Scriptnotes Podcast

Latest Episodes:

746 - How Would This Be a Crime? Aug 04, 2026

Show notes

In today's edition of "How Would This Be a Movie?" John and Craig convert felonies into films. Together, they take a few crime-related news stories and decide how they might be adapted for the screen.

They also discuss paracosms and the importance of daydreaming for budding screenwriters.

In our bonus segment for premium subscribers, John and Craig discuss prediction markets. Bet you can guess how that goes.

Episode Links:

Paracosm
Jerome Singer's research on Daydreaming
Bob Ross
Freud's 1908 essay "Creative Writers and Day-Dreaming"
Michele Root-Bernstein's study on childhood worldplay
$500 Million Estate Dispute
Luggage Tag Scheme
Uncrewed Narco Subs
Florida Cop Stalks Woman
The 40-Year-Old Man-Child by Megan Garber

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 Gloom Canyon (send us yours!).

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com.

Download the full episode here.

745 - Road Trip Jul 28, 2026

Show notes

Buckle up! John and Craig discuss the elements that make up a classic road movie. They cover the quintessential scenes, common pitfalls, and the economic quandaries you'll find in the genre.

They also answer listener questions about editing novels (versus screenplays) and the aesthetics of outlines and breakdowns.

In our bonus segment for premium subscribers, John and Craig talk about their own memorable road trips.

Links:

Wolf's Belly
Bronson Watermarker Pro
Carl Rinsch
Kathy Bates Scene from Rat Race
John's Wondery Podcast, "Launch"
It's 10pm Do You Know Where Your Children Are?
Prop House Auctions
Lords of Waterdeep

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

744 - The Invite with Rashida Jones and Will McCormack Jul 21, 2026

Show notes

John and Craig invite over Rashida Jones and Will McCormack to chat about their new film The Invite, out in theaters now.

Rashida and Will divulge the origin story and dynamics of their own writing partnership, as well as discuss the process of adapting an adaptation and writing to the truth of relationships.

In our bonus segment for premium subscribers, the four swap stories about saying goodbye to creative projects that never came to pass.

Links:

The People Upstairs (Sentimental) by Cesc Gay (Original Spanish version)
Esther Perel
Report from Out Making Games
Simpsley
The Friday Afternoon Club by Griffin Dunne
Worldpeace DMT
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Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram
John August on BlueSky, Threads, and Instagram
Outro by Makeup and Vanity Set (send us yours!)
Scriptnotes is produced by Meredith Stedman and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Our intern is Lauren Loesberg.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

676 - Writing while the World is on Fire (Encore) Jul 14, 2026

Show notes

How do you keep doing creative work when the world is falling apart around you? To sift through the despair and doubt, John welcomes back legendary Scriptnotes guest, writer-turned-psychotherapist Dennis Palumbo. They discuss the many feelings that catastrophic events can bring up in artists, the personal narratives that often inform those feelings, and how to keep moving forward when you feel like the band on the Titanic.

We also follow up on AI, and answer listener questions on competing with brain trusts and how to support a friend embroiled in controversy.

In our bonus segment for premium members, Dennis guides us through the best examples and worst mistakes of portraying therapists on screen.

Links:

"Am I Just Fiddling While Rome Burns?" by Dennis Palumbo for Psychiatric Times
Scriptnotes 99 – Psychotherapy for Screenwriters
ShotDeck
River Runner Global
At the Existentialist Café by Sarah Bakewell
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Check out the Inneresting Newsletter
Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription!
Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram
John August on BlueSky, Threads, and Instagram
Outro by Spencer Lackey (send us yours!)
Scriptnotes is produced by Meredith Stedman and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Our intern is Lauren Loesberg.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

743 - Thinking on Your Feet with Ryan Condal Jul 07, 2026

Show notes

John and Craig sit down with Ryan Condal, showrunner of House of the Dragon, just as its third season airs.

They dive into Ryan's late start in Hollywood, spec scripts, the anatomy of a writers room, and thinking as a product of movement. They also answer a listener question about the mechanics of writing a sequel.

In our bonus segment for premium subscribers, John, Craig and Ryan discuss perhaps the most popular fictional creatures ever: dragons!

Links:

I Solved My Mystery Fatigue with AI by Amy Deng
Myst by Cyan, Rand Miller & Robyn Miller
Dimhaven by Zadbox Entertainment
NordVPN
yU+co – Title sequence designers
Get your copy of the Scriptnotes book!
Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!
Check out the Inneresting Newsletter
Become a Scriptnotes Premium member, or gift a subscription
Subscribe to Scriptnotes on YouTube
Follow Scriptnotes on Instagram and TikTok
John August on Bluesky and Instagram
Outro by Matthew Chilelli (send us yours!)
Scriptnotes is produced by Meredith Stedman and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Our intern is Lauren Loesberg.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

742 - Obsession with Curry Barker Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

John and Craig welcome Curry Barker, the writer-director behind this summer's surprise blockbuster, Obsession. It's a rom-com, a horror film and a great example of trusting your audience.

