Scriptnotes Podcast

Latest Episodes:

756 - Archetypes Oct 13, 2026

Show notes

Since the dawn of storytelling, there have been archetypes. What aspects of archetypes are actually useful for writers? And how do we move beyond tropes to create complex characters?

Pick a card, any card! John and Craig play around with the upcoming Creator Character Kit. They draw archetype cards and imagine multifaceted characters that embody those qualities.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig talk home cinema hardware: screens and projectors.

Links:

Character Creator Kit
L.A. World's "The One Street that Explains LA"

Download the episode here!

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

755 - Directing Your Writing Oct 06, 2026

Show notes

What changes when you take off your writer hat and put on your director hat? In this compendium episode, John, Craig, and Scriptnotes coordinator Lauren Loesberg review directing advice previously given on the podcast.

John and Craig offer Lauren pointers on directing her next project. They also answer a listener question about directing actors "on the page."

In our bonus segment for premium subscribers, we discuss film festivals. Why would writers go? And what can you expect to get out of the experience?

Links:

Download the episode here!

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

754 - East of Eden with Zoe Kazan Sep 29, 2026

Show notes

John welcomes writer and actress Zoe Kazan (Ruby Sparks, The Big Sick, She Said) to talk about her sweeping and thorough reimagining of East of Eden, releasing on Netflix on October 1st. They discuss her approach to period piece dialogue, the process of adapting such an expansive novel, and the family history behind this particular project.

Rich with biblical parallels, East of Eden is a perfect story for a discussion of archetypes. John invites Zoe to pull cards from the upcoming Character Creator Kit in a conversation about the iconic East of Eden antagonist, Cathy.

In our bonus segment for premium subscribers, John asks Zoe about her experience growing up with two screenwriter parents.

Links:

Writer Emergency Pack: Character Creator Kit
why I can't stop thinking about Papua New Guinea by Daniel Frank

Download the episode here!

Scriptnotes is produced by Meredith Stedman and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Our coordinator is Lauren Loesberg.

Outro by Adam Pineless (send us yours!)

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

753 - The One with Aaron Sorkin Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

Today, we welcome longtime fantasy guest, Aaron Sorkin (A Few Good Men, The West Wing, The Social Network) to talk through his writing process and tease his upcoming film, The Social Reckoning.

Does Aaron Sorkin use outlines? Where does he begin? And does he have any more ideas? All these questions and more will be answered. John also presents a couple of Sorkin's own scenes as a case study on writing conflict.

In our bonus segment for premium subscribers, we discuss Sorkin's projects that never got produced. Now you see it… now you don't.

Links:

Download the episode here!

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

752 - General Meetings Sep 15, 2026

Show notes

Think of this as a crash course in general meetings.

In this compendium, John, Craig and Scriptnotes intern, Lauren, mine previous episodes for advice on the bewildering "general." They aim to answer every question you've had about general meetings, over the years: What are they? What's discussed? And how do you get one?

In our bonus segment for premium subscribers, John and Craig swap stories about their best, worst, and first general meetings.

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

751 - Assembling a Career with Erin Gibson Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

What if you zigged when you thought you should have zagged? As an actress, a writer, a showrunner, and a host, Erin Gibson's career has been unpredictable. But look closer and you see it's driven by consistent values, smart timing, and the universal currency of comedy. John seeks her insight on going with the flow.

John and Erin answer listener questions about connecting with reps, sorting through your idea bank, and managing your emotions while writing. They also encourage listeners to praise colleagues and strangers. Just send the email!

In our bonus segment for premium subscribers, John talks to Erin about moving out of LA "before it was cool."

Links:

Attitudes! Podcast
Gay of Thrones
Feminasty
Zach Cregger's "Elf Draft" Concept (11:43)
Tuffy's Tug-O-War Dog Toy
Agnes Pelton
The Wax Child by Olga Ravn

Scriptnotes is produced by Meredith Stedman and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Our coordinator is Lauren Loesberg.

Outro by Matt Gillespie (send us yours!).

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

750 - Quinceañera Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

The year was 2011. We had Occupy Wall Street, Hangover II, 50 Shades of Grey… and a podcast named Scriptnotes. On this episode, John and Craig celebrate their podcast Quinceañera, marking fifteen years together on mic.

They reflect on their very first episode, the content and cultural moments that marked 2011, and everything that's changed since.

In our bonus segment for premium subscribers, John and Craig look forward fifteen years to make predictions on the year 2041.

Links:

Walgreens with Mom Playlist by Danny Carney
First Blossom in the Orchard by John Stokes

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

749 - Famous People with Taffy Brodesser-Akner Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

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

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

748 - One Room Movies Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

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

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

747 - Wrapping It Up with Hacks Aug 11, 2026

Show notes

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:

Links:

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

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