Lilly Wachowski
Writer / Director
Films Discussed 3
- · The Matrix (1999) (d/w)
- · The Matrix Reloaded (2003) (d/w)
- · The Matrix Revolutions (2003) (d/w)
Draft Zero Episodes 2
DZ-38: Excelling at Exposition (Part 2)
How can exposition twist your story in new directions?
In the second part of Draft Zero’s two-part episode on “Exposition”, Stu & Chas take an even deeper look at this notoriously challenging part of screenwriting. For many stories there are pre-existing facts (or given circumstances) that need to be communicated to an audience, and often we rely on dialogue to do it. But exposition can do more than just communicate, it can serve as dramatic revelation that twists a story into a new direction or provides an emotional payoff - or both!. So how do great writers make exposition work for the story, rather than just tell audience stuff they need to know? And how can writers go wrong… →
Listen to learn how to use exposition as dramatic revelation rather than mere information delivery.
DZ-15: World Building Rules, Okay?
How does setting up rules help you build a world?
In our most epic/longest episode yet, Chas and Stu tackle world building in films. Specifically, how the rules make something a world and not just a setting. Starting with world-centric genres like sci-fi and fantasy, we also cover horror, crime drama and - er - “other”. We discuss a variety of techniques for setting up the rules of the world, including cold opens, voiceover, title cards and outsider characters! We’ve limited ourselves to the opening 3-5 pages… mostly… because (so the theory goes) they’re the pages that teach the audience how to read/watch your story/film… →
Listen when your opening pages feel like exposition dumps (which is bad, okay?)
Referenced In
Also on Shot Zero
- ↗ Week 78: LEGENDS Bonus Episode! 2024-07-11