John August Bio
John August (born August 4, 1970) is an American screenwriter, director, producer, and novelist. He is known for writing the films Go (1999), Big Fish (2003), and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), among many other projects. August has established himself as a versatile storyteller across film, television, and literature, while also contributing to the writing community through his podcast, software tools, and educational resources.
Early Life and Background
John August was born John Tilton Meise in Boulder, Colorado, in 1970. He found his birth surname difficult to pronounce and eventually chose August as his professional name, drawing from his father’s middle name and the month of his birth. He attended Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where he earned a degree in journalism and participated in a summer film program at Stanford that solidified his decision to pursue screenwriting.
After completing his undergraduate studies, August went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts in film from The Peter Stark Producing Program at the University of Southern California. During his time at USC, he wrote a romantic tragedy titled Here and Now. Though the script never sold, it led to finding agent representation and helped launch his professional screenwriting career.
Path to Director
August began his professional journey in Hollywood through his studies at the University of Southern California, where his writing samples attracted industry interest. His early script Here and Now opened doors to representation, setting the foundation for his future in screenwriting. The combination of his journalism background and film education equipped him with the skills to craft compelling narratives for the screen.
John August Career
Early Career (1998–2003)
August’s debut film was the 1999 crime-comedy Go, directed by Doug Liman, for which he also served as co-producer and second unit director. The film established his reputation as a skilled screenwriter capable of handling complex narratives and multiple storylines. Following Go, August created his first television show, D.C., in 2000 for The WB, produced by Law and Order creator Dick Wolf, though only four of the seven produced episodes aired.
In 2000, August expanded his portfolio by writing the animated science fiction feature Titan A.E. and the action-comedy Charlie’s Angels. He continued building his credentials with the 2003 sequel Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle. His breakthrough came when he adapted Daniel Wallace’s novel Big Fish, which became a 2003 Tim Burton film and earned August critical acclaim.
Breakthrough (2003–2005)
The adaptation of Big Fish marked a turning point in August’s career. His screenplay for the Tim Burton-directed film earned him a 2003 BAFTA Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, establishing him as a sought-after writer in Hollywood. The success demonstrated his ability to bring literary properties to life while collaborating effectively with visionary directors.
August collaborated with Tim Burton again in 2005 for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s beloved children’s book. He had written to Dahl as a child and received a postcard reply, which inspired his connection to the material decades later. His songwriting contribution to the film earned him a 2006 Grammy nomination for Best Song Written for Visual Media for his lyrics to Wonka’s Welcome Song. That same year, he worked with Burton on the stop-motion animated fantasy Corpse Bride, which was in production simultaneously with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Notable Works and Milestones
August made his feature directorial debut in 2007 with The Nines, a science fiction psychological thriller starring Ryan Reynolds, Melissa McCarthy, Hope Davis, and Elle Fanning. The film premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival and Venice Film Festival’s Critics’ Week. He has continued to balance writing and directing throughout his career, contributing to projects including Frankenweenie (2012) with Burton, serving as executive producer on Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010), and co-writing the screenplay for Disney’s live-action Aladdin (2019).
Beyond traditional filmmaking, August ventured into publishing with the middle-grade novel Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire in 2018, followed by additional books in the series in 2019 and 2020. He hosts the popular Scriptnotes podcast with Craig Mazin since 2011 and develops screenwriter-targeted software through Quote-Unquote Apps, including tools like FDX Reader, Highland, and Weekend Read.
John August Award Nominations
Throughout his career, August has received recognition from major industry organizations. He was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay in 2003 for his work on Big Fish. He earned a Grammy nomination in 2006 for Best Song Written for Visual Media for Wonka’s Welcome Song from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. These nominations reflect his versatility as a writer working across different mediums and genres.
John August Awards Won
August has been honored for both his creative contributions and his service to the writing community. In 2016, he received the WGAw Valentine Davies Award for his dignified contributions to the entertainment industry and the community-at-large. This award recognizes his impact beyond his own writing, including his work supporting fellow writers through his podcast, software tools, and educational content.
| Award | Wins | Year |
|---|---|---|
| WGAw Valentine Davies Award | 1 | 2016 |
John August Family
John August has been married to Michael August since 2008. The couple reside in Los Angeles alongside their daughter. Between 2016 and 2017, they spent a year living in Paris, France.
Personal Life
August lives in Los Angeles, California, with his husband, Michael August, and their daughter. He maintains an active presence in the writing community through his podcast Scriptnotes, his screenwriting blog, and Quote-Unquote Apps, which develops software for writers and filmmakers. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, voting in the Writers branch.