Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

How do you give your audience access to a lot of characters? In Part 2 of our exploration into ensemble stories, Stu, Chas and Mel examine films whose plot and genre require a lot of characters. Thus we tackle a team sports film (PITCH PERFECT), a murder mystery (GLASS ONION), a slasher (SCREAM 2022) and a family holiday flick (THE FAMILY STONE). By looking at these films, we discover tools for writers to service characters and give them more dimension. These tools include: shifting group dynamics; the spectrum of private to public behaviour; breaking POV, and quintessential group introductions. As always: SPOILERS ABOUND Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode. CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Cold Open 00:01:46 - Intro: Servicing Characters 00:14:40 - Pitch Perfect 00:37:54 - Glass Onion 01:09:20 - Scream 5 01:32:17 - The Family Stone 02:13:22 - Key Learnings & Wrap Up RELATED EPISODES DZ-96: Ensembles 1 - What do we mean by an ensemble? DZ-43: Driving Sequences – Character and Plot Intensity DZ-09: Characterising Introductions This episode brought to you by (drum roll): ScriptUp: https://www.scriptupstudio.com – use promo code DZ10 to get 10% off; and ArcStudio: go to https://www.arcstudiopro.com/draftzero for $30 off a pro subscription! And how can we forget our awesome Patreons? Especially Casimir, Eduardo, Jennifer, Garrett, Randy, Jesse, Sandra, Theis, Alex and Khrob. You rule! 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, @chasffisher and @mehlsbells on twitter. You can find @draft_zero and @_shotzero on Instagram and Twitter. BUY DRAFT ZERO MERCH via TeePublic

DZ-96: Ensembles 1 - What do we mean by an ensemble? How can the same story feel different when you have more characters? In the first part of our series on ensembles, Chas, Stu and Mel start by laying the groundwork for our future episodes. And we begin by asking the seemingly innocuous question: ‘what do we mean by calling a story an ensemble?’ As we unpack our own assumptions, biases and thoughts, we ask (and attempt to answer) more questions: How does an ensemble differ from a single protagonist or two hander? Why does this distinction even matter? What challenges What genres inherently are ensembles? And what do we hope to learn from the series? We ice-skate over myriad films including JURASSIC PARK, ALIEN, TOP GUN vs TOP GUN: MAVERICK, DEATH AT A FUNERAL, WAR OF THE WORLDS vs INDEPENDENCE DAY, LORD OF THE RINGS vs WILLOW, OCEAN’S 11 vs OUT OF SIGHT, THIEF vs HEAT, AWAY FROM HER, DIRTY DOZEN, SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, SE7EN, READY OR NOT. Look, there’s heaps. We talk a lot of movies. We also talk through our lens for breaking down group dynamics: collaborative vs competitive vs combative. As always: SPOILERS ABOUND Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode. <3 Chris! CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Intro 00:04:17 - What is an ensemble? 00:26:51 - Taxonomy of Ensembles 00:47:25 - ArcStudio Sponsorship 00:48:32 - Group Dynamics 01:08:39 - Wrap Up & Hopeful Learnings 01:15:15 - Patreon Thanks   This episode brought to you by (drum roll): ScriptUp: https://www.scriptupstudio.com – use promo code DZ10 to get 10% off; and ArcStudio: go to https://www.arcstudiopro.com/draftzero for $30 off a subscription! And how can we forget our awesome Patreons?, Especially Casimir, Eduardo, Jennifer, Garrett, Bjorn, Randy, Jesse, Sandra, Theis, Alex and Khrob. You rule! 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. BUY DRAFT ZERO MERCH via TeePublic  

