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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.
In this episode of Geek Freaks Headlines, we break down the big shift in leadership behind HBO's The Last of Us. Co-creator Neil Druckmann is stepping away from the series ahead of Season 3 to focus on Naughty Dog's next big game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. With Craig Mazin now the sole showrunner, what does this mean for the show's future? We share thoughts on how this could affect the storytelling, audience reception, and Season 3's uphill battle without Pedro Pascal and with Abby taking center stage.Timestamps and Topics:00:00 Introduction and headline00:03 Neil Druckmann steps down from The Last of Us00:10 Craig Mazin becomes sole showrunner00:18 Druckmann's continued role as executive producer00:25 Concerns over creative direction and Season 3 tone00:35 Audience challenges: No Pedro Pascal and Abby's role00:45 What to watch for as production beginsKey Takeaways:Neil Druckmann is stepping away from The Last of Us series before Season 3 production.Druckmann will remain on paper as executive producer and co-creator but won't contribute creatively.Craig Mazin will take over as the sole showrunner moving forward.Druckmann is refocusing his efforts on developing Naughty Dog's upcoming title Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.Season 3 may be harder to market with Pedro Pascal likely not returning and Abby taking a lead role.The tone and direction of the show could shift significantly without Druckmann's involvement.Quotes:“Season one was outstanding. Season two, a bit of a mixed bag.”“The highlights from season two were really pulled from the game.”“Season three will be difficult to advertise to people—no Pedro Pascal and Abby's a big focus.”Call to Action:Love what you hear? Subscribe to Geek Freaks Headlines, leave us a review, and share the episode using #GeekFreaksPodcast. Stay tuned for weekly updates on all things geek!Links and Resources:Stay informed with our latest news at GeekFreaksPodcast.comFollow Us:Facebook: facebook.com/thegeekfreakspodcastInstagram: instagram.com/geekfreakspodcastThreads: threads.net/@geekfreakspodcastPatreon: patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcastTwitter: twitter.com/geekfreakspodListener Questions:Got thoughts on Druckmann leaving or predictions for Season 3? Send your comments and questions our way, and we might feature them in the next episode!Apple Podcast Tags:The Last of Us, Neil Druckmann, Craig Mazin, Naughty Dog, HBO, video game adaptation, Intergalactic The Heretic Prophet, Pedro Pascal, Abby, Geek Freaks Headlines
We kick off this holiday weekend on The Ankler Podcast with Matthew Frank exposing a rebellion brewing in film schools, where young cinephiles are shunning AI, while their mentors encourage them to embrace the new technology. Later, Sean McNulty breaks down the box office battles this July 4th, with Jurassic World Rebirth trying to take pole position away from Brad Pitt's F1. But the real bombshell? Lesley Goldberg's exclusive scoop: Neil Druckmann, the co-creator of Naughty Dog's The Last of Us games and the Emmy Award-winning HBO series, is abandoning the TV adaptation ahead of season three. Lesley, Elaine Low and Natalie Jarvey dissect how Druckmann helped shape The Last of Us, why he's leaving now, and where that leaves the show and co-creator Craig Mazin ahead of its next chapter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
