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Scriptnotes Podcast

702 - Last Looks

Scriptnotes Podcast

John August

Screenwriter, Tv & Film, Writing, John, Screenwriting, August, Craig, Screenplay, Mazin

4.82.7K Ratings

🗓️ 2 September 2025

⏱️ 89 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

John and Craig welcome back producer Megana Rao, who has a question: how do you polish a script before sending it out? From obvious things like typos and title pages to tougher choices like cutting and transitions, they look at what to consider on a final pass so you can email your script with confidence.

Then it’s another round of the Three Page Challenge, where we look at three listener-submitted scripts to offer our honest feedback on what’s working and what could use another pass. We also follow-up on advice for general meetings.

In our bonus segment for premium members, what makes a great score? We look at the function of the soundtrack for feature films and how to work with composers.

Links:

Email us at [email protected]

You can download the episode here.

 

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Hey, this is John. A standard warning for people who are in the car with their kids. There's some swearing in this episode.

0:08.8

Hello and welcome. My name is John August.

0:11.9

My name is Craig Muser. And you're listening to Episode 702 of Script Notes. It's a podcast about screenwriting and things that are interesting to screenwriters.

0:20.6

We often discuss how to start a script. Today on the show. How do you finish one?

0:24.3

We'll discuss last looks, those final steps when you think you're done, but you need to get your

0:28.0

script ready to hand in. We'll then apply some of those lessons to samples we're reading

0:31.8

for a new round or the three-page challenge, where we look at the first three pages of scripts

0:36.1

our listeners have sent in and offer

0:37.9

our honest feedback. Today we'll have bonus feedback because our beloved scripted house producer

0:42.2

Megana Rao is sitting here to the left of me to help us out. I thank you so much for letting

0:47.0

me come back. I have so many questions on this topic. And you have a very specific question about

0:50.6

last looks because that's prompted the whole episode. Yes.

0:59.4

I mean, we don't let you come back. It's not like you're begging us all the time. We're like no and then finally we let you. I mean, I personally want you here.

1:03.0

Thank you. I can't speak for John.

1:05.5

It's fantastic to have you here. Trying out some new stuff in the studio here. We don't have

1:09.6

headphones on it, which is strange, but good. I feel naked. It is a little nudifying. Also, I have always loved the vibe of bald men wearing headphones because we all look like Lobot from Empire Strikes Back, which I think is amazing. But yeah, it's just regular. It's just regular. Yeah.

1:27.6

Yeah, that's fine.

1:28.2

Bye.

1:28.8

In our bonus segment from premium members,

1:26.1

let's discuss musical scores and the function of the soundtrack in feature films. So we had a question about that. And we haven't dug it very much into that. So I want to talk about what we're looking for in music in the things we make. We have no items in the overall news category,

1:28.8

but I want to talk about something new I learned this week.

1:29.9

So not new to me. Okay. in the things we make. We have no items in the overall news category, but I want to talk about

...

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