The No Film School Podcast

John August Wants to Make Your (Screenwriting) Life Easier

Jan 2, 2025

51:31

In this episode of No Film School, GG Hawkins and Jason Hellerman chat with John August, an acclaimed screenwriter, podcaster, and software developer. Known for films like Big Fish and Aladdin, as well as co-hosting Scriptnotes with Craig Mazin, John August discusses his career, the evolution of screenwriting tools, and how he's simplifying life for writers with his app, Highland.

In this episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins, Jason Hellerman, and John August discuss:

John’s journey from journalism major to one of Hollywood’s most recognized screenwriters
How working across different mediums—from novels to musicals—has shaped his storytelling
The philosophy behind creating Highland, a screenwriting app designed to keep writers in the flow
Practical advice for writers starting out in today’s industry

Memorable Quotes:

“Your ability to have an idea but then actually articulate the idea… to yourself, to your team, and to the audience is so fundamental and so important.”
“When I see something in the world that bothers me, I try to fix it. My instinct is to get involved and figure it out.”
“A screenplay is a luxury. You know you have about 120 pages. There are constraints, and those constraints help you figure out what’s important.”

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