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Scriptnotes Podcast

John August and Craig Mazin
Screenwriting
Hollywood
Character Development
Film Industry
Chernobyl
Scriptnotes
Three Page Challenge
Big Fish
Storytelling
Moneyball
Scriptnotes Book
Artificial Intelligence
Billy Beane
Satan
Structure
Puzzle Box Storytelling
Severance
Brad Pitt
Clueless
Rosemary's Baby

Screenwriters John August and Craig Mazin discuss screenwriting and related topics in the film and television industry, everything from getting stuff written to the vagaries of copyright and work-for-hire law.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes40Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
TV & Film

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Artwork for Scriptnotes Podcast

Latest Episodes

How do you answer the question, "What is your project about?"

Recorded live at the Austin Film Festival, John is joined by Scriptnotes all-stars Pamela Ribon and Phil Hay to talk about loglines, framing, and communicating the deeper message behind ... more

What are storytellers' responsibilities when it comes to real-life figures? How much fiction can you blend with fact?

You Can See Everything is the latest film exploring Elizabeth Holmes, the fascinating and singular Theranos founder. In light of i... more

John and Craig welcome a long-awaited guest: Andrew Stanton, writer-director behind many beloved Pixar films including Finding Nemo, Monsters, Inc., WALL-E, and the Toy Story franchise.

They talk about making sequels, Andrew's approach to storytell... more

Since the dawn of storytelling, there have been archetypes. What aspects of archetypes are actually useful for writers? And how do we move beyond tropes to create complex characters?

Pick a card, any card! John and Craig play around with the upcomi... more

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Recent Guests

Pamela Ribon
Writer, filmmaker, and author whose credits include Moana and Ralph Breaks the Internet
Episode: 759 - What It's About? Moving Beyond Loglines
Phil Hay
Screenwriter whose credits include The Invitation and Destroyer
Episode: 759 - What It's About? Moving Beyond Loglines
Liz Meriwether
Writer and creator of The Dropout and New Girl
Episode: 758 - Revisiting The Dropout
Liz Hannah
Writer and showrunner of The Dropout and The Girl From Plainville
Episode: 758 - Revisiting The Dropout
Andrew Stanton
Writer and director of Pixar films including Finding Nemo, Monsters, Inc., WALL-E and Toy Story
Pixar
Episode: 757 - Nerding Out on Story with Andrew Stanton
Lauren Loesberg
Scriptnotes coordinator directing her short film
USC Star Program / Scriptnotes
Episode: 755 - Directing Your Writing
Ava Victor
Actor and director featured in episodes about directing
Various projects including Sorry Baby
Episode: 755 - Directing Your Writing
Zoe Kazan
Actress, screenwriter, and playwright
Episode: 754 - East of Eden with Zoe Kazan
Aaron Sorkin
Writer, director, and showrunner
The Social Network, The West Wing, Moneyball, The Social Reckoning
Episode: 753 - The One with Aaron Sorkin

Hosts

John August
Host of Scriptnotes; discusses screenwriting topics; long-running industry-focused conversations.
Craig Mazin
Co-host of Scriptnotes; discusses screenwriting topics; lead discussions on scope and industry shifts.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 4.6k ratings
  • Great podcast minus Craig talking too much

    Craig -please stop being a fan boy and talking more than the guests. You seriously sound like Chris Farley in the SNL sketch.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JDHbooks
    United Statesa month ago
  • Experts at screenwriting, experts at podcasting!

    John and Craig have amazing chemistry, deep knowledge and

    are clearly masters of their craft. The show is a delight to listen to. As a game designer, I find their advice applies to my craft as well. While I know it’s not the show’s focus, I wouldn’t mind them talking more about games, or have guests on that write for games as the skills and knowledge are transferable. Keep up the good work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MightyBedbug
    United States2 months ago
  • From a French fan <3

    I love u guys! Listening to your podcast from Paris, France 😊 You’re inspiring me every week. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NKTS
    France6 months ago
  • I keep freaking falling for it

    I think they’re going to talk about something important related to craft, pitching, etc. and then I have to listen to thirty minutes of discussion about when to proofread an email.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Amuletmood
    United States10 months ago
  • Engaging and informative

    One of my four must-listen-weekly shows

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mat Everywhere
    Australiaa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate practical craft tips and candid industry critiques.
Some episodes spark political disagreements or polarized reactions but remain highly valued for expertise.
High-quality guests and deep dives into showrunning and writing.
Engaging and informative; a must-listen for craft and industry insight.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#133
United States/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#59
United Kingdom/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#130
Canada/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#98
Germany/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#103
Australia/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#104
France/TV & Film

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

759 - What It's About? Moving Beyond Loglines
Q: How do you figure out a budget for a film?
Phil Hay recommends estimating costs by comparing similar films, considering a feasible budget and scope, and getting an experienced director and producer involved to help assemble the team and seek financing.
759 - What It's About? Moving Beyond Loglines
Q: What is your documentary about?
Pamela Ribon describes One Act, a documentary following Texas high schools competing in the state's long-running one-act play competition, and connects the project to her own experience in the program.
758 - Revisiting The Dropout
Q: At what stage did legal get involved? At what stage? How early did it happen? And how much was a factor in the story you ended up being able to tell?
Hannah says legal was consulted while the pilot was being written and remained involved throughout. Researchers and lawyers checked source material, including text messages, and legal review affected details, rights, and how events could be represented.
758 - Revisiting The Dropout
Q: Liz Meriwether, how did The Dropout come to be? Like what was the first thing? Was this something you pursued? Did they come to you?
Searchlight approached Meriwether after optioning The Dropout podcast and setting up a series at Hulu with Kate McKinnon attached. She already knew the Theranos story from reporting and became interested in dramatizing Elizabeth Holmes's interior life.
756 - Archetypes
Q: What have been the best moments of unscripted alchemy on your projects? Something you didn't have on the page, but when you added or suggested you couldn't imagine the project without?
The hosts describe unexpected moments in Go and Chernobyl, including actor choices and an improvised interaction with a bug. They say unscripted moments work especially well when writers and directors recognize that a spontaneous contribution fits the scene.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Scriptnotes Podcast

What is Scriptnotes Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two veteran screenwriters dissect craft and the film/TV industry through actionable tips, real-world storytelling examples, and candid conversations with practitioners. Episodes span character-driven storytelling, collaboration in writer's rooms, adaptation, production logistics, and the evolving influence of AI and streaming on writing careers. Notable strengths include a consistent, practical approach to screenwriting, deep industry context, and thoughtful guest selections from showrunning to indie filmmaking, making it a go-to for aspiring writers and professionals seeking unvarnished insight into the craft and business.

A standout feature is the long-running, dialog-driven format that blends craft pedagogy with behind-the-scenes produc... more

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How many listeners does Scriptnotes Podcast get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Scriptnotes Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Scriptnotes Podcast:

1. The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna
2. Script Apart with Al Horner
3. The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast
4. Team Deakins
5. The Town with Matthew Belloni

How many episodes of Scriptnotes Podcast are there?

Scriptnotes Podcast launched 15 years ago and published 40 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Scriptnotes Podcast?

Recent guests on Scriptnotes Podcast include:

1. Pamela Ribon
2. Phil Hay
3. Liz Meriwether
4. Liz Hannah
5. Andrew Stanton
6. Lauren Loesberg
7. Ava Victor
8. Zoe Kazan

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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