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Scriptnotes Podcast

John August and Craig Mazin
Screenwriting
Hollywood
Character Development
Film Industry
Chernobyl
Scriptnotes
Three Page Challenge
Big Fish
Moneyball
Scriptnotes Book
Artificial Intelligence
Billy Beane
Storytelling
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

Today, we welcome longtime fantasy guest, Aaron Sorkin (A Few Good Men, The West Wing, The Social Network) to talk through his writing process and tease his upcoming film, The Social Reckoning.

Does Aaron Sorkin use outlines? Where does he begin? A... more

Think of this as a crash course in general meetings.

In this compendium, John, Craig and Scriptnotes intern, Lauren, mine previous episodes for advice on the bewildering "general." They aim to answer every question you've had about general meetings... more

What if you zigged when you thought you should have zagged? As an actress, a writer, a showrunner, and a host, Erin Gibson's career has been unpredictable. But look closer and you see it's driven by consistent values, smart timing, and the universal ... more

The year was 2011. We had Occupy Wall Street, Hangover II, 50 Shades of Grey… and a podcast named Scriptnotes. On this episode, John and Craig celebrate their podcast Quinceañera, marking fifteen years together on mic.

They reflect on their very fi... more

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Recent Guests

Aaron Sorkin
Writer, director, and showrunner
The Social Network, The West Wing, Moneyball, The Social Reckoning
Episode: 753 - The One with Aaron Sorkin
Pamela Ribbon
Writer/teacher who led workshops on talking about yourself as a writer
Independent / Animation
Episode: 752 - General Meetings
Meghna Rao
Producer
Scriptnotes / Industry
Episode: 752 - General Meetings
Erin Gibson
Actor, TV correspondent, viral video director, animation showrunner, live-action writer and EP; co-host of Attitudes
Episode: 751 - Assembling a Career with Erin Gibson
Paul W. Downs
Co-creator and writer/producer behind Hacks
Hacks / They're saying it
Episode: 747 - Wrapping It Up with Hacks
Lucia Aniello
Co-creator and writer/producer behind Hacks
Hacks / Broad City
Episode: 747 - Wrapping It Up with Hacks
Rashida Jones
Actress and writer collaborating on The Invite
The Invite team
Episode: 744 - The Invite with Rashida Jones and Will McCormack
Will McCormack
Screenwriter and actor collaborating on The Invite
The Invite team
Episode: 744 - The Invite with Rashida Jones and Will McCormack
Ryan Condal
Co-creator and showrunner of House of the Dragon
HBO
Episode: 743 - Thinking on Your Feet with Ryan Condal

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 4.5k ratings
  • 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 Statesa month 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
    France4 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 States8 months ago
  • Engaging and informative

    One of my four must-listen-weekly shows

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mat Everywhere
    Australiaa year ago
  • Film. Not politics.

    Was very excited for this podcast. Unfortunately the crazy swerve into how “truth social is a funny way to lie” was it for me. I’m not even a republican. It’s a toxic us vs them landscape and I won’t have any part of it.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    J. Rousal
    United Statesa 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
#52
United States/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#10
United Kingdom/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#30
Canada/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#25
France/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#26
Italy/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#31
Australia/TV & Film

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

751 - Assembling a Career with Erin Gibson
Q: How do you deal with the internal weather of being a writer and manage anxiety about ideas?
Erin shares strategies about writing through anxiety, vomit drafts, and giving oneself permission to produce first drafts without overthinking, emphasizing the importance of starting and iterating.
751 - Assembling a Career with Erin Gibson
Q: Erin Gibson, talk about your experience with agents and managers and the writers you're hiring on to your show. How did you get your reps?
Erin describes an unconventional path through relationships, emphasizes working with producers who align with you, and notes that reps often come after proven collaboration with producers rather than solely from chasing agents.
748 - One Room Movies
Q: How do you handle phone call scenes to avoid confusing the audience with too many headers?
Choose either to stay on one side of the conversation with intercutting as needed, or clearly signal both sides, aiming for clarity and cinematic flow rather than a literal beat-for-beat replication of a real phone call.
745 - Road Trip
Q: Hi there. What editing routine do you follow when working on a novel versus a script, and how do you measure progress during editing?
Editing a novel is about chapter-by-chapter restructuring and measuring progress by revising chunks; a daily word count is less meaningful. For script-related projects, progress often comes from focused work on episodes or scenes and balancing narrative beats. The key is to iterate with a sense of momentum and to read aloud or test the pacing to catch parts that drag.
744 - The Invite with Rashida Jones and Will McCormack
Q: What was the rehearsal process like and how did it influence the final script?
We did a five-day workshop before filming, rewriting in real time with actors and director input, which allowed ideas to emerge in the room and be woven into the draft on the fly.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
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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. The No Film School Podcast
5. IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit

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.

How do I contact Scriptnotes Podcast?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Scriptnotes Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on Scriptnotes Podcast?

Recent guests on Scriptnotes Podcast include:

1. Aaron Sorkin
2. Pamela Ribbon
3. Meghna Rao
4. Erin Gibson
5. Paul W. Downs
6. Lucia Aniello
7. Rashida Jones
8. Will McCormack

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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