Scriptnotes Podcast Podcast By John August and Craig Mazin cover art

Scriptnotes Podcast

Scriptnotes Podcast

By: John August and Craig Mazin
Listen for free

About this listen

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.© Copyright 2020 Art
Episodes
  • 694 - Reviving the Spoof Movie
    Jul 8 2025
    John welcomes back Dan Gregor and Doug Mand (Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers, Pretty Smart) to ask, how do you revive a dead genre? Using their upcoming movie The Naked Gun, they look at why the spoof genre fell apart, the challenges of introducing it to a new generation, and why turning genre tropes into jokes will always resonate with an audience. We also look at other genres they don’t make anymore, follow up on Dogma 25, and answer listener questions on complicated rewrites and whether or not to hire a publicist. In our bonus segment for premium members, John, Doug and Dan look at the movies that Gen Z hasn’t seen (and whether they even need to). Links: The Naked Gun in theaters August 1st!Dan Gregor and Doug MandDoug and Dan’s last time on the show, Episode 548: Made for StreamersBottoms and Dicks: The MusicalMelodramas: Now, Voyager, It Ends with Us, SpencerSexual thrillers: Body Heat, Jagged Edge, (Bonus: Altered States, Dead Ringers) You Must Remember Thins: Erotic 80sLonesome Dove by Larry McMurtryAdult Romantic Dramas: The English Patient, Out of Africa, Past Lives, MaterialistsMid-Budget Adventure Films: Romancing the Stone, The Lost City John’s Aladdin residuals Breakthrough cholesterol treatment can cut levels by 69% after one dose by Hatty Willmoth for BBC Science Focus One dose of experimental drug nearly wipes out stealthy cholesterol in ‘remarkable’ trial by Erika Edwards for NBC News The Pentagon Disinformation That Fueled America’s UFO Mythology by Joel Schectman and Aruna Viswanatha for WSJCalvin Kang on IngstagramWeekend Read 2 Top movies that Gen Z have never watched revealed – including Oscar-winning classics from The Sun UKGet a Scriptnotes T-shirt!Check out the Inneresting NewsletterBecome a Scriptnotes Premium member, or gift a subscriptionSubscribe to Scriptnotes on YouTubeCraig Mazin on InstagramJohn August on Bluesky and InstagramOutro by Ryan Gerberding (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.
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 3 mins
  • 693 - Setups That Don’t Feel Like Setups
    Jul 1 2025

    John and Craig plant the idea for setups that have the most satisfying payoffs. Different from exposition, setups introduce ideas and concepts to an audience, priming them for a later revelation. They look at the sleight of hand required to have your setups deftly planted, take root in your audience’s mind, and grow into something delightful.

    But first, we look at the new California tax credits, the 2025 WGA annual report, follow up on AI and VFX, postmodernism, and verticals. We also answer listener questions on music videos and outing yourself to potential employers.

    In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig look at the New York Times’ new list of the 100 best movies of the 21st century. We all know Craig loves pitting movies against each other, so there’s definitely no umbrage here.

    Links:

    • The Best Movies of the 21st Century by NY Times
    • California lawmakers approve expanded $750-million film tax credit program by Samantha Masunaga for LA Times
    • WGA Annual Report – employment and earnings, residuals
    • Michael Graves
    • How ReelShort CEO Joey Jia Used a Chinese Trend to Disrupt the U.S. Entertainment Industry by Chad De Guzman for Time Magazine
    • Sundance Labs
    • Sabrina Carpenter – Manchild
    • DJ Snake, Lil Jon – Turn Down for What
    • Madonna – Vogue
    • a-ha – Take On Me
    • Riz Ahmed – The Long Goodbye
    • Phil Collins – Don’t Lose My Number
    • 30 minutes with a stranger by Alvin Chang for The Pudding
    • Chris Perkins
    • Mike Birbiglia’s top ten movies of the 21st century
    • Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!
    • Check out the Inneresting Newsletter
    • Become a Scriptnotes Premium member, or gift a subscription
    • Subscribe to Scriptnotes on YouTube
    • Craig Mazin on Instagram
    • John August on Bluesky and Instagram
    • Outro by Spencer Lackey (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.

    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 3 mins
  • 692 - Crafting the Perfect Villain
    Jun 24 2025

    In this craft compendium, John and Craig take a look at everything you need to make your bad guys compelling, memorable, and the perfect antagonist for your story. Using some favorite villains as examples, they look at the importance of understanding their motivations and offer seven tips for making a villain unforgettable.

    We also take a look at lackeys, henchmen and making sure your evil organizations are believable.

    In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig shift their focus to monsters, and why even though those scary creatures are dangerous, they’re not always the villain.

    Links:

    • Scriptnotes Episode 75 – Villains
    • Scriptnotes Episode 590 – Anti-Villains
    • Scriptnotes Episode 465 – The Lackeys Know What They’re Doing
    • Scriptnotes Episode 257 – Flaws are Features
    • Every Villain is a Hero
    • Writing Better Bad Guys
    • Screenwriting and the Problem of Evil
    • Mama
    • The 1000 Deaths of Wile E. Coyote by T.B.D.
    • Why do good people do bad things? by Daniel Effron
    • Why some people are willing to challenge behavior they see as wrong despite personal risk by Catherine A. Sanderson
    • The Monsters Know What They’re Doing blog and book
    • Austin Powers deleted scene, “Henchman’s Wife”
    • Redshirt
    • 7 Tips for Creating Unforgettable Villains
    • How Christopher Nolan writes a movie on our YouTube!
    • Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!
    • Check out the Inneresting Newsletter
    • Become a Scriptnotes Premium member, or gift a subscription
    • Subscribe to Scriptnotes on YouTube
    • Craig Mazin on Instagram
    • John August on Bluesky and Instagram
    • Outro by Matthew Chilelli (send us yours!)
    • Segments produced by Stuart Friedel, Megana Rao, and Drew Marquardt.
    • Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli.

    Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

    You can download the episode here.

    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 16 mins
No reviews yet