Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

DZ-72: Theme & The Story Synopsis - Development Tools 2

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Listen tolearn concrete tools for developing theme in the early stages of your writing.

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.

Thanks to Meegan May for reading the examples. Meegan May is an emerging queer screenwriter and former military intelligence analyst with plenty of award winning scripts and extensive experience in development. Look her up! http://meeganmay.com

As always: SPOILERS ABOUND and all copyright material used under fair use for educational purposes.

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    • Thanks to our Patrons, especially Khrob, Theis, Sandra, Jesse, Randy, Paulo, Thomas, Jennifer, Malay, Alexandre and Lily.

    ———

    CHAPTERS

    • 00:00:00 – Intro: Theme in Development
    • 00:01:54 – The Story Synopsis
    • 00:04:19 – Plot & Theme / Praxis & Mythos
    • 00:11:12 – Back to the Story Synopsis
    • 00:13:45 – Witness
    • 00:16:09 – Thematic Logline
    • 00:17:00 – Using the Thematic Logline in development
    • 00:22:26 – Witness - 1st Act in Story Synopsis
    • 00:25:46 – Witness - 2nd Act in Story Synopsis
    • 00:28:55 – Characters, Plot & Theme
    • 00:30:27 – Witness - Book drops his facadé
    • 00:33:25 – Witness - 3rd Act in Story Synopsis
    • 00:40:49 – Witness - Complete Story Synopsis
    • 00:41:51 – Using the Story Synopsis in development
    • 00:48:04 – Rewriting using the Story Synopsis
    • 00:54:53 – Wrap Up

      • FILMS

      • WITNESS (1985) — (w) William Kelley, Earl W Wallace, William Kelley, Earl W Wallace, Pamela Wallace (d) Peter Weir
      • LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962) — (w) Michael Wilson, Robert Bolt (d) David Lean
      • MACBETH (1971) — (w) Kenneth Tynan, Roman Polanski (d) Roman Polanski

        • SCRIPTS

        • Study the script: WITNESS (1985) — William Kelley, Earl W Wallace, William Kelley, Earl W Wallace, Pamela Wallace
        • Study the script: LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962) — Michael Wilson, Robert Bolt

          • SHOT ZERO DEEP DIVES

          • Editing an Emotional Jolt: WITNESS

            • LINKS

            • Website: Meegan May

              • EPISODES IN THE DEVELOPMENT TOOLS SERIES

              • DZ-106: How do you know if you have enough story?
              • DZ-71: Treatments & Loglines - Development Tools 1
              • DZ-72: Theme & The Story Synopsis - Development Tools 2
              • DZ-81: Pitch Decks & Look Books - Development Tools 4
              • DZ-73: Selling documents - Development Tools 3

                • RELATED EPISODES

                • DZ-41: Theme and Worldview
                • DZ-54: Thematic Sequences
                • DZ-71: Treatments & Loglines - Development Tools 1

                  • ———

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                  We are @stuwillis, @mehlsbells and @chasffisher on Twitter. You can find @draft_zero and @_shotzero on Instagram and Twitter.

                  Full show notes at: https://draft-zero.com/2020/dz-72/

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                  Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcastBy Chas Fisher and Stuart Willis
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