The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

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What scene-writing tools can be learned from martial arts?

AI✦Analyzes the distance and positioning between Miranda and Andrea in their showdown scenes, exploring how character agency and vulnerability function like feints in combat: who engages first, who leaves themselves exposed, and how that spatial choreography determines dominance.✦

⏱ 1h 0m

Scenes · Character · Audience | 29 MAY 2023

Listen if you want to know why the distance between two characters matters more than what they say.

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In this slightly unusual episode of Draft Zero (but also incredibly on brand), Stu and philosopher-swordsperson Damon Young discuss how the lessons they have learned from martial arts can be applied to scenes. In particular, they discuss how approaching an opponent in a sword fight can be analogous to how characters approach conflict, such as: the distance between the characters, who chooses to engage first, how to feint, how to lure an attack by leaving yourself vulnerable, etc… →

Films: The Silence of the Lambs (1991) , The Devil Wears Prada (2006) , The Clone Wars (2008)

Shows: The Clone Wars 3x20

Scenes: Scene Structure , Conflict , Dramatic Irony , Showdowns

Character: Character Agency , Tactics , Subtext

Audience: Tension

"a well placed word or I mean in this case it was a you know Miranda’s monologue may actually have more impact in the same in the audience reaction to the same in a character who’s who’s kind of talking a lot which is giving a flurry of blow."

— stu | DZ-100: Scenes through Swords