Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

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.

How can you create flow and contrast in your dialogue? A full three years after the first instalment (and one of our most popular), Stu and Chas have kidnapped Stephen Cleary to once again develop some craft tools around dialogue. It would be fair to say that - in that time - all three have learnt a lot more about dialogue than they knew in 2016. It would be also fair to say that Stephen perhaps learnt a little more through his research into "genderlect". In Part II, 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. And just to help us all out, Stephen rounds out the episode with some quick fire examples - FIVE EASY PIECES, JERRY MAGUIRE, GROSSE POINTE BLANK, and NOTTING HILL (again) - and further dialogue tips. Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode during the holiday season. RUNNING ORDER Intro/Groundwork Status and Gender (@ 05:52) FLEABAG (Season 2, Episode 5) by Phoebe Waller-Bridge (@ 15:26) WATCH: Hair Is Everything — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q97iIDx-b7U JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/fleabag JUNO by Diablo Cody (@ 47:41) WATCH: Juno Tells Her Parents: — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWC-R-q85JU JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/juno DEADWOOD (Pilot) (@ 01:20:20) WATCH: Seth Bullock Hangs a Man in Montana https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtgjwmYgTOg JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/deadwood More Dialogue Tips and Techniques (@ 01:40:55) WATCH: Jerry Maguire "Show me the money" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTFJocQBLyE WATCH: Grosse Pointe Blanke "You can never go home again" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgLr6qlpec4 WATCH: Notting Hill "Kitchen Scene" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtQShHQuPwI&t=93s EPISODE LINKS LISTEN: DZ-31: Tools for Better Dialogue (Part 1) WATCH: Five Easy Pieces "Side Order of Toast" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38maVb_30ng FOLLOW: Stephen Cleary JOIN: Stephen Cleary Workshops READ: Genderlect / Language and Gender READ: The Truth About How Much Women Talk — and Whether Men Listen 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. Many thanks to all our patrons but particularly to Theis, Jesse, Daniel, Jack, Chris, Khrob, Sandra, Nick, Matteo, and Carrie. They're good humans. BUY DRAFT ZERO MERCH via TeePublic

How do you know if your unfilmable is good... or if you're just being a wanker? In this third and 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 episodes and apply them to rewriting scenes from their own projects. They discuss metaphors, emotional context, and how you can write tone on the page withoutresorting to unfilmables. They are also joined by Carissa Lee (who has been reading the excerpts) to discuss her perspective as an actor on the scripts we've been reading; and they answer listener questions about unfilmables. And, lastly, in backmatter Carissa reads the entire script to Stu's award-nominated script, DUST BUNNY. Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode, and Carissa Lee for performing the big print. RUNNING ORDER Introduction / Discussion UNCONDITIONAL (Pilot) by Chas Fisher (@ 09:10) PAYLOAD by Matthew Clayfield & Stuart Willis (@ 38:48) DUST BUNNY by Stuart Willis (@ 59:50) THE ACTOR'S PERSPECTIVE with Carissa Lee (@ 01:15:59) LISTENER QUESTIONS & KEY LEARNINGS (@ 01:41:56) Backmatter: DUST BUNNY - full script read by Carissa Lee (@ 01:59:13) EPISODE LINKS LISTEN: DZ-60: Unfilmables and Unscriptables (Part 1) – Engaging imagination LISTEN:DZ-61: Unfilmables and Unscriptables (Part 2) - Moments of Awe READ: DZ-62 Unfilmables (Part 3) - Collated Scripts WATCH: PAYLOADwritten & directed by Stuart Willis WATCH: RESTORATIONwritten by Matthew Clayfield & Stuart Willis LISTEN: PAYLOAD Original Soundtrackcomposed by David Barber LISTEN: RESTORATION Original Soundtrackcomposed by David Barber 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. Many thanks to all our patrons but particularly to Theis, Jesse, Daniel, Jack, Chris, Khrob, Sandra, Nick, Matteo, and Carrie. They're good humans. BUY DRAFT ZERO MERCH via TeePublic

