Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

How can I develop my theme without writing script pages? Continuing our look at tools used in development, Chas & Stu are joined by Stephen Cleary to talk about Theme, The Thematic Logline and what Stephen calls The Story Synopsis. All are tools to help writers better understand their theme and how it is dramatised. We use the classic film WITNESS as an example, so spoilers abound. Audio quotations used for educational purposes only. Timestamps indicated below. Chapter markers included in the mp3. Thanks to Meegan May for reading the examples. Meegan May is an emerging queer screenwriter and former military intelligence analyst with plenty of award winning scripts and extensive experience in development. Look her up! RUNNING ORDER 00:00:00 - Intro: Theme in Development 00:01:54 - The Story Synopsis 00:04:19 - Plot & Theme / Praxis & Mythos 00:11:12 - Back to the Story Synopsis 00:13:45 - Witness 00:16:09 - Thematic Logline 00:17:00 - Using the Thematic Logline in development () 00:22:26 - Witness - 1st Act in Story Synopsis 00:25:46 - Witness - 2nd Act in Story Synopsis 00:28:55 - Characters, Plot & Theme 00:30:27 - Witness - Book drops his facadé () 00:33:25 - Witness - 3rd Act in Story Synopsis () 00:40:49 - Witness - Complete Story Synopsis 00:41:51 - Using the Story Synopsis in development 00:48:04 - Rewriting using the Story Synopsis 00:54:53 - Wrap Up EPISODE LINKS Watch: Witness Watch: Lawrence of Arabia Watch: MacBeth RELATED EPISODES Listen: DZ-71: Treatments & Loglines – Development Tools Listen: DZ-54: Thematic Sequences Listen: DZ-41: Theme and Worldview Many thanks to all our patrons but particularly to Theis, Jack, Chris, Khrob, Sandra, and Matteo. They’re good humans. 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. LINKS @ http://linktr.ee/draftzero

How can I develop my plot before writing the screenplay? Stu and Chas are joined by fan-favourite, Stephen Cleary, to NOT look at what makes great screenplays work -- but what makes great  "short documents" work.  We draw on Stephen Cleary's wealth of experience in developing work with writers, as a producer, as a script editor and as a former head of development. This recording turned especially epic and so we have divided it into three parts that can be listened to in any order. Part I explores the short documents and tools you can use to develop your story’s PLOT before going to script, including the Premise, the Logline, various synopses, character documents, and - of course - the dreaded Treatment… But also looks at development tools that aren’t written like: script reads, mini-shoots and animatics. Stay tuned for Part II which delves into documents that develop your story’s theme and then Part III where we look at how to write short documents differently when your objective isn’t story development but rather selling your idea/project. RUNNING ORDER 00:00:00 - Intro  00:13:32 - The writing gym  00:19:32 - Animatics & Script Readings  00:28:08 - Telling your story out loud  00:31:07 - Why Treatments suck  00:36:49 - The Premise  00:44:43 - Exploring WRITTEN short docs  01:04:29 - What about non-hero's journey?  01:14:36 - Using short docs to keep going  01:21:04 - Back to the Premise  01:24:37 - Moving from Premise to Logline  01:25:33 - Stay tuned for Part 2!  Many thanks to all our patrons but particularly to Theis, Jack, Chris, Khrob, Sandra, and Matteo. They’re good humans. 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. LINKS @ http://linktr.ee/draftzero BUY DRAFT ZERO MERCH via TeePublic