We discuss Curry's roots, his writing process, learning from YouTube, as well as the pressure to follow up a hit.

In our bonus segment for premium subscribers, John and Craig pose the #1 most important question for all filmmakers to consider: What will the popcorn bucket be?

Links:

Aaron Sorkin Masterclass
The Chair by Curry Barker
Milk & Serial by Curry Barker
Humans Veer Left by Rachel Nuwer (NY Times)
The Case of the Golden Idol
Members Only Jackets
Get your copy of the Scriptnotes book!
Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!
Check out the Inneresting Newsletter
Become a Scriptnotes Premium member, or gift a subscription
Subscribe to Scriptnotes on YouTube
Follow Scriptnotes on Instagram and TikTok
John August on Bluesky and Instagram
Outro by Matthew Chilelli (send us yours!)
Scriptnotes is produced by Meredith Stedman and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Our intern is Lauren Loesberg.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

741 – Craig Takes Questions Jun 23, 2026

Show notes

This week, Craig answers listener questions about rewriting on set, AI coverage, when and how to kill off characters, sizing up producers, and more.

There's also an extra-special guest appearance for this week's One Cool Thing.

In the bonus segment for premium subscribers, Craig discusses how to be wrong—something he feels he knows all too well.

Links:

"Widow's Bay" Games: Daddy's Home & Teeth
"L.A. Law" Elevator Scene
Ed Wood (1994)
Get your copy of the Scriptnotes book!
Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!
Check out the Inneresting Newsletter
Become a Scriptnotes Premium member, or gift a subscription
Subscribe to Scriptnotes on YouTube
Follow Scriptnotes on Instagram and TikTok
John August on Bluesky and Instagram
Outro by Matthew Chilelli (send us yours!)
Scriptnotes is produced by Meredith Stedman and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Our intern is Lauren Loesberg.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

740 - On Competence Jun 16, 2026

Show notes

Why is it so satisfying to watch a highly-skilled character complete their goals? And why can it be equally hilarious to watch an incompetent character bumble through a slew of screw-ups? In this episode, John and Craig discuss how to play with competence in your characters.

We also say goodbye to our producer Drew Marquardt with a thoroughly embarrassing exit interview, and reveal our new producer. However, it's not really goodbye, because Drew will be staying on to work with John on an upcoming project (TBA).

In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig deliberate on the question: Should you quit LOUDLY?

Links:

The attack on competence by Iris Meredith
Scott Tenorman Must Die (South Park – Season 5, Episode 4)
Bartosz Ciechanowski's Curves and Surfaces
Rhubarb Breakfast Dessert by Melissa Clark
Easiest Citrus Roasted Rhubarb by "Kate Cooks"
Get your copy of the Scriptnotes book!
Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!
Check out the Inneresting Newsletter
Become a Scriptnotes Premium member, or gift a subscription
Subscribe to Scriptnotes on YouTube
Follow Scriptnotes on Instagram and TikTok
John August on Bluesky and Instagram
Outro by Matthew Chilelli (send us yours!)
Scriptnotes is produced by Meredith Stedman and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Our intern is Lauren Loesberg.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

739 - The One with David E. Kelley Jun 09, 2026

Show notes

John and Craig welcome writer and showrunner David E. Kelley (Big Little Lies, Ally McBeal) to look at his process for adapting books to TV, particularly with his latest series Margo's Got Money Troubles. They explore where to find your act breaks, crafting complicated tones, and when to trust the writer of the book.

We also look at how TV has changed over David's storied career, how he runs a writers room, creating story engines, the difference between writing for broadcast TV and streaming, and the one thing a TV show should never be.

In our bonus segment for premium members, David coaches John and Craig on how to survive a long running series.

Links:

David E. Kelley on IMDb
Margo's Got Money Troubles on AppleTV
Harvard Alcohol Project: Designated Driver
The Painful Truth About Long Covid by Alan Levinovitz for WIRED
Salmon
Get your copy of the Scriptnotes book!
Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!
Check out the Inneresting Newsletter
Become a Scriptnotes Premium member, or gift a subscription
Subscribe to Scriptnotes on YouTube
Follow Scriptnotes on Instagram and TikTok
John August on Bluesky and Instagram
Outro by Nick Moore (send us yours!)
Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Our intern is Lauren Loesberg.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.

738 - Building Your Audience with Courtney Kemp Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

John welcomes writer and showrunner Courtney Kemp (Power, Nemesis) to ask, how do you find an audience and build momentum on television? They look at how writers can match their voice to an underserved audience, the pitfalls of being boxed in by a niche, and what new writers can do to get people excited about their work.

We also chart how Courtney built her career from magazine writer to creating the television franchise Power, look at the exciting success of Obsession and Backrooms, and answer listener questions on talking to your reps about financial struggles, and how to find your project's "why now?"

In our bonus segment for premium members, Courtney shot her new show Nemesis entirely in Los Angeles, and you can too!

Links: