568 - Writing as Acting
Scriptnotes Podcast
John August
4.8 • 2.8K Ratings
🗓️ 27 September 2022
⏱️ 50 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
John and Craig analyze what lessons writers can learn from acting techniques (such as staying present) and working with actors (like staying open).
We also discuss writer retirement, how Craig’s “central dramatic argument” applies to TV, and the skill of cutting a character to save a scene.
In our bonus segment for premium members, we discuss The Future and what we owe it.
Links:
- Writer Emergency Pack XL is funded! Support here on Kickstarter!
- Green Burial Council and Is California ready for ‘human composting’ as an alternative to casket burial, cremation? by Anabel Sosa for the LA Times
- John’s Blogpost on Fake Tears
- Scriptnotes Episode 76: How screenwriters find their voice
- Scriptnotes Episode 403: How to Write A Movie
- Patton Oswalt on King of Queens
- Cut A Character Save A Scene on John’s Blog
- Ants Outnumber Everything by Dino Grandoni for the Washington Post
- Why Question Words Start with Wh on Reddit
- Bo Shim’s LA Food Guide: Western Doma Noodles hole-in-the-wall treasure, MDK Noodles in K-town, Zzamong for Jjjangmyun, KyoChon for fried chicken–especially the honey wings, Aliya Lavaland for (lava) mooncakes, Mandarin Noodle House in Monterey Park
- What We Owe the Future by William Macaskill
- Candy Corn Infused Vodka
- Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!
- Check out the Inneresting Newsletter
- Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription!
- Craig Mazin on Twitter
- John August on Twitter
- John on Instagram
- Outro by Nico Mansy (send us yours!)
- Scriptnotes is produced by Megana Rao and edited by Matthew Chilelli.
Email us at ask@johnaugust.com
You can download the episode here.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hello and welcome. |
| 0:02.8 | My name is John August. |
| 0:04.0 | Oh, oh, um, right. |
| 0:07.5 | My name is Craig Mason. |
| 0:08.8 | This is episode 568 of ScripNodes, a podcast about screenwriting and things that are interesting |
| 0:14.3 | to screenwriters. |
| 0:15.3 | Today on the show, there are actors and there are writers, but deep down what is the difference |
| 0:19.5 | between writing and acting and how can writers use the techniques of acting to help build |
| 0:23.4 | effective scenes? |
| 0:24.4 | Hmm. |
| 0:25.4 | We'll also discuss retirement, cutting characters and how the central dramatic argument |
| 0:29.6 | applies to TV. |
| 0:30.6 | Okay. |
| 0:31.6 | And in our bonus statement from premium members, we will discuss the future and what we owe |
| 0:35.8 | it. |
| 0:36.8 | Nothing. |
| 0:37.8 | God dang. |
| 0:38.8 | Now we owe the future something. |
| 0:40.3 | But it's a question of how much and how much we should prioritize near-term solutions versus |
| 0:45.6 | long-term solutions and other such things. |
| 0:48.2 | Great. |
| 0:49.2 | Great. |
... |
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