Podcast appearances and mentions of Craig Mazin

Pol, Kirsten, and Bud catch up on THREE WEEKS of missed pods due to scheduling difficulties, and somehow managed NOT to make it a three hour pod! Three hour pod! Bud’s Weekly Geek-out 10:06 – Samsung privacy screen tech / Discord Coming Soon 13:49 – The Mandalorian and Grogu (in theatres May 22, Super Bowl :36) 17:47 – The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (Super Bowl :30, in theatres April 1) 18v01 – Spider-Noir (Sony/Marvel series, Prime Video, May 27, colour or black & white) (Zoner Mary) 19:09 – Project Hail Mary: trailer, article explaining the revealed plot elements (in theatres March 20) _____ – Disclosure Day (Super Bowl :60, in theatres June 12) 24:06 – The Devil Wears Prada 2 (in theatres May 1) 24:28 – Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 (conveniently-timed Netflix animated series, April 23) 26:09 – Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (Apple TV series, S2, February 27) 27:48 – [STROBE LIGHT WARNING AGAIN UGH] Scream 7 (February 27) 29:53 – Michael: trailer, 2m first look (in theatres April 24) 30:04 – Rooster (10-ep miniseries, Steve Carell, John C. McGinley, HBO Max, March 8) 31:07 – In The Blink of An Eye (dir: Andrew Stanton, starring Kate McKinnon, Rashida Jones, Daveed Diggs, basically Cloud Atlas?, Disney+, film February 27) 32:25 – War Machine (Netflix film, March 6) 33:18 – Lucky (Apple TV series, Anya Taylor-Joy, Annette Bening, Timothy Olyphant, July 16) 34:30 – Exit 8 (in theatres April 10) related: Bud’s micro-R&R of The Exit 8 and Platform 8 (games) 36:16 – Supergirl (Super Bowl :30, in theatres June 26) 37:09 – What’s Your Favorite? (Pokémon Super Bowl :60, Trevor Noah, Lady Gaga, Blackpink’s Jisoo, Formula One driver Charles Leclerc, Spanish professional footballer Lamine Yamal, Canadian actor/voice actor Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, and Puerto Rican rapper, singer, songwriter and former footballer Young Miko) 40:31 – The Adventures of Cliff Booth (written by Quentin Tarantino, Directed by David Fincher, Netflix film, also in theatres sometime this year) related: Quentin Tarantino’s new Beverly Cinema goes back to its porno roots this month also related: Paul Dano reacts to Quentin Tarantino dissing him: ‘Incredibly grateful the world spoke up for me so i didn’t have to’ 44:06 – White Lotus season 4 casts Helena Bonham Carter, Chris Messina, Marissa Long (HBO series, preproduction, location reveal) 45:05 – Ted Lasso to return for fourth season this summer (Apple TV series) 45:34 – Baldur’s Gate Series in the works at HBO (creator/writer/EP/showrunner: Craig Mazin) related: The Last of Us to film S3 in BC March 2–November 27 Geek News Proper 48:30 – The Grammys 49:05 – Gone too soon: Catherine O’Hara, 71, James Van Der Beek of Dawson’s Creek, 48, Jesse Jackson, 84, and Robert Duvall, 95 59:28 – John Lithgow on playing Dumbledore in Harry Potter series and J.K. Rowling’s trans-exclusionary views Reviews and Kirstemendayshes 1:02:24 – IT: Welcome to Derry (Kirsten & Pol) 1:05:16 – The Muppet Show (Kirsten & Pol) 1:07:22 – Wonder Man (Bud) 1:09:10 – The Secret Agent (Kirsten) 1:11:22 – Fallout S2 (Kirsten & Pol) 1:13:48 – Heated Rivalry (Kirsten) 1:20:28 – Send Help (Pol) 1:22:24 – Wuthering Heights (Pol) Other stuff that didn’t make the pod – Resident Evil Requiem – Evil Has Always Had A Name: short film, article w/ background – Unable to stop AI, SAG-AFTRA mulls a studio tax on digital performers Join The Geek-out Podcast’s Facebook page (where we’ll release new episodes, and where you can talk with us) and Facebook group (where fans of the podcast can gather and talk geeky stuff)! Questions? Comments? Corrections? Suggestions? e-mail geekout@TheZone.fm Subscribe to The Zone’s Geek-out Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And, get more Zone podcasty goodness at TheZone.fm/podcast

Nesse episódio, Bruno Carvalho, Edu Aurrai e Rodrigo Cunha falam sobre as novidades do elenco do seriado de God of War; diretamente do seriado de The Last of Us da HBO, Craig Mazin produzirá a série inspirada em Baldur’s Gate, e Isabela Merced, estrelará o filme de The House of the Dead; Jason Momoa, o Lobo de Supergirl, é anunciado para o elenco do filme de Helldivers; e mais. Duração: 99 min Comentados: COMPRE O MARS 2120, METROIDVANIA BRASILEIRO: PC (STEAM) PLAYSTATION 4, PLAYSTATION 5 XBOX ONE, XBOX SERIES S|X NINTENDO SWITCH Vídeos: Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival – Love Story Trailer Diablo 30th Anniversary Spotlight

Welcome back to the Monkey Nut Punch Podcast – Episode 371, where monsters evolve, video games invade prestige TV, and Marvel keeps swinging. NEWS Fresh rumoured plot leaks for Godzilla x Kong: Supernova suggest Kong might be getting yet another upgrade. Necessary escalation… or franchise inflation? An “outstanding” sci-fi thriller hailed as a masterclass in tension gets an exciting new-season update — proof smart genre storytelling still has life. HBO is developing a Baldur's Gate series from The Last of Us co-creator Craig Mazin. Can lightning strike twice for game adaptations? Jason Momoa is set to star in a Helldivers movie, landing November 2027. Video game movies are no longer a gamble — they're the strategy. TRAILERS Spider-Noir — black & white first look teaser brings pulpy, detective energy to the Spider-verse. ONE PIECE Season 2 — Netflix doubles down on scale, spectacle, and fan service. Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 — Marvel teases a darker return. Is this the reset fans wanted? REVIEWS Starfleet Academy — bold new Trek direction or tonal misfire? Iron Lung — stripped-back horror with atmosphere… but does it hold? Like, subscribe, and tell us which franchise you think is actually evolving — and which is just levelling up for no reason. More episodes and chaos at www.mnp.ninja 

Send a textIn this episode...--> PlayStation gave us the first State of Play of the new year, and it was a banger. The 60-minute plus event brought multiple new games, updates, and more across many storied franchises, including Castlevania, God of War, Silent Hill, and more.--> Discord announced on Monday that it's rolling out age verification on its platform globally starting next month, when it will automatically set all users' accounts to a “teen-appropriate” experience unless they demonstrate that they're adults.--> Larian Studios' multi-award-winning fantasy RPG, Baldur's Gate 3, is set for its own TV series on HBO, and will be helmed by The Last of Us co-creator Craig Mazin. --> Also: Top 3 New Releases, Whatever 101Stinger: "Ryan's Bedtime Lullaby" - The Tiny Boppers ℗ 2012 BPM Digital LtdWe love our sponsors! Please help us support those who support us!- Check out the Retro Game Club Podcast at linktr.ee/retrogameclub- Connect with CafeBTW at linktr.ee/cafebtw- Get creative with Pixel Pond production company at pixelpondllc.com- Visit Absolutely the Best Podcast: A Work in Progress at linktr.ee/absolutelythebest**Use this link to get a $20 credit when you upgrade to a paid podcast hosting plan on Buzzsprout! buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1884378Hosts: retrogamebrews, wrytersview, donniegretroOpening theme: "Gamers Week Theme" by Akseli TakanenPatron theme: "Chiptune Boss" by donniegretroClosing theme: "Gamers Week Full-Length Theme" by Akseli TakanenSupport the show

