↓ Skip to main content
DRAFT ZERO
← DZ-96 DZ-98 →
Show Notes Chapters Series Related

DZ-97: Ensembles 2 - Servicing Characters

How do you give your audience access to a lot of characters?

Legacy Episode — Migrated from our original site. Will take time to tidy up!

⏱ 2h 22m
28 FEB 2023

Show Notes

In Part 2 of our exploration into ensemble stories, Stu, Chas and Mel examine films whose plot and genre require a lot of characters. Thus we tackle a team sports film (PITCH PERFECT), a murder mystery (GLASS ONION), a slasher (SCREAM 2022) and a family holiday flick (THE FAMILY STONE).

By looking at these films, we discover tools for writers to service characters and give them more dimension. These tools include: shifting group dynamics; the spectrum of private to public behaviour; breaking POV, and quintessential group introductions.

Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode.

Thanks to our Patrons, especially Casimir, Eduardo, Jennifer, Garrett, Randy, Jesse, Sandra, Theis, Alex and Khrob.

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

Chapters

  • 00:00:00 – Cold Open
  • 00:01:46 – Intro: Servicing Characters
  • 00:14:40 – Pitch Perfect
  • 00:37:54 – Glass Onion
  • 01:09:20 – Scream 5
  • 01:32:17 – The Family Stone
  • 02:13:22 – Key Learnings & Wrap Up

Episodes in the Ensembles series

More Draft Zero is brought to you by our awesome Patreons.

If you enjoy the show, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts, a rating on Spotify, or a review on Podchaser.

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