How does Joker use melodramatic techniques to elevate its storytelling? Draft Zero return with their next YouTube livestream! Stu and Chas take a deep dive into JOKER and analyse the film through the story paradigm of melodrama. Is it a melodrama? Why or why not does that matter? And does that influence how it has been written on the page? They then answer listeners questions on JOKER and more. If you want to listen in on the next live recording, find details here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/dz-livesolation-35770237 and/or subscribe to us on YouTube via http://www.draft-zero.com/YouTube If you want to watch along instead of listen, you can watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pcMKhzJ1LkM Audio quotations used for educational purposes only. Timestamps indicated below. Chapter markers included in the mp3. RUNNING ORDER 00:00:00 - Intro: Joker & Melodrama 00:01:42 - What is Melodrama? 00:16:47 - Why Joker? 00:23:25 - Is Joker a Melodrama? 00:24:40 - Father & Son 00:28:00 - Penny Fleck's confession 00:41:30 - What is it like to be powerless? 00:54:35 - Bathroom Dancing 01:01:12 - The Joker Born 01:15:04 - Arthur Stands Up 01:28:42 - Listener Questions EPISODE LINKS Read: Slap Happy Larry - Tips for Writing Melodrama Read: Joker by Todd Phillips & Scott Silver Watch: Joker (2019) DZ RELATED EPISODES Listen: DZ-67: Writing “Passive” Protagonists & Melodrama Many thanks to all our patrons but particularly to Theis, Jack, Chris, Khrob, Sandra, and Matteo. They’re good humans. 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. LINKS @ http://linktr.ee/draftzero BUY DRAFT ZERO MERCH via TeePublic

How can you use audience questions to heighten emotional investment? Draft Zero return with their next YouTube livestream! Stu and Chas take a deep dive into PARASITE and how its mastery of audience questions elevates the film. They then answer listeners questions on PARASITE and much more. If you want to listen in on the next live recording, find details here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/dz-livesolation-35770237 and/or subscribe to us on YouTube via http://www.draft-zero.com/YouTube If you want to watch along instead of listen, you can watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RWlYaityMfs Audio quotations used for educational purposes only. Timestamps indicated below. Chapter markers included in the mp3. RUNNING ORDER: 00:00:00 - Frontmatter 00:01:22 - Intro: Parasite 00:10:43 - Cast of Characters 00:12:43 - The Establishing Sequence 00:23:23 - The Kim's Infiltrate 00:42:50 - The Kim's Stay at the Park House 00:47:02 - The Midpoint 00:53:19 - The Flood 00:56:20 - The Party 01:05:29 - What is the Parasite? 01:10:30 - Backmatter & Listener Questioners EPISODE LINKS: Read: Parasite by Joon-ho Bong & Jin Won Han Watch: Parasite (2019) DZ RELATED EPISODES: Listen: DZ-46: Structure & Point of View Listen: DZ-54: Thematic Sequences Many thanks to all our patrons but particularly to Theis, Jesse, Jack, Chris, Khrob, Sandra, Nick, and Matteo. They’re good humans. 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. LINKS @ http://linktr.ee/draftzero BUY DRAFT ZERO MERCH via TeePublic

How can shifting narrative point of view drive your sequences? Born out of isolation madness, this episode is an edited version of Draft Zero’s first YouTube livestream. Stu and Chas both watched KNIVES OUT and - together with our listeners - broke down each sequence and turning point by reference to what the audience knows in relation to the characters (aka narrative point of view).  hey then answer listener questions on KNIVES OUT and much else besides live on air. If you want to listen in on the next live recording, find details here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/dz-livesolation-35770237 and/or subscribe to us on YouTube via http://www.draft-zero.com/YouTube If you want to watch along instead of listen, the video of the episode can be found here:  https://youtu.be/EsqoCVu-oX8?t=188 As always: SPOILERS ABOUND Audio quotations used for educational purposes only. Timestamps indicated below. Chapter markers included in the mp3. RUNNING ORDER: 00:05:19:23 - Summary of narrative point of view and audience expectations 00:10:12:23 - Exploring some of Rian Johnson’s word craft 00:14:15:11 - Micro POV shifts in the interview montage 00:21:16:22 - How POV shifts turn the film 00:47:22:02 - When to let your foot off the plot gas 00:59:46:20 - Backmatter / Listener Questions EPISODE LINKS Read: Knives Out - A Murder Mystery by Rian Johnson Watch: Knives Out DZ RELATED EPISODES: Listen: DZ-46: Structure & Point of View Listen: DZ-05: Shifting audience point of view and heightened emotions Many thanks to all our patrons but particularly to Theis, Jesse, Jack, Chris, Khrob, Sandra, Nick, and Matteo. They’re good humans. 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. LINKS @ http://linktr.ee/draftzero BUY DRAFT ZERO MERCH via TeePublic

Stephen Cleary joins Stu and Chas to discuss Melodrama, focusing on characters without agency, plot-driven narratives, and the importance of emotional impact. They analyze popular shows and movies like THE HANDMAID'S TALE and STRANGER THINGS, highlighting the contrast with the Hero's Journey. The discussion dives into gendered storytelling, character dynamics, and techniques for effective melodramas.

