The Story Toolkit

We show how M Night Shyamalan's films display incredible stylistic skill, but ultimately, lack any substance of merit, as shown in UNBREAKABLE. Royalty free music from Bensound. Logo design by the Proxy Guy.

1-00 – ‘Listener Question‘ – Introducing the topic suggested by a listener.

4-15 – ‘Synopsis‘ – Breaking down the major story beats of UNBREAKABLE.

12-30 – ‘Style‘ – Outlining the many qualities of Shyamalan’s directorial Style.

20-00 – ‘Substance‘ – Analysing why Shyamalan’s writing is lacking in Substance, focusing on the Image System, Subtext and lack of Depth.

37-00 – ‘Movies‘ – Highlighting the key storytelling faults in his other movies such as SIXTH SENSE, SIGNS and THE HAPPENING.

50-15 – ‘Taste‘ – Understanding the difference between Taste and Quality.

60-30 – ‘Summary‘ – A very brief summation.

Looking over the work of Quentin Tarantino, we show how the unique style of the director influences the writing choices. Royalty free music by Bensound. Logo design by the Proxy Guy.

1-40 – ‘Tarantino’ – Outlining Tarantino’s impressive collection of works.

4-45 – ‘Premise’ – Breaking down the major story beats of INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS.

10-20 – ‘Style’ – Analysing Tarantino’s Style using key examples from INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, RESERVOIR DOGS and PULP FICTION.

23-55 – ‘Choices’ – Detailing how his style influences the way he writes and the choices he makes.

33-00 – ‘Diffusing/Attacking’ – Understanding how Tarantino uses to violence to attack institutions and comedy to diffuse tension.

41-25 – ‘Summary’ – Summing up the writing tools discussed and what we can learn for our own writing. Includes a shout out to our Top Ten episode.

Looking over the work of Quentin Tarantino, we show how the unique style of the director influences the writing choices. Royalty free music by Bensound. Logo design by the Proxy Guy.

1-40 – ‘Tarantino’ – Outlining Tarantino’s impressive collection of works.

4-45 – ‘Premise’ – Breaking down the major story beats of INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS.

10-20 – ‘Style’ – Analysing Tarantino’s Style using key examples from INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, RESERVOIR DOGS and PULP FICTION.

23-55 – ‘Choices’ – Detailing how his style influences the way he writes and the choices he makes.

33-00 – ‘Diffusing/Attacking’ – Understanding how Tarantino uses to violence to attack institutions and comedy to diffuse tension.

41-25 – ‘Summary’ – Summing up the writing tools discussed and what we can learn for our own writing. Includes a shout out to our Top Ten episode.

We talk about the film adaptation of Paula Hawkins' novel and how it blends two genres together: Crime and the Social Drama. Royalty Free Music from Bensound. Logo design by the Proxy Guy.

1-00 – ‘Premise’ – Outlining the major story beats of GIRL ON THE TRAIN.

11-45 – ‘Empathy’ – Addressing how Paula Hawkins keeps you in empathy with the protagonist.

14-35 – ‘Genre’ – Breaking the two principal genres of GIRL ON THE TRAIN; Crime and Social Drama.

26-30 – ‘Blending’ – Analysing how the film blends Crime and Social Drama using the dramatic question and emotional interest.

38-35 – ‘Pacing’ – Comparing our differing opinions on the pacing of the film.

44-15 – ‘Comparisons’ – Comparing how THE NIGHT OF and THE WIRE blends the same genres with a very different effect.

55-30 – ‘Summary’ – Recapping the story tools discussed.

We talk about the film adaptation of Paula Hawkins' novel and how it blends two genres together: Crime and the Social Drama. Royalty Free Music from Bensound. Logo design by the Proxy Guy.

1-00 – ‘Premise’ – Outlining the major story beats of GIRL ON THE TRAIN.

11-45 – ‘Empathy’ – Addressing how Paula Hawkins keeps you in empathy with the protagonist.

14-35 – ‘Genre’ – Breaking the two principal genres of GIRL ON THE TRAIN; Crime and Social Drama.

26-30 – ‘Blending’ – Analysing how the film blends Crime and Social Drama using the dramatic question and emotional interest.

38-35 – ‘Pacing’ – Comparing our differing opinions on the pacing of the film.

44-15 – ‘Comparisons’ – Comparing how THE NIGHT OF and THE WIRE blends the same genres with a very different effect.

55-30 – ‘Summary’ – Recapping the story tools discussed.

Fellow Browncoats, we finally get to talking about FIREFLY, and our favourite episode of the series; OUT OF GAS! Royalty Free Music from Bensound. Logo design by the Proxy Guy.

1-35 – ‘Premise’ – Outlining FIREFLY’s terrifically realised terrific and its great cast.

