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DZ-92: Insightful recognition in powerful endings

How can endings prompt an audience to reflect on your story?

Stu & Chas set out to explore what makes certain endings powerful, in particular those of LA LA LAND, INCEPTION, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN and TURNING RED. The lens they bring to those endings is Aristotle’s moment of “anagnorisis” (don’t worry - we can’t pronounce it either), traditionally when a character moves from ignorance to knowledge (particularly of self).

But in analysing these films, Chas and Stu discover that endings can be particularly powerful when the characters experience insightful recognition in others, or in the world, or - perhaps most powerfully - when the anagnorisis is aimed at the audience. In other words, are there craft tools for your ending to prompt an audience to ask itself the question “What was that all about?”? Turns out, we think there are.

As always: SPOILERS ABOUND

Audio quotations used for educational purposes only. Timestamps indicated below. Chapter markers included in the mp3.

Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode.

CHAPTERS

00:00:00 - Intro

00:00:48 - Insightful recognition in endings

00:03:39 - What the hell is “anagnorisis”?

00:12:04 - LA LA LAND

00:30:45 - INCEPTION

00:35:14 - NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

01:00:04 - TURNING RED

01:18:18 - Wrap up & Key Learnings

01:24:26 - Thanks patreons!

LINKS

HULK PRESENTS THE MYTH OF THE THREE ACT STRUCTURE

Lindsay Doran on the psychology of story-telling

RELATED EPISODES

DZ-04: Catharsis and the Post-Coital Cigarette

This episode brought to you by (drum roll):

ScriptUp: https://www.scriptupstudio.com – use promo code DZ10 to get 10% off; and

ArcStudio: go to https://www.arcstudiopro.com/draftzero for $30 off a subscription!

And how can we forget our awesome Patreons?, Especially Malay, Casimir, Eduardo, Jennifer, Garrett, Bjorn, Randy, Jesse, Sandra, Theis, Alex and Khrob. You rule!

Please considering rating or subscribing to us on Apple Podcasts or sharing us on the Social Medias! We like finding new listeners. We are @stuwillis and @chasffisher on twitter. And you can find @draft_zero on Instagram and Twitter.

BUY DRAFT ZERO MERCH via TeePublic

Check out this new episode of Draft Zero

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DZ-91: Raising (different kinds of) Stakes

How can you keep your audience hooked when they know the end of the story?

Chas, Stu and Mel take a deep dive into stakes, using then lens of biopics to help us think about them. If an audience already knows the “plot” outcome of a story, then how do you create stakes to make a story tense for the audience? 

To explore this, we deep dive into HIDDEN FIGURES (about the NASA Friendship 7 mission), DOWNFALL (the final days of Berlin in WW2), and BRIGHT STAR (the life and death of romantic poet John Keats). We unpack the ideas around internal, external and philosophical /moral stakes and propose some new terminology that may help us write stakes more effectively. 

As always: SPOILERS ABOUND.

Audio quotations used for educational purposes only. Timestamps indicated below. Chapter markers included in the mp3.

Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode.

This episode brought to you by ScriptUp (https://www.scriptupstudio.com – use promo code DZ10 to get 10% off) and ArcStudio (https://www.arcstudiopro.com/ - go to www.draft-zero.com/arcstudio).

Thanks to all our patrons, especially Malay, Casimir, Eduardo, Jennifer, Leigh, Garrett, Bjorn, Randy, Jesse, Sandra, Theis, Alex and Khrob. You rule!

Please considering rating or subscribing to us on Apple Podcasts or sharing us on the Social Medias! We like finding new listeners. We are @stuwillis and @chasffisher on twitter. And you can find @draft_zero on Instagram and Twitter.

BUY DRAFT ZERO MERCH via TeePublic

CHAPTERS - 00:00:00 - Intro - 00:04:41 - What even are stakes? - 00:24:26 - Hidden Figures - 01:00:46 - Downfall - 01:33:38 - Bright Star - 02:10:33 - Key Learnings - 02:18:57 - Thanks Patreons!

Check out this new episode of Draft Zero

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DZ-90: Setups & Payoffs in Everything Everywhere All At Once

How can you use setups and payoffs to stitch your film together?

In this one-shot, Chas and Stu dive into the awesomeness of EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE. In particular, we focus on its use of setups, payoffs and reversals; breakdown the difference between Pointers and Plants and Stitches; deep dive into its Michael Arndt inspired ending. And, of course, we talk hotdog fingers and butt-plugs.

