Shows
Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-126: Secrets and CluesListen if if you want to understand how hidden information drives character motivation and plot structure!“Getting information puts your character in danger. And danger rewards your character with information." — One of three ideas we steal from game design in this episode. In this two part series, we talk about how secrets, clues and hidden information motivate characters and may (or may not) help you plot from a character perspective. Part One (this episode) looks at WAKE UP DEAD MAN; while Part Two looks at SIDE EFFECTS, and the pilot episode of SHRINKING.The other two...
2026-05-051h 28
Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-120: Subtext is Overrated!Listen if if you're struggling to write subtext without it feeling forced
Or, how focusing on good drama will result in good subtext.
We often hear how subtext is important for good screenwriting. We're here to tell you it isn't. Good subtext is a result of good drama, and your focus should be on creating that good drama. But how?
In this episode, Chas Fisher and Stu Willis are joined by screenwriter and teacher Tom Vaughn (Winchester) to delve into the world of subtext.
We kick off the discussion by talking...
2025-08-011h 54
Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-120: Subtext is overrated Or, how focusing on good drama will result in good subtext. We often hear how subtext is important for good screenwriting. We're here to tell you it isn't. Good subtext is a result of good drama, and your focus should be on creating that good drama. But how? In this episode, Chas Fisher and Stu Willis are joined by screenwriter+teacher, Tom Vaughn (Winchester) to delve into the world of subtext. We kick off the discussion by talking through Tom's article "Why Subtext is Overrated" a...
2025-08-011h 54
Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-119: Final Character Choices & Great EndingsListen if if you want to understand how to better dramatise a character's internal journey
In this episode, Stu and Chas focus solely on the final choices made by protagonists and how that reflects their character journey and successfully, or not, dramatises the internal.
We compare and contrast different uses of narrative POV in respect to these final choices. And in particular whether and when the audience is made aware of the options available to the character, the act of making the choice, and the consequences of the choice.
We breakdown examples from...
2025-06-181h 52
Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-95: Backmatter - Building and MaintenanceHow 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. ...
2022-12-311h 16Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-94: Talismans (Part 2)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...
2022-11-302h 07Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-93: Talismans (Part 1)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 w...
2022-10-311h 37Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-92: Insightful recognition in powerful endingsHow 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...
2022-09-291h 26Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-91: Raising (different kinds of) StakesHow 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). W...
2022-08-312h 19Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-90: Setups & Payoffs in Everything Everywhere All At OnceHow 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...
2022-07-271h 30
Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-89: Opening SequencesHow 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...
2022-05-311h 48Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-88: Drama in Genre clothingHow can dramas use genre elements to hook their audiences? Stu and Chas reunite with TV writer & director Kodie Bedford to look at how some films start out as genre but gradually become character dramas. Or, as Stu never said on the episode "Genre in the streets, Drama in the sheets". Together, they break down HUSTLERS, PIG and POWER OF THE DOG, to see how these films use their genre trappings to hook their audience while ultimately delivering something else entirely. We discuss chapter breaks, inciting incidents, character questions, theme and MORE. As...
2022-05-012h 06
Stuart Sax: Someone You Should KnowSomeone You Should Know with Host Stuart Sax and Guest Nic WIllisToday on “Someone You Should Know,” Stuart talks with Nic Willis, founder of Father for the Distance, a nonprofit fatherhood leadership initiative between fathers and their kids. They believe "At the core of every social problem is a fatherhood issue, we exist to restore the bond between father and child to strengthen individuals, and communities"
Check out their website at www.LoveLinkLead.org and consider in participating or supporting their upcoming Remote Control Car event. Find out more details at https://www.facebook.com/LoveLinkLead/
Join us every Wednesday on kvgimedia.com, our mobile app, Faceb...
2022-03-3042 minDraft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-87: Keeping Genre freshHow do you deliver on the emotional contract of a genre while surprising the audience? In tackling this enormous topic, Stu and Chads enlist professional TV writer and director for Kodie Bedford, someone who has somehow managed to defy genre pigeon-holing by writing mystery, comedy and vampire shows. The three of them look at GET OUT, PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN and THE INVISIBLE MAN (with reference to PARASITE, JOHN WICK, TAKEN, KNIVES OUT and more) to see what tools the writers have used to deliver on the expectations of a genre while moving that genre on...
2022-03-282h 13Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-86: Backmatter - Minimum Viable ProductHow do you determine what is your MVP? In their annual full backwater episode, Stu and Chas let out their pandemic hair, drop the ruse of objectivity, and allow themselves to have even more options about writing and the business of writing. In this Backmatter entry, they go deep on: future episode topics; their screenwriting lessons from 2021 (especially on control); pitching projects; the minimum viable product & minimum loveable thing; and share their exper iences with running a writers workshop/group. There are no Star Wars references in this episode, but there are plenty...
