628 - The Fandom Menace

John and Craig discuss the dynamics of fandom, attempting to chart how things get cool, then hot, then terrible. But how are fandoms organized? Where do subcultures start? And how should you engage with the community that forms around your work?

We also look at an alternative screenplay format from one of last year’s best screenplays, and follow up on bake-offs, distracting accuracies in fiction, and UK writing credits. We then answer questions on original songs, packaging your script, and what you can do when you suspect you’ve been ripped off.

In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig look at the many various fandoms and do their best to enrage them.

Links:

• The Tiffany Problem
• ‘Harry Potter’ TV Series Zeroes In On Premise As Selected Writers Pitch Their Ideas To Max
• WGGB Screenwriting Credits Agreement
• Ig Nobel Prize – “Please stop, I’m Bored”
• Anatomy of a Fall – Screenplay
• Podcasters Took Up Her Sister’s Murder Investigation. Then They Turned on Her by Sarah Viren for the New York Times
• Geeks, MOPs, and sociopaths in subculture evolution by David Chapman
• Going Zero by Anthony McCarten
• The Devil by Jessica Mazin on Spotify
• Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!
• Check out the Inneresting Newsletter
• Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription!
• Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram
• John August on Threads, Instagram and Twitter
• John on Mastodon
• Outro by Jessica Mazin (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.