As always: SPOILERS ABOUND.

Audio quotations used for educational purposes only. Timestamps indicated below. Chapter markers included in the mp3.

Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode.

CHAPTERS

00:00:00 - Intro

00:00:43 - Anywhere Anything At The Same time

00:10:48 - Summary

00:29:51 - Pointers and Planters

00:56:17 - The Ending

01:17:59 - Wrap Up and Key Learnings

01:30:06 - Thanks to our Patreons

LINKS

Michael Arndt - Endings: The Good, the Bad, and the Insanely Great -- https://vimeo.com/238637906

RELATED EPISODES

DZ-06: Key Scenes and Unlocking the Story

DZ-04: Catharsis and the Post-Coital Cigarette

DZ-10: Midpoint Reversals and The Ride

This episode brought to you by ScriptUp – https://www.scriptupstudio.com – use promo code DZ10 to get 10% off. 

Thanks to all our patrons, especially Malay, Casimir, Eduardo, Jennifer, Leigh, Garrett, Bjorn, Randy, Jesse, Sandra, Theis, Alex and Khrob. You rule!

BUY DRAFT ZERO MERCH via TeePublic

Check out this new episode of Draft Zero

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DZ-89: Opening Sequences

How does your opening sequence set up your audience? Inspired by her tweet on how subversive an opening OCEAN’S ELEVEN has, Chas and Stu invited amazing writer/director Jessica Ellis onto the show to deep dive into opening sequences. How does a good opening setup character, genre, and theme?

In exploring how best to open your story - instead of looking at the almost mandatory studio note of “dropping you in the action” - Stu, Chas and Jess look at the inventive openings of OCEAN’S ELEVEN, LONG SHOT, ARRIVAL and A SERIOUS MAN. Each of these films opens in a way that seems to defy its genre conventions and yet still provide all the set-up it needs to perfectly tell its story.

As always: SPOILERS ABOUND.

Audio quotations used for educational purposes only. Timestamps indicated below. Chapter markers included in the mp3.

Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode.

CHAPTERS

00:00:56 - Intro

00:12:04 - Ocean’s Eleven

00:30:26 - Long Shot

01:01:32 - Arrival

01:22:22 - A Serious Man

01:41:17 - Wrap Up

01:46:47 - Patreon thanks

LINKS

Jessica Ellis: https://twitter.com/baddestmamajama

What Lies West: https://linktr.ee/whatlieswest

RELATED EPISODES

DZ-15: World Building Rules, Okay?

DZ-43: Driving Sequences – Character and Plot Intensity

DZ-44: Marvel, First Acts and Establishing Characters

  This episode brought to you by ScriptUp – https://www.scriptupstudio.com – use promo code DZ10 to get 10% off.

Thanks to all our patrons, especially Casimir, Lloyd, Eduardo, Jennifer, Leigh, Thomas, Garrett, Bjorn, Randy, Jesse, Sandra, Alex and Khrob. You rule!

Please considering rating or subscribing to us on Apple Podcasts or sharing us on the Social Medias! We like finding new listeners. We are @stuwillis and @chasffisher on twitter. And you can find @draft_zero on Instagram and Twitter.

Check out this new episode of Draft Zero

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DZ-88: Drama in Genre clothing

How 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 always: SPOILERS ABOUND.

Audio quotations used for educational purposes only. Timestamps indicated below. Chapter markers included in the mp3.

Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode.

CHAPTERS

00:00:01 - Intro

00:00:56 - Drama in Genre Clothing

00:02:21 - Sam Elliot on Power of the Dog

00:03:19 - Lessons from Keeping Genre Fresh

00:08:14 - Hustlers

00:43:58 - Pig

01:16:24 - The Power of the Dog

01:55:02 - Key Learnings and Wrap Up

LINKS

Kodie Bedford: https://twitter.com/ms_kodie

Authentic Storytelling – Kodie Bedford: Breaking Down Characters And Worlds

RELATED EPISODES

DZ-87: Keeping genre fresh – Get Out, Promising Young Woman, and The Invisible Man

This episode brought to you by ScriptUp – https://www.scriptupstudio.com – use promo code DZ10 to get 10% off.

Thanks to all our patrons, especially Lloyd, Eduardo, Jennifer, Leigh, Thomas, Garrett, Bjorn, Randy, Jesse, Sandra, Theis, Alex and Khrob. You rule!