To this day, the Chernobyl disaster remains the worst nuclear accident in history… and the 2019 HBO miniseries “Chernobyl” details what happened in disturbing, yet riveting, detail. In the first episode of this 2-part series on the award-winning “Chernobyl,” Candy and Ashley share a little background on the terrifying incident and discuss the creation of the miniseries. What is it like to visit Chernobyl today, according to a firsthand account? What strategies did creator and writer Craig Mazin use to tell the story of the disaster as authentically as possible? Which lead character was fictional, created solely for the TV series, and why? And which events from the actual Chernobyl disaster are addressed in the miniseries? Find (and subscribe to!) the show on your favorite podcast app or the Scandal Water Podcast Youtube channel. *Thank you to Abbey and Allie for sharing insights from their personal visits to the Chernobyl site. How to support Scandal Water: Rate, review and subscribe! Send your shoutouts to scandalwaterpodcast@gmail.com. Give a gift through buymeacoffee.com/scandalwaterpod or patreon.com/ScandalWaterPodcast– which will also grant you access to fabulous bonus content! #chernobyl #HBO #miniseries #Disaster #WhataDisaster #JaredHarris #StellanSkarsgard #EmilyWatson #ukraine #russia #chernobylexclusionzone #chernobyldisaster #chernobylzone #abandoned #ScandalWaterPodcast #Podcast
There's a deadly fungus among us! Alexis Hejna from Honeysuckle Rose Creations hosts a roundtable look the second season of the hit TV series based off the hit video game (and its sequel), joined by Jesse Starcher and Jayson Teasely. Let's take a look at this story of vengeance, love, and mushrooms. The second season of the American post-apocalyptic drama television series The Last of Us was originally broadcast on HBO between April and May 2025. Based on the video game franchise developed by Naughty Dog, the season is set twenty-five years into a pandemic caused by a mass fungal infection, which causes its hosts to transform into zombie-like creatures and collapses society. The second season, based on the first half of the 2020 game The Last of Us Part II, follows Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) five years after the events of the first season, after they have settled into Jackson, Wyoming, with Joel's brother Tommy (Gabriel Luna) and Ellie's friends Dina (Isabela Merced) and Jesse (Young Mazino).HBO renewed The Last of Us for a second season less than two weeks after the series premiered in January 2023. Co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann were joined in the writers' room by Halley Gross and Bo Shim; Druckmann wrote and co-directed the games, and Gross co-wrote Part II. Principal photography took place in British Columbia from February to August 2024. Druckmann, Mazin, and Peter Hoar returned to direct the seven episodes alongside newcomers Kate Herron, Nina Lopez-Corrado, Mark Mylod, and Stephen Williams. Gustavo Santaolalla and David Fleming returned to compose the score.Critics felt the season reinforced The Last of Us as the best video game adaptation, praising the action sequences, direction, performances, production design, and writing, though some criticized the pacing and considered the story incomplete. It was nominated for several awards. Across linear channels and Max, the season premiere was watched by 5.3 million viewers on the first day, a 13% increase from the first-season premiere; by May, the series averaged almost 37 million global viewers per episode.Disclaimer: The following may contain offensive language, adult humor, and/or content that some viewers may find offensive – The views and opinions expressed by any one speaker does not explicitly or necessarily reflect or represent those of Mark Radulich or W2M Network.Mark Radulich and his wacky podcast on all the things:https://linktr.ee/markkind76alsohttps://www.teepublic.com/user/radulich-in-broadcasting-networkFB Messenger: Mark Radulich LCSWTiktok: @markradulichtwitter: @MarkRadulichInstagram: markkind76RIBN Album Playlist: https://suno.com/playlist/91d704c9-d1ea-45a0-9ffe-5069497bad59
The Last of Us: Season 2 - Ep 348: The struggle to survive continues as we try to avoid killer mushrooms and psycho muscle mommies while we discuss HBO Max's returning series The Last of Us Season 2! Joel and Ellie return... kind of. We discuss Zombies, Spoilers, and hateful gamers only on Normies Like Us! @NormiesLikeUs https://www.instagram.com/normieslikeus/ @jacob https://www.instagram.com/jacob/ @MikeHasInsta https://www.instagram.com/mikehasinsta/ https://letterboxd.com/BabblingBrooksy/ https://letterboxd.com/hobbes72/ https://letterboxd.com/mikejromans/
