Summary of Scriptnotes 403 - How to Write a Movie

00:00:00 - 00:40:00

In "Scriptnotes 403 - How to Write a Movie," screenwriter John August discusses how to create a compelling movie by focusing on the central dramatic argument. He explains that the key to writing a great story is to have a protagonist who is lost, and who has a chance to accept the theme of the story.

• 00:00:00 In this episode, Craig Mason discusses script structure with screenwriters, focusing on the importance of understanding a character's relationship with a central dramatic argument. He explains that structure is a symptom of a character's relationship with this argument, rather than something that is done well on its own. This episode is a must-listen for any screenwriter eager to create a well-structured screenplay.
• 00:05:00 The video discusses how to write a movie, and emphasizes the importance of understanding the structure of a story. It explains that there are three main ways a story can change -internal, interpersonal, and external - and that every scene begins with a truth. The video concludes by emphasizing the importance of being a 'actor' in storywriting.
• 00:10:00 In this Scriptnotes episode, screenwriter John August discusses how to write a movie by focusing on the central dramatic argument. The episode is easy to read and takes about 30 minutes.
• 00:15:00 In "Scriptnotes 403 - How to Write a Movie," John August discusses how to create an inciting incident that will force a character to make a choice, and how to develop a character's fear. He points out that in order to write a frightening hero, the protagonist has to be honest about what they want, and that the second act is where the real action happens.
• 00:20:00 In this Scriptnotes 403 video, writer and filmmaker Craig Mazin discusses how to write a traditional Hollywood movie. He discusses how to create tension and excitement in the second act by giving the hero new challenges and opportunities. Mazin also discusses how to introduce a moment of harmony between the hero's beliefs and the right side of the central dramatic argument.
• 00:25:00 In "Scriptnotes 403 - How to Write a Movie," screenwriter and podcast host John August discusses how to create a movie with a dramatic reversal. The example he uses is Jose Fernandez, an all-star pitcher who died in a boating accident. The irony of the situation makes the tragedy of the beginning more poignant for the viewer.
• 00:30:00 In this Scriptnotes episode, John August discusses the idea of a "hero's journey" and how it applies to storywriting. He points out that a protagonist's journey should be both anti-thematic and theme-driven, and that in order to create a compelling story, the protagonist needs to be lost. He also discusses how to create a situation in which the protagonist has a chance to accept the theme of the story.
• 00:35:00 In Scriptnotes 403, John August discusses how to write a movie, emphasizing the importance of creating a defining moment for the protagonist that tests their faith in the theme. He gives the example of Marlin trying to let Dory live and how Pixar creates a perfect mechanism to tempt the protagonist and then forces them to act.
• 00:40:00 Scriptnotes discusses how to write a good movie, with particular attention to the importance of theme. The show notes for this episode include a transcript of the episode, a list of episode recommendations, and a scriptnotes listeners guide.