Scriptnotes: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 08:16, 23 August 2021

Revision as of 00:08, 26 January 2022

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| image = Scriptnotes_logo.jpeg

| hosting = {{Plainlist|

* [[John August]]

* [[Craig Mazin]]

}}

| language = English

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| num_episodes = 502 ({{as of|2021|05|25|lc=y|df=US}})

}}

'''''Scriptnotes''''' is a weekly [[podcast]] that began airing on August 30, 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://johnaugust.com/scriptnotes|title= Scriptnotes|last1= August|first1= John|date= |website= johnaugust.com|publisher= |accessdateaccess-date=March 9, 2016}}</ref> It is billed as "a podcast about screenwriting, and things that are interesting to screenwriters."<ref>{{cite web |url= http://johnaugust.com/2016/scriptnotes-ep-235-the-one-with-jason-bateman-and-the-game-of-thrones-guys-transcript|title= Scriptnotes, Ep 235: The one with Jason Bateman and the Game of Thrones guys — Transcript|last1= |first1= |date= February 4, 2016|website= johnaugust.com|publisher= |accessdateaccess-date=March 9, 2016}}</ref> The podcast is hosted by [[screenwriters]] [[John August]] and [[Craig Mazin]], with new episodes released every Tuesday.

The podcast has featured appearances from many notable people in the world of film and TV, including [[Rian Johnson]], [[David Benioff]] and [[D. B. Weiss|D.B. Weiss]] (the showrunners of ''[[Game of Thrones]]''), [[Aline Brosh McKenna]], [[Dana Fox]], [[Rachel Bloom]], [[Jennifer Lee (filmmaker)|Jennifer Lee]], [[Riki Lindhome]], [[Natasha Leggero]], [[Alec Berg]], [[Kelly Marcel]], [[Rawson Marshall Thurber]], [[Richard Kelly (director)|Richard Kelly]], [[Chris Nee]], [[Malcolm Spellman]], [[David Wain]], and [[Jason Bateman]].

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== History ==

August, who had been writing his popular eponymous screenwriting blog since 2003, developed an interest in podcasting and its potential to extend the work he had been doing to help the screenwriting community. He approached Mazin via email in June 2011 with the idea of producing a screenwriting podcast together. Despite being largely unfamiliar with the medium, Mazin agreed out of a desire to talk about screenwriting without writing about it, as he had been doing for a number of years on his blog, The Artful Writer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://johnaugust.com/2015/scriptnotes-ep-198-back-to-100-transcript|title=Transcript of Scriptnotes, 198|website=johnaugust.com|language=en|access-date=2018-01-04}}</ref> The inaugural episode of the podcast was released 30 August 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://johnaugust.com/2011/pitching-a-take-and-the-wga-elections|title=Scriptnotes, ep. 1: pitching and voting|website=johnaugust.com|language=en|access-date=2018-01-04}}</ref>

On the episode from May 25th, 2021, John August made a request to Scriptnotes listeners for the show's Wikipedia page to be updated. <ref>{{cite web |last1=August |first1=John |title=Scriptnotes |url=https://johnaugust.com/2021/free-will-or-its-okay-to-not-be-a-screenwriter |website=JohnAugust.com |publisher=John August |access-date=25 May 2021}}</ref>

==Recurring segments==

===Three-page challenge===

Aspiring screenwriters are encouraged to send in three pages of their screenplay – almost always the first three – to be critiqued. The scripts vary widely in tone, style and genre. Links to the screenplays are provided in the show notes so listeners can read them and then listen to the critique. Typically three are tackled in one show. The three-page challenge is a particularly useful segment for screenwriters as it provides sharp insights into unproduced screenplays; lessons easily applied to a writer's own project. The segment was first announced with a call for submissions in episode 45<ref>{{cite web|url=http://johnaugust.com/2012/setting-perspective-and-terrible-numbers|title=Scriptnotes, 45: Setting, perspective and terrible numbers|publisher=|accessdateaccess-date=8 October 2016}}</ref> and the first critiques debuted the next week in episode 46.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://johnaugust.com/2012/mistakes-development-executives-make|title=Scriptnotes, 46: Mistakes development executives make|publisher=|accessdateaccess-date=8 October 2016}}</ref>

