After a difficult few weeks in Los Angeles, John welcomes writer, director and actor Jesse Eisenberg to peel apart the complicated human reactions to grief and loss. They look at how both collective and personal grief inform the characters of Jesse’s latest film, A Real Pain, and reflect on the ongoing LA fires and the loss of David Lynch.

They also explore Jesse’s evolution as a writer, directing himself as an actor, and answer listener questions on artistic signatures and simultaneous perspectives in action.

In our bonus segment for premium members, Jesse and John look at the creative opportunities and frustrating restrictions of making radio dramas and audiobooks.

Links:

A Real Pain | Screenplay
Jesse Eisenberg
WGAW Wildfire Resources
David Lynch
Mongolia by Jesse Eisenberg, Tablet Magazine
Jesse’s plays The Revisionist and The Spoils
Network of Time
Floyd Collins the Musical
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Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram
John August on BlueSky, Threads and Instagram
Outro by Nico Mansy (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.

Dominik Spenst

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