2022-02-011h 29
If These Walls Could TalkWendy Stuart & Tym Moss Dance Again With The Legendary Felipe RoseIf These Walls Could Talk with Wendy Stuart & Tym MossHosts: WENDY STUART & TYM MOSSSpecial guest: FELIPE ROSEWednesday, November 10thLIVE from PANGEA Restaurant, NYCWatch LIVE on YouTube at Wendy Stuart TVFelipe is a native New Yorker, having been raised and brought up in Brooklyn. His Puerto Rican and Native American heritage (Lakota Sioux) is reflected in the clothing that he dons to perform. This is not just a costume but also a signifier of where he comes from and his long association with Native American groups across...
2022-01-061h 08
Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-85: Choices & Decision 2 - The Farewell & Wrath of ManWhat is difference between choice and decision when it comes to audience experience? In our second part of our "series" on Choices and Decisions, we take a deep dive into THE FAREWELL and WRATH OF MAN, with a sidebar on NOMADLAND. In THE FAREWELL, we consider how the choice/decision to lie underpins every sene of the film (to great effect). In NOMADLAND, we consider how using choice and decision is a great way to show how a character doesn't change. And in WRATH OF MAN, we look at how non-linear...
2021-11-171h 49Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-84: Choices & Decisions 1 - BooksmartWhat is the difference between choice and decision when it comes to characters? In order to better understand dramatising of character, Chas and Stu take a very draft zero look at very specific tool: choices and decisions. We analyse three films through the decisions made by their characters. In particular, how the audience understanding of: the choice available, the considered decision itself, and the consequence changes how we feel about these characters. And how separating those three things can create different emotional effects on your audience. We debate this in the episode, but this is...
2021-10-301h 12
Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-83: A Very Thematic Stand-up Special!Listen if you want to understand how stand-up comedians grip audiences and build emotional arcs (and what narrative tools screenwriters can borrow from comedy)!
Standup comedians can keep audiences gripped to their every word for over an hour, and often bring them to emotional climaxes by the end. So how do they do it and what tools can apply to scripted narratives?
For this deep dive into standup, Stu and Chas are joined by the super-talented comic and podcaster Alice Fraser. Which is rather fortuitous. Because not only are we schooled on comedy techniques, but...
2021-09-082h 31Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-83: A Very Thematic Stand-up Special!What can screenwriters learn from the storytelling techniques used by stand-up comedians? Standup comedians can keep audiences gripped to their every word for over an hour, and often bring them to emotional climaxes by the end. So how do they do it and what tools can apply to scripted narratives? For this deep dive into standup, Stu and Chas are joined by the super-talented comic and podcaster Alice Fraser. Which is rather fortuitous. Because not only are we schooled on comedy techniques, but because Alice also has a Masters in Narrative Rhetoric. So...
2021-09-082h 31Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-82: Dramatising Given Circumstances in WatchmenHow can writers dramatise Given Circumstances? In this final podcast release of last year's run of LiveSoLation episodes, Chas and Stu are joined by Uber-geek Mel Killingsworth (who else?) in an epic exploration of how Dave Gibbons' and Alan Moore's seminal graphic novel WATCHMEN is adapted differently in Zack Snyder's 2009 film and Damon Lindelof's 2019 HBO television show. For this podcast release, we focus on a single craft tool: GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES. Traditionally an acting tool, we look at how it is also a useful writing tool: how is your story world different to your audience's...
2021-08-182h 06Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-81: Pitch Decks & Look Books - Development Tools 4How do you make effective pitch decks and look books for your projects? Chas and Stu are joined by writer/director/producer/multi-hyphenate Marc Furmie of Rezistor Studios to talk all things pitch decks and look books. Coming from an advertising and music video background, Marc shares his experience in putting together visual materials to pitch a project. We discuss the difference between pitch decks and lookbooks, how they help you sell your projects, what buyers are looking for, television vs features, and how do we make yours better? This is a podcast cutdown of t...
2021-06-301h 13Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-80: Interweaving Timelines 3 - Little WomenHow can interweaving timelines elevate the emotional experience for the audience? In our final part, part 3, of our Interweaving Timelines series, we — Chas, Stu & Mel — take a deep dive into Greta Gerwig's 2019 adaptation of Little Women. In her adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's iconic novels, Greta chose to interweave the seperate timelines of Little Women and it's sequel, Good Wives, to create a thematically and emotionally potent work. This differs from all the other adaptations, which have chosen to keep the chronological storytelling of the source material. We compare Gerwig's choices and their resulting effects with...
2021-05-312h 11Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-79: Interweaving Timelines 2 - The Social NetworkHow can interweaving two timelines change how we feel about a character? In this Part 2 of Interweaving Timelines (aka The Stu Monologue Episode), Mel, Chas and Stu tackle Sorkin/Fincher's The Social Network. As you'll hear, it is clearly Stu's favourite of the examples we cover and, ah, *not* Mel's favourite. While all three bring their own biases and opinions on the reality of Facebook as it has become, we do manage to put the destruction of democracy to one side to actually analyse the meticulous craft that this film displays. We analyse Sorkin's on-the-page...
