Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

If you like Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast, try…

RI

The Rest Is Entertainment

Also in TV & Film

K&

Kermode & Mayo’s Take

Also in TV & Film

WW

WHAT WENT WRONG

Also in TV & Film

WP

The Weekly Planet

Also in TV & Film

TO

Talk Of The Townsends

Also in TV & Film

BP

The Big Picture

Also in TV & Film

About the show

Latest episodes

• DZ-130: Positive Character Arcs

  September 1, 2026 · 2 hr 33 min

  Listen to understand how to dramatize a character's internal change. Welcome to our third entry in our character arc series; and the first where we talk about characters that actually change. And positively, too. We deep dive into…

• Teaser: Positive Character Arcs

  August 27, 2026 · 1 min

  Teaser for our next episode: DZ-130. Please watch BARBIE, WIDOWS, and ALL OF US STRANGERS so you can learn about positive character arcs.

• DZ-129: Steadfast Character Arcs - Agents of Change

  July 31, 2026 · 2 hr 36 min

  Listen to learn how to move an audience with a character who never changes. Do characters need to change for you to have a satisfying story? That's a question we've been asking since, like, episode five of this podcast. And we're finally…

• DZ-128: What even is a Character Arc?

  June 28, 2026 · 1 hr 30 min

  Listen to separate the three layers of an arc -- does the character change? How do they feel about it? And how is the audience positioned to feel about it? Stu, Chas and Mel finally begin their long-awaited journey into CHARACTER ARCS. In…

• DZ-127: Secrets and Clues 2 - The Cost of Revelation

  May 27, 2026 · 1 hr 52 min

  Listen to learn the emotional impact of revealing secrets vs discovering them. In this episode Stu, Chas and Mel apply the Landmark–Hidden–Secret framework (from DZ-126) across two very different genres: the thriller SIDE EFFECTS (2013)…

• DZ-126: Secrets and Clues

  May 5, 2026 · 1 hr 29 min

  Listen if you want to understand how hidden information drives character motivation and plot structure! “Getting information puts your character in danger. And danger rewards your character with information." — One of three ideas we steal…

• DZ-125: Oscars One-shot - BLUE MOON

  February 26, 2026 · 1 hr 18 min

  Listen if you want to understand how narrative POV, screenplay format, and dialogue craft can elevate a contained biopic into an Oscar-nominated film BLUE MOON is a talky, period-drama that film about an obscure songer-writer in the…

• DZ-124: Making the Despicable Compelling

  January 30, 2026 · 1 hr 11 min

  Listen if you need audiences to root for characters who do terrible things Mel and Chas continue to explore what Noir (the genre) can teach writers of all other genres. In particular: How to keep the audience on side of characters doing…