Scriptnotes Podcast podcast

Scriptnotes Podcast

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.

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.

 

#20

731 - Avoidance and Other Anti-Quests

John and Craig flip the idea of motivation on its head and ask, what are your characters r... more

14 Apr 2026

52 MINS

52:12

14 Apr 2026


#19

SC39 - Sidecast: The 2026 MBA

There's a brand new agreement between the WGA and the AMPTP! And since John was the co-cha... more

10 Apr 2026

17 MINS

17:53

10 Apr 2026


#18

89 - Writing effective transitions (Encore)

John and Craig connect the dots on transitions and how they can be just as important as th... more

07 Apr 2026

58 MINS

58:40

07 Apr 2026


#17

730 - A Frank Conversation About Screenwriting

John sits down with the Northwest Screenwriters Guild at an event to promote the Scriptnot... more

31 Mar 2026

49 MINS

49:13

31 Mar 2026


#16

729 - Endings Compendium, Part II

In our first sequel compendium, John and Craig revisit four of their best segments dedicat... more

24 Mar 2026

1 HR 04 MINS

1:04:23

24 Mar 2026


#15

728 - Beats to Scenes with Drew Goddard

John welcomes back Drew Goddard (Project Hail Mary, High Potential) to ask, how do you tur... more

17 Mar 2026

58 MINS

58:50

17 Mar 2026


#14

197 - How do bad movies get made? (Encore)

John and Craig revisit a favorite episode focused on a single topic: bad movies and how th... more

10 Mar 2026

1 HR 05 MINS

1:05:22

10 Mar 2026


#13

727 - Free Work

John and Craig tackle the scourge of free work and offer strategies to avoid it. They look... more

03 Mar 2026

56 MINS

56:39

03 Mar 2026


#12

726 - So you've been nominated for an Oscar

John welcomes writer-directors Natalie Musteata and Alexandre Singh (Two People Exchanging... more

24 Feb 2026

1 HR 04 MINS

1:04:54

24 Feb 2026


#11

725 - Torn from the pages of Squash Magazine

John and Craig gather our listeners' favorite news articles and ask, How Would This Be a M... more

17 Feb 2026

56 MINS

56:06

17 Feb 2026


#10

724 - Introductions with Joachim Trier

John welcomes writer and director Joachim Trier (Sentimental Value, The Worst Person in th... more

10 Feb 2026

50 MINS

50:39

10 Feb 2026


#9

723 - Blank Meets Blank

John and Craig ask, what makes a useful comp? Writers often use comparisons when pitching ... more

03 Feb 2026

1 HR 03 MINS

1:03:47

03 Feb 2026


#8

722 - Orality, or Writing to be Spoken

John and Craig ask, are screenwriters just oral storytellers who happen to write things do... more

27 Jan 2026

53 MINS

53:45

27 Jan 2026


#7

721 - Preparing to Direct (with Eva Victor)

John and Craig welcome the actor-writer-director of the acclaimed indie Sorry, Baby to dis... more

20 Jan 2026

58 MINS

58:57

20 Jan 2026


#6

720 - Watch Your Tone

John welcomes back Susanna Fogel and David Iserson (The Spy Who Dumped Me) to steal their ... more

13 Jan 2026

1 HR 03 MINS

1:03:32

13 Jan 2026


#5

719 - When Good Enough Isn't Enough

John and Craig consider all the words they have to write and ask, how do you know when som... more

06 Jan 2026

1 HR 10 MINS

1:10:02

06 Jan 2026


#4

718 - No Worries if Not

John and Craig circle back on all the euphemisms and stock phrases that float around Holly... more

30 Dec 2025

1 HR 06 MINS

1:06:04

30 Dec 2025


#3

717 - The Screenwriting Life: The Craft Lessons That Matter Most

In a Christmas crossover event, John and Craig join Meg LeFauve (Inside Out) and Lorien Mc... more

23 Dec 2025

54 MINS

54:19

23 Dec 2025


#2

716 - Personality Typologies

John and Craig welcome back screenwriter Mike Makowsky (Death by Lightning, Bad Education)... more

16 Dec 2025

1 HR 07 MINS

1:07:27

16 Dec 2025


#1

715 - The Book Launch, Live!

John and Craig celebrate the release of the Scriptnotes Book with a sold-out show full of ... more

09 Dec 2025

1 HR 08 MINS

1:08:10

09 Dec 2025