Almost as soon as it began, the second season of HBO's acclaimed adaptation has come to an end. But would you believe that only half the game has been covered!? Join us as we discuss big changes, even bigger viewership drops, and the newly announced Elden Ring adaptation for some reason.Discussed in this episode are:S2E7 - "Convergence"Note: The music track at the start of the episode is “The Last of Us”, composed by Gustavo Santaolalla for the The Last of Us Original Soundtrack. We in no way have or claim ownership of this music.Email us at: dcellmedia@gmail.com
In episode 244 of Reel Therapy, Daniel and Donavon are joined by filmmaker Jason Miller to talk all things Season 2 of HBO's The Last of Us.From casting choices to narrative structure, we dive into the online discourse surrounding the show's direction and whether sticking closely to the video game's story will help or hurt its impact. Expect thoughtful debate, creative insights, and a few hot takes on one of the most anticipated seasons in recent TV history.TABLE OF CONTENTS --00:00:00 - About the Episode00:00:44 - Greetings00:02:02 - The Last of Us - Season 201:03:24 - Final Thoughts01:14:17 - Before We GoABOUT THE SHOW --The Last of Us Season 2 continues the emotionally charged story set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a fungal outbreak. Picking up after the events of Season 1, the new season explores the complex consequences of Joel's choices and deepens the journey of Ellie as she navigates loss, vengeance, and the search for meaning in a broken world.Based on the critically acclaimed video game by Naughty Dog, Season 2 is expected to follow the bold and divisive narrative of The Last of Us Part II, introducing new characters, shifting perspectives, and morally challenging decisions. With showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann at the helm, the series continues to push the boundaries of video game adaptations, blending cinematic storytelling with raw human emotion.FIND US --To learn more about Jason and follow his work, find him on:Instagram: @jasonmillerfilmX: @JasonMillerFilmFor everything Reel Therapy and 241 Studios, check out our website:LINK: https://www.241studios.com/Follow us on:Instagram: @reeltherapy_podcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/reeltherapypod
Bienvenidos, cinéfilos hierberos, a un nuevo episodio de Cinefilia y otras Hierbas, cine, televisión, música y videojuegos para escuchar.Soy José Enrique Guzmán y hoy nos ponemos el chaleco antibalas emocional para hablar del final de la segunda temporada de The Last of Us de HBO. ¡Y vaya manera de cerrar, mi gente! Esta temporada ha sido una montaña rusa de emociones, una masterclass de narrativa que ha dividido corazones y generado charlas interminables en redes (y en persona también) Y no es para menos: Neil Druckmann y Craig Mazin han demostrado que tienen no solo talento, sino un par de cojones bien puestos al mantenerse fieles a la estructura del juego, que —recordemos— fue como lanzar una granada narrativa cuando salió. Controversial, sí, pero brillante.El episodio anterior, el sexto, nos sacudió con el regreso de Pedro Pascal en flashbacks y fue un golpe directo al alma. Ver a Joel de nuevo, aunque sea en recuerdos, nos recordó por qué nos enamoramos de esta serie en primer lugar y nos dejó preguntándonos cómo demonios íbamos a superar ese impacto emocional. Y justo cuando creíamos que no podíamos estar más enganchados, llega el episodio 7, centrado en el día 3 de Ellie en Seattle, y nos demuestra que esta historia aún tiene mucho más para darnos.Este final de temporada es una obra maestra en sí mismo: emocionante, sorprendente y, como era de esperarse, nos deja con un cliffhanger que es puro sadismo. Porque, claro, la historia apenas está calentando motores, pero ahora toca esperar... y sufrir. Así que prepárense, porque hoy JK Alzáibar, Pablo Sánchez Noguera y mi persona, vamos a