Scriptnotes Podcast

376 - Commencement

John and Craig discuss commencement, the official moment to start writing. It can be easy to get pressured into free producer rewrites, starting to write before a deal is done and other pitfalls of blurry boundaries, so the WGA is introducing the Start Button, designed to help writers define their timeline and let the Guild be the bad guy. We also answer listener questions about procedural television, binge-watching, and crossing the line in dark comedy. Links: Signed <a href="https://johnaugust.com/signed-arlo-finch">Arlo Finch bookplates</a> are available with a copy of your receipt. <a href="https://go.wgfoundation.org/campaigns/8810-the-scriptnotes-holiday-live-show"> Tickets for the Scriptnotes Holiday Live Show</a> are on sale now. <a href="http://johnaugust.com/2017/television-with-damon-lindelof">Scriptnotes, Ep 296: Television with Damon Lindelof</a> <a href="my.wga.org/sb">Start Button</a> for WGA members Dungeons and Dragons Art and Arcana <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0399582754/?tag=johnaugustcom-20">box set</a> or just the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0399580948/?tag=johnaugustcom-20">book</a> <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/resiniferatoxin/">This Chemical Is So Hot It Destroys Nerve Endings -- In a Good Way</a> by Matt Simon for Wired T-shirts are available <a href="https://cottonbureau.com/people/john-august-1">here</a>! We’ve got new designs, including <a href="https://cottonbureau.com/products/colored-revisions">Colored Revisions</a>, <a href="https://cottonbureau.com/products/karateka">Karateka</a>, and <a href="https://cottonbureau.com/products/highland2">Highland2</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/johnaugust">John August</a> on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/clmazin">Craig Mazin</a> on Twitter <a href="https://www.instagram.com/johnaugust/?hl=en">John on Instagram</a> <a href="http://scriptnotes.net/">Find past episodes</a> <a href="https://store.johnaugust.com/">Scriptnotes Digital Seasons</a> are also now available! <a href="http://johnaugust.com/2013/scriptnotes-the-outros">Outro</a> by Andrew Burns (<a href="http://johnaugust.com/2014/outros-needed">send us yours!</a>) Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode <a href="http://traffic.libsyn.com/scriptnotes/scriptnotes_ep_376.mp3">here</a>.

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.