Please considering rating or subscribing to us on Apple Podcasts or sharing us on the Social Medias! We like finding new listeners. We are @stuwillis and @chasffisher on twitter. And you can find @draft_zero on Instagram and Twitter.

Check out this new episode of Draft Zero

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DZ-87: Keeping Genre fresh

How 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 desire 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, without writing something stale.

As always: SPOILERS ABOUND

Audio quotations used for educational purposes only. Timestamps indicated below. Chapter markers included in the mp3.

Thanks to Chris for editing this episode.

CHAPTERS

00:00:57 - Intro: Keeping Genre Fresh

00:03:10 - What is Genre?

00:16:30 - Get Out

00:45:10 - Promising Young Woman

01:25:08 - The Invisible Man

01:59:18 - Wrap Up

02:11:44 - Thanks to our Patreons!

LINKS

Freshening Up Genre - Stu's Notes: https://www.patreon.com/posts/64358617

Kodie Bedford: https://twitter.com/ms_kodie

Authentic Storytelling – Kodie Bedford: Breaking Down Characters And Worlds

RELATED EPISODES

DZ-68: Using POV to structure KNIVES OUT: http://draft-zero.com/2020/dz-68/

DZ-69: PARASITE & Audience Questions: http://draft-zero.com/2020/dz-69/

DZ-54: Thematic Sequences: http://draft-zero.com/2018/dz-54/

This episode brought to you by ScriptUp – https://www.scriptupstudio.com – use promo code DZ10 to get 10% off.

Thanks to all our patrons, especially Jennifer, Leigh, Thomas, Garrett, Bjorn, Randy, Jesse, Sandra, Theis, Alex, and Khrob.

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.

Check out this new episode of Draft Zero

[draft-zero]

DZ-86: Backmatter - Minimum Viable Product

How 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 of Die Hard ones. Die Hard is the new Star Wars. Get over it.

Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode.

RUNNING ORDER

00:00:00 - Intro: Backmatter

00:03:02 - Looking Forward - Episode Ideas

00:19:40 - Looking Back - Screenwriting Lessons

00:49:46 - Looking Now - Processes

01:28:26 - Outro

EPISODE LINKS

READ: Writer’s Workshop Documents by Chas & Stu

READ: Laziness Does Not Exist by Dr Devon Price

READ: Story Talismans by Scott Myers

Many thanks to all our patrons, but especially Jennifer, Leigh, Thomas, Garrett, Bjorn, Randy, Jesse, Sandra, Theis and Khrob. They’re good humans who allow us to bring you more draft zero, more often. 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.

Check out this new episode of Draft Zero

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DZ-85: Choices & Decision 2 - The Farewell & Wrath of Man

What is difference between choice and decision when it comes to audience experience?

In our second part of our “series” on Choices and Decision, 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 narrative - and its decoupling of choice, decisions and consequence (wouldn’t that be a detripling???) impacts the audience experience, especially how we feel about characters.

The terminology we settled on in Part 1 was:

CHOICE: Are the options presented to the character.

DECISION: Is the knowing consideration of the choice and resulting action.

CONSEQUENCE: is the resulting outcome from the choice.

As always: SPOILERS ABOUND

Audio quotations used for educational purposes only. Timestamps indicated below. Chapter markers included in the mp3. Thanks to Chris for editing this episode.

CHAPTERS

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:38 - Decisions & Choices Recap

00:03:41 - The Farewell

00:28:58 - Nomadland

00:37:39 - Wrath of Man

01:36:54 - Wrap Up & Key Learnings

01:45:06 - Backmatter

LINKS

Damon Young: https://www.damonyoung.com.au/

Stephen Cleary: https://www.stephencleary.org/

RELATED EPISODES

DZ-34: Game of Choices - Decision Making and Character Implications

DZ-48: One-Shot – Blade Runner 2049 – Agency vs Choice

DZ-84: Choices & Decision 1 - Booksmart

  This episode brought to you by ScriptUp – https://www.scriptupstudio.com – use promo code DZ10 to get 10% off.

Thanks to all our patrons, especially Thomas, Garrett, Bjorn, Randy, Jesse, Theis, Sandra, and Khrob.

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.

  Check out this new episode of Draft Zero

[draft-zero]

DZ-84: Choices & Decision 1 - Booksmart

What 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 the terminology we settle on:

CHOICE: Are the options presented to the character.

DECISION: Is the knowing consideration of the choice and resulting action.

CONSEQUENCE: is the resulting outcome from the choice.

