John and Craig sit down with legendary writer, director and showrunner Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul) to discuss his prolific career and how to make great television. Vince leads us through how he develops a premise, balancing creative surprises with rigorous planning, and his advice for up-and-coming showrunners. We also discuss re-writing features before following up on the old dancing prospector archetype — only to discover it’s a character Vince has a long personal history with. In our bonus segment for premium members, John, Craig and Vince get tired of re-runs and ask, which old TV shows do they want to re-boot? Links: Vince Gilligan on IMDb Vince Gilligan plays a prospector on Community (S5 E9) Walter Houston’s dance in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre Dracula’s Kung-Fu Theatre Alien Tape Today Years Old on Twitter Robot Puppet Sings “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton by Ben Howard on YouTube Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Instagram John August on Twitter John on Instagram John on Mastodon Outro by Matt Davis (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

Scriptnotes Podcast

598 - The One with Vince Gilligan

John and Megana Rao return from the picket line to ask, what’s the deal with neutral gates? Using the Teamsters as a guide, we look at the rules that govern neutral gates, why we have them, their history, and how they can guide our best practices for picketing as we enter the third week of the strike. Links: Teamsters local 399 FAQ Summary of Negotiations: WGA proposals and AMPTP responses 2023 WGA Strike Rules Strike Rules FAQ Picket Schedules and Locations Find more about the 2023 WGA negotiations here at WGAContract2023.org John on Twitter, Instagram and Mastodon Megana Rao on Twitter Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

SC10 - Sidecast: Neutral Gates

 After a week on the picket line, John and Drew meet up to highlight listeners they’ve met, which productions have been shut down, what to expect from the upcoming DGA negotiations, and what non-WGA members can do to support striking writers. We then answer questions to help listeners navigate the strike rules. Are writers are allowed to submit to labs and fellowships? Are we supposed to boycott struck companies? And how does the strike affect your favorite weekly podcast? Links: Inevitable Foundation Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund) The Duffer Brothers announce Stranger Things production is paused on Twitter ‘Writers On Set’ by George R.R. Martin DGA Is United, Prepared and Ready to Fight for Our Future by Lesli Linka Glatter for Variety Summary of Negotiations: WGA proposals and AMPTP responses 2023 WGA Strike Rules Strike Rules FAQ Picket Schedules and Locations Find more about the 2023 WGA negotiations here at WGAContract2023.org John on Twitter, Instagram and Mastodon Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.   

SC9 - Sidecast: One Week In

John and Craig dive into our overflowing mailbag to answer a wide range of listener questions. They discuss ageism in the industry, the realities of overall deals, clunky character backstories, and creating the relationship you want with your manager. We also explore the history of a Disney Channel Original Movie, the realities of panning for gold, and who deals with your stuff after you die. In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig reach through time to find their dream Scriptnotes guests. Links: The biggest new moneymaking scheme for Hollywood stars? Doing nothing by Arwa Mahdawi for The Guardian Rollo Tomasi scene L.A. Confidential screenplay by Brian Helgeland & Curtis Hanson Not All Robots by Mark Russell and Mike Deodato Jr. TSA Precheck NEXUS Program for US Citizens and Canadian Citizens. Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Instagram John August on Twitter John on Instagram John on Mastodon Outro by Nora Beyer (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

597 - Rollo Tomasi

 John is joined by Megana Rao to give us a first-hand account of last night’s WGA member meeting at the Shrine auditorium in Los Angeles. Links: Megana Rao on Twitter Sarah Schaefer on the proposed “day rate.” Summary of Negotiations: WGA proposals and AMPTP responses 2023 WGA Strike Rules Strike Rules FAQ Picket Schedules and Locations Find more about the 2023 WGA negotiations here at WGAContract2023.org John on Twitter, Instagram and Mastodon Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.   

SC8 - Sidecast: The Shrine

John and Drew talk with writers on the picket line outside of CBS Studios in LA, who tell us what they’re currently not writing, what’s changed since the 2007 strike, and why this strike is so important to them. Guests include WGA board member Zoe Marshall and previous Scriptnotes guest Megan Amram. Thanks to everyone who talked to us! Links: WGA Strike Announcement Summary of Negotiations: WGA proposals and AMPTP responses 2023 WGA Strike Rules Strike Rules FAQ Picket Schedules and Locations RSVP for WGA member meetings in Los Angeles and New York. Find more about the 2023 WGA negotiations here at WGAContract2023.org John on Twitter, Instagram and Mastodon Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

SC7 - Sidecast: On the Picket Line - Day 1

Just after midnight, the WGA officially went on strike. John explains what happened in the negotiating room and sets his sights on the picket line. Where do the negotiations stand? What are the next steps for WGA members? Links: WGA Strike Announcement Summary of Negotiations: WGA proposals and AMPTP responses 2023 WGA Strike Rules Strike Rules FAQ Picket Schedules and Locations RSVP for WGA member meetings in Los Angeles and New York. Find more about the 2023 WGA negotiations here at WGAContract2023.org John on Twitter, Instagram and Mastodon Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

SC6 - Sidecast: WGA on Strike

In preparation for episode 600, John revisits our first two episodes with Christopher McQuarrie (Top Gun: Maverick, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, The Usual Suspects) to marvel at his wisdom and enjoy his ongoing feud with Craig. We chart his course from writer to writer-director, his process of rescuing a movie in crisis, the storytelling opportunities on TV, and what the future holds for young filmmakers. In our bonus segment for premium members, John, Craig and Chris conduct a post-mortem on what killed the Spoof Movie – surely there must be a reason? (Of course there’s a reason, and don’t call us Shirley.) Links: Original Chris McQuarrie episodes 300 and 400 Chris McQuarrie on IMDb Chris McQuarrie on Instagram Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Instagram John August on Twitter John on Instagram John on Mastodon Outro by Matthew Chilelli (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt (from episodes originally produced by Megana Rao and Godwin Jabangwe), and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

