John and Craig wonder, how has TV changed in the last ten years? They compare what’s better and worse, the tradeoffs between quality and quantity, how curation is changing, the pros and cons of shorter seasons, and what this all means for writers and viewers.

We also look forward to our time at the Austin Film Festival, offer paths for writers to keep their health insurance, follow up on Three Page Challenge selections that actually got made, and answer listener questions on adapting a screenplay into an audio drama and payment for work after a script is turned in.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig looks at what makes a damn fine cup of coffee.

Links:

• Going to the Austin Film Festival this year? Submit for our LIVE Three Page Challenge here!
• Entertainment Community Fund Services & Programs
• Signed editions of the Scriptnotes Book
• Destination: Earth audio drama
• Weekend Read
• Episode 163: Ghost
• WGA Showrunner Training Program
• Phantom Ink
• The House of Tesla
• Preorder 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
• Scriptnotes on Instagram
• John August on Bluesky and Instagram
• Outro by Nick Moore (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.

John and Craig discuss short films: what makes a great short, when should you make one, and what should you realistically expect out of it? We also update our predictions on whether the career of “screenwriter” can survive potential global catastrophes.

We then answer listener questions on staff writer wages and using URLs in a script.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig talk intermissions and why more movies should have them.

Links:

• Remembering Sundance Institute Founder, Robert Redford
• John’s post on Robert Redford
• Digital Dungeons and Dragons Die
• Tally to vote for Scriptnotes Live Shows
• Scriptnotes Episode 334, Worst Case Scenarios, Transcript
• Maccy App
• DEVO Documentary on Netflix
• Megana Rao on Instagram and X
• Preorder 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
• Scriptnotes on Instagram
• John August on Bluesky and Instagram
• Outro by Luke Davis (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.

John welcomes back Liz Hannah (The Post, The Girl from Plainville) to discuss how to construct and communicate setting in a script. They talk about the balance between establishing a sense of space while avoiding the beginner’s mistake of over-blocking.

We also follow up on accountability groups, last looks, and French composers. Then, we answer listener questions on revisions and getting your Hollywood Card revoked.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Liz consider how to explain screenwriting to your kids (and others).

LINKS:

• Bob The Musical has a Director!
• Download Weekend Read on the App Store
• Oxo Carbon Steel Pan
• Dehv Candle Company
• Apply for a student license for Highland Pro!
• Interested in being our new UI/UX designer? More info here!
• Preorder 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
• Scriptnotes on Instagram
• John August on Bluesky and Instagram
• Liz Hannah on Instagram
• Outro by Spencer Lackey (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.