How does Draft Zero cope with lockdown? LINKS Facebook: http://facebook.com/draftzeropodcast/ Patreon: http://patreon.com/draftzero/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIEz5b9FMNa7Tj8DkcJQWRA Dear DZ Listeners, We hope you are all staying healthy and safe. Due this difficult time of lockdown, Chas and Stu have decided to “regularly” do special live-streamed episodes (via YouTube Live) of Draft Zero that we are calling LiVEsolation.  They different from (and in addition to) Draft Zero Classic™ as you’ll be able to interact with us as we record: asking questions, prompting for clarification, and making observations that come part of the discussion. You’ll also be able to see video of our us (👎) while also seeing video of the scripts and scenes we are discussing (👍). After they’re streamed, recordings of the livestreams (including the chat!) will be on our YouTube channel for later viewing.  LiVEsolation episodes that we particularly like will also be cleaned up and put out through the traditional podcast feed… but not always. Because our priority is doing these regularly, they'll be looser - like a great live gig. We are aiming for once-a-week and at the same time… but that won’t always be possible due to… well…life. We are also having special guests and will need to work around their schedules and timezones. So how do you keep up wth our shifting schedule? We recommend you like our page on Facebook. Our livestreams will be created as events so you know what streams we will be doing and when… in your timezone! We are also making PUBLIC posts on our Patreon page (i.e. ones you don’t have to pay for if you don’t have the coin during these trying times), so if you follow us there you’ll get something like an email newsletter with announcements about what’s forthcoming. Oh, and if you are a Patreon you’ll get priority access to the online chat (when appropriate) and also get to vote on forthcoming topics. Meanwhile, Draft Zero Classic™ episodes will continue as scheduled. All of the above is in addition to what we already had planned, driven entirely by isolation and a need for community right now.  We hope to see you on the livestream soon!  — Stu and Chas.

How does audience knowledge affect your character’s motivations? Chas and Stu are joined by special guest - filmmaker Mel Killingsworth - to talk all things Star Wars. Well. Focusing on The Mandalorian and The Rise of Skywalker and wherever else our tangents take us. Our primary lens is look at how both shows handle “fan service” — but really its about how you handle character motivations when your audience has more knowledge than your characters, especially knowledge from outside the show itself. To that end, we discuss the characters of Poe, Rey, Kylo, and Palpatine in depth. We also discuss the Watchmen TV Show, Mind-hunter, Jojo Rabbit, Snowtown and Zodiac. SPOILERS ABOUND. Excerpts used for educational purposes. Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode. RUNNING ORDER Introduction: Fanservice Poe's Backstory (@ 4:03) The Mandalorian (@ 11:40) The Rise of Skywalker (@ 23:01) Rey Palpatine (@ 24:24) Palpatine's Plan (@ 38:27) Rey Skywalker (@ 46:05) Ben Solo - Depressive Demon Nightmare Boy (@ 52:12) Palpatine's Return & Watchmen (@ 01:07:27) Rose Tico (@ 01:15:54) Fake-Outs (@ 01:19:15) The Mandalorian (Revisited) (@ 1:26:08) Wrap Up & Key Learnings (@ 1:30:38) EPISODE LINKS: READ: Wikipedia - Fan Service READ: “The Rise of Skywalker: Memorabilia without Memory, a Misunderstanding of Hope” by Jeanette Ng READ: “The Force Belongs To Us: THE LAST JEDI’s Beautiful Refocusing of Star Wars” by Film Crit Hulk LISTEN: Fatman Beyond http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FatManOnBatman/~3/grl4sApz4cE/271-the-rise-of-skywalker-spoiler-show FOLLOW: Mel Killingsworth https://twitter.com/mehlsbells?s=20 WATCH: https://www.b-windmedia.com/ DZ RELATED EPISODES: DZ-29: Showdowns & Scene Structure DZ-47: Backmatter – A Lost Jedi DZ-55: Character Motivations (Part 1) DZ-56: Character Motivations (Part 2) lease 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, Jack, Chris, Khrob, Sandra, Nick, and Matteo. They’re good humans. BUY DRAFT ZERO MERCH via TeePublic