596 - McQuarrie on McQuarrie

John and Drew discuss the newly-released WGA 2023 Strike Rules and how guilds across the industry are showing support for the WGA. We then answer listener questions about what writers – union and non-union – can do during a strike. Are any meetings are ok to take? Can you sign with a manager? And what if your optioned material is sold? Links: WGA Sends Out Strike Rules To Members As Potential Hollywood Labor Shutdown Looms Next Week by Dominic Patten and David Robb for Deadline Teamsters Statement on Writers Guild of America Negotiations DGA Statement of Support for WGA in Contract Negotiations IATSE President Issues Statement of Support for Writers as Strike Deadline Approaches SAG-AFTRA Statement in Support of WGA Negotiations Find more about the 2023 WGA negotiations here at WGAContract2023.org John on Twitter, Instagram and Mastodon Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

SC5 - Sidecast: Solidarity and Strike Rules

John and Craig talk to an audience of development executives about the experience of getting notes as a writer. They cover the do’s and don’ts of giving notes, ways to motivate writers towards a creative vision, and why these conversations kick in a writer’s fight or flight response. We take questions from the audience and discuss ‘the bad pitch,’ likable characters, and how to stay friends with a writer after a breakup. In our bonus segment for premium members, John offers his notes on Drew’s film school thesis as they discuss getting your first movie made. Links: Episode 399, Notes on Notes Episode 99, Psychotheraphy for Screenwriters Episode 394, Broken but Sympathetic with Mari Heller Scriptnotes Listeners’ Guide Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Instagram John August on Twitter John on Instagram John on Mastodon Outro by Mackey Landry (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt (this episode was originally produced by Megana Rao), and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

399 - Notes on Notes

 John welcomes Danielle Sanchez-Witzel (Up Here, The Carmichael Show) to discuss the state of modern TV writing and answer crafty questions from our overflowing mailbag. How do you structure a limited series? How do you take inspiration from an idea without ripping it off? And how do you know if your story really needs that sex scene? In our bonus segment for premium members, we explore the tricky situation of having a co-worker who is nice but incompetent. Links: Danielle Sanchez-Witzel on IMDb. Up Here on Hulu. Succession Podcast, S4E2 with Lucy Prebble and Laura Wasser from HBO. Incompetent but Nice by Jacob Kaplan-Moss. Glucose Goddess on Instagram. Non-Buttermilk Pancake Recipe Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Instagram John August on Twitter John on Instagram John on Mastodon Outro by Alicia Jo Rabins (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.   

595 - Correctable Crises

In this mini-episode, John and Drew discuss the results of the Strike Authorization Vote, and what’s next for negotiations. We also answer a listener question asking how preWGA writers can show support during a possible strike. Links: Strike Authorization Results Find more about the 2023 WGA negotiations here at WGAContract2023.org John on Twitter, Instagram and Mastodon Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

SC4 - Sidecast: SAV Results

John and Craig look at another set of incredible news stories and ask, How Would This Be a Movie? Stories include an AI love service, an inventor with good intentions who doomed our planet, a fake Aretha Franklin, and a multi-million dollar nut heist. We also follow up on heroic names and answer listener questions about researching your story. In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig lie awake and wonder — what happens to our work after we die? Links: The Man of Your Dreams by Sangeeta Singh-Kurtz for The Cut The Brilliant Inventor Who Made Two of History’s Biggest Mistakes by Steven Johnson for The New York Times Magazine Pennsylvania Woman Who Disappeared in 1992 Is Found Alive in Puerto Rico by Eduardo Medina for the New York Times The Counterfeit Queen of Soul by Jeff Maysh for Smithsonian The Curious Case of the Disappearing Nuts by Peter Vigneron for Outside A History Professor Takes On Hollywood by Katherine Rosman for the New York Times This Isn’t Going to End Well: The True Story of a Man I Thought I Knew by Daniel Wallace Posthumously by Daniel Wallace The Last of Us: Soundtrack From the Series by David Fleming & Gustavo Santaolalla Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Instagram John August on Twitter John on Instagram John on Mastodon Outro by Orpheus (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

594 - Bindles and Gold Pans

Writer and director Richard LaGravenese joins Craig for an in-depth analysis of his 1994 comedy classic screenplay, THE REF. Together, Craig and Richard dig into the rules of farce, making hyper-verbal characters work, and the difference between a main character and a protagonist. We also discuss how to write compelling monologues, engineering a character’s catharsis, and why coffee really is better with cake. In our bonus segment for premium members, Craig and Richard discuss why it’s often so hard for men to make – and keep – close friends. Links: The Ref on YouTube, Amazon and IMDb Richard LaGravenese on IMDb The Ransom of Red Chief by O. Henry The Ref’s Opening Scene Puzzled Pint’s Code Sheet Levain Bakery Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Instagram John August on Twitter John on Instagram John on Mastodon Outro by Matt Davis (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

593 - The Ref with Richard LaGravenese

John returns from the negotiating room to chat with Drew about the upcoming Strike Authorization Vote. What does Strike Authorization actually mean? How do WGA members vote? And what can writers do this week before voting begins? We also answer a question from a listener wrestling with their fears of a potential strike. Links: Find complete information for the Strike Authorization Vote here. Find more about the 2023 WGA negotiations here at WGAContract2023.org John on Twitter, Instagram and Mastodon Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

SC3 - Sidecast: Strike Authorization Vote

Screenwriters John August and Craig Mazin discuss screenwriting and related topics in the film and television industry, everything from getting stuff written to the vagaries of copyright and work-for-hire law.

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Scriptnotes Podcast

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