DZ-47: Backmatter - A Lost Jedi, White Knighting, and Writers-On-Set
Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast
Release Date: 01/11/2018
DZ-63: Tools for Better Dialogue (Part 2) - Hook and Eye
Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast
Stu and Chas have kidnapped Stephen Cleary to once again develop some craft tools around dialogue. In Part 2 of this series, 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.
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DZ-62: Unfilmables and Unscriptables (Part 3) - As Ifs & Emotional context
Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast
In this final part of our series on unfilmables, Chas and Stu turn their critical eye to... each other’s work! They take their key learnings from the previous ep and apply them to rewriting scenes from their own projects. They discuss metaphors, emotional context, and how you can write tone on the page without resorting to unfilmables.
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DZ-61: Unfilmables and Unscriptables (Part 2) - Moments of Awe
Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast
Chas and Stu continue their deep dive into how writing the “unfilmable” can enhance your script. Rather than looking at micro moments, they turn their gaze to ‘moments of awe’ — those often breathtaking cinematic moments that feel beyond writing. But are those scenes actually unscriptable?
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DZ-60 Unfilmables and Unscriptables (Part 1) - Engaging imagination
Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast
In this episode, Chas and Stu deep dive into the controversial area of “unfilmables” — those alleged screenwriting sins, where a writer writes a line that (apparently) cannot be seen or heard. But many produced spec scripts use unfilmables to great effect. So how and why do they “get away with it”?
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DZ-59: Avengers Endgame - Ending Character Journeys
Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast
A short-shot into Avengers Endgame. What began as an exploration of how to dramatise character change swiftly became an exploration of how to position audience in relation to your characters. Do you want the audience empathising with the characters? Feeling what they are feeling in the moment? Or do you want your audience sympathising with your characters? Being rocked by surprise after the fact? Reminding your audience of their own personal relationship with the characters.
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DZ-58: Game of Thrones - Character Exposition
Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast
while we thought this episode would be an extension of our previous musings on exposition, in nearly every great scene we assessed, the characters basically said “screw talking about plot or backstory” and instead exposited about their character. How it feels to be them. How they have, or have not, changed.
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DZ-57: Backmatter - Aesthetics and Forgiveness in Writing
Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast
It is time (in fact, well past time) for our semi-annual #Backmatter episode. For the uninitiated, this is an episode where Stu and Chas discuss career and craft-related topics beyond what makes great screenplays work. To that end, Stu and Chas dive into: a five year review of Draft Zero and how it has changed their writing craft and process; a discussion on the aesthetics of writing; learnings for emerging writers in having their work produced; and finally forgiving yourself for not writing.
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DZ-56: Character Motivations (Part 2)
Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast
Chas & Stu examine moments where they did not believe a key decision being made by a character and so were taken out of the movie. They apply the tools they developed in Part 1 to workshop potential fixes to these beats.
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DZ-55: Character Motivations (Part 1)
Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast
In part 1 of this 2-part episode, Chas & Stu look at examples of good character motivation. We’ve all watched movies where we don’t believe the motivation of a character or characters. We may have even written scripts where readers don’t buy the character’s choices. To help us solve the problem of how to improve our character motivations, in this episode we explore great examples of character motivation and how they have helped the audience believe a character’s decision.
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DZ-54: Thematic Sequences
Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast
Chas and Stu are joined, once again, by the inestimable Stephen Cleary. This episode is a spiritual sequel to our last episode with Stephen, the one on sequence structure. We talk about a different type of sequence: the thematic sequence. By limiting (or removing all together) questions related to character or plot, filmmakers can force their audience to engage with the deeper, underlying meaning of the story.
info_outlineWill Director Stu allow Writer Chas on his set?
Following our annual wrap up in 2017, we’ve decided to once again explore what craft issues/lessons we can garner from the latest Stars, namely Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, focusing on how consequences of character actions can do a lot of heavy lifting as to how the audience perceives that character (as well as looking at worldview and overall story structure).
We also discuss how the sexual assault allegations in our industry can impact on what work we choose to analyse as well as dive into a bunch of listener questions.
We end on whether - if our space pirates project gets off the ground - Chas should come on set, whether Stu will have him and whether it would do anyone any good.
As always: SPOILERS ABOUND
Audio quotations used for educational purposes only. Timestamps indicated below. Chapter markers included in the mp3.
Special thanks to our Patreon supporters. If you would like more Draft Zero episodes more often, click here!
BACKMATTER LINKS
- THE LAST JEDI w & d Rian Johnson [@ 1m 28s]
- SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS & DRAFT ZERO HOMEWORK POLICIES [@ 29m 07s]
- YouTube: Rose McGowan speaks publicly in Detroit, first time since Weinstein allegations
- The New Yorker coverage of the Weinstein allegations:
- Commentary from collaborators with Harvey Weinstein
- Rolling Stone/Joyce Che: Kevin Smith is Donating his Residuals to Women in Film
- The Guardian: Tarantino on Weinstein
- Our Lady J: ‘Transparent’ Writer Says Jeffrey Tambor Accusers Told “Their Truth” & Series Should Not “Be Taken Down” By Actor
- LISTENER QUESTIONS [@ 52m 28s]
- Fiona: When do you reveal a secret in a story?
- Khrob: Can Blockbusters escape the ROTJ 3rd Act "problem"?
- Khrob: Best Writing Moment of 2017?
- Dexter: Would you be open to a draft zero commentary with a movie?
- Thomas: Could you please do an episode on Linklater?
- Susie: How do I move from the 2nd into the 3rd Act without it being so sudden?
- César: What are the best scripts you've ever read?
- César: Do you write scenes in the order they're in the script?
- César: What are the biggest differences in writing movies & tv shows?
- Mendoza: Let me tell you why you're wrong about SPLIT. In four parts.
- Sunday: What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given about writing?
- Sunday: How did you transition from short form to long form writing?
- Sunday: How do you, as a Director, work with a writing partner?
- Evrim: Do you find short online form (web series) restrictive or liberating?
- WRAP UP [@ 1hr 48m 21s]
- What have Stu & Chas Been Working On?
- Should Chas Come To Set?
- (Post Credits) Thomas schools us on our pronunciation.
Please send feedback to ask at draft-zero.com, via our web form or twitter @draft_zero! We are @chasffisher and @stuwillis on twitter.
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Thanks to Khrob, Joakim and Christopher for being patrons. They're good people. Sorry Christopher that you didn't get a shout-out in the episode but hopefully this note immortalised in the very bottom of the show notes demonstrates how much we appreciate ja!