Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast
Arts
About
Two emerging screenwriters – Chas Fisher and Stuart Willis – try to work out what makes great screenplays work. Discovering what it takes by analysing what successful writers put on the page.
Episodes
- DZ-126: Secrets and Clues
This episode of Draft Zero explores how secrets and clues can motivate characters in screenwriting, drawing inspiration from game design. The hosts analyze Rian Johnson's film "Wake Up Dead Man" as a case study to demonstrate these concept…
- DZ-125: Oscars one-shot - BLUE MOON
This episode of Draft Zero deconstructs the craft behind the Academy Award-nominated screenplay for BLUE MOON. The hosts analyze narrative POV, interweaving relationships, and dialogue techniques that make the low-budget, contained, period…
- DZ-124: Making the despicable compelling
This episode of Draft Zero discusses how film noir makes despicable characters compelling without endorsement. It examines techniques for keeping the audience engaged with reprehensible actions and characters, analyzing "Devil in a Blue Dr…
- DZ-123: Flawed Characters in Noir
This episode, part one of a two-part series, explores how Film Noir, specifically films like Double Indemnity and The Long Goodbye, can teach us about character arcs and audience engagement, focusing on flawed characters and how they can e…
- 1dZ-01: Arkyvrs - A Mansion Most Vile - Ep1
Chas, Stu, and Mel, joined by Kim Ho and Luke Clark, play the sci-fi horror game MOTHERSHIP in an "Actual Play Podcast." The episode explores how tools from tabletop role-playing games can be used in screenwriting.
- DZ-122: Escalating Antagonism Across Genres
In this episode, Chas, Stu, and guest Kim Ho continue their discussion on antagonism in screenwriting, exploring how to apply horror ideas to action and comedy genres. They analyze REBEL RIDGE and MEET THE PARENTS using the TOMBS framework…
- DZ-121: Escalating Antagonism in SINNERS
This episode of Draft Zero discusses escalating antagonism in storytelling, introducing the TOMBS cycle and applying it to the film "SINNERS." It also compares TOMBS to other narrative frameworks, including Noel Carroll's horror philosophy…
- DZ-120: Subtext is overrated
Chas Fisher and Stu Willis, joined by screenwriter and teacher Tom Vaughn, discuss why subtext is overrated in screenwriting. They argue that good subtext is a result of good drama, and focus should be on creating compelling drama. The dis…
- DZ-119: Final Character Choices & Great Endings
This episode of Draft Zero explores how a protagonist's final choices resolve plot, character arc, and theme. Stu and Chas analyze examples from films such as DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES, FINDING NEMO, and MICHAEL CLAYTON.
- DZ-118: Adolescence and tension through questions
This episode of Draft Zero explores how the show Adolescence uses dramatic questions to create tension. Stu and Chas analyze the show's structure, character development, and thematic elements, discussing various craft tools for screenwrite…
- DZ-117: Tonal shifts
This episode of Draft Zero discusses how to implement tonal shifts in screenwriting effectively. It examines case studies from "Shaun of the Dead," "Sorry to Bother You," and "Swiss Army Man" to illustrate key techniques for managing tone…
- DZ-116: Writing physical comedy
This episode of Draft Zero discusses writing physical comedy in screenplays. It examines scenes from "Bringing Up Baby," "Happy Endings," and "Bridesmaids" to illustrate techniques for creating humor through physical actions and visual gag…
- DZ-115: A Christmas Special - Rewatching & Rituals
This Draft Zero episode explores what makes Christmas movies rewatchable, examining films such as KISS KISS BANG BANG, RIDERS OF JUSTICE, and IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE. The hosts discuss themes like nostalgia, the importance of ensemble casts,…
- DZ-114: Climaxes in Challengers
This episode of Draft Zero examines the ending of the movie Challengers, specifically how the story's conclusion at its climax affects the audience's experience and the film's themes. The hosts discuss character choices, obscured motivatio…
- DZ-113: Tools for filmmakers to talk to the audience
This episode of Draft Zero explores tools filmmakers use to communicate directly with their audience, focusing on how creators can ensure their message is understood. Mel, Stu, and Chas discuss structure, character authenticity, and theme…
- DZ-112: Breaking the 4th wall
This episode of Draft Zero examines how breaking the 4th wall differs from voiceover and how filmmakers use it to communicate directly with the audience. The hosts analyze examples from "High Fidelity," "Abbott Elementary," and "Fleabag" t…