2021-04-301h 37Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-78: Interweaving Timelines 1 - DestroyerHow does interweaving two timelines change how the audience feel? Stu and Chas are joined by Mel Killingsworth to dissect interweaving timelines. Not anthology films. Not Cloud Atlas. But films where two plot lines featuring the same characters, but from different timelines, are woven together. How do you manage stakes when you know a character's future? What questions does this prompt in the viewer? And how the hell do you orient the reader? To answer these questions, it will take three episodes. In this Part 1, our intrepid team (and Mel's 42 pages of homework...
2021-04-011h 42Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-77: Backmatter - Prioritising and choosing projectsHow do you choose which project to start next? In their now-annual full backmatter episode, Stu and Chas let their hair down, drop the guise of objectivity, and allow themselves to have an even more subjective opinion about writing and the business of writing. In this particular Backmatter entry, they wax lyrical on [deep breath]: character journeys, hyperlink cinema, keeping genre fresh, beginning a new co-writing relationship, managing multiple projects, choosing your next project, and - naturally - Star Wars. SPOILERS ABOUND, particularly for The Mandalorian Season 2 and Ready or Not. ...
2021-02-281h 36
The Perfform PodOverheard in the Gym w/Stuart WillisI caught up with good friend and fellow personal trainer Stuart Willis to chat about some of the wildest rumours, fads and myths we’ve heard in the gym.We also shed some light on whether PTing’s all it’s cracked up to be (swinging water bottles around an apartment in Dubai and sipping cocktails in Ocean Beach) 👀, and generally have a good old moan about some of the things that piss us off.Thanks and enjoy the episode!Rhysinstagram.com/_perfformfitnesshttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxjgISqyb8n_rUeE6wm...
2021-02-121h 07Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-76: Spotlight on Sofia CoppolaWhat can we learn from Sofia Coppola's on-the-page skills over her career? Following the success of the Tips from Tarantino episode, we have again decided to look at three different scripts from over the course of a long screenwriting career from a single writer to see what we can learn. Our beloved patreons not only selected Sofia Coppola as said writer, but also selected the scripts to analyse: LOST IN TRANSLATION, THE BLING RING and THE BEGUILED. Stu and Chas are joined by repeat Draft Zero offender Melanie Killingsworth and are surprised to find that...
2021-02-011h 54Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-75: Fury Road & Visual StorytellingHow 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...
2020-12-311h 09
Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-75: Fury Road & Visual StorytellingHow 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...
2020-12-311h 09Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-74: Midsommar & Folk HorrorWhat 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...
2020-12-012h 01
Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-74: Midsommar & Folk HorrorWhat 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...
2020-12-012h 01Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-73: Selling documents - Development Tools 3How 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...
2020-10-2139 minDraft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-72: Theme & The Story Synopsis – Development Tools 2How 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...
2020-09-281h 00Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-71: Treatments & Loglines - Development Tools 1How 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 yo...
2020-09-011h 26
The Live with Audacity™ Podcast - Women Overcoming SocietyEp. 44 | How to break out from stable misery to experience more joy and less drama with Dr. Lynyetta WillisHey all! Welcome back to the live with audacity podcast. Today's episode is so fun!! Dr. Lynyetta Willis, psychologist and family empowerment coach, is here and we discuss so much. We talk about how our past experiences can jade us into assuming what our spouse is thinking, healing ourselves so we can show up for our kids as understanding, loving parents that we are, and really learning to question our automatic thoughts that are damaging to us and the ones around us that we love. UGH this episode is EPIC!! We have the absolute best time ever together! Just...
2020-08-0358 minDraft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-70: Joker & MelodramaHow 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...
2020-07-231h 36Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-69: Parasite & Audience QuestionsHow 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...
2020-06-101h 22
Stuart Sax: Someone You Should KnowSomeone You Should Know with Stuart Sax and Guests SGT Evan Mattei and Officer Gene Willis, police officers from Frisco TexasOn this week's show of Someone You Should Know, Stuart talks with Guests SGT Evan Mattei and Officer Gene Willis, police officers from Frisco Texas.
Each week, Stuart Sax interviews Someone You Should Know. Get to know people who have incredible stories to tell. It's their back stories that make the conversations come to life. From government officials, artists, writers, service providers, creators and dreamers; I share their stories in a casual way. Maybe your story will be the next one we share! Episode 5 June 2020
Follow Stuart Sax on social media and tune in to h...
2020-06-0754 minDraft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-68: One-Shot - Using POV to structure Knives OutHow 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://w...