Part 1 (this part) establishes what we mean by choice and decision, and then takes a deep dive into BOOKSMART, directed by Olivia Wilde, and written by Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins and Susanna Fogel.  We all discuss FLEABAG, SEVEN, and old favourite, Star Wars.

Part 2 will turn our analytical eye on THE FAREWELL and WRATH OF MAN.

As always: SPOILERS ABOUND

Audio quotations used for educational purposes only. Timestamps indicated below. Chapter markers included in the mp3.

Thanks to Chris for editing this episodes.

CHAPTERS

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:01:36 - Choices vs Decisions

00:19:51 - Booksmart

01:01:41 - Decisions & Structure

01:05:50 - Mills' decision in Se7en

01:07:50 - Key Learnings and Wrap Up

LINKS

Damon Young: https://www.damonyoung.com.au/

Stephen Cleary: https://www.stephencleary.org/

RELATED EPISODES

DZ-34: Game of Choices - Decision Making and Character Implications

DZ-48: One-Shot – Blade Runner 2049 – Agency vs Choice

This episode brought to you by ScriptUp – https://www.scriptupstudio.com – use promo code DZ10 to get 10% off.

Thanks to all our patrons, especially Thomas, Garrett, Bjorn, Randy, Jesse, Theis, Sandra, and Khrob.

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.

Check out this new episode of Draft Zero

[draft-zero]

DZ-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 as we dive in to NANETTE by Hannah Gadsby, BABY COBRA by Ali Wong and IT’S THE FIREWORKS TALKING by Daniel Kitson (with more than a passing reference to Alice’s own show SAVAGE and INSIDE by Bo Burnham), we analyse narrative structure, transitions, set-ups and pay-offs used by stand-ups…

But we end up focusing on exploring thematic tools - particularly the Aristotelean concepts of the rhetorical triangle: logos (how the story is told), ethos (who the storyteller is), and pathos (how the audience emotionally engages). With these powers combined, storytellers of all kinds can produce work of thematic power and resonance. Or just funny.

And in backmatter, we discuss adapting Savage for the recorded stage with Alice!

Enjoy!

Spoilers abound. Audio excerpts used for educational purposes.

CHAPTERS

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:03:25 - Alice Fraser on comedy

00:22:33 - Comedy tools to be explored

00:26:21 - Nanette by Hannah Gadsby

00:48:47 - Transitions in and out of theme

01:08:32 - Baby Cobra by Ali Wong

01:37:57 - It’s the Fireworks Talking by Daniel Kitson

02:04:45 - Key Learnings

02:14:39 - Backmatter - Adapting SAVAGE from stage to screen and screen again

LINKS

Alice Fraser - http://www.alicecomedyfraser.com 

Listen: Savage Part 1 https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/alice-fraser-trilogy/alice-fraser-trilogy-savage-part-one/10070682

Listen: Savage Part 2 https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/alice-fraser-trilogy/alice-fraser-trilogy-savage-part-two/10082916

Watch: Savage: https://www.amazon.com/Alice-Fraser-Savage-Season-1/dp/B08BYZD952

Hannah Gadsby - Nanette:

Watch: https://www.netflix.com/title/80233611

Hannah on Working it Out podcast with Mike Birbiglia: http://workingitout.libsyn.com/5-hannah-gadsby

Alice Wong - Baby Cobra:

Watch: https://www.netflix.com/title/80233611

Daniel Kitson - It’s The Fireworks Talking:

Listen: https://danielkitson.bandcamp.com/album/its-the-fireworks-talking-2007

Bo Burnham - Inside:

Watch: https://www.netflix.com/title/81289483

Thanks to all our patrons, especially Thomas, Garrett, Bjorn, Randy, Jesse, Theis, Sandra, and Khrob.

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.

Check out this new episode of Draft Zero

[draft-zero]

DZ-82: Dramatising Given Circumstances in Watchmen

How 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 lived world and how best to communicate that?

In terms of WATCHMEN (as you will hear), there is so much given circumstances to convey — in terms of alternate history, superhero rules, political rules, character backstory, character worldview — that is done excellently in both the movie and the TV show that this becomes a masterclass in exposition.

We also touch on narrative structure and tone: how presenting the exact same information in a different order or through a different tonal lens can change how it lands for an audience. ie this diagram --

But this is explored much more fully in the very-visual companion YouTube videos. Subscribe to our YouTube to be notified when they’re released! http://www.draft-zero.com/youtube

While this episode may not be for the feint of heart, we feel it is one of our best. Hope you do too.

