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Thematic Logline

Every episode covering Thematic Logline.

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

How can I develop my theme without writing script pages?
AI✦The thematic logline is one of three primary tools Chas, Stu, and Stephen discuss as a means to clarify and dramatize theme during the planning stage.✦
⏱ 1h 0m
28 SEP 2020
Listen tolearn concrete tools for developing theme in the early stages of your writing.
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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… →

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DZ-41: Theme and Worldview

How can your characters' worldview dramatise your theme?
AI✦Stu and Chas discuss thematic loglines as a tool for clarifying what your story is about beneath its plot, and how they function differently than standard loglines in anchoring a character’s arc.✦
⏱ 2h 32m
24 MAR 2017
Listen if theme feels abstract - we talk how how to make it visible through what characters believe.
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In this episode, Stu and Chas tackle one of the more esoteric topics in screenwriting (and writing in general): theme! To help us tackle this topic, we decided to look at television pilots, because we felt that television requires the theme to be more explicit. Our zig-zagging (and long) discussion covers thematic engines, music themes, thematic loglines, punishment vs reward, and - perhaps most of all - the worldview of characters… →