After a bit of winter weather talk, we return to the world of Life is Strange and the return of main character Max Caulfield with the 2024 entry Double Exposure. We then move into spoiler territory for Season 2 of Fallout, which just wrapped up on Prime Video. Over in the news, Valve announces the delay of Steam Machine pricing and launch details, Guerrilla and PlayStation show off more Horizon that is not Horizon 3, Baldur's Gate III will continue on HBO with Craig Mazin leading the show, and Discord unveils plans to require age verification for certain features next month.Discussion00:00:00 - Life is Strange: Double Exposure00:22:17 - Fallout Season 2 with Spoilers00:53:44 - NewsImportant StuffSupport us on PatreonDiscord ChannelEmail the show Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Multiverse News, Your source for Information about all your favorite fictional universesSo many trailers premiered on and around the Super Bowl that we're going to make a meal of it for today's episode! Let's break down every new trailer that recently dropped.Starting with a not-trailer, The Mandalorian & Grogu subverted expectations with a shorter advertisement rather than a full trailer.Illumination's new trailer for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie showed longer looks at Bowser, Jr. and Yoshi.James Gunn and DC Studios released a new trailer for Supergirl.Project Hail Mary gave us another heartfelt look with a different trailer starring Ryan Gosling.Universal continues to go hard in the Minionverse, releasing a trailer for Minions and Monsters.Last week, a trailer for Scream 7 was released and was shown before the Super Bowl.Finally, another look at Steven Spielberg's Disclosure Day dropped during the Super Bowl.After a competitive bidding situation that unfolded over the past few months, A24 has landed rights to horror franchise The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The indie studio will first tackle a series based on the franchise with Glen Powell among the executive producers and The Long Walk writer JT Mollner attached to direct. Powell, it's noted, will only have a producing role in the project and isn't slated to appear on screen.HBO is developing Baldur's Gate, a drama series based on Wizards of the Coast's video game franchise set in the world of Dungeons and Dragons with The Last of Us showrunner Craig Mazin attached to create, write, executive produce and showrun the TV adaptation. Unlike HBO's The Last Of Us, which retold the story from the PlayStation games, the Baldur's Gate TV series will be a continuation to the games, telling a story that takes place immediately after the events of Baldur's Gate 3.Callum Vinson has been cast in Prime Video's God of War adaptation series as Atreus, the 10 year old son of the main character Kratos.Chiwetel Ejiofor has joined the cast of Mike Flanagan's reboot of The Exorcist for Blumhouse alongside Scarlett Johansson.Ted Lasso star Phil Dunster is set to join the cast of Universal Pictures' live-action How to Train Your Dragon 2 in the role of Eret.The David Fincher-directed follow-up to Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood called The Adventures of Cliff Booth delivered a surprise trailer during the Super Bowl this weekend. Currently a release date on Netflix is unknown, although the trailer did end with 'Coming Soon.'Netflix has released the first trailer for season 2 of One Piece and set a release date of March 10th for the series.Warner Bros. Pictures is reuniting frequent collaborators Mike Flanagan and Stephen King on a new adaptation of The Mist, based on King's 1980 novella.Universal has set a release date of May 19, 2028 for The Mummy 4, which is set to return Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz to the franchise.

Thomas rolls in riding the Super Bowl champ high (full hat, jersey, and apparently socks and underwear too), and the crew kicks things off with a Valentine's-themed Question of the Week: what's the "flowers" equivalent for men? From there, it's a full Super Bowl rundown: a defense-heavy game, a halftime show that hit hard for the culture heads in the room, and commercials that landed (and a few that didn't). Then the episode pivots back into geek mode with reactions to a Baldur's Gate TV series in development, more love for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms as it ramps toward its Trial of Seven moment, and optimism for Disney's Eragon series thanks to the creative team involved. The back half is all Fallout Season 2, with the crew landing in the "good, not great" zone while still getting hyped for what Season 3 could pay off. You also get network updates, convention panel plans, and weekly recommendations to close it out. Timestamps and Topics 00:00 Welcome in, Thomas' Super Bowl champ victory lap 01:30 Question of the Week: what's the "flowers" equivalent for men? 05:00 Super Bowl reactions: defense wins championships, Seahawks nostalgia, "Dark Side" vibes 08:20 Halftime show talk: Bad Bunny, cultural references, and why it hit for the whole room 12:00 More halftime highlights: Green Day shoutout, Ricky Martin surprise, who should headline next? 15:45 Favorite Super Bowl ads + why the Mando spot felt weirdly caught in the middle 18:00 Trailer talk: what the Super Bowl did (and didn't) deliver this year 22:05 Baldur's Gate TV series discussion: big potential, big concerns (and the Larian question) 26:10 A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 4 hype, pacing praise, and "short and punchy" working 35:20 Eragon series at Disney+: why it might finally work this time 42:10 Fallout Season 2 review: what worked, what dragged, and where Season 3 needs to go 55:40 Network updates: new host announcements, recent episodes, Survivor 50 build-up 57:40 Convention panel plans: comics, game dev, podcasting, Kickstarter marketing 58:50 Recommendations of the week (including The Smashing Machine) Key Takeaways Thomas' Super Bowl joy is basically a case study in "I don't believe it until it's real," and that made the win hit even harder. The crew's "flowers for men" answers are wildly revealing: gift cards for movies and games, Legos as a seasonal tradition, and the underrated power of small thoughtful grabs. The halftime show conversation lands on something bigger than music: representation, cultural shoutouts, and why certain moments connect differently when your household speaks the language. The Mandalorian & Grogu Super Bowl spot discussion nails the core frustration: it didn't fully serve as a trailer or as a commercial, so it split the difference and lost impact. Baldur's Gate as a TV playground sounds like a great idea, but the lack of Larian involvement raises real "are they just using the name?" concerns. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms keeps winning people over because it feels like it belongs in Westeros without trying to copy the tone of the flagship shows. Eragon could finally pop with Disney backing it, especially if the show uses budget smartly and nails the dragon work. Fallout Season 2 feels more like the game experience (factions, doors opening, long quests) which is cool for gamers but can make the season feel more like setup than payoff. Memorable Quotes "Wear the hat, the jersey, the socks, the underwear. All the above." "Defense wins championships." "Theaters are sacred to me." "I don't like flowers because you're watching them die." "This isn't your Game of Thrones. Don't buy this for a Game of Thrones." "It was good. I don't think it was great." Call to Action If you enjoyed this one, make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss the next episode. Drop a quick review on your podcast app, it genuinely helps new listeners find the show. And if you share the episode on social media, tag us and use #GeekFreaksPodcast. Links and Resources GeekFreaksPodcast.com is the source of all news discussed on the show. Follow Us Geek Freaks Podcast on Twitter: @GeekFreaksPod Geek Freaks Podcast on Instagram: @GeekFreaksPodcast Geek Freaks Podcast on Threads: @GeekFreaksPodcast Geek Freaks Podcast on Facebook: Geek Freaks Podcast Support the network on Patreon: GeekFreaksPodcast Listener Questions Send us your questions and topic ideas for a future episode, especially your pick for next year's halftime headliner and what you want to see in Fallout Season 3. Texas Chainsaw Massacre, horror TV series, A24, Fallout Season 2, Prime Video, Baldur's Gate, Dungeons and Dragons, Craig Mazin, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Dunk and Egg, Trial of Seven, George R. R. Martin, Eragon, Disney Plus, Super Bowl commercials, halftime show, Bad Bunny, The Mandalorian and Grogu, pop culture podcast, geek news, TV reviews, movie news, gaming adaptations

Geektown Radio returns after its longest break, with Dave and Matt back for Episode 484 to catch up on months of TV, film, gaming, and industry news.Matt talks about revisiting The Last of Us Part II using the new chronological mode and how it reshapes the story, alongside reviews of films including Honey, Don't! and Hamnet.Dave runs through what he has been watching, including Fallout Season 2, Hijack, The Night Manager's long-awaited return, The Witcher Season 4, The Lincoln Lawyer, early impressions of Star Trek: Academy, and the new Muppet Show anniversary special on Disney Plus.The episode features a major TV news round-up, with renewals and cancellations across Netflix, CBS, Apple TV, and HBO, including Black Mirror being renewed again and The Pitt racing ahead to Season 3.There's also discussion of HBO Max launching in the UK, Prime Video developing a Fallout Shelter reality series, casting news for Amazon's God of War adaptation, HBO developing a Baldur's Gate TV series with Craig Mazin, and why a Blake's 7 reboot could be one of the most intriguing genre projects in development.Plus upcoming TV highlights for the week ahead and what's coming next for Geektown Radio and Geekstorians.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/geektown. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