Spoilers abound. Audio excerpts used for educational purposes. Thanks to Chris for wrangling this into shape!

CHAPTERS

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:01:02 - Watching the Watchmen

00:06:13 - Summaries

00:17:07 - Given Circumstances

00:38:39 - The Characters

00:51:07 - Theme & Characters

01:02:13 - Narrative Structure & Theme

01:27:07 - Worldview

01:33:47 - Dr Manhattan

01:51:50 - Wrap Up

LINKS

Watch: Watchmen (2009) screenplay by David Hayter & Alex Tse

Watch: Watchmen (2019) created by Damon Lindelof

Read: Watchmen illustrated by Dave Gibbson and written by Alan Moore

RELATED EPISODES

DZ-37: Excelling at Exposition (Part 1)

DZ-38: Excelling at Exposition (Part 2)

Thanks to all our patrons, especially Thomas, Garrett, Bjorn, Randy, Jesse, Theis, Sandra, and Khrob.

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.

Check out this new episode of Draft Zero

[draft-zero]

DZ-81: Pitch Decks & Look Books - Development Tools 4

How 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 the live stream that was done with Marc. So if you'd like to *see* what we are discussing, including a critique of a listener's pitch deck, then check out our YouTube recording.

Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode.

LINKS:

Rezistor Studios: https://www.rezistorstudios.com

Shot Deck: https://shotdeck.com

Eagle Image Library: https://en.eagle.cool

Adobe Fonts: https://fonts.adobe.com

Da Font: http://dafont.com

RELATED EPISODES:

Listen: DZ-71: Treatments & Loglines - Development Tools

Listen: DZ-72: Theme & the Story Synopsis - Development Tools 2

Listen: DZ-73: Selling documents – Development Tools 3

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.

Check out this new episode of Draft Zero

[draft-zero]

DZ-80: Interweaving Timelines 3 - Little Women

How 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 Gilliam Armstrong & Robin Swicord's more faithful (and chronological) 1994 version. It's almost like a scientific experiment!

Stay tuned! SPOILERS ABOUND!

Audio quotations used for educational purposes only. Timestamps indicated below. Chapter markers included in the mp3.

Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode.

RUNNING ORDER

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:00:37 - ScriptUp Sponsorship

00:02:00 - Little Women - 2019 vs 1994

00:06:35 - 2019's Interweaving Timelines

00:15:29 - Summarising the plot points

00:31:39 - Initial contrasts with chronological telling

00:35:32 - Laurie's Proposal

00:54:10 - Amy and Laurie's courtship

01:03:34 - Beth's Death

01:26:44 - Book burning and ice skating

01:36:51 - How the structure expresses theme

01:44:06 - Key Learnings and Wrap Up

01:59:02 - Backmatter

LINKS

Watch: Little Women (2019) screenplay by and directed by Greta Gerwig

Watch: Little Women (1994) screenplay by Robin Swicord and directed by Gilliam Armstrong

Read/Listen: Scriptnotes, Ep 433: The One with Greta Gerwig

RELATED EPISODES

DZ-78: Interweaving Timelines 1 - Destroyer

DZ-79: Interweaving Timelines 2 – The Social Network

This episode brought to you by ScriptUp – https://www.scriptupstudio.com – use promo code DZ10 to get 10% off.

Many thanks to all our patrons but particularly to Randy, Garrett, Bjorn, Jessie, 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.

Check out this new episode of Draft Zero

[draft-zero]

DZ-79: Interweaving Timelines 2 - The Social Network

How 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 skill with time jumps, managing intercutting and introducing characters - as well as explore how the flash-forward technique manages the absence of stakes (i.e. we know Facebook exists) and creates a different emotional experience to the flashbacks of Destroyer. Finally, and most importantly, we look at how the interweaving timelines change how the audience feel about Mark Zuckerberg (as portrayed in this film).

RUNNING ORDER

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:01:48 - The Social Network

00:07:36 - The flash forward structure

00:18:46 - Why did we pick this film?

00:29:41 - What are the stakes?

00:42:45 - Time jumps & transitions

00:52:59 - Audience's perception of Mark

01:00:45 - Storyteller cuts

01:09:20 - Sorkin vs Fincher

01:16:07 - Wrap up & key learnings

01:23:15 - Backmatter

LINKS

Watch: The Social Network written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by David Fincher

Read: Wordplayer - The Storyteller Cut

RELATED EPISODES

DZ-78: Interweaving Timelines 1 - Destroyer

DZ-43: Driving Sequences – Character and Plot Intensity

This episode brought to you by ScriptUp – https://www.scriptupstudio.com – use promo code DZ10 to get 10% off.

