Second City Works presents "Getting to Yes, And" Getting to Yes, And… | John August – “Scriptnotes”
Jan 1, 2026
John August, screenwriter of Big Fish and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and co-host of Scriptnotes, chats about storytelling craft and podcast intimacy. They cover giving and receiving notes, applying screenwriting to business, world-building, stakes and conflict, improv principles, and how comedy and industry practices are evolving.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Give Notes That Point Forward
- When giving notes, speak towards a future vision rather than away from problems.
- Be humble: state reactions as opinions and propose concrete, context-aware solutions.
Acknowledge Conflicting Notes
- If you give notes, acknowledge contradictions in written feedback instead of gaslighting the writer.
- Help the writer understand why conflicting notes exist and how to prioritize them.
Ask How Writers Want Notes
- Ask writers how they prefer to receive notes (timing and format) and tailor delivery.
- Match note delivery to the writer's capacity to hear and implement feedback.