De boys zijn weer terug voor een bomvolle aflevering, want Nerd Culture #245 zit ramvol series, films, trailers en industrie-praat waar je licht nerveus van wordt (op een goede manier). Van prestige-tv en arthouse tot keiharde franchise-moves, bizarre trailers en streamingmachtsverschuivingen: dit is weer zo'n aflevering waarin alles samenkomt.We blikken terug op wat we hebben gekeken, duiken in titels als Wonder Man, Fallout, Past Lives en The Matrix, en schakelen daarna moeiteloos door naar het grote nieuws: van Baldur's Gate op HBO en een mogelijke Metroid-film tot Pirates of the Caribbean die opnieuw de zee op wil. Verwacht meningen, context, zijpaden en het onvermijdelijke gekibbel.Pirates of the Caribbean 6 gaat een soft-reboot wordenDeze week was er nieuws over Pirates of the Caribbean 6, een franchise die na jaren van twijfel, mislukte plannen en creatieve stilstand eindelijk weer tekenen van leven vertoont. Disney lijkt serieus te willen resetten, met een nieuwe creatieve koers die het oude gevoel respecteert maar niet blijft hangen in nostalgie. We bespreken de mogelijke focus op een nieuwe generatie piraten, de opvallende betrokkenheid van 1917-schrijver Krysty Wilson-Cairns, de geruchten rond een “punkrock”-achtige nieuwe hoofdrol en de vraag die boven alles hangt: is er nog een plek voor Jack Sparrow, en zo ja, in welke vorm? Kortom: kan Pirates zichzelf opnieuw uitvinden zonder zijn ziel te verliezen?Baldur's Gate krijgt zijn eigen Dungeons and Dragons TV showWe hebben goed nieuws voor de DnD fans: Baldur's Gate krijgt een HBO-serie, onder leiding van Craig Mazin, de man achter Chernobyl en The Last of Us. En dit wordt geen hervertelling, maar een directe voortzetting van het verhaal van Baldur's Gate 3. We bespreken waarom dit een fundamenteel andere aanpak is dan bij eerdere game-adaptaties, hoe Mazins obsessieve liefde voor Dungeons & Dragons en BG3 hier een enorme rol speelt, en waarom HBO hiermee ineens een serieuze fantasy-titel in handen heeft die niet leunt op bestaande filmfranchises. Oude én nieuwe personages, politieke nasleep, morele consequenties en een wereld die groot genoeg is om jarenlang verhalen te dragen: dit zou wel eens de blauwdruk kunnen worden voor hoe game-verhalen voortaan naar tv worden vertaald.Timestamps:00:00:00 Nerd Culture #24500:00:40 Gamekings 25 jaar feest volledig uitverkocht00:01:52 Wat hebben we gekeken gelezen en geluisterd00:05:55 Marvel Wonder Man review00:10:44 A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms HBO preview00:16:23 The Matrix klassieker bespreking00:22:10 Past Lives film review00:25:38 Fallout Season 2 verwachtingen00:31:00 Michael trailer reactie00:33:10 Wonder Man mogelijk seizoen 2 Marvel Studios00:35:20 YouTube groter dan Netflix in streaming00:37:00 Komt er een live-action TMNT film00:40:38 Baldur's Gate krijgt HBO tv-serie00:44:19 Jurassic Park Super Bowl commercial00:48:00 Exit 8 trailer00:50:30 Henry Cavill eerste blik als Highlander00:51:12 Henry Cavill en Warhammer 40K project00:53:35 Pirates of the Caribbean reboot details00:58:08 Nintendo werkt aan Metroid film01:03:55 Texas Chainsaw Massacre tv-serie A2401:06:00 Neighbors trailer01:08:00 Kijk-tip Huey The Empire Strikes Door01:09:00 Kijk-tip Koos

HBO and Craig Mazin are working on an HBO series, but Larian Studio aren't involved! Let's talk about it. We also discuss the Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase, the first for 2026, as well as Dylan's time with Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined. SHOW DOT POINTS The Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase received mixed reactions from fans. Many players were disappointed with the lack of major surprises in the showcase. The hosts discussed various game announcements, including new titles and updates for existing games. Horizon Hunters Gathering was revealed, drawing comparisons to other multiplayer games. The hosts believe the new Horizon game will attract a dedicated audience, given its established fan base. Bethesda's titles are coming to the Nintendo Switch 2, expanding the console's library. PAX 2026 is set to return, with a medieval theme hinted at in promotional materials. The hosts discussed the future of gaming and the impact of new titles on the industry. The conversation highlighted the importance of gameplay quality over graphics in new releases. Overall, the episode reflects the evolving landscape of gaming and player expectations. Personal connections to games can influence opinions. The anticipation for PlayStation's upcoming titles is high. Concerns about the pacing and quality of The Last of Us season three. Baldur's Gate 3 adaptation raises questions about creative direction. Casting choices in adaptations can be controversial. The involvement of original creators in adaptations is crucial. Fans have mixed feelings about the direction of adaptations. The gaming industry is constantly evolving with new titles. Quick news updates keep fans informed about the latest developments. The balance between nostalgia and innovation in gaming is essential. YOUR HOSTS

Matt and Eric discuss the BALDUR'S GATE 3 series in the works (from THE LAST OF US' Craig Mazin), the latest Mike Flanagan EXORCIST cast additions, IRON LUNG's success, the new MUPPET SHOW, and more...

En nuestro episodio 380 Christal Risol, Gabriel y El Watcher conversan sobre la noticia de que "HBO" está desarrollando una serie basada en "Baldur's Gate 3" liderada por Craig Mazin, comparten su experiencia asistiendo a el "Sundance Film Festival" que tomó lugar por última vez en Park City, Utah y viendo "Wonder Man" (2026) y el final de la segunda temporada de "Fallout" (2024) en el segmento "Wachin' con Wacho!", recomiendan la cuarta temporada de "Bridgerton" (2020), el libro "One Dark Window" (2022) escrito por Rachel Gillig y el videojuego "DREDGE" (2023) en el segmento "Loot Semanal", dialogan sobre la noche histórica de "Bad Bunny" en la versión 68 de los "Grammy" en el segmento "Awards Spotlight" y conversan sobre lo que esperan del año 2026 en cuanto a Eventos, Libros, Videojuegos, Series y Películas.¡Se la diferencia en la vida de los niños de la Fundación de Niños de Puerto Rico! Aporta con tu donativo aquí: https://www.extra-life.org/participant/565130¡Descubre la mejor manera de transmitir y grabar tu contenido! Comienza a usar "StreamYard" con nuestro "Referral Link" y obtén $10 de descuento: https://streamyard.com/pal/c/5302337768259584¡Subscríbete a nuestro canal de YouTube! Visita: https://www.youtube.com/culturasecuencial¡Síguenos y Suscríbete a nuestro canal de Twitch! Visita: https://www.twitch.tv/culturasecuencial¡Síguenos en Instagram! Visita: https://www.instagram.com/culturasecuencial¡Síguenos en Facebook! Visita: https://www.facebook.com/CulturaSecuencial

Press XJoin the Press X Discord: https://discord.gg/MAXtvmv2rwTopics:Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase reaction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88Ym9SCKFpc / https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260205421305/en/Latest-Nintendo-Direct-Partner-Showcase-Features-New-and-Classic-Titles-Coming-to-Nintendo-Switch-2-and-Nintendo-SwitchTomodachi Life: Living the Dream launches April 16 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_0kl1WiSPgNintendo Q3 financial results highlights https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2026/260203_3e.pdfSwitch is bestselling Nintendo hardware ever at 155.37M, Switch 2 at 17.37MMetroid Prime 4 did sell 1M units https://bsky.app/profile/stephentotilo.bsky.social/post/3me2qye4yks2sOverwatch 2 drops ‘2' as year-long narrative arc begins with 10 new heroes; coming to Switch 2 this spring https://www.gematsu.com/2026/02/overwatch-2-drops-2-as-year-long-narrative-arc-begins-with-10-new-heroes-coming-to-switch-2-this-springHorizon Hunters Gathering revealed as co-op action game for PS5 & PC https://blog.playstation.com/2026/02/05/announcing-horizon-hunters-gathering-guerrillas-new-co-op-action-game/PS5 shipments top 92.2 million https://www.gematsu.com/2026/02/ps5-shipments-top-92-2-millionBaldur's Gate TV series in the works at HBO with Craig Mazin helming https://deadline.com/2026/02/baldurs-gate-3-tv-show-craig-mazin-hbo-1236710583/ Questions from Discord: 

Larian Studios' multi-award-winning fantasy RPG, Baldur's Gate 3, is set for its own TV series on HBO, and will be helmed by The Last of Us co-creator Craig Mazin. Max Scoville has all the details on your Daily Fix!

HBO is developing a Baldur's Gate TV series with Craig Mazin (The Last of Us) attached, and the big twist is that it's being described as a follow-up to Baldur's Gate 3, not a straight adaptation. I break down why that's both exciting and risky, especially with Larian not involved, and how the show might handle the game's multiple endings without instantly dividing the fanbase. We also talk about what to watch for next, like casting, the returning character question, and whether HBO leans into practical locations or goes heavy on CGI. 00:00 HBO developing Baldur's Gate TV series with Craig Mazin attached 00:13 Larian not being involved and why that worries fans 00:13 The show is a continuation after Baldur's Gate 3, using the wider D&D rule set 00:26 The canon problem: multiple endings and how the show might handle it 00:37 Optimism check: HBO + Hasbro money, plus The Last of Us as a recent success story 00:51 What to watch for next: casting, returning names, CGI vs on-location filming HBO is developing a Baldur's Gate series with Craig Mazin attached in a major creative role. The show is framed as a follow-up set after Baldur's Gate 3, not a retelling. Larian not being involved is the biggest immediate red flag for a lot of fans. The biggest storytelling challenge is picking (or avoiding) a canon ending in a game built around choice. The next real “proof it's happening” moment will be casting and visual approach (CGI-heavy vs real-world locations). “If you play the game, you know there are multiple endings, so what is Craig going to pick as the canon ending… it's a little risky.” “We're getting a D&D series with HBO and Hasbro money back in this thing… so while I'm cautious about this, I'm trying to stay optimistic.” If you enjoyed this breakdown, subscribe to Geek Freaks Headlines, leave a quick review, and share the episode using #GeekFreaksHeadlines.GeekFreaksPodcast.com (source for all news covered on the show)Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegeekfreakspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/geekfreakspodcast/Twitter: https://twitter.com/geekfreakspodThreads: https://www.threads.net/@geekfreakspodcastPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcastGot thoughts on what ending should be “canon” for a Baldur's Gate show, or which companion absolutely has to return? Send your questions and we'll read our favorites on a future episode.Baldur's Gate, Baldur's Gate 3, HBO, Craig Mazin, The Last of Us, Dungeons & Dragons, Forgotten Realms, Larian Studios, Hasbro, Video Game TV Adaptations, Fantasy TV, Geek Culture NewsTimestamps and TopicsKey TakeawaysMemorable QuotesCall to ActionLinks and ResourcesFollow UsListener QuestionsApple Podcast Tags