- DZ-111: Unreliable Narrators and Fight Club
This episode of Draft Zero explores the concept of unreliable narrators, specifically analyzing its application in the film Fight Club. The hosts discuss how the film's sequence-driven structure is stitched together by voiceover and how th…
- DZ-110: Voiceover
This episode of Draft Zero explores the effective use of voiceovers in screenwriting, analyzing examples from "Veronica Mars," "The Emperor's New Groove," and "Pain & Gain." The hosts discuss how voiceover can set tone, reveal character mo…
- DZ-109: Talking DIRECTLY to your audience
This Draft Zero episode explores different methods filmmakers use to communicate directly with their audience. Chas, Stu, and Mel discuss techniques such as breaking the fourth wall and voice-over, examining how these levers impact storyte…
- DZ-108: The Emotional Event with Judith Weston
Judith Weston joins Draft Zero to discuss emotional events in screenwriting, focusing on how scenes can alter character relationships rather than just advance the plot. The discussion includes examples from films like Oppenheimer, Casino R…
- DZ-107: Establishing Tone Through Character
Chas and Stu discuss how writers use dramatization to create tone through character in films. They examine minimalism vs. maximalism, dialogue, character actions and reactions, and emotional dynamic range, proposing a new triangle for unde…
- DZ-106: How do you know if you have enough story?
This episode of Draft Zero discusses how to determine if a story has enough narrative for a feature film. The hosts share their pre-writing processes and discuss the usefulness of various development tools.
- DZ-105: Establishing Tone Through Big Print
Chas and Stu discuss how writers establish tone for violence, humor, sex, and prejudice in scripts. They analyze how "darker" films like THE NICE GUYS, THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN, and YELLOWJACKETS teach readers to find humor in darkness.
- DZ-104: Characters Alone - Dramatizing the Internal
This episode of Draft Zero discusses how scenes with characters alone can increase audience connection, focusing on vulnerability and staging. Analysis of "Aftersun," "Sense and Sensibility," and "The Equalizer" highlights the significance…
- DZ-103: Game of the Scene 2 - Triangle of Sadness, The Favourite
This episode of Draft Zero explores how dramatic scenes are elevated by games, using "Triangle of Sadness" and "The Favourite" as examples. The hosts analyze how games reveal character through competency, decisions, resources, and skills.
- DZ-102: Game of the Scene - Bluey, John Wick 4
This Draft Zero podcast episode explores the concept of "game of the scene" in screenwriting. Stu and Chas analyze scenes from "Bluey," "John Wick 4," "Game Night," and "Life of Brian" to demonstrate how understanding character objectives…
- DZ-101: Oners - Creating Immediacy & Anchoring Action on the Page
Chas, Stu, and Mel discuss how "oners" are written in screenplays, using examples from GOODFELLAS, THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN, and CHILDREN OF MEN to understand how writers create immediacy and anchor action on the page. They explore camera…
- DZ-100: Scenes through Swords
In this episode of Draft Zero, Stu and Damon Young discuss how lessons from martial arts can be applied to screenwriting scenes, particularly in approaching character conflict. They explore concepts like character distance, initiating enga…
- DZ-99: Scene Questions
Chas and Stu from Draft Zero discuss how audience questions shape scenes, analyzing scenes from LOKI, THE LAST CRUSADE, THE BOURNE SUPREMACY, QUEEN AND SLIM, and DO THE RIGHT THING. They explore plot, character, and theme questions within…
- DZ-98: Ensembles 3 - Character Function & Theme
This Draft Zero episode discusses the impact of ensemble casts on character function and story themes. It features an analysis of the films "The Woman King," "Riders of Justice," and "Nope." The hosts also revisit tools for servicing multi…
- DZ-97: Ensembles 2 - Servicing Characters
This Draft Zero episode discusses servicing characters in ensemble stories by analyzing films such as Pitch Perfect, Glass Onion, Scream 2022, and The Family Stone. It covers tools for writers to develop character dimension, including shif…
- DZ-96: Ensembles 1 - What do we mean by an ensemble?
Chas, Stu, and Mel discuss the meaning of an ensemble in storytelling. They explore how ensembles differ from single-protagonist stories, examining the impact of multiple characters on narrative and group dynamics.
