John August | Screenwriting Advice You’ll Actually Use | Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out Podcast

[@mrv4066]

Went to NYU Grad Film and I can say without hesitation is that what John August imparts in 10 minutes is more valuable than all of what NYU attempts to teach in the whole course of their joke of a program. What a talented, generous guy. Thank you.

[@AnnabelleLeeTx]

Love John August. Great conversationalist, and very generous with his knowledge. Hope to see Craig on as well

[@kurthummelstan]

Craig was on in May 2023!

[@Randhyll_Cho]

These are my two favorite podcasts crashing into one. Really excited about this one.

[@johnnytyler1]

Great episode! I hope you do another interview with him, and talk to him more about the business of screenwriting -- mangers, agents, lawyers, using pitchdecks and one sheets, how to build relationships, ect.

[@KevinGalindo]

One advice that I love and I think works for all sorts of creative ventures is: Intentionally limit your creative efforts to specific areas. It’s a great way to fight writer’s block and develop your craft. For example, if you are writing a joke, instead of writing an entirely new one, write alternative tags for a joke you love. If you are writing a story, borrow the characters you love and put them in a different setting. If you are writing a song, take a melody you love and write different lyrics to it. It’s an amazing exercise to get started and work on your craft since you have the original to compare it to.

[@ccwoodlands1565]

There was a scene that had been cut out of the movie “Millions” that was added back in the DVD. I vaguely remember it was a scene between the little boy Damian talking to the imaginary nun. It was important to add it back.

[@JeremyForTheWin]

Wish we'd aim AI towards housing the unhomed and addressing societies ills instead of attempting to automate the pursuits that make us human.

[@buckycore]

There are groups who are doing so. It's just not as sexy nor glamourous to hear about that sector of AI use on the news or on KZbin.

[@zachmorley158]

“We.” Whatever that means…

[@JeremyForTheWin]

@@zachmorley158 humanity?

[@zachmorley158]

@@JeremyForTheWin It's just such a whimsical and useless point. We. Humanity. Humanity never makes collective decisions. Elites make decisions and humanity follows. Always has been and always will be. What are you doing personally to cloth the naked, feed the hungry, and house the homeless? If WE all individually asked what we were doing personally to ameliorate these problems more would actually get done. Instead we wait around for a savior to come out of thin air (invariably from among the elite (who else?), an elite who are elite because they are particularly ruthless and sociopathic by nature).

[@trinaolson7131]

I'm a writer - this was so helpful! Thank you for sharing the conversation with us!

[@ccwoodlands1565]

John and Craig are excellent! Listen to their podcast.

[@CarlDixonOfficial]

Yeck yeah, great talk.

[@nolanthornton9851]

This was fantastic!!!

[@robgreenspan9389]

2 of my favorite creators!

[@damnjjwtf]

Catastrophe was SO underrated. ♥

[@squeaky_buddha]

Thank you!

[@v-22]

What is the name of the TV show they mentioned at 11:00?

[@kurthummelstan]

It's Cole Escola's soon-to-be-on-Broadway play "Oh Mary"

[@4-a-e]

The dide is the real deal. The 9s is such a mindblower for me.

[@chriscam23041]

Awesome

[@tramphibian]

Craig Mazin on Working it Out, May 2023: "John August does the so-called vomit draft." John August on Working it Out, May 2024: "I never do the vomit draft." These guys know how to tell a story.

[@chrisgonzalez91]

Does anyone know how to find the conflict episode he mentions? I tried looking for it on the script notes podcast.

[@VertigoDefinitivo]

You have to pay for a subscription to listen to the old episodes. But you can read the transcripts in their site for free.

[@autofocus4556]

Go is underrated. Fun film.

[@austinsmith1285]

It's somewhat depressing that a gay version of the mainstream teen comedy like Bottoms, very common in the 80s-90s, now barely exists and is known as a marginal indie film.

[@javelinman7]

This show felt short, lifeless, and lifelessness. August disappoints, and yet I am here for that. I learned more than I didn't. One toe up from me.

[@humidhaney]

Ha. Ya baby.

[@ccwoodlands1565]

Film school is a great way to lose 4 years of your life and a ton of money that is not going to get you a job to recoup your investment. Get a job in something that will pay you every day and write at night and weekends.

[@MrinmayChakravarty-jf4nr]

Thanks sir I was wondering how do I learn and make connections without film school

[@SortOfEggish]

Does the "Big" in Birbiglia come from the ever-increasing size of his head?