Son of actor David Troughton and Grandson of the second Doctor Who Patrick Troughton. Sam studied Drama at the University of Hull and after graduating he began his career with the RSC which brought three nominations for an Ian Charleston Award to his door. The award honours outstanding performances for young actors in classic plays. Since then he's been part of some the most celebrated shows for both stage and screen including:Theatre:Beginning, written by David Eldridge, National TheatreKing Lear, Edmund, dir. Sam Mendes, National TheatreJuniper Blood, Donmar WarehouseStreetcar Named Desire, Liverpool PlayhouseMultiple shows with the RSC - Julius Caesar, Romeo and Juliet, Winter's Tale and many more. Film:Vera Drake, dir. Mike LeighAlien vs PredatorMank, NetflixNapoleon with Joaquin PhoenixTV:Black Doves, NetflixThe Hollow CrownRobin HoodA Very Royal Scandal, starring Michael Sheen and Ruth Wilson Chernobyl, HBO, created and written by Craig Mazin, directed by Johan RenckSam and I discuss his early work at the RSC, coming from a family of established actors and his roles in two huge shows A Very Royal Scandal and most notably Chernobyl. A superb, superb drama about the disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear power plant in Pripyat on 26th April 1986 and how the Soviet Union did everything in its power to cover up the facts. Sam talks about finding his character Aleksandr Akimov, the cost of the Soviet's lies, and how catastrophic things like this one are possible in real life and not just in the movies. Thank you Sam!Spotlight Link: https://www.spotlight.com/9097-9058-5261Instagram: @ollietheuncensoredcriticFor enquiries and requests: olliegower10@gmail.comPlease Like, Download and Subscribe ✍️Thank you all for your support!Music from #InAudio: https://inaudio.org/ Track Name. Early Morning 

Writing legends John August & Craig Mazin talk about their journey to screenwriting, podcasting, & writing a book.  They talk about how to boil  down 15 years of shows down to a book, the origin of the scriptnotes podcast, the need to help people combined with being annoyed by people, what each of them considers good writing, why people who hate books on writing wrote a book on writing, there are no rules to screenwriting, customizing your process, the moment they thought the might be good enough to make a living at writing, their messiest jobs, their best jobs, the changing nature of show biz, and why the Scriptnotes book weighs a lot less than you think it does.  Bio: Craig Mazin is the multiple Emmy® award-winning co-creator, executive producer, writer and director of the smash hit HBO series THE LAST OF US. An addition to setting viewership records for HBO, THE LAST OF US has earned 51 Emmy® nominations including 9 Emmy® wins, a Peabody Award, an AFI Award, a BAFTA Award, two SAG Awards, a DGA Award, a WGA Award, a GLAAD Award, two Film Independent Spirit Awards, and four Golden Globe Award nominations. Previously, Mazin served as creator, writer and executive producer of the HBO limited series CHERNOBYL, for which he won 2 Emmys®, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, a Peabody, and awards from the Writers Guild, the Producers Guild, the Television Critics Association and the American Film Institute. Looking ahead, Mazin is executive producing the upcoming HBO E-sports drama DAMAGE alongside writer, director and executive producer Celine Song. In addition to his work in television, Mazin has written numerous hit feature films, which have grossed over one billion dollars in theaters worldwide. Mazin can be heard on the popular screenwriting podcast Scriptnotes, which he co-hosts with fellow writer John August. Bio: John August is a screenwriter whose credits include Aladdin, Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride, Frankenweenie and the first two Charlie's Angels movies. He directed the 2007 film The Nines starring Ryan Reynolds and Melissa McCarthy, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. He earned a BAFTA nomination for his script for Big Fish, and a GRAMMY nomination for his song in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. In 2016, he received the Writers Guild of America West's Valentine Davies Award in recognition of his humanitarian efforts and civic service. In addition to his work in film, John wrote the Arlo Finch middle-grade novel trilogy, and the book for the Broadway musical of Big Fish. Since 2012, he has co-hosted the popular weekly screenwriting podcast Scriptnotes. His company, Quote-Unquote Apps, makes utilities for writers (including Highland and Weekend Read) along with Writer Emergency Pack, which is used in 2,000 classrooms nationwide. Born in Boulder, Colorado, John received a BA in Journalism from Drake University and an MFA in Film Producing from USC's School of Cinematic Arts. He lives in Los Angeles with his family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John August and Craig Mazin - hosts of the legendary Scriptnotes podcast - join us for a wide-ranging conversation inspired by their new book, Scriptnotes: A Book About Screenwriting and Things That Are Interesting to Screenwriters.  We talk about why rigid structure can miss the point, how theme emerges from character, what fear and denial really look like on the page, and how writers can survive rejection without letting it define them.  A candid, funny, and deeply reassuring conversation for writers at every stage. A special thanks to Scriptnotes producer Drew Marquardt and editor Matthew Chilelli for their support with this episode. --- Looking for more support on your writing journey? Join Meg and Lorien inside ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TSL Workshops⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠- use code HOLIDAY25 for 50% off your first month. Episode Links: Check out the new Scriptnotes book here Scriptnotes Premium John August's website "The Last of Us" on HBO Max Check out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TSL merch shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TSL on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Screenwriting Life is produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jonathan Hurwitz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and edited by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kate Mishkin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thescreenwritinglife@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. --- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

LOOK OUT! It's only Films To Be Buried With! Join your host Brett Goldstein as he talks life, death, love and the universe with the deluxe double-team screenwriting genius pairing of CRAIG MAZIN and JOHN AUGUST! You may be well versed in the 700+ episode archive of the Scriptnotes podcast, or you may be entirely dehydrated through sheer tear dispensation via Big Fish, or perhaps be a little shaken through exposure to The Last Of Us and/or Chernobyl... Whatever the case - hopefully by now you will have caught at least some of the work generated by these two, as it is a rare thing to have such an insanely great body of work displaying such consistency. A triple-voice dream of an episode which will be sheer indulgence for all movie loving folk, and if you are yet unacquainted with John and Craig, you're about to make some good friends here and hopefully investigate their work after listening... You won't be disappointed. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Video and extra audio available on Brett's Patreon! SCRIPTNOTES podcast SCRIPTNOTES book JOHN'S WEBSITE BIG FISH CHERNOBYL THE LAST OF US –––––––––– BRETT • X BRETT • INSTAGRAM THE SECOND BEST NIGHT OF YOUR LIFE TED LASSO SHRINKING ALL OF YOU SOULMATES SUPERBOB (Brett's 2015 feature film) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome, welcome, welcome to the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip!This week Pip is joined by the incredible screenwriter, showrunner, producer and dungeon master CRAIG MAZIN!Craig is a self proclaimed Pipster! Which bodes incredibly well as an opening gambit right there... This is such a treat of an episode which anyone possessing an interest in the making of television (and cinema in general) will get an immense kick out of. Chances are you will know Craig from his recent work on The Last Of Us, some of you may go back to the Chernobyl miniseries times, and some even further to the Hangover movies, but none of these can be considered pigeonholes. There is so much in the craft of these projects, and as viewers of them will know - the humanity is undeniable, and that's something that just cannot be faked or phoned-in. So what you hear here is a conversation with someone who makes incredible shows and movies, informed by a love of the work, the people involved, and life in general. To hear that he was once blamed by a critic for being "singularly responsible for degrading Western Civilization" will make absolutely negative sense by the time you've heard this. Oh and stay for the shared Barney story too, cos that rules. Basically - too much to sum up here - just listen and enjoy, it's a classic DPP right here!PIP'S PATREON PAGE if you're of a supporting natureIMDBSCRIPTNOTES podcast (book here)THE LAST OF USCHERNOBYLSPEECH DEVELOPMENT WEBSTOREPIP TWITCH • (music stuff)PIP INSTAGRAMPIP TWITTERPIP PATREONPIP IMDBPOD BIBLE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vanguardistas have more fun—so if you don't already subscribe to the podcast, join the Vanguard today via Apple Podcasts or extratakes.com for non-fruit-related devices. In return you'll get a whole extra Take 2 alongside Take 1 every week, with bonus reviews, more viewing recommendations from the Good Doctors and whole bonus episodes just for you. And if you're already a Vanguardista, we salute you.  It's a lovely highlights show for your summer holiday this week, where mark and Simon will be bringing back all the highlights of the year in film so far. You'll hear all the greatest hits from our guest interviews with Justin Kurzel, Craig Mazin and Domhnall Gleeson.  And reviews of Sinners, Bring Her Back, The Ballad of Wallis Island, Adolescence, Death of a Unicorn (oy!), Jurassic World: Rebirth (yeesh!) and Another Simple Favour.  Reminisce and relive it all with us—and it's back to school with a brand new pencil case, more new reviews and shiny starry guests next week.      Timecodes (for Vanguardistas listening ad-free):  Bring Her Back: 03:43  Sinners: 07:45  The Ballad of Wallis Island: 13:17   Justin Kurzel: 18:20  Death of a Unicorn: 25:44  Another Simple Favour: 31:09  Jurassic World: Rebirth: 36:41   Domhnall Gleeson: 41:32  Adolescence: 46:57  Craig Mazin: 58:02      You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo  Please take our survey and help shape the future of our show: https://www.kermodeandmayo.com/survey   EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/take Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee!  A Sony Music Entertainment production.      Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts    To advertise on this show contact: podcastadsales@sonymusic.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Jeff Goldsmith talks to showrunner-writer Craig Mazin and editor Timothy A. Good about their Emmy® nominated TV show - The Last of Us. Download my podcast here Copyright © Unlikely Films, Inc. 2025. All rights reserved. For more great content check out Backstory Magazine @ Backstory.net

