John and Craig discuss how to figure out if a given idea can work as a movie. What are the minimum requirements for story and vision a writer should consider before starting on a screenplay?

We also invite Megana Rao and Bo Shim to follow up on our discussion of low assistant pay. Plus follow up from the WGA and video game industry awards, and a look ahead to the Austin Film Festival.

Links:

• Austin Film Festival Schedule
• Taylor Swift Tiny Desk Concert on NPR
• What Is the Time Signature of the Ominous Electronic Score of The Terminator? by Seth Stevenson
• John August on Twitter
• Craig Mazin on Twitter
• John on Instagram
• Outro by Tyler Adams (send us yours!)

Email us at [email protected]

You can download the episode here

John and Craig tackle the issue of assistant pay in Hollywood. Last week they called for assistants to share how much they were getting paid and the impact of those wages. They received a record number of responses highlighting the inequities in the industry. Using these emails, they take a look at the biggest issues with current pay and the challenges ahead.

We also discuss videogame writing, spec features, and thesauri.

Thank you to all of the Hollywood assistants who wrote in for this episode!

Links:

• Hollywood’s Grueling Hours & Drowsy-Driving Problem: Crew Members Speak Out Despite Threat To Careers
• WGA Will No Longer Award Video Game Writing
• John’s Post on Assistant Pay
• Untitled Goose Game
• Queer Qrosswords
• John August on Twitter
• Craig Mazin on Twitter
• John on Instagram
• Outro by Naomi Randall (send us yours!)

Email us at [email protected]

You can download the episode here

John and Craig follow up on things they’ve discussed in the previous 420 episodes, so you might want to listen to those first.

We check in on getting an agent, copyright law, the future of the industry, post-2016 election reflections, assistant pay, and much more.

Links:

• Scriptnotes, Ep 5, Copyright and Work for Hire
• Real-Life ‘Terminator’: Major Studios Face Sweeping Loss of Iconic ‘80s Film Franchise Rights by Eriq Gardner
• Copyright Section 203
• Friday 13th Screenwriter Wins Rights Battle by Eriq Gardner
• Scriptnotes, Ep 2, How to get an agent and/or manager
• Scriptnotes, Ep 389, The Future of the Industry
• How Ari Emanuel’s Outsize IPO Dreams Were Dashed by Kim Masters
• Why Endeavor’s IPO U-Turn Was a Surprisingly Brilliant Move by Lawrence Meyers
• WeWork: At What Point Does Malfeasance Become Fraud by Scott Galloway
• Scriptnotes, Ep 42, Verbs are what’s happening
• Extra, This Feeling Will End
• Ep 335, Introducing Launch
• Launch Podcast
• Scriptnotes Ep 419, Professionalism
• Scriptnotes Ep 403, How to Write A Movie
• Scriptnotes Ep 420, The One with Seth Rogen
• LA Report Broken Lights and Crosswalk Buttons
• Escape Room Apps by Goro Sato
• John August on Twitter
• Craig Mazin on Twitter
• John on Instagram
• Outro by Jim Bond (send us yours!)

Email us at [email protected]

You can download the episode here

John and Craig welcome writer/actor/producer/director Seth Rogen (Superbad, Knocked Up, Good Boys) to the podcast. They discuss Seth’s writing process, evolving with a creative partner, and the cinematic origins of 420.

Seth then joins them for another edition of How Would This Be a Movie? looking at stories ranging from corruption, cattle mutilation, and geriatric thieves.

Links:

• 420 origins according to Wikipedia
• ‘Someone’s Gotta Tell the Freakin’ Truth’: Jerry Falwell’s Aides Break Their Silence by Brandon Ambrosino
• Mysterious Oregon Cattle Killings, Mutilations Alarm Ranchers by Diana Kruzman
• An 82-year-old Man Slipped Past Doormen in Upscale Buildings for Years and Stole $400k in Jewelry, Police Say by Madeline Holcombe and Joshua Girsky
• How to Tighten Up Your Game at Work When You’re Depressed by Captain Awkward
• Saucey: Alcohol Delivery App
• Hilarity for Charity
• National Expungement Week, Seth’s PSA
• John August on Twitter
• Craig Mazin on Twitter
• Seth Rogen on Twitter
• John on Instagram
• Outro by Rajesh Naroth (send us yours!)