How do you maintain hope in the face of, er, screenwriting? Time for our annual backmatter episode, where we drop any ruse of any objectivity, and fully embrace our subjective opinions! In this episode we discuss: potential topics for 2023; the ostensible shortening of first acts; balancing new projects vs current projects; how to maintain hope in the face of an industry as fickle as ours; and end with a discussion of Andor vs Obi-Wan. Yup, Star Wars is the new Die Hard. Get over it. SPOILERS ABOUND for Andor and Obi-Wan. FYI we recorded this episode with both of us in the same room (for a more casual atmosphere )but that means there’s more technical gremlins like crosstalk. Our apologies in advance! Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode. <3 Chris! CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Intro: Backmatter 00:02:44 - Housekeeping 00:05:49 - Future Episode Ideas 00:25:52 - Are first acts getting shorter? 00:40:16 - New projects vs current projects 00:48:59 - Maintaining Hope or Avoiding Despair 00:54:21 - The Big Lessons of 2022 00:55:19 - Andor vs Keobi 01:14:37 - Key Lessons & Wrap Up 01:16:06 - Many thanks LINKS LISTEN: Starship Q Star - https://starshipqstar.com/links And how can we forget our awesome Patreons? Especially Casimir, Eduardo, Jennifer, Garrett, Bjorn, Randy, Jesse, Sandra, Theis, Alex and Khrob. You rule! 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. BUY DRAFT ZERO MERCH via TeePublic

How can you use physical objects to track character change… wordlessly? In part two of our two-part series on TALISMANS, we break down the beats used to turn objects (in a broad sense) into talismans; how talismans can track character journeys and transitions; and how they can be used to create powerful moments without words. While Part 1 looked a range of talismans in a bunch of different movies, in this episode we deep dive into just three examples. We look at how Thor’s crisis of masculinity is articulated through his relationship with Mjolnir and Stormbreaker in THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER; how the yearning love in PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE is communicated through paintings and music; and how the impact of an emotional affair is charted through key locations in INTHE THE MOOD FOR LOVE. As always: SPOILERS ABOUND Audio quotations used for educational purposes only. Timestamps indicated below. Chapter markers included in the mp3. Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode. CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:15 - Talismans (Part 1) Followup 00:08:37 - Forging a Talisman (The Beats) 00:23:22 - Thor: Love and Thunder 00:59:52 - Portrait of a Lady on Fire 01:32:39 - In the Mood for Love 01:59:39 - Key Learnings & Wrap Up 02:06:10 - Thanks to our Patreons LINKS Scott Myers / Go Into The Story: Talismans - https://medium.com/go-into-the-story/talismans-bcbf0a04d45d Scott Myers / Go Into The Story:  Story Talismans - https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/story-talismans-89b91523e71d RELATED EPISODES DZ-93: Talismans (Part 1) - http://draft-zero.com/2022/dz-93/ DZ-92: Insightful recognition in powerful endings - http://draft-zero.com/2022/dz-92/ This episode brought to you by (drum roll): ScriptUp: https://www.scriptupstudio.com – use promo code DZ10 to get 10% off And how can we forget our awesome Patreons? Especially Casimir, Eduardo, Jennifer, Garrett, Bjorn, Randy, Jesse, Sandra, Theis, Alex and Khrob. You rule! 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. BUY DRAFT ZERO MERCH via TeePublic

