DZ-87: Keeping Genre fresh

Explicit content warning

03/28/22 • 133 min

How do you deliver on the emotional contract of a genre while surprising the audience?

In tackling this enormous topic, Stu and Chads enlist professional TV writer and director for Kodie Bedford, someone who has somehow managed to defy genre pigeon-holing by writing mystery, comedy and vampire shows.

The three of them look at GET OUT, PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN and THE INVISIBLE MAN (with reference to PARASITE, JOHN WICK, TAKEN, KNIVES OUT and more) to see what tools the writers have used to deliver on the expectations of a genre while moving that genre on, without writing something stale.

As always: SPOILERS ABOUND

Audio quotations used for educational purposes only. Timestamps indicated below. Chapter markers included in the mp3.

Thanks to Chris for editing this episode.

CHAPTERS

00:00:57 - Intro: Keeping Genre Fresh
00:03:10 - What is Genre?
00:16:30 - Get Out
00:45:10 - Promising Young Woman
01:25:08 - The Invisible Man
01:59:18 - Wrap Up
02:11:44 - Thanks to our Patreons!

LINKS

Freshening Up Genre - Stu's Notes: https://www.patreon.com/posts/64358617
Kodie Bedford: https://twitter.com/ms_kodie
Authentic Storytelling – Kodie Bedford: Breaking Down Characters And Worlds

RELATED EPISODES

DZ-68: Using POV to structure KNIVES OUT: http://draft-zero.com/2020/dz-68/
DZ-69: PARASITE & Audience Questions: http://draft-zero.com/2020/dz-69/
DZ-54: Thematic Sequences: http://draft-zero.com/2018/dz-54/

This episode brought to you by ScriptUp – https://www.scriptupstudio.com – use promo code DZ10 to get 10% off.

Thanks to all our patrons, especially Jennifer, Leigh, Thomas, Garrett, Bjorn, Randy, Jesse, Sandra, Theis, Alex, and Khrob.

Please considering rating or subscribing to us on Apple Podcasts or sharing us on the Social Medias! We like finding new listeners. We are @stuwillis and @chasffisher on twitter. And you can find @draft_zero on Instagram and Twitter.

How do you deliver on the emotional contract of a genre while surprising the audience?

As always: SPOILERS ABOUND

Audio quotations used for educational purposes only. Timestamps indicated below. Chapter markers included in the mp3.

Thanks to Chris for editing this episode.

CHAPTERS

00:00:57 - Intro: Keeping Genre Fresh
00:03:10 - What is Genre?
00:16:30 - Get Out
00:45:10 - Promising Young Woman
01:25:08 - The Invisible Man
01:59:18 - Wrap Up
02:11:44 - Thanks to our Patreons!

LINKS

Freshening Up Genre - Stu's Notes: https://www.patreon.com/posts/64358617
Kodie Bedford: https://twitter.com/ms_kodie
Authentic Storytelling – Kodie Bedford: Breaking Down Characters And Worlds

RELATED EPISODES

DZ-68: Using POV to structure KNIVES OUT: http://draft-zero.com/2020/dz-68/
DZ-69: PARASITE & Audience Questions: http://draft-zero.com/2020/dz-69/
DZ-54: Thematic Sequences: http://draft-zero.com/2018/dz-54/

This episode brought to you by ScriptUp – https://www.scriptupstudio.com – use promo code DZ10 to get 10% off.

Thanks to all our patrons, especially Jennifer, Leigh, Thomas, Garrett, Bjorn, Randy, Jesse, Sandra, Theis, Alex, and Khrob.

Previous Episode

DZ-86: Backmatter - Minimum Viable Product

How do you determine what is your MVP?

In their annual full backwater episode, Stu and Chas let out their pandemic hair, drop the ruse of objectivity, and allow themselves to have even more options about writing and the business of writing.

In this Backmatter entry, they go deep on: future episode topics; their screenwriting lessons from 2021 (especially on control); pitching projects; the minimum viable product & minimum loveable thing; and share their exper iences with running a writers workshop/group.

There are no Star Wars references in this episode, but there are plenty of Die Hard ones. Die Hard is the new Star Wars. Get over it.

Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode.

RUNNING ORDER

00:00:00 - Intro: Backmatter
00:03:02 - Looking Forward - Episode Ideas
00:19:40 - Looking Back - Screenwriting Lessons
00:49:46 - Looking Now - Processes
01:28:26 - Outro

EPISODE LINKS

READ: Writer’s Workshop Documents by Chas & Stu
READ: Laziness Does Not Exist by Dr Devon Price
READ: Story Talismans by Scott Myers

Many thanks to all our patrons, but especially Jennifer, Leigh, Thomas, Garrett, Bjorn, Randy, Jesse, Sandra, Theis and Khrob. They’re good humans who allow us to bring you more draft zero, more often. Please considering rating or subscribing to us on Apple Podcasts or sharing us on the Social Medias! We like finding new listeners. We are @stuwillis and @chasffisher on twitter. And you can find @draft_zero on Instagram and Twitter.

Next Episode

DZ-88: Drama in Genre clothing

How can dramas use genre elements to hook their audiences?

Stu and Chas reunite with TV writer & director Kodie Bedford to look at how some films start out as genre but gradually become character dramas. Or, as Stu never said on the episode "Genre in the streets, Drama in the sheets".

Together, they break down HUSTLERS, PIG and POWER OF THE DOG, to see how these films use their genre trappings to hook their audience while ultimately delivering something else entirely. We discuss chapter breaks, inciting incidents, character questions, theme and MORE.

As always: SPOILERS ABOUND.

Audio quotations used for educational purposes only. Timestamps indicated below. Chapter markers included in the mp3.

Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode.

CHAPTERS