===One Cool Thing===

One Cool Thing is a weekly segment that occurs at the end of each episode. August, Mazin and their guests will each give a plug to something or someone they deem cool. The cool things vary greatly. The segment dates back to May 2012, when August officially started it at the end of episode 35.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://johnaugust.com/2012/the-disney-dilemma|title=Scriptnotes, Ep. 35: The Disney Dilemma|publisher=|accessdateaccess-date=8 October 2016}}</ref> Since then he has been a faithful participant. Mazin's participation was suspect for a time, most notably during a six-week stretch that began in August 2012, but since then he has overcome his umbrage-tinted glasses and regularly found something in the world worth praising every week.

===How Would This Be a Movie?===

In this newer segment of the show, August and Mazin pull a few current stories from the news and discuss if and how those stories could be adapted into feature films. The discussion often includes brainstorming possible genres and approaches a perspective writer could take with the story, discussing how to collapse or expand the details of the story to fit a feature film, and determining which of the week's stories, if any, have any serious potential as a future film. The segment debuted in episode 201, when the stories included [[2015 FIFA corruption case|scandals in FIFA]], the [[Large Hadron Collider]], and sexual assault on college campuses.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://johnaugust.com/2015/how-would-this-be-a-movie|title=Scriptnotes, 201: How would this be a movie?|publisher=|accessdateaccess-date=8 October 2016}}</ref>

=== Deep dives ===

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===August's intro is professional while Mazin's intro is affected===

At the beginning of every podcast, August uses a 'straight' introduction, while Mazin uses a silly or mechanical voice.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://johnaugust.com/|title=Screenwriter and author John August|publisher=|accessdateaccess-date=8 October 2016}}</ref>

===Mazin acts lazy and August does all the work===

Mazin tells anecdotes about himself that emphasize how he is lazy, unprepared, and frequently late. In contrast, August appears productive, organized, and punctual.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://johnaugust.com/2015/the-200th-episode-live-show|title=Scriptnotes, 200: The 200th Episode Live Show|publisher=|accessdateaccess-date=8 October 2016}}</ref>

===John August as robot===

In line with their personas of Mazin being the lazy one and August being the organized one, plus knowledgeable about technology, Mazin mocks August by calling him a robot. This includes accusations that August has no emotions and no heart.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://johnaugust.com/2016/outlines-and-treatments|title=Scriptnotes, 245: Outlines and Treatments|publisher=|accessdateaccess-date=8 October 2016}}</ref>

===Segue Man===

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===Stuart===

For five years up to episode 259, [[Esther_Wong#Life|Stuart Friedel]] was August's assistant, and the producer and original editor of the podcast. With the exception of episode 259, Friedel's voice was never heard on the podcast. The hosts would frequently talk about him, and the work that he did for the show, including reading and selecting scripts for the Three Page Challenge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://johnaugust.com/2016/scriptnotes-ep-232-fun-with-numbers-transcript|title=Transcript of Scriptnotes, 232|publisher=|accessdateaccess-date=8 October 2016}}</ref>

== Notable episodes ==

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=== Revelations about the ''Game of Thrones'' pilot ===

David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, the showrunners of [[HBO]]'s fantasy drama ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', appeared on a live version of the podcast in February 2016. They spoke about the poor reception to the show's original pilot episode, and how it was largely reshot following a screening of the episode to Mazin and other screenwriters.<ref name="auto1Robinson">{{cite web |date=Feb 3, 2016 |author=Joanna Robinson |url=http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/02/game-of-thrones-original-pilot-bad |title=Game of Thrones Show-Runners Get Extremely Candid About Their Original "Piece of Sh—t" Pilot |website=Vanity Fair }}</ref>