CRAIG MAZIN joins us! (CW 27:25-28:15 // Animal Death Discussed) This week's segments: 1. Overview of 2014 --> 2024 rule changes 2. Homebrewing "The Royal Flush" 3. Draft of Classes Best Suited for an Apocalypse Support us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/TotalPartySkill/home to get access to PDFs of our homebrew and see uncut video from the podcast! Plus, bonus content exclusive only to patrons! Subscribe for more weekly Dungeons & Dragons content! And follow us on our socials for previous draft videos and to learn more about us: Gabe -- @gabespan (TikTok, Instagram) George -- @dmgeorge_primavera (Instagram, TikTok) Dylan -- @whatcha_mccollum (Instagram) Craig -- @clmazin (Instagram)

What's Up Cinemaniacs! Join Duane and Hannah from the Cinemania World Team for another episode of Cinemania Live! For today's show we talk what we are watching, Spider-Man: Brand New Day cast, suit reveal, and filming notes, Neil Druckmann not returning to write The Last of Us Season 3, and we take your questions! Follow us: Website Facebook Twitter Instagram Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Stitcher Castbox Blubrry Amazon Music TuneIn Audible Follow Duane: Twitter Instagram Letterboxd Follow Hannah: Twitter Instagram Letterboxd Cinemania World Merch: Teepublic

Jess Eng is a food writer based in New York City. She's a regular contributor here at TASTE alongside a great roster of publications like the Washington Post and the New York Times. It's so fun to have her on the show to expand on some of her favorite stories, her latest experiments with home fermentation, and her recent reporting trip in Fuzhou, China.And, at the top of the show, it's the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt talk about what is exciting them in the world of restaurants, cookbooks, and the food world as a whole. On this episode: It's fall cookbook season and Matt previews Measure with Your Heart by Hannah Taylor, The Ex-Boyfriend's Favorite Recipe Funeral Committee by Saki Kawashiro, Script Notes by John August and Craig Mazin, and Obsessed With the Best by Ella Quittner (not fall but worth a mention). Aliza jumps in with a visit for Thai chicken wings at Sam Yan in Clinton Hill, a preview of Ruby Tandoh's new book, All Consuming, and a special shoutout to LA Taco's ongoing coverage in Los Angeles. Subscribe: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube READ MORE FROM JESS:Flavors of Fujian [Substack]Kombucha's Pét-Nat Moment [TASTE]The Fluidity and Fun of Chino Latino Cuisine Reaches New Fandoms [TASTE]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Allan McKay sits down with Alex Wang, the Visual Effects Supervisor for the acclaimed HBO series The Last of Us, to break down the monumental VFX work behind the show's highly anticipated second season. Alex pulls back the curtain on the incredible challenges and creative triumphs of bringing the post-apocalyptic world to life, from the massive scale of the infected horde to the intricate details of hero creatures like the Bloater. He discusses the crucial balance between practical and digital effects, the importance of building trust with showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, and the seamless collaboration with world-class VFX houses like Weta, DNEG, and ILP. This conversation delves deep into the specific hurdles of Season 2, including a massive battle sequence Alex likens to "Helm's Deep," the complexities of a dramatic stormy water episode, and the creative pipeline from concept art to final shot. Alex shares how the team learned from Season 1 to push the boundaries of world-building and create environments that are both epic in scope and grounded in reality. This is a must-listen for any fan of The Last of Us and for visual effects artists and supervisors interested in the high-level strategy and creative problem-solving required to execute VFX on one of television's biggest shows. Topics Covered: The VFX of The Last of Us Season 2 Alex Wang's Role as VFX Supervisor Creating the Infected Horde and the Challenges of Crowd Simulation A Deep Dive into Season 2's Massive Battle Sequence Asset Creation for the Bloater and Other Infected Balancing Practical Effects with Digital Enhancements (Pyro, Weather, etc.) World-Building and Large-Scale Environment Extensions The Complexities of Creating the Stormy Water Sequence Collaboration with Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann Managing Multiple VFX Vendors (Weta, DNEG, ILP, Rise) The Creative Process from Concept Art to Final Shot Quotes: On the massive battle sequence: "I thought to myself, 'Craig, this is your Helm's Deep.'" On designing the infected horde: "These are civilians that became infected... their own story. So repetition is not something that we want." Resources: The Last of Us on HBO Weta FX DNEG Rise VFX Important Looking Pirates (ILP) Naughty Dog

James Gunn's Superman held its premiere in London July, 2, where the director confidently told The Times of London that his superhero epic celebrates "the story of America" and champions basic human kindness in a world that desperately needs it. Meanwhile, star David Corenswet shared at the London premiere that his predecessors did “a very Superman thing,” with former Men of Steel Henry Cavill and Tyler Hoechlin encouraging him to make the role his own.Universal's Jurassic World Rebirth chomped its way to a $147 million five-day weekend opening during the Fourth of July. While those numbers would make any studio exec happy, they're actually a steep drop from the franchise's predecessors, suggesting that after 32 years, audiences might be experiencing some dino-fatigue. Universal clearly saw the writing on the wall and slashed the production budget from a mammoth $250 million down to a more modest $180 million, but the franchise is still roaring overseas. Australian-American actor Julian McMahon, beloved for his roles in Nip/Tuck, Charmed, and as Dr. Doom in the 2000's 20th Century Fox Fantastic Four films, died peacefully on July 2nd at age 56 following a private battle with cancer.Michael Madsen, the gravel-voiced character actor best known for his menacing roles in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill, and The Hateful Eight, died Thursday morning from cardiac arrest at his Malibu home at age 67.The next installment in Denis Villenueve's Dune franchise will officially be titled Dune: Three. Villenueve also revealed that the film will be shot entirely using IMAX cameras.According to a rumor from The DisInsider, Disney and LucasFilm are having active conversations planning a full reboot of the Indiana Jones franchise.The Last of Us co-creator Neil Druckmann is stepping down as co-showrunner of the HBO series after completing work on season two, choosing to return his focus to video game development at Naughty Dog including his next project Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Craig Mazin will continue as sole showrunner for season three, while Druckmann retains his executive producer credit on the critically acclaimed series.The Office star Craig Robinson announced on Instagram that he's officially quitting comedy to focus on his true calling. However, industry insiders believe this is likely a marketing stunt, as mysterious billboards have appeared in Los Angeles and Robinson still has comedy shows scheduled through the end of the year.Chris Pratt will reprise his role as the voice of Garfield in an animated sequel to Sony's 2024 The Garfield Movie, which grossed over $230 million dollars at the worldwide box office.Wicked director Jon M. Chu has signed on to helm a live-action Hot Wheels movie for Warner Bros. and Mattel Studios, with screenwriters Juel Taylor and Tony Rettenmaier from Creed II and They Cloned Tyrone penning the script and J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot producing. The high-octane action film follows Mattel's success with Barbie as the toy company continues mining its properties for big-screen adaptations.Jimmy Olsen actor Skyler Gisondo revealed he mistakenly believed he was auditioning for the title role in James Gunn's Superman film, thinking the character name in his audition materials was just a placeholder to hide the fact he was reading for Clark Kent. The mix-up led to an awkward phone call with his representatives who had to clarify who he was actually auditioning for, though director James Gunn reportedly loved the story.

