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DRAFT ZERO

DZ-98: Ensembles 3 - Character Function & Theme

What effect does adding a ton of characters have on your story?

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

⏱ 2h 2m
31 MAR 2023

Show Notes

In Part 3 (the final part? Ha!) of our exploration into ensemble stories, Stu, Chas & Mel examine films whose genres do not conventionally require a ton of character or that use those ensembles in unconventional ways - in particular, adding whole storylines that are separate from the main character’s story. To that end, we dive into three films that were horrifically snubbed by the Oscars: THE WOMAN KING, RIDERS OF JUSTICE and NOPE.

We breakdown the effects of choosing to use an ensemble on the narrative function of characters, their skills, the webs they exist within, and, ultimately, the story’s theme. Plus we re-apply and re-contextualise the tools uncovered in previous episodes in how to service all these characters.

Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode.

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

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


Chapters

  • 00:00:00 – Cold Open
  • 00:01:35 – Intro: Character Function
  • 00:08:43 – The Woman King
  • 00:50:00 – Riders of Justice
  • 01:20:36 – Nope
  • 01:47:00 – Key Learnings & Wrap Up
  • 01:59:06 – Many thanks to our Patreons

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