=== The One with the Guys from Final Draft ===

On episode 129, August and Mazin welcomed [[Final Draft (software)|Final Draft]] CEO and co-founder Marc Madnick and then-product manager Joe Jarvis. Their visit was in response to negative comments made about the software on previous episodes of ''Scriptnotes'', and came out of Madnick's desire to discuss what he perceived as misconceptions about both the software and the company.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://johnaugust.com/2014/scriptnotes-ep-129-the-one-with-the-guys-from-final-draft-transcript|title= Scriptnotes, Ep 129: The One with the Guys from Final Draft — Transcript |last1= |first1= |date= February 6, 2014|website= johnaugust.com|publisher= |accessdateaccess-date= March 16, 2016}}</ref>

Instead, Madnick offered a revealing look into—as described by the Accidental Tech Podcast—the company's shortcomings, management's apparent feeling that they should make "[their] problems your problems," and the "severe technical debt" Final Draft has ignored for far too long, resulting in out of date, difficult to update, and unnecessarily expensive software.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://atp.fm/episodes/54-goto-fail|title= 54: GOTO FAIL; |last1= |first1= |date= |website= atp.fm|publisher= |accessdateaccess-date= March 16, 2016}}</ref>

In response to the episode's controversy, filmmaker and software developer Kent Tessman pointed out that a possible reason many of Madnick's excuses were met with pushback is that, simply, "there might be technical people listening".<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.kenttessman.com/2014/02/notes-on-scriptnotes/|title= Notes on Scriptnotes |last1= Tessman|first1= Kent|date= February 8, 2014|website= kenttessman.com|publisher= |accessdateaccess-date= March 16, 2016}}</ref>

=== The She-Hulk controversy ===

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Talking about [[She-Hulk]], Goyer said:

<blockquote>I have a theory about She-Hulk. Which was created by a man, right? And at the time in particular I think 95% of comic book readers were men and certainly almost all of the comic book writers were men. So the Hulk was this classic male power fantasy. It’s like, most of the people reading comic books were these people like me who were just these little kids getting the shit kicked out of them every day... And so then they created She-Huk, right? Who was still smart... I think She-Hulk is the chick that you could fuck if you were Hulk, you know what I’m saying? ... She-Hulk was the extension of the male power fantasy. So it’s like if I’m going to be this geek who becomes the Hulk then let’s create a giant green porn star that only the Hulk could fuck.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.avclub.com/article/she-hulk-sex-fantasy-virgins-and-other-david-s-goy-204935|title= She-Hulk is a sex fantasy for virgins, and other David S. Goyer thoughts |last1= O'Neal|first1= Sean |date= May 21, 2014 |website=[[The avclubA.comV. Club]] |publisher= |accessdateaccess-date= March 16, 2016}}</ref></blockquote>

The day after the episode's release, Alan Kistler of The Mary Sue wrote about these comments as well as Goyer's take on Martian Manhunter. His summation:

<blockquote>So to recap. She-Hulk is just a sex power fantasy rather than a character with agency who from the beginning went down a different path than her cousin, The Hulk. Martian Manhunter being the last survivor of a race which died out on Mars over a thousand years ago is goofy, but putting him Area 51 and using the same plot as many alien visitor movies is not. And God forbid superheroes embrace some goofiness and absurdity. [''sic'']<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.themarysue.com/david-goyer-calls-she-hulk-sex-fantasy/|title= Man of Steel Sequel Writer David Goyer Calls Marvel’s She-Hulk "A Giant Green Porn Star," Insults Geeks |last1= Kistler|first1= Alan|date= May 21, 2014 |website= avclub[[The A.comV. Club]] |publisher= |accessdateaccess-date= March 16, 2016 }}</ref></blockquote>

This prompted Michael Cavana from ''[[The Washington Post]]''{{'}}s Comic Riffs to reach out to [[She-Hulk]] co-creator [[Stan Lee]] for a response.

