668 - Holiday Live Show 2024
Scriptnotes Podcast
Deep Dive
Why did John August love Christmas as a child?
He wasn't allowed to celebrate Christmas because he was Jewish, which made him yearn for the traditions like having a Christmas tree.
What is Hollywood Heart and how does the holiday live show support it?
Hollywood Heart is a charity that provides summer camping experiences for kids who wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity. The holiday live show donates all proceeds, plus an additional matching donation from the hosts, to support the charity.
How early in the creation of 'Agatha All Along' did Jac Schaeffer know they needed a song?
Jac Schaeffer knew early on that music would be central to the show, with the song becoming a fundamental part of the narrative, serving as the spell that Agatha casts on the audience and characters.
What was Jac Schaeffer's guiding principle for 'Agatha All Along'?
Her guiding principle was to make the show feel like a spell, with the song being the central spell that Agatha uses to manipulate the audience and characters.
How did Jac Schaeffer decide on the sitcom style for 'WandaVision'?
Schaeffer and her team limited the sitcoms to aspirational family sitcoms to align with Wanda's desire for a nuclear family, which provided a clear thematic and narrative focus.
What was the key challenge in protagonizing Agatha for 'Agatha All Along'?
The challenge was making Agatha the protagonist without negating her villainous nature from 'WandaVision', which was achieved by exploring her journey of wanting power but needing community.
How did Brian Jordan Alvarez and Stephanie Koenig start working together?
They met on a student short film at UC Santa Barbara and decided to collaborate on creating content to keep their friendship and creative partnership alive.
What was the turning point for Brian Jordan Alvarez in transitioning from making content for themselves to working within the TV system?
The turning point was when Paul Sims, a TV producer, approached him to create a show, which led to the development of 'English Teacher' with significant support and guidance from experienced industry professionals.
What is the secret to the humor in 'English Teacher'?
The humor comes from the texture of the show, including overlapping dialogue, realistic reactions, and the use of hyper-real grounded acting to sell the jokes, which are crafted in a writer's room full of talented comedians.
What is Stephanie Koenig's recommendation for dating?
She recommends going to escape rooms for dating, as it reveals a lot about a person's problem-solving skills, competitiveness, and how they handle stress in a fun and revealing environment.
- The Scriptnotes Holiday Live Show is a benefit for Hollywood HEART.
- Hollywood HEART provides summer camping experiences for children who cannot otherwise afford it.
- The proceeds from the live show are entirely donated to Hollywood HEART.
Shownotes Transcript