How can unfilmables help you create those cinematic moments of awe? In this second part of our series on unfilmables, 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? In this episode we look at sequences from YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE, SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER, THE INVITATION, and MOONLIGHT. We talk writing cinematically, performance beats, breaking (and maintaining) "the spell", limited palettes of language, self-contextualising writing, and "instructables". Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode, and Carissa Lee for performing the big print. As always: SPOILERS ABOUND and all copyright material used under fair use for educational purposes. RUNNING ORDER WHEN UNFILMABLES DON'T WORK(@ 12:01) YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE(@ 26:08) screenplay by Lynne Ramsay, based on the novella by Jonathan Ames READ: https://www.scriptslug.com/script/you-were-never-really-here-2017 JustWatch:https://www.justwatch.com/au/movie/you-were-never-really-here SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER(@ 38:29) screenplay by Steven Zallian, based on the book by Fred Waitzkin WATCH (YouTube): Searching For Bobby Fischer - final game JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.cohttps://www.justwatch.com/au/movie/searching-for-bobby-fischerm/au/movie/searching-for-bobby-fischer THE INVITATION(@ 01:04:14) by Phil Hay & Matt Manfredi READ: https://www.reddit.com/r/Screenwriting/comments/4rbc3v/request_the_invitation_pdf/ JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/au/movie/the-invitation MOONLIGHT(@ 01:29:29) Written by Barry Jenkins, Based on "In the Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue" by Tarell Alvin McCraney WATCH: Moonlight 2016 Ending READ: https://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/MOONLIGHT.pdf JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/au/movie/moonlight WRAP UP AND KEY LEARNINGS(@ 01:49:43) EPISODE LINKS LISTEN: DZ-16: Masters of Time and Whitespace LISTEN: DZ-60: Unfilmables and Unscriptables (Part 1) – Engaging imagination READ: DZ-61 Unfilmables Part 2 - Collated Scripts 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. Many thanks to all our patrons but particularly to Jesse, Daniel, Devin, Jack, Paul, Chris, Khrob, Sandra, Nick, Rob, Matteo, Daniel and Carrie. They're good humans. BUY DRAFT ZERO MERCH via TeePublic

How can unfilmables enhance the experience of your script? AKA Why your screenwriting guru is wrong 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"? In this first part, they look at unfilmables in micro moments: to describe locations, set (or change) the mood/tone, bring performances to life, and communicate certain types of humour. To that end, they breakdown into examples from LETHAL WEAPON, MY BRIDESMAID IS A BITCH, HEREDITARY, FLEABAG, KILLING EVE, A QUIET PLACE, KILLING THEM SOFTLY, SHARP OBJECTS, SPARTAN, THE NICE GUYS, DRIVE, THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING MISSOURI, TREE OF LIFE, and MICHAEL CLAYTON. Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode, and Carissa Lee for performing the big print. As always: SPOILERS ABOUND and all copyright material used under fair use for educational purposes. RUNNING ORDER ASIDES (@ 23:08) LETHAL WEAPON by Shane Black YOUR BRIDESMAID IS A BITCH by Brian Duffield HEREDITARY by Ari Aster FRAMING THE SCENE (@ 52:58) READ: Jane Espenson - The Grim Brothers KILLING EVE, EPISODE1 by Phoebe Waller-Bridge OPENINGS (@ 59:27) KILLING THEM SOFTLY screenplay by Andrew Dominik, based on the novel "Cogan's Trade" by George V. Higgins SHARP OBJECTS. EPISODE 1, VANISH Written by Marti Noxon, Based on the novel by Gillian Flynn HEREDITARY by Ari Aster SPARTAN a screenplay by David Mamet PERFORMANCE (@ 1:36:07) FLEABAG PILOT written by Phoebe Waller Bridge THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN by Erin Cressida Wilson, Adapted from the novel by Paula Hawkins THE NICE GUYS by Anthony Bagarozzi & Shane Black DRIVE written by Hossein Amini, Based on the novel by James Sallis TONE/THEME (@ 01:54:49) MICHAEL CLAYTON by Tony Gilroy THE TREE OF LIFE by Terrence Mallick THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING MISSOURI by Martin McDonagh WRAP UP / KEY LEARNINGS (@ 02:11:52) EPISODE LINKS READ: DZ-60 - Unfilmables Collated Examples READ: Cinephilia & Beyond -In Search of Our Better Selves: The Rebirth, Redemption and Road Warriors of George Miller's 'Mad Max: Fury Road' LISTEN: DZ-16: Masters of Time and Whitespace 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. Many thanks to all our patrons but particularly to Devin, Jack, Paul, Chris, Khrob, Sandra, Nick, Rob, Matteo, Daniel and Carrie. They're good humans. BUY DRAFT ZERO MERCH via TeePublic