Many thanks to all our patrons but particularly to Randy, Garrett, Bjorn, Joakim, 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.

Check out this new episode of Draft Zero

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DZ-78: Interweaving Timelines 1 - Destroyer

How 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) tackle the 2018 film DESTROYER directed by Karen Kusama, written by Hay & Manfredi and starring Nicole Kidman.

Meanwhile, Part 2 will cover THE SOCIAL NETWORK and Part 3 will compare the 1994 Gillian Armstrong version with 2019 Greta Gerwig version of LITTLE WOMEN. Whew.

Stay tuned! SPOILERS ABOUND!

Audio quotations used for educational purposes only. Timestamps indicated below. Chapter markers included in the mp3.

Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode.

RUNNING ORDER

00:00:10 Intro

00:01:46 Interweaving Timelines?

00:14:54 Destroyer & Timelines

00:35:28 Indicating Timelines

00:39:21 Ordering the Key Events

00:51:50 Theme & Timelines

01:06:44 Questions prompted by the ending

01:20:58 Key Learnings & Wrap Up

01:37:37 Backmatter

EPISODE LINKS

WATCH: Destroyer (2018)

FOLLOW: Melanie Killingsworth – @mehlsbells on twitter

READ: "A Game Designer’s Analysis Of QAnon"

RELATED EPISODES

DZ-05: Shifting audience point of view and heightened emotions

DZ-46: Structure & Point of View

This episode brought to you by ScriptUp - https://www.scriptupstudio.com - use promo code DZ10 to get 10% off.

Many thanks to all our patrons but particularly to Randy, Garrett, Bjorn, Jack, 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.

Check out this new episode of Draft Zero

[draft-zero]

DZ-77: Backmatter - Prioritising and choosing projects

How 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.

Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode.

RUNNING ORDER

00:00:00 - Intro

00:02:55 - DZ update

00:11:18 - Mooting future topics

00:39:51  - Questions to ask of a new co-writing relationship

00:49:56 - Why is pressure different to stakes and obstacles?

00:55:22 - How to manage multiple projects?

01:07:08 - How to pick your next project?

01:19:54 - The Mandalorian Season 2

EPISODE LINKS

READ: Brandon Sanderson  "My Work Life Balance As A Writer"

But the system using folders is actually from Anthony Johnston

READ: Anthony Johnston - "The Organized Writer"

Many thanks to all our patrons but particularly to Randy, Bjorn, Garrett, Joakim, 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.

Check out this new episode of Draft Zero

[draft-zero]

DZ-76: Spotlight on Sofia Coppola

What 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 Coppola does not often write the tone or experience of her films into her scripts (given how specific her tone is and how unique the experiences of her films are). Instead, we are treated to a masterclass in writing character performance on the page - actor catnip, if you will - as well as Coppola’s insightful use of white space.

You can also watch the complete live stream on YouTube

As always: SPOILERS ABOUND.

Audio quotations used for educational purposes only. Timestamps indicated below. Chapter markers included in the mp3. Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode, and to Carissa Lee for reading the script excerpts.

RUNNING ORDER

00:00:00 - Intro

00:02:12 - Sofia Coppola & Writing to Direct

00:13:49 - Lost in Translation

00:54:07 - The Bling Ring

01:18:24 - The Beguiled

01:34:53 - Wrap Up & Key Learnings

01:45:28 - Backmatter: Cultural Portray in Lost in Translation

EPISODE LINKS

FOLLOW: Melanie Killingsworth – @mehlsbells on twitter

WATCH: Lost In Translation

READ: http://dailyscript.com/scripts/lost_in_translation.pdf

WATCH: The Bling Ring

READ: https://raindance.org/scripts/The%20Bling%20Ring.pdf

WATCH: The Beguiled

READ: https://www.scriptslug.com/assets/uploads/scripts/the-beguiled-2017.pdf

READ: DZ-76 Sofia Coppola Collated Scripts

READ: Hit film gets lost in racism row

READ: Latent racism 'Lost in Translation'

RELATED EPISODES

DZ-13: True that - Tips from Tarantino

DZ-60: Unfilmables 1 - Engaging imagination

DZ-16: Masters of Whitespace

Many thanks to all our patrons but particularly to Randy, Bjorn, Jack, 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.

Check out this new episode of Draft Zero