desmenuzar este episodio y a reírnos un poco de nuestro masoquismo como fans. Porque, seamos honestos, ¿quién más se somete voluntariamente a este tipo de tortura emocional? Solo nosotros, los verdaderos amantes de las buenas series. ¡Empecemos!Les recuerdo a nuestros seguidores que CINEFILIA Y OTRAS HIERBAS tiene un Patreon, en el cual les ofrecemos beneficios adicionales a quienes decidan apoyarnos económicamente: patreon.com/cinefiliayotrashierbas Adicionalmente, si quieren escribirnos para hacer cualquier comentario, dejarnos un saludo o lo que prefieran, pueden hacerlo al correo: cinefiliayotrashierbas@gmail.comNo olviden suscribirse si aún no lo han hecho, compartir este episodio por lo menos con dos amigos, dejar un comentario y un like, eso nos ayudará a crecer y a encontrar más audiencia.¡Que disfruten el episodio!#TheLastOfUs #Ellie #Jesse #HBO
In this episode, we break down HBO's The Last of Us Season 2, analyzing its controversial adaptation choices, pacing issues, character changes, online backlash, and how it deviates from the game's core themes of revenge, grief, and moral ambiguity, while still finding moments of brilliance that give us hope for Season 3.Don't forget to LIKE the video and SUBSCRIBE to the channel!https://www.instagram.com/twopleasepodHouse of The Dragon Is A Hot Mess: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0f0QTjthiBnFWQHq80mQM8?si=3f073b3dc418468700:00 - Intro01:00 - First Impressions:03:00 - Differences for Game Players vs Show-Only Viewers06:00 - Joel's Death09:00 - Online Backlash & Toxic Fandom12:00 - Bella Ramsey15:00 - Changes in Ellie's Character & Motivation19:00 - Tonal & Pacing Issues23:00 - Over-Explaining the Themes27:00 - Violence, Revenge & Moral Complexity32:00 - What was Craig Mazin doing?36:00 - Season 2 Writing: Over-Correction or Safe Play?41:00 - Impact of HBO's Limited Episodes & Delays45:00 - How Adaptation Choices Hurt the Core Story50:00 - Production Design & Highlights We Loved53:00 - Hopes (and Concerns) for Season 3 & Beyond56:00 - The Franchise's Future59:00 - Final ThoughtsThe Last of Us Season 1 Episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6MjSmoAapYesow1gK78oPk?si=170ba287e7404ad5
The Last of Us Season 2 episodes 5-7 are spoiled!Episodes 5-7 Spoiler Review @0:47The Last of Us Season 2 Rating @1:14:22Text Us Your ThoughtsHosts:Daniel Grant (Bluesky & Instagram)Ben Sit (Instagram)Show:@TDFSpoiled on Instagram, Threads, TikTok & YouTubeSubscribe & Follow HERE
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
En este video analizamos a fondo The Last of Us Temporada 2 Episodio 6. Exploraremos todos los momentos clave, el desarrollo de los personajes, referencias y diferencias con el videojuego y los detalles ocultos que quizás no notaste. Además, discutimos el impacto de este episodio en la trama general y lo que podría venir en el final de la temporada.Si eres fan de The Last of Us y quieres entender cada rincón de la historia, este análisis es para ti.Suscríbete para más análisis semanales, teorías y curiosidades de tus series favoritas.#TheLastOfUs #TheLastOfUsTemporada2 #TLOU #AnálisisTLOU #HBO #TLOU2Este es un video para fans de la serie y del videojuego, con contexto, teoría y una mirada profunda al universo creado por Neil Druckmann y Craig Mazin.
En este video analizamos a fondo The Last of Us Temporada 2 Episodio 7 FINAL DE TEMPORADA. Exploraremos todos los momentos clave, sus diferencias con el juego, el cambio en el desarrollo de los personajes, referencias y los detalles ocultos que quizás no notaste. QUIERES QUE DEMOS SPOILERS SOBRE EL FINAL DE ESTA HISTORIA, DEJANOS SABER CON LOS SUPER CHATS.Si eres fan de The Last of Us y quieres entender cada rincón de la historia, este análisis es para ti.Suscríbete para más análisis semanales, teorías y curiosidades de tus series favoritas.#TheLastOfUs #TheLastOfUsTemporada2 #TLOU #AnálisisTLOU #HBO #TLOU2Este es un video para fans de la serie y del videojuego, con contexto, teoría y una mirada profunda al universo creado por Neil Druckmann y Craig Mazin.
