Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

DZ-106: How do you know if you have enough story?


Listen Later

How do you know if you have enough narrative fuel to write a script?

In this episode, Chas, Stu and Mel attempt to answer a listener question:

"In your own pre-writing process, how do you know you have enough for a feature? And do you have a specific pre-writing method you're going to?"

Thus we launch into a discussion on our writing processes and the varying usefulness of tools such as log lines, turning points, beat sheets, synopsis, treatments, and scene breakdowns. We also tackle the challenges encountered while developing an idea to first draft, such as balancing the pace of the story, developing distinct character voices, character choices, plot changes, pacing, and thematic clarity.

Is this backmatter? Or is it development tools? You decide! Hahaha.

Thanks so much to Chris Walker for his excellent editing on this episode!

CHAPTERS:

  • 00:00:00 - Cold Open
  • 00:00:30 - Introduction: Falling Short
  • 00:02:38 - Our Development Processes
  • 00:33:06 - Developing from concept
  • 00:45:26 - Sponsor: Arc Studio Pro
  • 00:48:12 - Expanding your Idea
  • 01:15:29 - Long Short Documents
  • 01:27:22 - Consistent problems with first drafts
  • 01:34:28 - Many thanks to our Patreons!

This episode brought to you by (drum roll):

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

And how can we forget our awesome Patreons, especially Lily, Alexandre, Malay, Casimir, Jennifer, Thomas, Randy, Jesse, Sandra, Theis, 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, @chasffisher and @mehlsbells on twitter. You can also find @draft_zero and @_shotzero on Instagram and Twitter.

BUY DRAFT ZERO MERCH via TeePublic

SUBSCRIBE TO SHOT ZERO via Substack

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastBy Chas Fisher and Stuart Willis

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

114 ratings


More shows like Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

View all
The Business by KCRW

The Business

670 Listeners

Scriptnotes Podcast by John August and Craig Mazin

Scriptnotes Podcast

2,435 Listeners

The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast by Directors Guild of America

The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast

748 Listeners

Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso by Higher Ground

Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso

1,469 Listeners

The Watch by The Ringer

The Watch

5,425 Listeners

Blank Check with Griffin & David by Blank Check Productions

Blank Check with Griffin & David

6,190 Listeners

The A24 Podcast by A24

The A24 Podcast

1,078 Listeners

Unspooled by Paul Scheer & Amy Nicholson | Realm

Unspooled

4,763 Listeners

The Big Picture by The Ringer

The Big Picture

5,748 Listeners

The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna by Meg LeFauve & Lorien McKenna

The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna

974 Listeners

Team Deakins by James Ellis Deakins, Roger Deakins

Team Deakins

1,120 Listeners

SmartLess by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett

SmartLess

58,365 Listeners

The Prestige TV Podcast by The Ringer

The Prestige TV Podcast

1,701 Listeners

The Town with Matthew Belloni by The Ringer

The Town with Matthew Belloni

1,132 Listeners

Good Hang with Amy Poehler by The Ringer

Good Hang with Amy Poehler

12,559 Listeners