protagonists and the danger of life imitating art.

We answer listener questions on do-not-read lists and verb tenses. Follow up this week includes: a how-to guide on firing reps, relationship advice on unsupportive partners, and liberation of the screenplay format.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig discuss population, specifically how we went from worrying about overpopulation to underpopulation in a span of decades.

Links:

• Fans Are Suing Universal Pictures Because a 2019 Movie Didn’t Include Ana de Armas
• How Sweet Fresh Meat clip on YouTube
• Main Character Energy: Interiority in a world of screens by Coco Klockner for Real Life Mag
• We All Have “Main-Character Energy” Now by Kyle Chayka for the New Yorker
• Rediscovering ‘The Truman Show’ in the age of Main Character Syndrome by Mischa Anouk Smith for Far Out Magazine
• Gary Gulman’s The Great Depresh Kidnapping Hoax
• Main Character Energy and Narcissism – Inneresting Newsletter by Chris Csont
• The Afterparty on Apple TV from Lord Miller, First Ep on YouTube
• Malthusianism
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• Craig Mazin on Twitter
• John August on Twitter
• John on Instagram
• Outro by Julia Hostetler (send us yours!)
• Scriptnotes is produced by Megana Rao and edited by Matthew Chilelli.

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You can download the episode here.