493 - Opening Scenes

John and Craig discuss the craft of constructing beginnings: what they consider when writing the first line of a script and how opening scenes have evolved with audience expectations. We also investigate a question from former producer Stuart Friedel and dive into the history of foreign levies. We then make predictions on the future of movie-going by analyzing the history of megaplexes. Finally, in our bonus segment for premium members we look at cliches versus conventions. Links: WGA Parental Leave begins May 2! Learn more about foreign levies 99 Percent Invisible Podcast Episode: The Megaplex We’ve Outgrown the Ugly Duckling Transformation by Mina Le on Youtube TV Tropes Listener Guide Submissions send in your favorite episodes from 300-500! Upstep Check out the Screenwriting Life Podcast and this episode with John! Upstep – the review is positive! Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! John August on Twitter Craig Mazin on Twitter John on Instagram Outro by Peter Hoopes (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Megana Rao and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at [email protected] You can download the episode here.