- DZ-95: Backmatter - Building and Maintenance
This episode of Draft Zero covers reflections on screenwriting, future episode ideas, project management, and a discussion on Star Wars series. It includes insights on maintaining hope in the industry and compares Andor with Obi-Wan.
- DZ-94: Talismans (Part 2)
In this episode, Draft Zero explores the use of talismans in screenwriting, focusing on how physical objects can wordlessly track character development. The discussion includes examples from "Thor: Love and Thunder," "Portrait of a Lady on…
- DZ-93: Talismans (Part 1)
Chas and Stu discuss the use of talismans in screenwriting. They define talismans as physical objects imbued with meaning by characters, and differentiate them from MacGuffins. The hosts also explore various types of talismans and their si…
- DZ-92: Insightful recognition in powerful endings
This episode of Draft Zero explores what makes certain endings powerful, with a focus on "anagnorisis" in films such as LA LA LAND, INCEPTION, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, and TURNING RED. Stu and Chas discuss how endings can prompt an audience…
- DZ-91: Raising (different kinds of) Stakes
Chas, Stu, and Mel discuss how to maintain audience engagement in biopics by exploring internal, external, and philosophical/moral stakes. They analyze HIDDEN FIGURES, DOWNFALL, and BRIGHT STAR to illustrate their points.
- DZ-90: Setups & Payoffs in Everything Everywhere All At Once
Chas and Stu discuss the use of setups and payoffs, including pointers, plants, stitches, and reversals, in the film Everything Everywhere All At Once. They also analyze the film's ending.
- DZ-89: Opening Sequences
In this episode, Chas, Stu, and writer/director Jessica Ellis discuss opening sequences in films. They explore how these openings set up character, genre, and theme, using examples such as Ocean's Eleven, Long Shot, Arrival, and A Serious…
- DZ-88: Drama in Genre clothing
This episode of Draft Zero discusses how films use genre elements to engage audiences while ultimately focusing on character drama. Stu and Chas, with guest Kodie Bedford, analyze Hustlers, Pig, and The Power of the Dog.
- DZ-87: Keeping Genre fresh
This episode of Draft Zero explores keeping genre fresh in screenwriting, featuring discussions on how writers deliver on genre expectations while surprising the audience. The hosts analyze films such as GET OUT, PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN, and…
- DZ-86: Backmatter - Minimum Viable Product
In this episode of Draft Zero, Stu and Chas discuss their screenwriting lessons from 2021, pitching projects, and the minimum viable product (MVP). They also share their experiences with running a writers workshop/group and discuss future…
- DZ-85: Choices & Decisions 2 - The Farewell & Wrath of Man
This episode of Draft Zero examines the concepts of choice and decision in filmmaking, using "The Farewell," "Nomadland," and "Wrath of Man" as examples. It delves into how these elements impact character development and audience experienc…
- DZ-84: Choices & Decisions 1 - Booksmart
This episode of Draft Zero examines the concepts of choice and decision in character dramatization, using "Booksmart" as a primary example. The hosts discuss how character choices, decisions, and consequences affect audience perception.
- DZ-83: A Very Thematic Stand-up Special!
This episode of Draft Zero explores the storytelling techniques used by stand-up comedians and their application to scripted narratives. Stu and Chas are joined by comedian and podcaster Alice Fraser to analyze narrative structure and them…
- DZ-82: Dramatising Given Circumstances in Watchmen
Chas and Stu discuss the adaptation of Watchmen from graphic novel to film and TV, focusing on dramatising given circumstances. They explore how the story world is communicated to an audience and how narrative structure and tone impact the…
- DZ-81: Pitch Decks & Look Books - Development Tools 4
This episode of Draft Zero features Chas and Stu with Marc Furmie discussing how to create effective pitch decks and look books for screenwriting projects. They cover the differences between these tools, how they help sell projects, and wh…
- DZ-80: Interweaving Timelines 3 - Little Women
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- DZ-79: Interweaving Timelines 2 - The Social Network
This episode of Draft Zero discusses The Social Network, examining how the film's interweaving timelines affect the audience's perception of Mark Zuckerberg and the overall narrative. They analyze Sorkin's use of time jumps and the flash-f…
- DZ-78: Interweaving Timelines 1 - Destroyer
In this episode, Stu and Chas, joined by Mel Killingsworth, discuss the use of interweaving timelines in films, specifically analyzing the movie DESTROYER. They explore how this narrative technique impacts audience perception, manages stak…