Scriptnotes Podcast

John and Taffy sit down for a candid conversation surrounding fame, interacting with famous people, and the depiction of fame on screen.
They also answer a listener question about cold email etiquette and the delicate art of asking for favors.
In our bonus segment for premium subscribers, Taffy discusses the subject of her most recent "celebrity" profile: the controversial AI actress, Tilly Norwood.
Links:
Why on Earth Have I Seen the Same Broadway Show 13 Times? An Investigation. by Taffy Brodesser-Akner
Joe Allen
I Profile Celebrities for a Living. Nothing Prepared Me for Tilly Norwood. by Taffy Brodesser-Akner
Get your copy of The Scriptnotes Book and become a Scriptnotes Premium member today! For more content on the craft of writing check out Inneresting our weekly-ish newsletter about screenwriting and things that are interesting to screenwriters.
Scriptnotes is produced by Meredith Stedman and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Our coordinator is Lauren Loesberg.
Outro by Timothy Lenko (send us yours!).
Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

John and Craig lock in on one-room movies. How does confinement change character behavior? What opportunities can a single location give you?
Plus, they consider how much dithering a character should indulge. They also answer listener questions about "hyperlink cinema" and writing phone calls.
In our bonus segment for premium subscribers, John and Craig discuss outgrowing their own tastes.
Links:
Reddit thread about faster kettles
Police Stalkers
Ben Affleck/Matt Damon FIFA Project based on Houses of Deceit
United Passions (FIFA movie)
Dithering
WhatIsIt Reddit
Get your copy of The Scriptnotes Book and become a Scriptnotes Premium member today! For more content on the craft of writing check out Inneresting our weekly-ish newsletter about screenwriting and things that are interesting to screenwriters.
Scriptnotes is produced by Meredith Stedman and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Our coordinator is Lauren Loesberg.
Outro by Nick Moore (send us yours!).
Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

John welcomes Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs to talk about the emotional and logistical process of closing out their five-season series, Hacks.
Paul and Lucia also step up as guest readers for the Three Page Challenge, a segment where we look at the first three pages of a listener-submitted script and give honest feedback.
In our bonus segment for premium subscribers, John, Lucia and Paul talk about cameos. How do they happen? What's the real deal behind the scenes?
Scripts:
Dying to Love You
You're Dead to Me
Monster Law
Links:
You Can Just Do Things by Cate Hall
State and Local Election Alliance
@luciaaniellosetfits
@paulwdowns
Cherlato Gelato
Get your copy of The Scriptnotes Book and become a Scriptnotes Premium member today! For more content on the craft of writing check out Inneresting our weekly-ish newsletter about screenwriting and things that are interesting to screenwriters.
Scriptnotes is produced by Meredith Stedman and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Our Coordinator is Lauren Loesberg.
Outro by Nick Moore (send us yours!).
Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

In today's edition of "How Would This Be a Movie?" John and Craig convert felonies into films. Together, they take a few crime-related news stories and decide how they might be adapted for the screen.
They also discuss paracosms and the importance of daydreaming for budding screenwriters.
In our bonus segment for premium subscribers, John and Craig discuss prediction markets. Bet you can guess how that goes.
Episode Links:
Paracosm
Jerome Singer's research on Daydreaming
Bob Ross
Freud's 1908 essay "Creative Writers and Day-Dreaming"
Michele Root-Bernstein's study on childhood worldplay
$500 Million Estate Dispute
Luggage Tag Scheme
Uncrewed Narco Subs
Florida Cop Stalks Woman
The 40-Year-Old Man-Child by Megan Garber
Get your copy of The Scriptnotes Book and become a Scriptnotes Premium member today! For more content on the craft of writing check out Inneresting our weekly-ish newsletter about screenwriting and things that are interesting to screenwriters.
Scriptnotes is produced by Meredith Stedman and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Our Coordinator is Lauren Loesberg.
Outro by Gloom Canyon (send us yours!).
Email us at ask@johnaugust.com.
Download the full episode here.

Buckle up! John and Craig discuss the elements that make up a classic road movie. They cover the quintessential scenes, common pitfalls, and the economic quandaries you'll find in the genre.
They also answer listener questions about editing novels (versus screenplays) and the aesthetics of outlines and breakdowns.
In our bonus segment for premium subscribers, John and Craig talk about their own memorable road trips.
Links:
Wolf's Belly
Bronson Watermarker Pro
Carl Rinsch
Kathy Bates Scene from Rat Race
John's Wondery Podcast, "Launch"
It's 10pm Do You Know Where Your Children Are?
Prop House Auctions
Lords of Waterdeep
Get your copy of The Scriptnotes Book and become a Scriptnotes Premium member today! For more content on the craft of writing check out Inneresting our weekly-ish newsletter about screenwriting and things that are interesting to screenwriters.
Scriptnotes is produced by Meredith Stedman and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Our Coordinator is Lauren Loesberg. Outro by Matthew Chilelli (send us yours!).
Email us at ask@johnaugust.com