2020-05-171h 32Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-67: Writing "Passive" Protagonists & MelodramaHow do I tell a powerful story where the protagonist cannot drive the plot? Stu and Chas are joined by Stephen Cleary following his exploration into Melodrama, and together they try to reclaim the word from its pejorative meaning. By examining powerful Melodramas - like THE HANDMAID'S TALE, LADIES IN BLACK and STRANGER THINGS… with many a tangent on MARRIAGE STORY, PETE'S DRAGON, MILDRED PIERCE, GAME OF THRONES, LOST, THE JOKER, THE KILLING, THE WITCHER, war movies and survival films - the three hosts try to unpick what makes Melodrama an alternate story paradigm to th...
2020-04-302h 58
Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ LiVEsolation AnnoucementHow 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: ask...
2020-04-0705 minDraft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-66: The Mandalorian and The Rise of Skywalker - Audience Knowledge vs Character MotivationHow 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 dep...
2020-03-171h 45
SFFaudioThe SFFaudio Podcast #565 - READALONG: Last Days Of Thronas by Stuart J. Byrne
The SFFaudio Podcast #525 – Jesse and Paul Weimer talk about Last Days Of Thronas by Stuart J. Byrne
Talked about on today’s show:
and today we’re reading…, John Bloodstone, an old science fiction novel, why wouldn’t I read this book?, public domain, never heard of this guy, Science Stories, February 1954, house names or pseudonyms, tiers of science fiction magazines, armchair fiction, digging into the issue, the cover has nothing to do with the contents of the story, a brilliant 45,000 word novel, a singular spaceship, J. Allen St. John, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan, Warlord Of...
2020-02-171h 21
Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-65: Collaborating with a Director - The SnipWhat 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...
2020-02-141h 03Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-64: Backmatter - Controlling your Work, Treatments, and Writing StylesIn 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...
2020-01-301h 42Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-63: Tools for Better Dialogue (Part 2) - Hook and EyeHow 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...
2019-12-311h 58Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-62: Unfilmables and Unscriptables (Part 3) - As Ifs & Emotional contextHow 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...
2019-12-022h 17
Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-62: Unfilmables and Unscriptables 3 - As Ifs & Emotional contextHow 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...
2019-12-022h 17Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-61: Unfilmables and Unscriptables (Part 2) - Moments of AweHow 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) "th...
2019-09-252h 05Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-60 Unfilmables and Unscriptables (Part 1) - Engaging imaginationHow 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 ce...
2019-08-072h 25Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-59: Short Shot - Avengers EndgameOne 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 c...
2019-07-011h 14Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-58: Game of Thrones - Character ExpositionHow 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...
2019-05-161h 47Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-57: Backmatter - Aesthetics and Forgiveness in WritingHow can you best articulate your ideas? 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. As always: an amazing thank...
2019-05-011h 29Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-56: Character Motivations (Part 2)Workshopping ways to fix character motivations. In this second part of their exploration of character motivations, Chas and Stu dive into what makes "BAD" screenplays NOT work. They examine at moments where they (and maybe you, dear listeners) did not believe a key decision being made by a character and so were taken out of the movie. In a departure from the Draft Zero format, they apply the tools they developed in Part 1 to workshop potential fixes to these beats. Character decisions that come under the microscope are AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (again), SOLO: A STAR...
2019-03-302h 16
Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-56: Character Motivations (Part 2)Workshopping ways to fix character motivations. In this second part of their exploration of character motivations, Chas and Stu dive into what makes "BAD" screenplays NOT work. They examine at moments where they (and maybe you, dear listeners) did not believe a key decision being made by a character and so were taken out of the movie. In a departure from the Draft Zero format, they apply the tools they developed in Part 1 to workshop potential fixes to these beats. Character decisions that come under the microscope are AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (again), SOLO: A STAR...
2019-03-302h 16
Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-55: Character Motivations (Part 1)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. And that's often a real problem because most of these choices coincide with key structural moments — e.g. the moments where the characters decide to do something "out of character" in order to progress to the next part of the story. To help us solve the problem of how to improve our character motivations, in this ep...
2019-01-152h 18
Overheard In The GymEp. 11 - New Year's Resolutions & Goal Setting"My New Year's Resolution is..."
Happy New Year! For the first episode of 2019, this week I'm talking all about New Year's Resolutions, and how to get the most out of them this year.
We all do it, every year we proclaim that this is the year where we will finally lose that weight, or run that marathon, or fit into that outfit, but invariably, we get bored, or distracted, or disheartened and our resolution kicks the bucket before January has even finished.
In this episode I look at how you can set yourself s...
2019-01-0210 minOverheard In The GymEp. 10 - 10 Reasons You're Not Losing Body Fat"Why aren't I losing any body fat?"
As the show hits its 10th episode, I decided to put together my top 10 reason why you're not losing body fat, and what you can do about it. Including whether you're eating too many calories, if you're just not into it right now, if your tired or stressed, or simply making life too complicated for yourself.
There are loads of reasons why you might not be losing body fat, but as a Personal Trainer, there are a number of recurring themes I come across in conversations with clients that everyone struggles with (including...