Jurandir Filho, Thiago Siqueira, Rogério Montanare e Fernanda Schmölz batem um papo sobre a segunda temporada de "The Last of Us". Como já era esperado, ela dividiu o público. Apesar da alta produção e grandes atuações, a nova leva de (poucos) episódios escancarou decisões criativas que reacenderam debates acalorados entre fãs e críticos.. Uma das maiores controvérsias veio com a introdução de Abby, personagem semi-central no jogo. Sua intérprete na série, Kaitlyn Dever, foi alvo de questionamentos desde o anúncio. Embora seja uma atriz talentosa, muitos fãs questionaram se ela teria o porte físico, a intensidade emocional e a presença que a personagem exige — especialmente considerando o impacto que Abby tem tanto na narrativa quanto na recepção emocional do público. Abby não é apenas uma coadjuvante: ela é o epicentro do conflito moral da história.Outra grande crítica recorrente diz respeito à forma como a série tratou a protagonista Ellie. No jogo, seu arco é marcado pela descida sombria rumo à obsessão e perda de humanidade — uma jornada emocionalmente pesada, mas necessária para o peso da história. Já na série, houve mudanças sutis (e às vezes nem tão sutis) que parecem tentar justificar ou suavizar suas atitudes. O roteiro parece fazer contorcionismos para manter Ellie como uma figura "simpatizável", quando o próprio cerne do jogo é mostrar que não há inocentes nesse mundo. Isso levantou acusações de que os showrunners — Craig Mazin e Neil Druckmann — tentaram "passar pano" para Ellie, evitando que o público a odiasse ou questionasse suas motivações de forma mais profunda. O resultado? Uma versão diluída de uma personagem que, no original, era tão trágica quanto brutaExiste alguma chance de salvar a história? O que esperar da terceira temporada? Quais os melhores e piores momentos da segunda temporada? Pedro Pascal carregou a série nas costas mais uma vez?|| Quer assistir o filme do "The Last of Us"?- Ele foi feito com cenas dos dois jogos!|| Assine o Sala VIP do RapaduraCast- Um podcast EXCLUSIVO do RapaduraCast toda semana! http://patreon.com/rapaduracast

"The Last Of Us," the Emmy Award-winning drama series from Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, partially adapts the 2020 game "The Last Of Us Part II" with dazzling action sequences, immersive production design, and state-of-the-art visual and practical effects. One element that gets sometimes overlooked when talking about the crafts of Naughty Dog's world is the costumes by Ann Foley. Foley was kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about her work on the series, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the show, which is now available to stream in full on HBO Max. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Cinematography Podcast Episode 312: Ksenia Sereda & Catherine Goldschmidt Season 2 of HBO's acclaimed series The Last of Us sees a shift not only in its narrative focus but also behind the camera, with cinematographers Ksenia Sereda and Catherine Goldschmidt, ASC, BSC, taking the visual reins. The season quickly evolves from Joel and Ellie's shared journey into a harrowing exploration of Ellie's relentless pursuit of revenge following Joel's brutal death. This quest is deeply colored by her grief and rage, yet intricately woven with a burgeoning love story between her and Dina. Ksenia, returning after her work on the celebrated first season, and Catherine, a new addition to the team, split cinematography duties. Ksenia helmed episodes 1, 3, 5, and 6, while Catherine was responsible for episodes 2, 4, and 7. The opportunity to continue collaborating with showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann was a welcome one for Ksenia. "For season 2, we wanted to push the look forward with how the characters develop," she explains. "Not to reinvent the visual language but to think, what can we do better to help the characters and to tell the story, because it's such a character-centered show. The main focus of it is following the characters you love and joining them on this big adventure.” Ksenia developed a lookbook to maintain a holistic visual language, ensuring consistency across multiple directors and the entire crew. The video game The Last of Us was the blueprint for a distinct visual identity. It was important to preserve all the iconic visuals from the game, but unlike the video game, the television adaptation allowed for more character development and connection, with longer shots. Season 2 introduces a host of new characters, storylines, and diverse color environments. Ksenia consciously avoided overly cool tones, opting for warmer colors, particularly for Ellie and Dina, to help the audience fall in love with them as their relationship develops. This warmth is also seen in the homey settlement of Jackson, a sanctuary carved out to evoke a sense of normalcy. In contrast, when Dina and Ellie journey to Seattle, the environment becomes green and lush. Catherine Goldschmidt, ASC, BSC, stepped into this established world for Season 2. Her inaugural week plunged her directly into shooting the pivotal and harrowing Episode 2, which features Joel's death. Catherine reviewed the corresponding cutscene from the game, treating it as a form of previsualization or storyboard, and then determined how to adapt it for television. “The video game acts as a reference, and there are some scenes in the scripts that are taken from the games, and there are some scenes that don't exist and are new,” she says. “It's about serving the show first and foremost, and still paying homage to the game.” Catherine also focused on grounding the lighting in realism, finding real world motivation for light sources that would authentically be available to characters in a post-apocalyptic setting. At times, she notes, "the lighting cues were even written into the script." For Episode 2, with its intense violence, Catherine knew the crew had to prioritize the actors' performances, and respect the scenes that the actors wanted to shoot first. But most violent, brutal, and scary scenes in The Last of Us are balanced by moments of profound humanity, requiring careful attention to the characters' emotional journeys. “I remember asking Craig and Neil, how are you guys planning to tackle that extreme violence?" Catherine recalls. "Craig just said, 'Well we're always trying to counterbalance it, it should always be a light and shade scenario.'” Find Ksinia Sereda: Instagram: @ksiniasereda Find Catherine Goldschmidt: Instagram: @cgdop The Cinematography Podcast website: www.camnoir.com YouTube: @TheCinematographyPodcast Facebook: @cinepod Instagram: @thecinepod Blue Sky: @thecinepod.bsky.social

THE LAST OF US Season 2 Episode 7 "Convergence" focusing on Day Three in Seattle with Ellie's single minded pursuit of her vengeance on Abby, her reveal to Abby of what Joel did, her battle with Jessie and the return of Abby enacting her vengeance on Ellie's community. The series stars PEDRO PASCAL. BELLA RAMSEY, KAITLYN DEVER, ISABELA MERCED, GABRIEL LUNA, DANNY RAMIREZ, CATHERINE O'HARA, ALANNA UBACH, JEFFREY WRIGHT and more! CRAIG MAZIN, NEIL DRUCKMANN and HALLEY WRGERYN GROSS are the writers for this episode with NINA LOPEZ-CORRADO directing it. The Geek Buddies aka John Rocha, Michael Vogel and Shannon McClung bring you their SPOILER REVIEW for TLOU S2 Ep 7 and break it all down. Remember to Like and Share this episode on your social media and to Subscribe to The Outlaw Nation YouTube channel below. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Chapters: Chapters: 0:00 Intro and Overall Thoughts on The Last of Us S2 Ep 7 10:32 Ellie's Revelation to Dina, Being At Odds with Jessie 22:15 Ellie and Jessie's Battle over the Seraphite, Saving Tommy and Seattle 34:15 Ellie Kills Mel and Owen, Abby Confronts Ellie, Jessie and Tommy 50:51 Isaac, the WLF, and His Reverence for Abby, Final Thoughts FOLLOW THE GEEK BUDDIES: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Geek_Buddies Follow John Rocha: https://twitter.com/TheRochaSays​​​​​ Follow Michael Vogel: https://twitter.com/mktoon Follow Shannon McClung: https://twitter.com/Shannon_McClung Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get your Badass Fest VII Tickets Here! All is revealed between Joel and Ellie in the latest episode of The Last of Us. A.Ron and Talitha take a trip to years gone by to watch Ellie grow up, and to watch Joel and Ellie grow apart.  Send your feedback to tlou@baldmove.com. Craig Mazin's thoughts on future seasons of TLOU You can check out Talitha's weird short films here! Andor Podcast: Tribe of Two Bald Move Pulp Bald Move Prestige Have Lunch with Jim & A.Ron Support Bald Move:  Club Bald Move Join the discussion:  Email   |  Forums Follow us: Twitch | YouTube | Twitter  |  Instagram  |  Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John and Craig dig through the mailbag to answer some of our trickiest listener questions. They lay out their best advice for first-time feature directors — from picking department heads to making sure your movie actually gets seen — and look at how to adapt Craig's “How to Write a Movie” for structuring a TV series. But that's not all! Do you owe your writer's group access to your contacts? How do you break out of the mailroom? Where should high-school students start? How far can adaptations stray from the source material? And how do you remain professional in the middle of a dumpster fire? We also follow up on tariffs, mysterious birds, and a different set of 36 Questions. In our bonus segment for premium members, we play John's new game, Strong Opinions, where we all have to guess each other's true feelings about things we didn't know were controversial. Links: Scriptnotes on YouTube! Strong Opinions game Hollywood Unions letter to President Trump The Curious Case of the Pygmy Nuthatch by Forrest Wickman Foggy Brume on Twitch 36 Questions, the podcast musical Austin Film Festival My First Movie: 20 Celebrated Directors Talk about Their First Film Orange T-shirts are back! Aqua voice dictation software Ghost Town by Fireproof Games Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Become a Scriptnotes Premium member, or gift a subscription! Craig Mazin on Instagram John August on Bluesky, Threads, and Instagram Outro by Nick Moore (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt with help from Sam Shapson. It's edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.  

