Films To Be Buried With with Brett Goldstein Craig Mazin & John August (Big Fish / The Last Of Us / Scriptnotes podcast) • #377
Nov 19, 2025
Craig Mazin, the mastermind behind Chernobyl and The Last of Us, joins forces with John August, co-host of the Scriptnotes podcast and writer of Big Fish. They dive into the evolution of their podcast and the emotional toll of first cuts on projects. The duo reflects on the impacts of personal loss on storytelling and shares comedic takes on their thoughts about death and the afterlife. Highlighting their cinematic influences, they defend underrated films and explore the complexities of rewatching classics.
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Make Your Podcast A Weekly Discipline
- Do treat a weekly podcast as a discipline; consistency builds audience and voice.
- Do commit to a regular schedule to find your rhythm and grow trust with listeners.
The Skyscraper Without A Door
- Craig recalled telling the Game of Thrones creators they had built an amazing world but forgot to put a front door into it.
- He later watched the reworked pilot and praised their bravery to revise and succeed.
Nearly Losing Faith In A First Cut
- John described nearly throwing up after watching Go's first cut and fearing it would ruin his career.
- He then led a long post-production effort with reshoots to rescue the film back to a place that worked.
