DZ-104: Characters Alone - Dramatizing the Internal

Listen to understand how solitude reveals character interiority and deepens audience connection In this episode, we explore the audience's connection with characters through the lens of characters being alone. Chas and Stu breakdown scenes (and their scripts) from AFTERSUN, SENSE AND SENSIBILITY and THE EQUALIZER to discuss the significance of solitude in giving the audience insight into a character’s interiority. We talk how big print can reflect character; how finding moments for vulnerability allows characters to drop their masks; and how staging can help these moments occur organically. Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode. As always: SPOILERS ABOUND and all copyright material used under fair use for educational purposes. LIKE THIS EPISODE? Watch and comment on YouTube. Send us feedback. Thanks to our Patrons, especially Lily, Alexandre, Malay, Casimir, Jennifer, Thomas, Randy, Jesse, Sandra, Theis and Khrob. → Read the transcript for this episode. ——— "I've been for a long time trying to improve my ability to what I call dramatize the internal and I think this is a really good opportunity to do this." — Chas Fisher @ 00:01:43 ——— CHAPTERS 00:00:02 – Cold Open 00:00:24 – Intro: Character's Alone 00:13:04 – AFTERSUN 00:16:28 – › Reading the rave interstitial scene aloud on the page 00:22:06 – › Balcony dancing scene: solitude framed through glass and white space 00:31:55 – Sponsor: Arc Studio Pro 00:34:16 – SENSE AND SENSIBILITY 00:40:13 – › Writing character interiority without unfilmables 00:48:51 – › Solitude as structural device: the teacup scene 00:53:02 – › Externalising emotion through environment and action 00:59:59 – THE EQUALIZER 01:03:30 – › Solitude as a window into character interiority 01:09:57 – › Close reading: how the opening alone scenes paint McCall's character 01:15:05 – › Decision-making moments and the cost of returning to violence 01:20:53 – › Button scenes and the aftermath of action on character 01:25:02 – Wrap Up & Key Learnings 01:28:34 – Many thanks to our Patreons! FILMS AFTERSUN (2022) — (w) Charlotte Wells SENSE AND SENSIBILITY (1995) — (w) Emma Thompson, Jane Austen (d) Ang Lee THE EQUALIZER (2014) — (w) Richard Wenk (d) Antoine Fuqua SCRIPTS Study the script: AFTERSUN (2022) — Charlotte Wells LINKS Read: Shot Zero Read: Restoration RELATED EPISODES DZ-60: Unfilmables 1 - Engaging imagination DZ-93: Talismans (Part 1) DZ-94: Talismans (Part 2) DZ-99: Scene Questions ——— More Draft Zero is brought to you by our awesome Patreons. If you enjoy the show, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts, a rating on Spotify, or a review on Podchaser. We are @stuwillis, @mehlsbells and @chasffisher on Twitter. You can find @draft_zero and @_shotzero on Instagram and Twitter. Full show notes at: https://draft-zero.com/2023/dz-104/