2018-10-1516 minDraft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-54: Thematic SequencesHow does removing character and plot questions force your audience to engage with theme? Chas and Stu are joined, once again, by the inestimable Stephen Cleary. This episode is a spiritual sequel to our last episode with Stephen on sequence structure. That episode explored how sequences could be broken into plot, character, and plot/character sequences. Well, Stephen's back to 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...
2018-10-102h 49Overheard In The GymEp. 9 - No Carbs After 6pm & Meal Timing"I can't eat carbs after 6pm, because I'll get fat."
Should we be avoiding carbs after 6pm because the body will automatically turn them into fat? (Hint: no) Do we need to ensure that we are eating within a certain time-frame pre or post-workout to ensure the best gains? And is skipping breakfast the best route to weight loss, or should we be eating the majority of our calories earlier in the day?
If you've enjoyed this episode, or any of the other episodes so far, please feel free to like and share, leave a rating, or give the show...
2018-09-3010 minOverheard In The GymEp. 8 - Are All Calories Equal?"Are all calories created equal, or are some better than others?"
In this episode of Overheard In The Gym I talk calories, and specifically I discuss the British Nutrition Foundation's 'Quality Calorie' concept.
Are all calories equal, or do some calories offer more benefits than others? Should we be more concerned with the quality of the calories we are consuming than the overall amount of calories we take in on a daily basis? How does the quality of a calorie impact on our fat-loss goals and is the restriction of a particular type of calorie, or food group, beneficial or...
2018-09-2314 minOverheard In The GymEp. 7 - HIIT Vs. LISS Training"What's best for fat loss? HIIT training or LISS training?"
In this episode of Overheard In The Gym I compare HIIT training and LISS training, and consider which might be best for our training and fat loss goals.
Should you go hard at it every session and work to a high intensity? Or ease it back a little and take a bit of time to do some lower intensity work instead? How does this change your calorie burning potential while in the gym, and what effect does each style of training have on your body? Should both actually comprise part...
2018-09-1614 minOverheard In The GymEp. 6 - The Stretch Factor"Fact or Fiction? Stretching helps prevent muscle soreness after training."
In this episode of Overheard In The Gym I talk stretching, and whether stretching out pre or post-exercise helps prevent us feeling stiff and sore after the gym.
Should you be stretching before or after training? Can stretching help prevent getting injured, and does it improve performance while we're in the gym? Is there any benefit in warming up and cooling down, and if so, what type of warm-up should you be doing? Plus, what you should do once you can touch your toes.
If you've enjoyed this episode, or...
2018-09-0912 minOverheard In The GymEp. 5 - Stop Cheating Yourself!"Can I eat too little calories to loose weight?"
In this episode of Overheard In The Gym I talk about cheating yourself, honesty, intensity and accountability when it comes to your training and diet.
We learn why we might be sabotaging our own efforts to loose weight, despite believing that we're in a calorie deficit and are doing loads of exercise throughout the week. We talk about being more responsible for our actions, and how being held accountable can help keep us moving towards our goals.
If you've enjoyed this episode, or any of the other episodes so far, please...
2018-09-0211 minOverheard In The GymEp. 4 - Cardio Vs. Weights"I don't think I want to do any weights, they'll make me bulky."
In episode 4 of Overheard In The Gym we pit cardio training against weight training and find out which is best, and which you should be doing while you're in the gym. Is cardio training the only way to loose weight, or can weight training be just as effective?
We learn why weight training won't suddenly turn you into a body builder, and may actually burn more calories in less time than traditional cardio training. We learn why ensuring adequate protein intake is key whether trying to gain...
2018-08-2712 minDraft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-53: Antagonists! (Part 5) - vs AudienceWhat if there is no antagonist? It's time. The Epic Deep Dive(TM) into Antagonists has reached its shuddering conclusion. And for this Part V - by choosing films that have no obvious singular antagonist (and in some cases no obvious narrative either) - Stu and Chas realised there was indeed a final category of antagonists: the films themselves. Where the film (and the filmmaker) are engaging directly with the audience. Where the films are... VERSUS AUDIENCE. The films that led to this "insight" often lie to the audience; talk directly to the audience; misdirect...
2018-08-262h 26Overheard In The GymEp. 3 - The World's Best Diet"What's the best diet I should follow to loose weight?"
In episode 3 of Overheard In The Gym I talk diets. Specifically, I talk about the world's best diet, the diet that will guarantee results every time, whether you're trying to loose body fat, or gain muscle.
We learn why the type of diet you choose, whether it's keto, paleo, vegan, high-carb, high-fat, low carb or even the potato diet, isn't always as important as you might think, and that adherence is key to achieving your goals.
If you've overheard something in the gym, get in touch and let me know...
2018-08-1913 min
Overheard In The GymEp. 2 - Stop Doing Sit Ups To Get A Six-Pack"Can you show me the best exercise for my belly?"
In episode 2 of Overheard In The Gym I look at why doing endless sit ups isn't going to get you a six pack, no matter how many you do.