12-10 – ‘Out of Gas’ – Breaks down the episode Out of Gas’ key story beats.

17-30 – ‘Polarisation’ – Discussing how a well designed cast react differently to the same story event.

32-20 – ‘Deliniation’ – Detailing the excellent choices Tim Minnear made to delineate the cast.

39-40 – ‘Exposition’ – Picking through the superb way FIREFLY deals with exposition.

55-40 – ‘Controlling Idea’ – Discussing the Controlling Idea of the episode and how it is realised.

59-30 – ‘Summary’ – Recapping the writing techniques discussed.

Fellow Browncoats, we finally get to talking about FIREFLY, and our favourite episode of the series; OUT OF GAS! Royalty Free Music from Bensound. Logo design by the Proxy Guy.

1-35 – ‘Premise’ – Outlining FIREFLY’s terrifically realised terrific and its great cast.

12-10 – ‘Out of Gas’ – Breaks down the episode Out of Gas’ key story beats.

17-30 – ‘Polarisation’ – Discussing how a well designed cast react differently to the same story event.

32-20 – ‘Deliniation’ – Detailing the excellent choices Tim Minnear made to delineate the cast.

39-40 – ‘Exposition’ – Picking through the superb way FIREFLY deals with exposition.

55-40 – ‘Controlling Idea’ – Discussing the Controlling Idea of the episode and how it is realised.

59-30 – ‘Summary’ – Recapping the writing techniques discussed.

A series of quick discussions on any number of stories that came out this year that won't otherwise get their own podcast... unless you want us to, so contact us and let us know. Royalty Free Music from Bensound. Logo design by the Proxy Guy.

2-40 – ‘Top 5 Podcasts’ – A run down of the 5 best podcasts for new listeners.

4-20 – ‘MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL Singalong’ – Showing some love for the Prince Charles Cinema in London.

6-10 – ‘JUNGLE BOOK’

8-00 – ‘ZOOTROPOLIS’

11-05 – ‘EDDIE THE EAGLE’

13-35 – ‘KEANU’

15-50 – ‘DEADPOOL’

19-25 – ‘GHOSTBUSTERS’

23-29 – ‘STAR TREK: BEYOND’

26-25 – ‘MARVEL TV’

30-06 – ‘THE LAST KINGDOM’

32-28 – ‘PREACHER’

36-15 – ‘MACBETH’

39-48 – ‘THE LIES OF LOCKE LAMORA’

42-15 – ‘MR HOLMES’

44-55 – ‘HAIL CAESAR/MAGGIE’

A series of quick discussions on any number of stories that came out this year that won't otherwise get their own podcast... unless you want us to, so contact us and let us know. Royalty Free Music from Bensound. Logo design by the Proxy Guy.

2-40 – ‘Top 5 Podcasts’ – A run down of the 5 best podcasts for new listeners.

4-20 – ‘MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL Singalong’ – Showing some love for the Prince Charles Cinema in London.

6-10 – ‘JUNGLE BOOK’

8-00 – ‘ZOOTROPOLIS’

11-05 – ‘EDDIE THE EAGLE’

13-35 – ‘KEANU’

15-50 – ‘DEADPOOL’

19-25 – ‘GHOSTBUSTERS’

23-29 – ‘STAR TREK: BEYOND’

26-25 – ‘MARVEL TV’

30-06 – ‘THE LAST KINGDOM’

32-28 – ‘PREACHER’

36-15 – ‘MACBETH’

39-48 – ‘THE LIES OF LOCKE LAMORA’

42-15 – ‘MR HOLMES’

44-55 – ‘HAIL CAESAR/MAGGIE’

STAR WARS is back with an amazing prequel with ROGUE ONE and we examine how a prequel uses dramatic irony to enrich the original. Royalty Free Music from Bensound. Logo design by the Proxy Guy.

2-35 – ‘Premise’ – Recapping the major story beats of Rogue One.

5-00 – ‘Mercy Scene’ – Breaking down why the mercy scene was the only weak point of Action in the movie.

10-45 – ‘Plot Hole’ – Detailing how ROGUE ONE uses a plot hole from A NEW HOPE to generate a great plot.

20-00 – ‘Stakes’ – Discussing the raised stakes of A NEW HOPE.

30-30 – ‘Pay Offs’ – Analysing ROGUE ONE’s clever use of set ups to retroactively pay off elements in A NEW HOPE.

43-30 – ‘Insight’ – Cross referencing the insight ROGUE ONE offers into the STAR WARS world versus how little is given by FORCE AWAKENS.

1-01-35 – ‘Characters’ – Breaking down the finely crafted cast and the fresh life the film breathes into archetypes.

1-12-30 – ‘Summary’ – Recapping the writing tools discussed.