THE LAST OF US Season 2 Episode 6 "The Price" focusing on the flashbacks to Joel's childhood, the years that he and Ellie spent in Jackson Hole before their estrangement and his feath, what happened with Eugene and the final revelation of Joel coming clean to Ellie! The series stars PEDRO PASCAL. BELLA RAMSEY, ISABELA MERCED, GABRIEL LUNA, KAITLYN DEVER, DANNY RAMIREZ, CATHERINE O'HARA, ALANNA UBACH, JEFFREY WRIGHT and more! CRAIG MAZIN and NEIL DRUCKMANN are the showrunners for this HBOMax show with Neil Druckmann directing this episode. The Geek Buddies aka John Rocha, Michael Vogel and Shannon McClung bring you their SPOILER REVIEW for TLOU S2 Ep 6 and break it all down. Remember to Like and Share this episode on your social media and to Subscribe to The Outlaw Nation YouTube channel below. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Chapters: 0:00 Intro and Overall Thoughts on The Last of Us S2 Ep 6 7:00 Flashback Scene to Joel with his Dad and Tommy 15:22 Joel and Ellie's Relationship Told thru Birthdays, the Eugene Scene 33:10 Joel and Ellie's Porch Scene, Final Thoughts FOLLOW THE GEEK BUDDIES: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Geek_Buddies Follow John Rocha: https://twitter.com/TheRochaSays​​​​​ Follow Michael Vogel: https://twitter.com/mktoon Follow Shannon McClung: https://twitter.com/Shannon_McClung Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John and Craig look at how writers and their characters handle the obstacles they encounter. They outline proven techniques for solving problems both in life and on the page, why it's important to see characters solving problems in a story, and how taking big swings can open up exciting possibilities. We also follow up on episodes that focus on a single character, long takes, making your phone less interesting, words we don't have in English, present the definitive guide to the lunch run, and look into this stupid movie tariff thing. In our bonus segment for premium members, John is back from Egypt and Jordan, and ready to answer all of our questions about tombs and travel in the Middle East. Links: The Production Assistant's Guide to the Lunch Run Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Note On Long Takes by Aidan Moretti Video tour inside the Great Pyramid of Giza Donald Trump Says He's Pursuing 100% Tariffs On Movies Produced Outside U.S. and John Voight's proposal Sustainability by the Numbers by Hannah Ritchie Solving for Climate The Mr. Rabbit Magic Show by Rusty Lake Birdigo Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Instagram John August on Bluesky, Threads, and Instagram Outro by Spencer Lackey (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.

THE LAST OF US Season 2 Episode 5 "It's In The Air" focuses on Ellie and Dina's growing relationship and the themes of protecting family over the many, the chordyceps virus has gone airborne, the battle between the Seraphites and the WLF and Ellie becoming Joel in a final scene with Nora. The series stars PEDRO PASCAL. BELLA RAMSEY, ISABELA MERCED, GABRIEL LUNA, KAITLYN DEVER, DANNY RAMIREZ, CATHERINE O'HARA, ALANNA UBACH, JEFFREY WRIGHT and more! CRAIG MAZIN and NEIL DRUCKMANN are the showrunners for this HBOMax show with Mark Mylod directing this episode. The Geek Buddies aka John Rocha, Michael Vogel and Shannon McClung bring you their SPOILER REVIEW for TLOU S2 Ep 5 and break it all down. Remember to Like and Share this episode on your social media and to Subscribe to The Outlaw Nation YouTube channel below. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Chapters: 0:00 Intro and Overall Thoughts on The Last of Us S2 Ep 5 FOLLOW THE GEEK BUDDIES: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Geek_Buddies Follow John Rocha: https://twitter.com/TheRochaSays​​​​​ Follow Michael Vogel: https://twitter.com/mktoon Follow Shannon McClung: https://twitter.com/Shannon_McClung Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John welcomes writer, director and playwright Leslye Headland (The Acolyte, Russian Doll) to ask, why are stage plays so challenging for screenwriters? Using her recent Broadway play Cult of Love, they look at different approaches to scene description, heightened and simultaneous dialogue, and strategies for adapting stage plays to film. We also chart Leslye's career from theater kid to auteur filmmaker, her approach to time loops (because how could we not?), and answer listener questions about music cues and long scripts. In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Leslye compare notes on how to keep up with what's on stage, and what to do if you missed a production. Links: Leslye Headland Cult of Love – selected pages Bachelorette the play and the movie Fanny and Alexander John by Annie Baker Original Cast Album: Company Stephen Sondheim Waiting for Godot John Cassavetes Tár screenplay by Todd Field Arthur Aron's 36 Questions Eva discloses her autism on Survivor Making Movies by Sidney Lumet On Filmmaking by Alexander McKendick Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Instagram John August on Bluesky, Threads, and Instagram Outro by Alicia Jo Rabins (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.

THE LAST OF US Season 2 Episode 4 "Day One" focuses on Ellie and Dina exploring Seattle as they look for Abby and find themselves amid a brutal battle between the zealous Seraphites and a ruthless militia called the WLF led by Isaac and Hanrahan . The series stars PEDRO PASCAL. BELLA RAMSEY, ISABELA MERCED, GABRIEL LUNA, KAITLYN DEVER, DANNY RAMIREZ, CATHERINE O'HARA, ALANNA UBACH, JEFFREY WRIGHT and more! CRAIG MAZIN and NEIL DRUCKMANN are the showrunners for this HBOMax show with Mark Mylod directing this episode. The Geek Buddies aka John Rocha and Michael Vogel bring you their SPOILER REVIEW for TLOU S2 Ep 4 and break it all down. Remember to Like and Share this episode on your social media and to Subscribe to The Outlaw Nation YouTube channel below. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Chapters: 0:00 Intro and Overall Thoughts on The Last of Us S2 Ep 4 9:20 Isaac, WLF vs Seraphites in Seattle 19:34 Ellie and Dina's Growing Relationship 26:25 Infected Train Action Sequence, Ellie and Dina's Reveals FOLLOW THE GEEK BUDDIES: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Geek_Buddies Follow John Rocha: https://twitter.com/TheRochaSays​​​​​ Follow Michael Vogel: https://twitter.com/mktoon Follow Shannon McClung: https://twitter.com/Shannon_McClung Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John welcomes writer and showrunner Eric Kripke (The Boys, Supernatural) to look at planning out a multi-season series. They chart Eric's early career from shorts to showrunner, how he developed Supernatural, his process for structuring seasons of The Boys, and how great TV shows stick the landing. We also answer listener questions on lone character episodes and emulating comic panels on screen. In our bonus segment for premium members, Eric spills on everything blood, guts and gore. Links: Eric Kripke on IMDb and Instagram The Boys Battle of the Sexes short film Minions on the Seine! Strange Darling The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Instagram John August on Bluesky, Threads, and Instagram Outro by Nick Moore (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.

