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DZ-37: Excelling at Exposition (Part 1)

Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

Release Date: 11/23/2016

DZ-125: Oscars one-shot - BLUE MOON show art DZ-125: Oscars one-shot - BLUE MOON

Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

What craft tools make a low-budget, contained, period drama riveting? Explore how narrative POV, interweaving relationships, hooky dialogue, and even the screenplay format itself make the script for BLUE MOON - that runs largely in real time about an obscure songwriter in the 1940s - one that attracts world class talent and Academy Award nominations. While Stu is still on show and we are between the 2026 Oscar nominations and the actual ceremony, our patreons selected BLUE MOON for this one-shot and boy are Mel and Chas glad they did. They dive into many lessons learned in previous episodes,...

info_outline DZ-124: Making the despicable compelling show art DZ-124: Making the despicable compelling

Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

How does Film Noir show us terrible people doing terrible things without endorsing it? Mel and Chas continue to explore what Noir (the genre) can teach writers of all other genres. In particular: how to keep the audience on side of characters doing reprehensible things how to control your audience understanding of those reprehensible actions distinguishing between characters undergoing transformative arcs against discovering their true natures In finding the common craft tools of Noir over 100 years, this Part 2 looks at two modern noirs - DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS (1995) and WOMAN OF THE HOUR...

info_outline DZ-123: Flawed Characters and Noir show art DZ-123: Flawed Characters and Noir

Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

What can Film Noir teach us about character arcs and audience engagement? In this two part series, Mel and Chas use Noir (the genre) as a lens to interrogate flawed characters. How can characters doing reprehensible things still engage audiences? How can you ensure representation isn’t endorsement? And whether these characters undergo transformative arcs, or simply reveal their true natures? Part 1 focuses on two (now classic) noirs: DOUBLE INDEMNITY and THE LONG GOODBYE. While Part 2 looks at two more contemporary examples DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESs and WOMAN OF THE HOUR. As always: SPOILERS...

info_outline 1dZ-01: Arkyvrs - A Mansion Most Vile - Ep1 show art 1dZ-01: Arkyvrs - A Mansion Most Vile - Ep1

Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

What happens when a group of filmmakers play a ragtag group of filmmakers in a gritty sci-fi horror? "Ignite the fire within and explore unknown territory” - Werner Herzog. This episode is unusual, even by Draft Zero standards. It’s an “Actual Play Podcast” where Chas, Stu, & Mel are joined by Kim Ho and Luke Clark to play MOTHERSHIP, the sci-fi horror game we talked about in episodes DZ-121 and DZ-122. Stu is the GM while everyone else is a ragtag crew of freelance filmmakers. We debrief the experience (so far) at the end of the episode) Mel plays Zara, the glamorous face of...

info_outline DZ-122: Escalating Antagonism 2 show art DZ-122: Escalating Antagonism 2

Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

How can you apply horror ideas to action and comedy? In this episode Chas, Stu and guest Kim Ho continue their exploration into the power(s) of antagonism and how focusing on them can develop story. While Part 1 looked at the horror film SINNERS, in Part 2 we venture into genres beyond horror with the action-thriller REBEL RIDGE, and the comedy classic  MEET THE PARENTS. To both these films we apply the generative story framework TOMBS* (Transgression - Omens - Manifestation - Banishment - Slumber)  and are surprised at just how well it maps. *TOMBS comes from the MOTHERSHIP sci-fi...

info_outline DZ-121: Escalating Antagonism 1: SINNERS show art DZ-121: Escalating Antagonism 1: SINNERS

Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

How do the antagonistic forces in your story escalate distinctly from the protagonists’ journey? We often struggle to develop the middle stages of a story. Could this be because we focus  on our protagonists’ journeys and plot structure more than on how the antagonistic powers are awakened, wronged, discovered, gathering strength and revealing themselves? In this episode, Chas and Stu are joined by professional screenwriter and playwright Kim Ho to explore how a generative story cycle (from tabletop role-playing game MOTHERSHIP) can be used to develop stories, not just write them...

info_outline DZ-120: Subtext is overrated show art DZ-120: Subtext is overrated

Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

Or, how focusing on good drama will result in good subtext. We often hear how subtext is important for good screenwriting. We’re here to tell you it isn’t. Good subtext is a result of good drama, and your focus should be on creating that good drama. But how? In this episode, Chas Fisher and Stu Willis are joined by screenwriter+teacher, Tom Vaughn (Winchester) to delve into the world of subtext.  We kick off the discussion by talking through Tom’s article “Why Subtext is Overrated” and break down his core idea that subtext is a byproduct of character goals, tactics and...

info_outline 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,...

info_outline DZ-118: Adolescence and tension through questions show art DZ-118: Adolescence and tension through questions

Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

How do dramatic questions create tension?  In this episode, Stu and Chas delve into the cultural phenomenon of ADOLESCENCE. We try to find the craft tools that have made the show so compelling and such a catalyst for conversation.  In particular, we breakdown how the show’s emphasis on questions creates tension: not just tension through plot, but tension through character, and ultimately tension through theme. We analsyse the show episode-by-episode, and discuss how the overall structure skilfully shifts from a plot-heavy police procedural towards a thematic-heavy melodrama...

info_outline DZ-117: Tonal shifts show art DZ-117: Tonal shifts

Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

How can we teach our audience new storytelling rules in the middle of our story? Following on from our episodes on establishing tone through action lines and through character, this is what we have been building up to: how to pull off a tonal switch… that does not throw the audience out of the film. And, in particular, how to pull that off on the page when writers don’t have framing, lighting, music, editing, etc. at our disposal? With that goal in mind, Mel and Chas dissect specific moments on the pages of SHAUN OF THE DEAD, SORRY TO BOTHER YOU and SWISS ARMY MAN. While there are definite...

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More Episodes

How can you successfully integrate exposition into your story?

In Draft Zero's first two part episode, Stu & Chas take an in-depth look at one of screenwriting's most common challenges: EXPOSITION. For many stories there are pre-existing facts that need to be communicated to the audience — whether those facts be about the rules of the world, the nature of a location, character motivations, character backstories or just character names. So how have great writers made exposition move the story forward, rather than stopping it to tell the audience stuff they need to know?

To that end, in Part 1 of Excelling At Exposition we break down scenes from PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL, SHORT TERM 12, INSIDE OUT, THE WORLD'S END, THE BIG SHORT, IT FOLLOWS, JURASSIC PARK and JURASSIC WORLD. Audio quotations are included for educational purposes.

Many thanks to /r/screenwriting for suggesting so many examples.

EPISODE LINKS

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