We learn why there isn't one specific exercise to beat belly fat, why you should be managing your calorie intake and that resistance and weight training should be part of your training routine.
If you've overheard something in the gym, get in touch and let me know, and it might feature in future episodes!
#keepmoving
2018-08-1210 min
Overheard In The GymEp. 1 - The No Meat, Low Carb Diet"I've been on the no meat, low carb diet for 3 days, and I'm feeling ok." In the opening show of Overheard In The Gym I talk about fad diets, and why they're probably not doing you any favours when it comes to weight loss, training in the gym, or enjoying your food. We learn why our weight loss may stall and struggle when following a restrictive dieting routing, how our body looses out nutritionally, why our training may suffer, and why you might actually end up gaining weight. If you've overheard something in the gym, get in touch and let...
2018-08-0512 minDraft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-52: Antagonists! (Part 4) - vs SystemsHow do systems pressure your characters to change? This is Part Four (!!) of our Five Part Epic Exploration into antagonists forces and sources of conflict. In this episode we explore "system/world/society" antagonists. While stereotypically associated with science-fiction, these sources of conflict are found across genres. To that end, we talk MINORITY REPORT, DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, MUDBOUND, and THE LOBSTER - with a special mention of high school movies. We continue refining our tools surrounding antagonists/sources of conflict: obstacles, pressure, enablers, pushers, pullers, education and thwarting. We...
2018-06-282h 16Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-51: Antagonists! (Part 3) - vs NatureWhat changes in your story if your antagonistic forces can't be bargained with? In this Part Three of our Five Part Epic Exploration™ into antagonistic forces (and sources of conflict), Chas & Stu explore "nature" antagonists, including some supernatural ones. What became clear in doing the homework (and recording this episode twice) was that the antagonistic forces - whether natural or supernatural - presented different narrative challenges to the protagonists if (a) they did not seem to make choices and (b) could not be bargained with or defeated. And so we embarked upon ALL IS LOST, TH...
2018-05-311h 52
Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-50 - Antagonists! (Part 2) vs SelfHow can characters be their own antagonist? In Part Two of our Five Part Epic Exploration™ into antagonists, Chas & Stu take a look at "vs self" stories. Stories where the protagonist (or main character) serves as their own antagonist as well as the antagonist for those around them. It took us a long time to settle on our homework, but we ended up exploring LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, SHAME, and MONSTER. Our discussion continues in backmatter with MINDHUNTER and STEVE JOBS. As a result of our exploration, we manage to get a better understanding of...
2018-04-191h 47
Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-49: Antagonists! 1 - vs HumansWhat makes a strong human antagonist? Prompted by a listener (and patron of the podcast) question, Stu and Chas dive into antagonistic forces. And because Draft Zero does not do anything by halves, this is Part One of a Five Part Epic Exploration™ into antagonists; namely: vs humans, vs self, vs nature/supernatural, vs systems and "other". aka the classic narrative conflicts. For this "vs humans" part, we chose to look at DIE HARD, MISERY and THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE OF EBBING, MISSOURI (with special mentions to THE DARK KNIGHT, LA LA LAND and - of co...
2018-03-311h 20Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-49: Antagonists! (Part 1) - vs HumansWhat makes a strong human antagonist? Prompted by a listener (and patron of the podcast) question, Stu and Chas dive into antagonistic forces. And because Draft Zero does not do anything by halves, this is Part One of a Five Part Epic Exploration™ into antagonists; namely: vs humans, vs self, vs nature/supernatural, vs systems and "other". aka the classic narrative conflicts. For this "vs humans" part, we chose to look at DIE HARD, MISERY and THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE OF EBBING, MISSOURI (with special mentions to THE DARK KNIGHT, LA LA LAND and - of co...
2018-03-311h 20Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-48: One-Shot - Blade Runner 2049 – Agency vs ChoiceCan your characters be given choices and yet still be deprived of agency? To kick off 2018, Chas and Stu take a deep dive into one of their favourite movies of 2017: Blade Runner 2049. However, they abstained from "Fox News-ing this shit" by being joined by the most accomplished screenwriter they know, C.S. McMullen (Blood List 2017, Black List 2017, also a lover of Blade Runner 2049). For a film that is thematically about choice, Stu and Chas thought this would be an excellent opportunity to explore how characters can be dramatised through binary choices. And yet, CS opened...
2018-02-281h 53Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-47: Backmatter - A Lost Jedi, White Knighting, and Writers-On-SetWill 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...
2018-01-112h 21Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-46: Structure & Point of ViewWhat questions do you want your audience asking at any given time? Waaaaaaaaaay back in DZ-05, Stu and Chas examined how shifting narrative point of view (i.e. what the audience knows in relation to the characters on screen) heightens emotions in any given scene. We've now taken that micro idea and applied it to the macro: how can deciding what the audience knows and when in relation to the characters organise your story? Are whole sequences or even acts driven by the audience following a character, feeling concerned about a character, empathising with a character or...