The Geek Buddies with John Rocha, Michael Vogel and Shannon McClung
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
Review of the seventh and final episode of the second season of the American post-apocalyptic drama television series The Last of Us. Written by Neil Druckmann, Halley Gross, and Craig Mazin, and directed by Nina Lopez-Corrado, it aired on HBO on May 25, 2025. The episode follows Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Dina's (Isabela Merced) third day in Seattle to kill Abby (Kaitlyn Dever). They are joined by Jesse (Young Mazino), who seeks to regroup with Tommy (Gabriel Luna) and return home.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
The incredibly thoughtful Craig Mazin returns to the podcast to break down the narrativelyl complex second season of the hit HBO series. With favorite characters leaving, morally murky new ones to introduce, and constantly shifting perspectives Craig had his hands full guiding the audience through this part of the video game adaptation. Listen to learn what went into every big decision this season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ebube, Chinedu and Emmanuel are making terrible decisions and doing emergency childbirth as they discuss the season finale of HBO's 'The Last of Us'. They touch on Ellie's infuriating decision making, Saint Jessie of Wyoming, the episode's bold creative swing and what it might mean for Season 3. You can support us here.Subscribe to our Newsletter.Also Available on YouTube.Hosts: Ebube Ubochi and Chinedu IhejiGuest: Emmanuel Pius-OgijiProduction by: Bankole Imoukhuede
The second season draws closer to a finale, and there's still plenty of game plot left! Join us as we discuss emotional flashbacks, questionable outbursts, and Tony Dalton. That's right, Tony Dalton.Discussed in this episode are:S2E5 - "Feel Her Love"S2E6 - "The Price"Note: The music track at the start of the episode is “The Last of Us”, composed by Gustavo Santaolalla for the The Last of Us Original Soundtrack. We in no way have or claim ownership of this music.Email us at: dcellmedia@gmail.com
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 Geek Buddies with John Rocha, Michael Vogel and Shannon McClung
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
Send us a textIn this episode Troy struggles to whistle, while Mike clinches to keep his poker face, as they both scramble away from the infected chaos of The Last of Us Season 2, episodes 1-4. ►Connect with 'Bald Guys & Bad Movies':-Facebook: / baldguysbadmovies -Instagram - / baldguysbadmovies -Twitter/X - / baldmovies ►Experience their unique takes on films of all stripes:- Apple Podcasts - ...
Joel's back! And so is Emmanuel!! He joins Ebube and Chinedu to discuss the penultimate episode of 'The Last of Us' Season 2; the long-awaited flashbacks episode. They touch on Ellie's change through her teenage years, her wholesome birthday experiences, Joel's continued deceit and of course, the excellent porch scene. Ahead of next week's finale, they also touch on some of the season's successes and failures so far. You can support us here.Subscribe to our Newsletter.Also Available on YouTube.Hosts: Ebube Ubochi and Chinedu IhejiGuest: Emmanuel Pius-OgijiProduction by: Bankole Imoukhuede
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. Reviews this week of French feelgood hit ‘The Marching Band' (En Fanfare)--where a conductor in need of a bone-marrow transplant discovers a long-lost brother and undertakes an unexpected musical journey. Think Brassed Off, but more French. Also we have the edge-of-your-car-seat thriller ‘Hallow Road' starring Rosamund Pike, and the usual run down of the Box Office Top 10 and all your erudite/hilarious/chin-strokey correspondence on those. The Good Doctors will also be talking ‘The Last Of Us' series 2—and that's because our very special guest this week is its showrunner Craig Mazin. In a bumper conversation that extends into Take 2 for Vanguardistas, he and Simon talk about the groundbreaking video-game adaptation series and his journey to creating it. Covering everything from storytelling secrets to the show's brilliant needle drops, via revenge, grief and creativity, this one really goes places—don't miss it. Timecodes (for Vanguardistas listening ad-free): En Fanfare (The Marching Band) Review: 08:15 Craig Mazin Interview: 26:03 The Last of Us S2 Review: 45:28 Hallow Road Review: 58:36 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 And to find out more about Sony's new show Origins with Cush Jumbo, click here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/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 Geek Buddies with John Rocha, Michael Vogel and Shannon McClung
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
The Last of Us Season 2 episodes 1-4 are spoiled!Thoughts on Neil Druckmann & Craig Mazin @1:09Episodes 1-4 Spoiler Review @4:41Text Us Your ThoughtsHosts:Daniel Grant (Bluesky & Instagram)Ben Sit (Instagram)Show:@TDFSpoiled on Instagram, Threads, TikTok & YouTubeSubscribe & Follow HERE
