Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

Discover Sofia Coppola's masterful character writing in scripts like 'Lost in Translation' and 'The Bling Ring'. Explore her unique approach to screenwriting and uncover the secrets behind her captivating films. Dive into the intricacies of character dynamics and the impact of visual storytelling. Delve into discussions on satire, racism, and gender portrayal in Coppola's work. A must-listen for aspiring screenwriters and film enthusiasts alike!

How can you do powerful storytelling... without dialogue? Stu and Chas are joined by filmmaker, podcaster and writer Matthew Brown to deep dive into FURY ROAD and its astounding visual storytelling, both on the page and on screen. We talk about setups and payoffs, given circumstances, image systems, environmental storytelling, and how the relationship between Furiosa and Max is built over the course of the story with very little dialogue (besides Tom Hardy's grunts and the odd bellow of "MEDIOCRE!"). You can also watch the complete live stream on YouTube or just the breakdown of the Furiosa/Max fight (which isn't in the podcast) here. As always: SPOILERS ABOUND Audio quotations used for educational purposes only. Timestamps indicated below. Chapter markers included in the mp3. RUNNING ORDER 00:00:00 Intro: Fury Road & Visual Storytelling 00:01:07 Why Fury Road? 00:06:17 World Building & Given Circumstances 00:23:19 World Building & Plot Points 00:30:50 Setups & Payoffs 00:35:03 Who is the Protagonist? 00:35:08 Max & Furiosa's Arc 01:00:44 Stray Observations 01:05:28 Wrap Up EPISODE LINKS FOLLOW: Matt Brown - @tederick on twitter, or buy his book at tederick.com/furyroad READ: Cinephillia and Beyond - In Search of Our Better Selves: The Rebirth, Redemption and Road Warriors of George Miller's 'Mad Max: Fury Road' WATCH: Mad Max: Fury Road READ: The Art of Mad Max Max Fury Road RELATED EPISODES DZ-33: Protagonist vs Hero – Dawn of Character Function DZ LiVE Ep3 - Watchmen - The Comic, The Movie & The Show Many thanks to all our patrons but particularly to Stuart, Jack, Chris, Khrob, and Sandra. 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

What can we learn from folk horror? Draft Zero return with their next YouTube livestream! Stu and Chas are joined by previous guest (and successful screenwriter) C.S. McMullen for a deep dive into MIDSOMMAR! We analyse the film through the lens of Folk Horror, but tackle broader topics such as horror vs dread, rising tension, transgressions, unfilmables, and portraying toxic relationships. You can also watch the recorded live stream on YouTube. As always: SPOILERS ABOUND Audio quotations used for educational purposes only. Timestamps indicated below. Chapter markers included in the mp3. RUNNING ORDER 00:00:00 Intro: Misommar & Folk Horror 00:00:15 Why Midsommar? 00:03:54 What makes horror "folk"? 00:18:20 The First Ritual 00:32:17 Transgressions 01:07:32 Grief & The Ending 01:23:18 The May Queen 01:40:04 Wrap Up & An Exercise EPISODE LINKS Watch: Midsommar Watch: The Wicker Man RELATED EPISODES Listen: DZ-60: Unfilmables 1 - Engaging imagination Listen: DZ-61: Unfilmables 2 – Moments of Awe Listen: DZ-62: Unfilmables 3 - As Ifs & Emotional context Many thanks to all our patrons but particularly to Stuart, Jack, Chris, Khrob, and Sandra. 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 do I write selling documents differently to development documents? In developing our stories and scripts, we have probably written some combination of treatments and loglines and outlines. Some of us have probably even sent these development materials out to producers or agencies when "selling" a project — as a step towards getting someone to read or *gulp* produce your material. If so… have you written them differently? Should you have? You probably should have... In this final part from the epic recording on short documents, Stephen explores how we should craft the words on the page and structure these documents differently when they are to sell the project as opposed to develop the project. Something that Chas and Stu badly need to hear, learn and apply right now. RELATED EPISODES Listen: DZ-71: Treatments & Loglines - Development Tools Listen: DZ-72: Theme & the Story Synopsis - Development Tools 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

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.