One day, Chas saw Avengers: Endgame for the second time and wrote a review on Letterboxd. In particular, he had issues with how little he perceived the characters of Cap and Tony changed within the film, their big finale (spoiler). Then friend and patron of the podcast Julio vehemently disagreed in the comments. He was egged on by Stu. And there in the comments began a debate that looked a lot like an episode of Draft Zero. So we decided to make it one. And 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. As always, spoiler-tastic. RUNNING ORDER CHAS' LETTERBOXD REVIEW [@ 00:00:00] HOW DOES THE SNAP AFFECT CAP & TONY? [@ 00:04:27] HOW IS TONY'S JOURNEY DRAMATISED? [@ 00:08:31] WORKSHOPPING A MOMENT WHEN TONY RISKS IT ALL [@ 00:26:56] PROVING TONY HAS CHANGED SINCE IRON MAN [@ 00:35:13] HOW IS STEVE'S JOURNEY DRAMATISED? [@ 00:48:03] WHAT IF CAP CHOSE TO STAY IN THE PAST? [@ 00:54:49] KEY LEARNINGS [@ 01:02:43] EPISODE LINKS Chas' full review on Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/HqvKD Screenrant: Russos Claim Cap Could Lift Mjolnir in Avengers 2 But Didn't Want to Upset Thor - https://screenrant.com/captain-america-mjolnir-worthy-explained-russos/ 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 @Ovnio on twitter. Many thanks to all our patrons but particularly to Jack, Paul, Chris, Khrob, Sandra, Nick, Rob, Matteo, Daniel and Carrie. They're good humans. BUY DRAFT ZERO MERCH via TeePublic

How can you let your characters tell us how they feel? In watching Season 7 (and the first three episodes of Season 8) of Game of Thrones, Stu noticed that there were lots of scenes where characters either met for the first time or were reunited after a long time apart. In these scenes, the audience knows (or thinks they know) more than either character. And so the fascination, power and subversion comes from what the characters choose to reveal... or not. And yet... 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. And so this episode unexpectedly but rewardingly pivoted to learnings on how to set up and sell character exposition. As always: SPOILERS ABOUND and all copyright material used under fair use for educational purposes. RUNNING ORDER GAME OF THRONES & EXPOSITION [@ 00:01:10] SCENES CONVEYING PRE-EXISTING FACTS JAIME VS CERSEI IN THE MAP ROOM [@ 00:12:54] YouTube: https://youtu.be/Y6x0KKghBGs ARYA & HOT PIE AT THE CROSSROADS [@ 00:28:23] YouTube: https://youtu.be/F8sJSjMNDSE JON VS THE BROTHERHOOD AT EASTWATCH [@ 00:39:10] YouTube: https://youtu.be/pGmQdbgwUWU CONTRASTING SCENES WITH AND WITHOUT CHARACTER ACTION JON VS TYRION AT DRAGONSTONE [@ 00:47:54] YouTube: https://youtu.be/-vmNy9q9ebQ JON & DAVOS VS MISSANDEI AT DRAGONSTONE [@ 01:01:06] YouTube: https://youtu.be/1hRo54XNvek STARK SIBLING REUNION SCENES ARYA VS SANSA IN THE CRYPT [@ 01:07:05] BRAN, ARYA & SANSA IN THE WEIRWOOD [@ 01:18:46] YouTube: https://youtu.be/xvEr2L3UbjQ ARYA VS JON IN THE WEIRWOOD [@ 01:27:14] YouTube: https://youtu.be/ShNNEn30Yi8 CHARACTER MONOLOGUING BRAN VS MEERA AT WINTERFELL [@ 01:33:06] YouTube: https://youtu.be/i-SiYKyFm2I LEARNINGS [@ 01:37:14] EDUCATION & THWARTING [@ 01:40:13] EPISODE LINKS Previous DZ episodes Excelling at Exposition (Part 1) - https://draft-zero.com/2016/dz-37/ Excelling at Exposition (Part 2) - https://draft-zero.com/2016/dz-38/ Game of Thrones - Decision Making & Character Implications - https://draft-zero.com/2016/dz-34/ Read: AV Club: As new spreads, Westeros reckons with the cumulative absurdity of Game of Thrones - https://tv.avclub.com/as-news-spreads-westeros-reckons-with-the-cumulative-a-1798194760 Listen: Terry Rossio on the On the Page Podcast: https://podtail.com/en/podcast/on-the-page-screenwriting/457-terry-wrossio/ Watch: Find Game of Thrones on JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/au/tv-show/game-of-thrones 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 all our patrons but particularly to Chris, Khrob, Sandra, Nick, Rob and new supporters Matteo, Daniel and Carrie. They're good humans. BUY DRAFT ZERO MERCH via TeePublic