Email us at [email protected]

You can download the episode here

John and Craig discuss Craig’s experience winning two Emmys this week.

John and Craig discuss topics ranging from the Emmys to elections, professionalism to patronage, along with the state of #MeToo. We also answer listener questions on credits and ask for your thoughts on potential changes to our premium subscriptions.

Links:

• The Emmy Award Winners Congrats Craig!
• WGA Election Results
• She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey
• Why I Quit the Writer’s Room by Walter Mosley
• Professional Writing and the Rise of the Amateur
• John August on Twitter
• Craig Mazin on Twitter
• John on Instagram
• Outro by Jon Spurney (send us yours!)

Email us at [email protected]

You can download the episode here

John and Craig welcome legendary screenwriter David Koepp (Jurassic Park, Death Becomes Her, Carlito’s Way, Mission: Impossible, Spider-Man and Panic Room) to talk about adaptations, embargoes, books and the modern blockbuster, which David has had an outsized role in shaping.

We also cover exposition in science fiction and how action writing has evolved over the last twenty years.

Links:

• David Koepp
• Alex Billington on embargoes.
• Cold Storage by David Koepp
• Spark Email App
• Freedom App
• The Intelligence Trap: Why Smart People Make Dumb Mistakes
• Essentialism
• John August on Twitter
• Craig Mazin on Twitter
• David Koepp on Instagram
• John on Instagram
• Outro by Matthew Chilelli (send us yours!)

Email us at [email protected]

You can download the episode here.

John and Craig welcome back Aline Brosh McKenna to tackle the issue of idea management. What do you do with all those half-formed ideas and how do you decide which ones to pursue? They share best practices and their approach to middle-of-the-night inspiration.

We’ll also discuss how screenwriters quotes are determined and answer some listener questions.

Links:

• For anyone experiencing issues with the app, please try signing up for premium using this link! Email [email protected] with any questions.
• The Shadows Casting Call John is looking for a 15-year-old blind actress for the lead role — please help by sharing this link with anyone who might be a good fit!
• Dungeon World
• Crazy, Rich Asians Pay Disparity
• Searching for Bobby Fischer
• After Dark My Sweet
• Reg Ex Crossword Puzzle
• Sooth Massage App
• Assassin’s Creed
• John August on Twitter
• Craig Mazin on Twitter
• Aline Brosh McKenna on Twitter
• John on Instagram
• Outro by Victor Krause (send us yours!)

Email us at [email protected]

You can download the episode here.

John and Craig welcome Alison Luhrs, a senior narrative designer at Wizards of the Coast to talk about fantasy world-building as a profession. It is a great conversation about what is probably a lot of listeners’ dream job.

We also follow up on the WGA elections, John’s decision to cast a blind actress, and the universality of ice-cream truck wars.

Links:

• The Shadows Casting Call John is looking for a 15-year-old blind actress for the lead role — please help by sharing this link with anyone who might be a good fit!
• The Hollywood Disability Inclusion Toolkit: The RespectAbility Guide to Inclusion in the Entertainment Industry
• Scriptnotes, Ep 315: Big Screens, Big Money
• NaNoWriMo classroom kit
• Comfort and Joy
• 99 Problems by Ross Killeen
• The Black Mambas documentary
• Wizards of the Coast
• Twine
• Because Internet: Understanding the New Rules of Language by Gretchen McCulloch
• Alison Luhrs on Twitter or here for game related questions
• John August on Twitter
• Craig Mazin on Twitter
• John on Instagram
• Outro by Rajesh Naroth (send us yours!)

Email us at [email protected]

You can download the episode here

John and Craig welcome Julia Louis-Dreyfus and David Mandel, two of the executive producers of HBO’s award-winning comedy series Veep. They discuss the writing process from blue-sky brainstorming to the final edit, how the show has evolved over the seasons, and striking the right tone during an unpredictable political climate.

We also take a look at why unlikeable characters are important for conflict and what we can take away from the ending of Seinfeld.

Links:

• Veep
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus
• David Mandel
• John August on Twitter
• The Shadows Casting Call John is looking for a 15 year old blind actress for the lead role — please help by sharing this link with anyone who might be a good fit!
• Craig Mazin on Twitter
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Twitter
• David Mandel on Twitter
• John on Instagram
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Instagram
• Outro by Matthew Chilelli (send us yours!)

Email us at [email protected]

You can download the episode here