It's somehow *only* Day 2 in Seattle and Ebube and Chinedu have had to get in some help. Pete Peppers drops by to help them emotionally navigate the exhausting 'The Last of Us' episode. They discuss Ellie's descent into savagery (14:15), the Seraphites' brutality (43:00), the surprise guests in Seattle and much more. You can find Pete's channel Here.You can support us here.Subscribe to our Newsletter.Also Available on YouTube.Hosts: Ebube Ubochi and Chinedu IhejiGuest: Pete PeppersProduction by: Bankole Imoukhuede
In the wake of "that thing" happening, how is HBO's acclaimed show progressing along? Join us as we discuss an awkward sex scene, gorgeous set design, and how worried our biggest The Last Of Us fan has now become.Discussed in this episode are:S2E3 - "The Path"S2E4 - "Day One"Note: The music track at the start of the episode is “The Last of Us”, composed by Gustavo Santaolalla for the The Last of Us Original Soundtrack. We in no way have or claim ownership of this music.Email us at: dcellmedia@gmail.com
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 Geek Buddies with John Rocha, Michael Vogel and Shannon McClung
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
The boys have finally made it to optimistic Seattle just in time to get into this week's 'The Last of Us'. They first share some of their thoughts on last week's mournful episode (04:50), before discussing Jeffrey Wright's debut as Isaac Dixon (17:45) and episode four's epic human and zombie carnage (46:10).You can support us here.Subscribe to our Newsletter.Also Available on YouTube.Hosts: Ebube Ubochi and Chinedu IhejiGuest: Emmanuel Pius-OgijiProduction by: Bankole Imoukhuede
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 Geek Buddies with John Rocha, Michael Vogel and Shannon McClung
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
With the second season of HBO's critically acclaimed adaptation starting back up, we decided to discuss it as the season goes on! With 2 episodes down, join us as we discuss casting choices, new surprises, and how therapy may or may not work in the post-apocalypse.Discussed in this episode are:S2E1 - "Future Days"S2E2 - "Through the Valley"Note: The music track at the start of the episode is “The Last of Us”, composed by Gustavo Santaolalla for the The Last of Us Original Soundtrack. We in no way have or claim ownership of this music.Email us at: dcellmedia@gmail.com
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.
The Geek Buddies with John Rocha, Michael Vogel and Shannon McClung
THE LAST OF US Season 2 Episode 2 "Through the Valley" featuring one of the biggest shocking moments of the series and explores the relationship between Joel and Eliie and Abby's thirst for vengeance. Meanwhile, Jackson Hole has to fight off an attack from a horde of the infected. The series stars PEDRO PASCAL. BELLA RAMSEY, 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 2 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 Episode Recap 2:35 Overall Thoughts on TLOU Season 2 Episode 2 9:27 Joel vs Abby Explodes as Ellie Watches On, Who Was Right? 33:05 The Battle of Jackson Hole vs The Infected 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 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_geek_bu... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The moment we've dreaded has finally arrived. Join Daniel, Shahbaz, and Anthony for a spoiler-filled recap, breakdown, and discussion of Season 2, Episode 2 (“Through The Valley”) of HBO's The Last of Us series. This episode is Written by Craig Mazin and Directed by Mark Mylod. Season 2 of The Last of Us picks up five years after the events of Season 1. Joel and Ellie's collective past catches up to them, drawing them into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind. The series stars Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Kaitlyn Dever, Gabriel Luna, Rutina Wesley, Isabela Merced, Young Mazino, Danny Ramirez, Catherine O'Hara, and Jeffery Wright. The Last of Us Season 2 airs weekly on HBO and Crave Canada. Watch and listen to The Movie Podcast now on all podcast platforms, YouTube, and TheMoviePodcast.ca Contact: hello@themoviepodcast.ca FOLLOW US Daniel on X, Instagram, Letterboxd Shahbaz on X, Instagram, and Letterboxd Anthony on X, Instagram, and Letterboxd The Movie Podcast on X, Instagram, TikTok, Discord, and Rotten Tomatoes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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.
Craig Mazin is the showrunner behind HBO's hit post-apocalyptic series “The Last of Us” — but he didn't always write TV dramas. Much of his career was spent working on big comedy film franchises like “Scary Movie” and “The Hangover.” In this conversation with guest host Garvia Bailey, Craig breaks down why it takes a smart person to write dumb comedy, plus, what you can expect from Season 2 of “The Last of Us.” If you enjoy this conversation, check out Tom Power's chat with director and producer Barry Sonnenfeld.
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.