2017-12-192h 25Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-45: Arguments of the SceneHow can you dramatise your theme on a scene level? As part of their ongoing exploration of scene-work, Stu and Chas apply their earlier thinking on theme and character worldview to individual scenes. Can examining a scene from a thematic perspective impact the drama, conflict or stakes of the scene? How does your character's conscious and subconscious world views dramatise the overall theme of the work? How can an individual scene reflect the larger themes of the overall story? Do any of these questions or approaches lead to writing better scenes? To this end, Stu...
2017-10-272h 21Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastFirst Acts and Establishing CharactersHow can your first act effectively establish your character journey? First Acts are hard. They have to set so much in motion, especially setting up characters. To help them understand how to write effective first acts better, Stu and Chas turn their analytical gaze to a franchise that has been refining and reiterating its first act "schema" for over a decade... THE MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE. The MCU has made (to date) six separate origin films, each tasked with establishing their titular characters. So you'd think they'd have found some patterns that works for them. In...
2017-09-172h 07Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-43: Driving Sequences - Character and Plot IntensityWhat gives your sequences their intensity? Chas and Stu are joined for the fourth time by the inestimable Stephen Cleary - this time to take a deep dive into sequences. A real deep dive. A 3+ hour deep dive. Stephen postulates that sequences can compel the audience in different ways via the type of dramatic questions being posed. Are they plot questions ("Will she defuse the bomb?") or character questions ("Will she understand what compels her to defuse bombs?") or a combination of both? What is the impact on the pacing, structure of your story or...
2017-07-083h 16Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-42: One-Shot - Split, Character Worldview & Macro POVWhat screenwriting lessons can be we learn from SPLIT? In our first (and perhaps last) one-shot, we take a close look at the M. Night Shyamalan's SPLIT. Rather than having one topic with many examples, we use the one example to look at many topics. Well, okay, a few topics. Firstly, we take the opportunity to revisit theme. SPLIT offers a very clear example of the worldview of the characters and the rules of the world working together to create a coherent theme. Then we look at the SPLIT's use of macro point...
2017-04-261h 52Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-41: Theme and WorldviewHow can your characters' worldview dramatise your theme? In this episode, Stu and Chas tackle one of the more esoteric topics in screenwriting (and writing in general): theme! To help us tackle this topic, we decided to look at television pilots, because we felt that television requires the theme to be more explicit. Our zig-zagging (and long) discussion covers thematic engines, music themes, thematic loglines, punishment vs reward, and - perhaps most of all - the worldview of characters. So we take a look at the opening and closing scenes (and middle scenes, too) of...
2017-03-242h 32Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-40: Tactics and ScenesHow do tactics make your characters and scenes more dynamic? In this episode, Stu and Chas turn their gaze to the "tactics" that characters use in scenes to get what they want. Tactics are how the characters try to achieve their goals and (we reckon) can be revealing of the essence of their character. The shifting and thwarting of tactics can make scenes more dynamic; while over the course of a story, the changing of tactics can reflect the growth of characters... even if their goal stays the same. We take a close look at great...
2017-02-042h 15Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-39: Backmatter - Hitting LA, Receiving Feedback, and a Roguish OneHow can writers make use of their time when hitting LA? In another backmatter-only episode, Stu & Chas zig-zag through a range of topics. We talk about Chas' experience(s) hitting both Los Angeles and the Austin Film Festival, effective networking, career capital, the art of receiving feedback, and Stu's harsh Three Strikes Rule. We look back at the most important lessons we've learned about storytelling in 2016 and that leads us to talk about character choices in a little-known and little-talked about film called ROGUE ONE. And, of course, we open the listener mail box for...
2017-01-151h 29Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-38: Excelling at Exposition (Part 2)How can exposition twist your story in new directions? In the second part of Draft Zero's two-part episode on "Exposition", Stu & Chas take an even deeper look at this notoriously challenging part of screenwriting. For many stories there are pre-existing facts (or given circumstances) that need to be communicated to an audience, and often we rely on dialogue to do it. But exposition can do more than just communicate, it can serve as dramatic revelation that twists a story into a new direction or provides an emotional payoff - or both!. So how do great writers make...
2016-12-061h 52Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-37: Excelling at Exposition (Part 1)How can you successfully integrate exposition into your story? In Draft Zero's first two part episode, Stu & Chas take an in-depth look at one of screenwriting's most common challenges: EXPOSITION. For many stories there are pre-existing facts that need to be communicated to the audience — whether those facts be about the rules of the world, the nature of a location, character motivations, character backstories or just character names. So how have great writers made exposition move the story forward, rather than stopping it to tell the audience stuff they need to know? To that end, in...
