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.

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!
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• 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.

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!
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• 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.

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
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• 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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

• Courtney Kemp on Instagram and Wikipedia
• Nemesis on Netflix
• 'Obsession' Makes History With Biggest Second-Weekend Spike in Modern Times by Pamela McClintock and Lexi Carson for The Hollywood Reporter
• The 'Pitt' Effect: A Scramble to Get Shows Back on Air Faster by Lesley Goldberg for Ankler Media
• Ryan Walker hotel reviews
• Star City
• 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 Eric Pearson (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.