<blockquote>When Lee, as writer, co-created She-Hulk with artist John Buscema (the character debuted in February of 1980, in Savage She-Hulk #1), he was absolutely focused on his gamma-green superheroine having brains. Lee tells The Post’s Comic Riffs this evening, in response to Goyer’s words: “I know I was looking for a new female superhero, and the idea of an intelligent Hulk-type grabbed me.”<ref name="auto3Cavana">{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2014/05/21/she-hulk-co-creator-stan-lee-weighs-in-on-david-goyer-debate-only-a-nut-would-even-think-of-that/|title=SHE-HULK co-creator Stan Lee weighs in on David Goyer debate: ‘Only a nut would even think of that’|last1=Cavana|first1=Michael|date=May 21, 2014|website=washingtonpost.com|publisher=|accessdateaccess-date=March 16, 2016}}</ref></blockquote>

=== Mazin and Ted Cruz ===

During his freshman year at [[Princeton University]], Mazin was roommates with future junior U.S. Senator and 2016 presidential candidate [[Ted Cruz]]. Mazin has been open about his dislike for Cruz,<ref name="Bruni">{{cite web |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/02/opinion/anyone-but-ted-cruz.html|title= Anyone but Ted Cruz|last1= Bruni|first1= Frank|date= December 2, 2015|website= nytimes.com|publisher= |accessdateaccess-date= March 22, 2016}}</ref> and on episode 113 said:

<blockquote>And, you know, I want to be clear, because Ted Cruz is a nightmare of a human being. I have plenty of problems with his politics, but truthfully his personality is so awful that ninety-nine percent of why I hate him is just his personality. If he agreed with me on every issue, I would hate him only one percent less.</blockquote>

Mazin's comment was picked up by ''[[The Daily Show]]'',<ref name="auto">{{cite webAV Media |url=http://www.cc.com/video-clips/c6usaz/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-nobody-likes-ted-cruz|title=The Daily Show - Nobody Likes Ted Cruz|last1=|first1=|date=December 3, 2015|website=cc.com[[Comedy Central]] |publisher=|accessdateaccess-date=March 22, 2016}}</ref> ''[[HuffPost|The Huffington Post]]'',<ref name="auto2Halperin">{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/davidhalperin/dear-god-do-not-leave-ame_b_9153014.html|title=Dear God Do Not Leave America Alone with Ted Cruz |last1=Halperin |first1=David |date=February 3, 2016|website=huffingtonpost.com|publisher=|accessdateaccess-date=March 22, 2016}}</ref> ''[[Texas Monthly]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.texasmonthly.com/the-daily-post/ted-cruzs-headlines-may-be-mundane-but-hes-still-rising-in-the-polls/|title= Ted Cruz’s Headlines May Be Mundane, But He’s Still Rising In The Polls |last1= Solomon|first1= Dan|date= December 8, 2015|website= texasmonthly.com|publisher= |accessdateaccess-date= March 22, 2016}}</ref> ''[[The Telegraph (London)|The Telegraph]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/us-politics/12121499/Why-do-so-many-people-hate-Ted-Cruz.html|title= Why do so many people hate Ted Cruz?|last1= Allen|first1= Nick|date= January 26, 2016|website= telegraph.co.uk|publisher= |accessdateaccess-date= March 22, 2016}}</ref> ''[[Sun-Times Media Group|The Sun Times]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url= http://national.suntimes.com/national-world-news/7/72/2565655/ted-cruz-college-roommate-craig-mazin-epic-twitter-rant/|title= Cruz's college roommate is on an epic 10-month Twitter rant|last1= Merda|first1= Chad|date= February 10, 2016|website= suntimes.com|publisher= |accessdateaccess-date= March 22, 2016}}</ref> and more.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.bustle.com/articles/147061-ted-cruz-craig-mazins-feud-as-former-college-roommates-might-be-the-best-part-of|title= Ted Cruz & Craig Mazin's Feud As Former College Roommates Might Be The Best Part Of The 2016 Election|last1= Millstein|first1= Seth|date= March 2016|website= bustle.com|publisher= |accessdateaccess-date= March 22, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://theodysseyonline.com/brandeis/open-letter-republican-voters/301134|title= To My Fellow Republicans: Beware The Siren Calls of Cruz and Trump|last1= Givner|first1= Ari|date= February 8, 2016|website= theodysseyonline.com|publisher= |accessdateaccess-date= March 22, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://theslot.jezebel.com/fuckin-craig-mazin-an-appreciation-of-ted-cruzs-colleg-1746278435|title= Fuckin' Craig Mazin: An Appreciation of Ted Cruz's College Roommate |last1= Merlan|first1= Anna|date= December 4, 2015|website= jezebel.com|publisher= |accessdateaccess-date= March 22, 2016}}</ref>