How can you use physical objects to reveal inner character? In this series, Chas and Stu discuss TALISMANS. Physical objects that are imbued with meaning by a character or characters. They’re a powerful tool to access inner character. In this first part, we lay the groundwork to discuss talismans and present something of a taxonomy. What makes talismans powerful? What makes them different from MacGuffins or characters? What types of Talismans are there? In the second part, we will breakdown THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER, IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE, and another film.  Examples we cover here include: TOP GUN, SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER, BETTER CALL SAUL, LORD OF THE RINGS, CASTAWAY, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, THE DARK KNIGHT, THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER, RONIN, PULP FICTION, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, BREAKING BAD, BACK TO THE FUTURE, THE TERMINATOR, TITANIC, INCEPTION, STAR WARS (of course), THE MATRIX, ANDOR (spoilers!), LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, MAD MAX: FURY ROAD, and PULP FICTION. As always: SPOILERS ABOUND Audio quotations used for educational purposes only. Timestamps indicated below. Chapter markers included in the mp3. Thanks to Chas Fisher & Chris Walker for editing this episode. CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Intro 00:03:15 - Talismans in our own lives 00:08:41 - Scott Myer's definition of Talismans 00:18:58 - What are not Talismans? 00:21:48 - Wardrobe 00:28:26 - Talismans vs Characters 00:43:18 - Talismans vs MacGuffins 00:49:33 - Photos 00:53:53 - Jewellery 01:02:22 - Weapons & Tools 01:10:02 - Vehicles 01:12:03 - Letters & Journals 01:14:19 - Andor (Spoilers) 01:16:20 - Talismans and Rituals 01:24:14 - Wrap Up & Key Learnings LINKS Scott Myers / Go Into The Story: Talismans - https://medium.com/go-into-the-story/talismans-bcbf0a04d45d Scott Myers / Go Into The Story:  Story Talismans - https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/story-talismans-89b91523e71d RELATED EPISODES DZ-11: Adventure for the MacGuffin! - http://draft-zero.com/2014/dz-11/ DZ-87: Keeping Genre fresh - http://draft-zero.com/2022/dz-87/ This episode brought to you by (drum roll): ScriptUp: https://www.scriptupstudio.com – use promo code DZ10 to get 10% off; and ArcStudio: go to https://www.arcstudiopro.com/draftzero for $30 off a subscription! And how can we forget our awesome Patreons?, Especially Casimir, Eduardo, Jennifer, Garrett, Bjorn, Randy, Jesse, Sandra, Theis, Alex and Khrob. You rule! 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. BUY DRAFT ZERO MERCH via TeePublic

How can endings prompt an audience to reflect on your story? Stu & Chas set out to explore what makes certain endings powerful, in particular those of LA LA LAND, INCEPTION, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN and TURNING RED. The lens they bring to those endings is Aristotle’s moment of “anagnorisis” (don’t worry - we can’t pronounce it either), traditionally when a character moves from ignorance to knowledge (particularly of self). But in analysing these films, Chas and Stu discover that endings can be particularly powerful when the characters experience insightful recognition in others, or in the world, or - perhaps most powerfully - when the anagnorisis is aimed at the audience. In other words, are there craft tools for your ending to prompt an audience to ask itself the question “What was that all about?”? Turns out, we think there are. As always: SPOILERS ABOUND Audio quotations used for educational purposes only. Timestamps indicated below. Chapter markers included in the mp3. Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode. CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:48 - Insightful recognition in endings 00:03:39 - What the hell is “anagnorisis”? 00:12:04 - LA LA LAND 00:30:45 - INCEPTION 00:35:14 - NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN 01:00:04 - TURNING RED 01:18:18 - Wrap up & Key Learnings 01:24:26 - Thanks patreons! LINKS HULK PRESENTS THE MYTH OF THE THREE ACT STRUCTURE Lindsay Doran on the psychology of story-telling RELATED EPISODES DZ-04: Catharsis and the Post-Coital Cigarette This episode brought to you by (drum roll): ScriptUp: https://www.scriptupstudio.com – use promo code DZ10 to get 10% off; and ArcStudio: go to https://www.arcstudiopro.com/draftzero for $30 off a subscription! And how can we forget our awesome Patreons?, Especially Malay, Casimir, Eduardo, Jennifer, Garrett, Bjorn, Randy, Jesse, Sandra, Theis, Alex and Khrob. You rule! 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. BUY DRAFT ZERO MERCH via TeePublic

How can you keep your audience hooked when they know the end of the story? Chas, Stu and Mel take a deep dive into stakes, using then lens of biopics to help us think about them. If an audience already knows the “plot” outcome of a story, then how do you create stakes to make a story tense for the audience?  To explore this, we deep dive into HIDDEN FIGURES (about the NASA Friendship 7 mission), DOWNFALL (the final days of Berlin in WW2), and BRIGHT STAR (the life and death of romantic poet John Keats). We unpack the ideas around internal, external and philosophical /moral stakes and propose some new terminology that may help us write stakes more effectively.  As always: SPOILERS ABOUND. Audio quotations used for educational purposes only. Timestamps indicated below. Chapter markers included in the mp3. Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode. This episode brought to you by (drum roll): ScriptUp: https://www.scriptupstudio.com – use promo code DZ10 to get 10% off; and ArcStudio: https://www.arcstudiopro.com - go to www.draft-zero.com/arcstudio for $30 off a subscription! And how can we forget our awesome Patreons?, Especially Malay, Casimir, Eduardo, Jennifer, Leigh, Garrett, Bjorn, Randy, Jesse, Sandra, Theis, Alex and Khrob. You rule! 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. BUY DRAFT ZERO MERCH via TeePublic CHAPTERS - 00:00:00 - Intro - 00:04:41 - What even are stakes? - 00:24:26 - Hidden Figures - 01:00:46 - Downfall - 01:33:38 - Bright Star - 02:10:33 - Key Learnings - 02:18:57 - Thanks Patreons!

