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DZ-63: Tools for Better Dialogue 2 - Hook and Eye

Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

Release Date: 12/31/2019

DZ-119: Final Character Choices & Great Endings show art DZ-119: Final Character Choices & Great Endings

Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

How does your protagonist’s final choice resolve the plot, character arc and theme? In this episode, Stu and Chas focus solely on the final choices made by protagonists and how that reflects their character journey and successfully, or not, dramatises the internal. We compare and contrast different uses of narrative POV in respect to these final choices, in particular whether and when the audience is made aware of the options available to the character, the act of making the choice, and the consequences of the choice. We breakdown examples from DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES,...

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Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

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Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

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Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

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info_outline DZ-115: A Christmas Special - Rewatching & Rituals show art DZ-115: A Christmas Special - Rewatching & Rituals

Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

What magic do Christmas movies use to make them so rewatchable? In this “backmatter” episode of Draft Zero, Stu, Chas, and Mel Killingsworth embark on a festive exploration of what makes holiday films so engaging and so re-watchable that they can become part of our rituals. To that end, we breakdown the charm of of Christmas films like KISS KISS BANG BANG, RIDERS OF JUSTICE, and IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE.  We discuss what defines a holiday movie, the power of nostalgia, the importance of ensembles to a sense of family, and how voiceover, snappy dialogue and intricate plots can make...

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Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

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Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

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Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

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info_outline DZ-111: Unreliable Narrators and Fight Club show art DZ-111: Unreliable Narrators and Fight Club

Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

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info_outline DZ-110: Voiceover show art DZ-110: Voiceover

Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

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How can you create flow and contrast in your dialogue?

A full three years after the first instalment (and one of our most popular), Stu and Chas have kidnapped Stephen Cleary to once again develop some craft tools around dialogue. It would be fair to say that - in that time - all three have learnt a lot more about dialogue than they knew in 2016. It would be also fair to say that Stephen perhaps learnt a little more through his research into “genderlect”.

In Part II, we analyse key scenes from films and TV shows famous for their dialogue, namely FLEABAG (Season 2, Episode 5), JUNO and DEADWOOD (The Pilot). The biggest tools we explore are: the hook and eye; how dialogue can reveal status and empathy; rhythm; contrast and affinity; and pacing.

And just to help us all out, Stephen rounds out the episode with some quick fire examples - FIVE EASY PIECES, JERRY MAGUIRE, GROSSE POINTE BLANK, and NOTTING HILL (again) -  and further dialogue tips.

Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode during the holiday season.

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Please considering rating or subscribing to us on Apple Podcasts! or sharing us on the Social Medias! We like finding new listeners. We are @stuwillis and @chasffisher on twitter. And you can find @draft_zero on Instagram and Twitter.

Many thanks to all our patrons but particularly to Theis, Jesse, Daniel, Jack, Chris, Khrob, Sandra, Nick, Matteo, and Carrie. They’re good humans.

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