=== Scriptshadow ===

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== Reception ==

''Scriptnotes'' has received positive reviews.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.fastcocreate.com/1682624/american-idol-for-screenwriters-hit-movie-scribes-podcast-weekly-from-the-belly-of-the-holly|title= "American Idol" For Screenwriters: Hit Movie Scribes Podcast Weekly From The Belly Of The Hollywood Beast|last1= Hart|first1= Hugh|date= April 8, 2013|website= fastcocreate.com|publisher= |accessdateaccess-date= March 10, 2016}}</ref><ref name="auto4Evry">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2772533/11-best-movie-podcasts|title=11 Must-Download Podcasts for Movie Lovers|last1=Evry|first1=Max|date=November 25, 2013|website=mtv.com|publisher=|accessdateaccess-date=March 22, 2016}}</ref> As of January 3, 2018, it has an average rating of 5 out of 5 stars on podbay.fm, with 1045 users weighing in.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://podbay.fm/show/462495496/reviews|title= Scriptnotes Reviews|last1= |first1= |date= March 10, 2016|website= podbay.fm|publisher= |accessdateaccess-date= March 10, 2016}}</ref>

It was ranked as one of the 11 best movie podcasts by [[MTV]].<ref name="auto4Evry" /> [[Esquire (magazine)|''Esquire'']] selected the podcast as one of its 13 favorite podcasts of 2016, writing "Whether you're an aspiring screenwriter or a plain old movie fan, ''Scriptnotes'' offers a unique insider's perspective into the business".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.esquireme.com/content/18010-the-13-podcasts-of-2016-you-should-listen-to|title=The 13 podcasts of 2016 you should listen to|website=Esquire Middle East|language=en|access-date=2018-01-04}}</ref> It was listed among the week's best radio by ''[[The Guardian]]'' in September 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/sep/30/this-week-best-radio-tony-blackburn-sounds-of-the-60s|title=This week’s best radio: Tony Blackburn’s Sounds of the 60s|last=Hepworth|first=David|date=2017-09-30|work=The Guardian|access-date=2018-01-04|language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> [[Vulture (web site)|Vulture]] called the show 'highly influential' for screenwriters.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.vulture.com/2017/10/what-hollywood-screenwriters-are-learning-from-peak-tv.html|title=What Hollywood Screenwriters Are Learning From Peak TV|last=Hill|first=Logan|work=Vulture|access-date=2018-01-04|language=en}}</ref> In a 2016 interview with the [[The Wall Street Journal|''Wall Street Journal'']], actor and director [[Elizabeth Banks]] revealed that Scriptnotes was her favorite podcast.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/elizabeth-banks-reveals-whats-on-her-iphone-1466089116 |title=Elizabeth Banks Reveals What’s on Her iPhone|date=2016-06-16|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=2018-01-04 |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref>

The podcast has been discussed by ''[[The Daily Show]]'',<ref name="auto" /> ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|''Vanity Fair'']]'',<ref name="auto1Robinson" /> ''[[The Huffington Post]]'',<ref name="auto2Halperin" /> and ''[[The Washington Post]]''.<ref name="auto3Cavana" />

==Access to back episodes==

The most recent 20 episodes of Scriptnotes are available for free on all podcast services, including iTunes,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/scriptnotes-podcast/id462495496?mt=2|title=Scriptnotes Podcast by John August and Craig Mazin on iTunes|publisher=|accessdateaccess-date=8 October 2016}}</ref> as well as via [http://johnaugust.com/ johnaugust.com]. Back episodes and bonus segments are available through [http://scriptnotes.net scriptnotes.net] for $4.99 per month.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Scriptnotes {{!}} Membership|url=https://scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm/|access-date=2021-04-28|website=scriptnotes.supportingcast.fm|language=en}}</ref>

== References ==

{{reflist|30emReflist}}

== External links ==