What changes in your writing and development when collaborating with a director? This episode, Chas steps down as co-host (kinda) and is interviewed by Stu as a guest, alongside director Ben Mizzi, about the short rom-com that Chas wrote and Ben directed & produced. The episode covers taking an idea from pitch to screen, working with a director, directing performance on the page, and marketing and distribution strategies for short films. If you are thinking of producing your own content, well worth a listen! And if you want to watch The Snip - a 16 min rom com about a guy who gets a vasectomy without telling his wife - here it is: https://youtu.be/_iBdDFKqqbs Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode.   RUNNING ORDER Introduction: The Snip Working With a Director (@ 3:44) How did you go from pitch to script? (@ 13:16) Short films and audience expectations (@ 22:19) What expectations can you have of the end product? (@ 26:41) How do you "direct" performance on the page? (@ 39:05) How do you direct performance from a writer? (@ 46:03) What are some marketing strategies for short films? ( @ 52:28) What is your online release strategy? (@ 58:22)   EPISODE LINKS WATCH: The Snip - https://youtu.be/_iBdDFKqqbs LISTEN: Screen Director with Jeremy Saunders on Key Art - http://www.screendirector.org/post/2015/8/14/jeremy-saunders-key-art Please considering rating or subscribing to us on Apple Podcasts or sharing us on the Social Medias! We like finding new listeners. Many thanks to Chris, Sandra, Jack, Jessie, Nick, Khrob and Theis for being top-level patrons. They’re good humans. Consider joining their ranks and supporting us on Patreon!

In our annual Backmatter-only episode, Stu and Chas indulge themselves by offering personal opinions on the life and work of emerging screenwriters based on their own personal experience. To that end, they discuss: what is and is not in your control in relation to an emerging writing career; choosing what project to develop next; using the Black List site to gain traction; the difference between treatments for pitching as opposed to for development; and the difference in writing style when writing on spec as against work for hire. We also unexpectedly have a guest: David Wappel kindly joins us to share his thoughts on anchoring nouns. RUNNING ORDER Intro What is in your control? (@ 05:27) Choosing what to develop (@ 28:58) Using the Black List site (@ 33:24) Treatments for development vs for pitching (@ 59:47) Writing on spec vs work for hire (@ 01:23:23) Backmatter on backmatter (@ 01:37:37) EPISODE LINKS Wordplayer.com: WORDPLAY/Columns/55. "Time Risk" by Terry Rossio M. Night Shyamalan on His Failures, His Successes, and Glass The Black List site: www.blcklst.com  Julio Olivera’s script reading services: www.wearethecontrarians.com/Julio-reads-your-script Stranger Things pitch bible: http://www.zen134237.zen.co.uk/Stranger_Things/Stranger_Things_-_Bible.pdf Can’t watch a rough cut lady song: https://youtu.be/4MNg3sSZ9F8 Write Along Podcast on Planners and Pantsers - www.writealongpodcast.com/2018/11/09/ep-2-planners-and-pantsers/ David Wappel is @davidwappel on Twitter and his website is www.davidwappel.com  Please considering rating or subscribing to us on Apple Podcasts! or sharing us on the Social Medias! We like finding new listeners. Many thanks to Daniel, Chris, Sandra, Jack, Jessie, Nick, Khrob and Theis for being top-level patrons. They’re good humans.