How can you use setups and payoffs to stitch your film together? In this one-shot, Chas and Stu dive into the awesomeness of EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE. In particular, we focus on its use of setups, payoffs and reversals; breakdown the difference between Pointers and Plants and Stitches; deep dive into its Michael Arndt inspired ending. And, of course, we talk hotdog fingers and butt-plugs. As always: SPOILERS ABOUND. Audio quotations used for educational purposes only. Timestamps indicated below. Chapter markers included in the mp3. Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode. CHAPTERS 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:43 - Anywhere Anything At The Same time 00:10:48 - Summary 00:29:51 - Pointers and Planters 00:56:17 - The Ending 01:17:59 - Wrap Up and Key Learnings 01:30:06 - Thanks to our Patreons LINKS Michael Arndt - Endings: The Good, the Bad, and the Insanely Great -- https://vimeo.com/238637906 Will Dunne - The Dramatic Writer's Companion - https://willdunnedramaticwriting.com/the-dramatic-writers-companion/ RELATED EPISODES DZ-06: Key Scenes and Unlocking the Story DZ-04: Catharsis and the Post-Coital Cigarette DZ-10: Midpoint Reversals and The Ride This episode brought to you by ScriptUp – https://www.scriptupstudio.com – use promo code DZ10 to get 10% off.  Thanks to all our patrons, especially Malay, Casimir, Eduardo, Jennifer, Leigh, Garrett, Bjorn, Randy, Jesse, Sandra, Theis, Alex and Khrob. You rule! BUY DRAFT ZERO MERCH via TeePublic

How does your opening sequence set up your audience? Inspired by her tweet on how subversive an opening OCEAN’S ELEVEN has, Chas and Stu invited amazing writer/director Jessica Ellis onto the show to deep dive into opening sequences. How does a good opening setup character, genre, and theme? In exploring how best to open your story - instead of looking at the almost mandatory studio note of “dropping you in the action” - Stu, Chas and Jess look at the inventive openings of OCEAN’S ELEVEN, LONG SHOT, ARRIVAL and A SERIOUS MAN. Each of these films opens in a way that seems to defy its genre conventions and yet still provide all the set-up it needs to perfectly tell its story. As always: SPOILERS ABOUND. Audio quotations used for educational purposes only. Timestamps indicated below. Chapter markers included in the mp3. Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode. CHAPTERS 00:00:56 - Intro 00:12:04 - Ocean’s Eleven 00:30:26 - Long Shot 01:01:32 - Arrival 01:22:22 - A Serious Man 01:41:17 - Wrap Up 01:46:47 - Patreon thanks LINKS Jessica Ellis: https://twitter.com/baddestmamajama What Lies West: https://linktr.ee/whatlieswest RELATED EPISODES DZ-15: World Building Rules, Okay? DZ-43: Driving Sequences – Character and Plot Intensity DZ-44: Marvel, First Acts and Establishing Characters   This episode brought to you by ScriptUp – https://www.scriptupstudio.com – use promo code DZ10 to get 10% off. Thanks to all our patrons, especially Casimir, Lloyd, Eduardo, Jennifer, Leigh, Thomas, Garrett, Bjorn, Randy, Jesse, Sandra, Alex and Khrob. You rule! 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.

How some films use genre elements to hook audiences, evolving into character dramas. Analysis of HUSTLERS, PIG, and POWER OF THE DOG. Discussion on inciting incidents, themes, and more. Exploring emotional depth, family dynamics, and genre transformations in films.