2016-11-231h 46
Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-36: Backmatter - Time Risk and Fixing MoviesHow can writers wisely invest their time in projects? In this "special", backmatter-only episode, Stu & Chas take inspiration from Terry Rossio's excellent article on TIME RISK and ice skate over a range of topics. We talk about time investment in projects, Stuart's project Restoration, doing you down work first, managing feedback, thinking positive being a negative, and we open the listener mail bag for critiques, praise and suggestions. We also explore how we could do Draft Zero episodes exploring tone and theme. We welcome any listener feedback as to whether we should do any backmatter-only...
2016-10-301h 07Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-36: Backmatter - Time Risk and Fixing MoviesHow can writers wisely invest their time in projects? In this "special", backmatter-only episode, Stu & Chas take inspiration from Terry Rossio's excellent article on TIME RISK and ice skate over a range of topics. We talk about time investment in projects, Stuart's project Restoration, doing you down work first, managing feedback, thinking positive being a negative, and we open the listener mail bag for critiques, praise and suggestions. We also explore how we could do Draft Zero episodes exploring tone and theme. We welcome any listener feedback as to whether we should do any backmatter-only...
2016-10-301h 07Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-35: Driving Characters or Character Driven?How can films maintain audience interest without stakes or plot questions? Continuing their focus on "character", Stuart and Chas take a close look at films that may be considered character-driven... or rather character studies... or just plot-lite films? Whatever you call them, these films —CHEF, HAPPY-GO-LUCKY, and AMOUR — let their plots take a back seat to a closer examination of their characters. Stuart and Chas dive in to investigate how, without plot driving the story forward, do these films maintain our interest? We talk Mike Leigh's 'Running Condition', Character Choice, SceneWork and the myriad other techniques the filmma...
2016-10-061h 20Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-35: Driving Characters or Character Driven?How can films maintain audience interest without stakes or plot questions? Continuing their focus on "character", Stuart and Chas take a close look at films that may be considered character-driven... or rather character studies... or just plot-lite films? Whatever you call them, these films —CHEF, HAPPY-GO-LUCKY, and AMOUR — let their plots take a back seat to a closer examination of their characters. Stuart and Chas dive in to investigate how, without plot driving the story forward, do these films maintain our interest? We talk Mike Leigh's 'Running Condition', Character Choice, SceneWork and the myriad other techniques the film...
2016-10-061h 20Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-34: Game of Choices - Decision Making and Character ImplicationsHow does the audience experience of a character's decision impact our feelings towards that character? After a spectacular end to Season 6 of GAME OF THRONES, Chas and Stu were struck by the very different portrayals of Sansa in Episode 9 - Battle of the Bastards and Cersei in Episode 10 - The Winds of Winter. Despite both characters having an enormous impact on the narrative, the audience's experience of those characters is very different -- largely because Sansa is absent from 98% of Battle of the Bastards. And thus: Stu and Chas embark on an exploration of how a writ...
2016-08-141h 26Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-33: Protagonist vs Hero - Dawn of Character FunctionHow does splitting 'character functions' enhance theme? We are often told that our 'protagonist' needs to be a active. That they need to be compelling. That they need to change. And - old faithful - that they need to be likeable. But after looking at MAD MAX: FURY ROAD, STAR TREK (2009), THE FIGHTER, and SICARIO, Chas and Stu learn that your primary character does not need to do all these things. In fact, they learn that splitting these functions between your primary characters can reinforce theme and create potential for different types of narratives. And...
2016-07-151h 58Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-32: High-Tension SequencesHow can you recreate the feeling of cinematic high-tension on the page? Chas & Stu take a close look at sequences of high-tension - the ones that make you lean forward in fear, or jump backwards in terror. Without camera angles, lighting, music or sound, how can screenwriters can evoke those emotions in readers using only the page? These sequences can be found in any genre of film, not just thriller or horror. To that end, Stu and Chas dive into high tension scenes from NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, ZODIAC, ROOM, and THE BABADOOK. We cover their...
2016-06-122h 23Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-31: Tools for Better Dialogue 1How does dialogue serve to reveal character? Chas & Stu are joined once again by the renowned script developer and producer, Stephen Cleary. In the first part of our series on writing better dialogue (there will be more!), we take a close look at how dialogue serves character: individuating characters, revealing characterisation, shifting status, and much more. Together, they (well, mostly Stephen) break down scenes from ANALYSE THIS, NOTTING HILL, REMAINS OF THE DAY and THE AVENGERS. In a first for Draft Zero, we include audio excerpts to make everything even clearer / stop Chas & Stu (mostly St...
2016-04-102h 05Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastDZ-30: Oscars revisited - Spotlight and CarolWhat makes a script so compelling that it ends up with an Oscar nod? This week, Stu and Chas return to their first ever episode by tackling two Oscar-nominated screenplays. But this time - instead of exploring the rigid structures laid down by gurus - they use it as an opportunity to explore what they've learned in the last three years and apply them to the phenomenal writing in SPOTLIGHT and CAROL (with slight digression towards THE EXPANSE* and GAME OF THRONES). And so this slightly meandering episodes revisits the excellent execution of catharsis, world-building...
2016-02-281h 43