THE LAST OF US Season 2 Episode 3 "The Path" focuses on Jackson Hole recovering from the attack of the clickers and feeling the loss of Joel with Ellie and Tommy. We also follow Ellie and Dina as they head out to Seattle to seek revenge on the WLFs who look to be a terrifying and formidable force . The series stars PEDRO PASCAL. BELLA RAMSEY, ISABELA MERCED, GABRIEL LUNA, KAITLYN DEVER, DANNY RAMIREZ, CATHERINE O'HARA and more! CRAIG MAZIN and NEIL DRUCKMANN are the showrunners for this HBOMax show with Mark Mylod directing this episode. The Geek Buddies aka John Rocha and Shannon McClung bring you their SPOILER REVIEW for TLOU S2 Ep 3 and break it all down. Remember to Like and Share this episode on your social media and to Subscribe to The Outlaw Nation YouTube channel below. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Chapters: FOLLOW THE GEEK BUDDIES: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Geek_Buddies Follow John Rocha: https://twitter.com/TheRochaSays​​​​​ Follow Michael Vogel: https://twitter.com/mktoon Follow Shannon McClung: https://twitter.com/Shannon_McClung Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here's a sneak peek at our all new Patreon episode on the second season premiere of Craig Mazin's adaptation of the acclaimed video game The Last of Us. Like what you hear? Head on over to www.patreon.com/horrorqueers and become a Patron for more exclusive bonus content today!  Theme Music: Alexander Nakarada   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John and Craig welcome back Aline Brosh McKenna to tackle the issue of idea management. What do you do with all those half-formed ideas and how do you decide which ones to pursue? They share best practices and their approach to middle-of-the-night inspiration. We also discuss how screenwriters' quotes are determined and answer some listener questions on alternatives to D&D, crediting improv and rain in the second act. In our bonus segment for premium members, DVDs hang in the balance as John and Drew sit down back in 2025 to ask, should Drew get rid of his physical media? Links: Dungeon World Kids on Bikes Crazy, Rich Asians Pay Disparity Searching for Bobby Fischer After Dark My Sweet God (1998 short film) Reg Ex Crossword Puzzle Soothe Massage App Assassin's Creed: Odyssey Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Instagram John August on Bluesky, Threads, and Instagram Outro by Victor Krause (send us yours!) This episode was originally produced by Megana Rao. Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John and Craig break out of coverage to look at oners and long shots, cutting through any directorial showboating to compare the pros and cons and cons and cons of those unbroken takes, offering ways to decide when they are necessary or purposeful, and how to recognize when it's better to cut. We also look at changes to Sundance and the Nicholl Fellowship, answer listener questions on house lights in movie theaters, Oscar voting, improv movies, and share a few horror stories from John and Craig's early career. In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig look at their relationship with their phones and consider dumbing down. Links: HBO's The Last of Us Podcast Sundance is moving to Boulder, Colorado! Changes to the Academy Nicholl Fellowship Adolescence | The Studio Meryl Streep and Viola Davis in Doubt The Alien RPG by Free League Assassin's Creed: Shadows The Show 25 The DIY Dumbphone Method by Casey Johnston Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Instagram John August on Bluesky, Threads, and Instagram Outro by Nick Moore (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.

THE LAST OS US is finally back! And so is co-creator Craig Mazin to spill the secrets about the approach to season 2, casting of chharacters, and the future of the series. SPOILERS ahead if you don't know what happens in the THE LAST OF US 2! You've been warned. UPCOMING EVENTS! April 14th -- Bryce Dallas Howard In New York -- ⁠Tickets here!⁠ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Quince -- Go to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Quince.com/happysadco⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 365 day returns and free shipping! Check out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Happy Sad Confused patreon here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! We've got discount codes to live events, merch, early access, exclusive episodes, video versions of the podcast, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode from 2012, John and Craig sit down with producer and former studio executive Lindsay Doran (Sense and Sensibility, Stranger than Fiction) at the Austin Film Festival to explore the producer's relationship with the screenplay. The look at how the role of producer has changed, the ideal development process, how she developed Sense and Sensibility with Emma Thompson, and staying true to your values in a fickle business. In our bonus segment for premium members, Drew joins John back in 2025 to consider the value of a good alumni program, and how an alma mater that under-delivers can be the pits. Links: Lindsay Doran on IMDb The original episode transcript Perfectly Happy, Even Without Happy Endings by Carrie Rickey for the New York Times (including a great photo of Lindsay's hair) Lindsay's TEDx presentation: Saving the World vs Kissing the Girl Scriptnotes, Episode 17: What do producers do? Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Instagram John August on Bluesky, Threads, and Instagram Outro by Matthew Chilelli (send us yours!) This episode was originally produced by Stuart Friedel. Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.

John and Craig welcome writer and showrunner Tony Gilroy (Andor, Michael Clayton) for an in-depth look at crafting a second season of a hit TV show. They look at ways to find your season's structure, setting your production up for success, controlling the energy your audience spends on information, and how to wrap up your story before the show eats you alive. They also answer listener questions on what to do when a movie that's similar to yours is wildly successful, and whether being a movie critic could hurt your writing career. In our bonus segment for premium members, Tony sticks around to ponder which words we wish existed in English, and how we'd use them in our scripts. Links: Tony Gilroy Here's a recap of Andor Season 1! Andor Season 2: Trailer 1 | Trailer 2 | Special Look Episode 680 – Writing Action Set Pieces with Christina Hodson I'm Not a Robot short by Victoria Warmerdam I'm Not a Robot short by Jason Speir Stephen Schiff Startpage A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs Raindrop Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Instagram John August on Bluesky, Threads, and Instagram Outro by Spencer Lackey (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.

John and Craig sit in project purgatory and ask, what do you do when the only answer you're getting is “maybe”? They share advice on how to gently check in without annoying people, recognizing the soft pass, the unexpected benefits of patience, and what to do when you're the person holding up the gears. Then it's another round of the Three Page Challenge, where John and Craig give their honest feedback on three listener-submitted scripts. We also follow up on script supervisors and the encroaching perils of AI production. In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Craig spill the telltale signs that a movie or TV show has had reshoots. Links: Follow along with our Three Page Challenge Selections! SCRAMBLING by Tania Luna, LUMP by Leah Newsom, and THE DREAD PIRATE ROBERTS by J. Bryan Dick The King of Tars Sesame Street The Goes Wrong Show on Prime Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Instagram John August on Bluesky, Threads, and Instagram Outro by Nick Moore (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.

John welcomes back Christina Hodson (The Flash, Bumblebee) to ask, how do you to construct a great action sequence? Using examples from three different movies, they discuss what good action looks like on the page, how to keep your reader from getting bored or confused, and why production can sometimes blow your plans to smithereens. Then it's a round of How Would This be a Movie?, where we take four stories from the news and pitch how we might adapt them for the screen. Stories include a mysterious painting, a train trapped in a blizzard, a teen who sued his parents, and zombie colleges. We also follow up on director's chairs and mammograms, and answer listener questions on side characters and creating a healthy work/life balance. In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Christina examine the do's and don'ts of introducing yourself to a stranger through email. Links: Christina Hodson That New York Times article with John and Christina Bamboo Director's Chair Birdigo on Steam Action samples: Aliens, The Bourne Identity and Rise of the Planet of the Apes David Koepp's Jurassic Park screenplay David Benioff's Troy screenplay A Man of Parts and Learning by Fara Dabhoiwala When a Deadly Winter Storm Trapped a Luxury Passenger Train Near the Donner Pass for Three Days by Robert Klara A U.K. Teen's Parents Sent Him to Ghana. He Took Them to Court. by Lynsey Chutel Zombie colleges? These universities are living another life online, and no one can say why by Chris Quintana Mike Birbiglia The Onion in print Padraic Murphy's Research Department 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 Bluesky, Threads, and Instagram Outro by Vance Kotrla (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.

John welcomes back Liz Hannah (The Girl From Plainville, The Post) to ask, how do you know if a character can carry a story? They look at ways of identifying your protagonist, defining privileged storytelling power, and the choices to make when figuring out which characters can hold narrative point of view. We also look a the phenomenon of the “Stranger in the Room,” follow up on writing during crazy times, brain trusts, plays vs movies, the phrase “begs the question,” and the usefulness of sharing your pronouns. In our bonus segment for premium members, John and Liz explain the difference between East LA, West LA, and why the valley might beat them both. Links: Liz Hannah on IMDb and Instagram Episode 676 – Writing while the World is on Fire Slate Culture Gabfest The Post | Screenplay Episode 128 – Frozen with Jennifer Lee Into the Unknown: Making Frozen 2 on Disney+ Highland Pro The Girl From Plainville on Hulu The Dropout on Hulu “The Stranger in the Room” by @toddalcott on Threads Episode 399 – Notes on Notes Dragonsweeper by Daniel Benmergui Dare I Say It by Naomi Watts 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 BlueSky, Threads, and Instagram Outro by Spencer Lackey (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.

John and Craig welcome producer Dan Etheridge (iZombie, High Potential, Party Down) to look at how non-writing producers develop projects, coordinate across departments, and maintain the tone of the show as directors come and go. We offer practical tips for making the most of video village, regardless of your role, and solutions for the scourge of directors chairs. Highland Pro, John's next generation screenwriting app is now available now for Mac, iPad and iPhone! We discuss what's new and what's coming next. We also answer listener questions pitching multiple projects, writing on tablets and how to launch an app. In our bonus segment for premium members, John, Craig and Dan look back on their experience officiating weddings, and offer advice for those about to marry people. Dan even officiated John's wedding! Links: Highland Pro | Download on the App Store Dan Etheridge on IMDb Buck Rodgers' robot sidekick [The Tom Thumb locomotive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Thumb_(locomotive) Statpage and DuckDuckGo I Miss the Music from Curtains Curule Evercast Scripto Night Moves, Prime Cut, and Scarecrow Lorelei and the Laser Eyes on Steam Diplomacy Beneath the Moon and Long Dead Stars by Daniel Wallace 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 BlueSky, Threads, and Instagram Outro by Richard Barrett (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.