DZ-30: Oscars revisited - Spotlight and Carol

Listen to learn how catharsis, world-building, mid-points, and status transactions elevate great writing In this episode Stu and Chas return to their first ever episode by tackling two Oscar-nominated screenplays. But this time - instead of exploring the rigid structures laid down by gurus - they use it as an opportunity to explore what they've learned in the last three years and apply them to the phenomenal writing in SPOTLIGHT and CAROL (with slight digression towards THE EXPANSE and GAME OF THRONES (which has possibly replaced Star Wars as the de facto reference point for anything.) And so this slightly meandering episodes revisits the excellent execution of catharsis, world-building, mid-points, dramatic point of view, status transactions and more. As always: SPOILERS ABOUND and all copyright material used under fair use for educational purposes. LIKE THIS EPISODE? Send us feedback. Thanks to our Patrons, especially Khrob, Theis, Sandra, Jesse, Randy, Paulo, Thomas, Jennifer, Malay, Alexandre and Lily. ——— FILMS SPOTLIGHT (2015) — (w) Tom Mccarthy, Josh Singer (d) Tom Mccarthy CAROL (2015) — (w) Patricia Highsmith, Phyllis Nagy (d) Todd Haynes SCRIPTS Study the script: SPOTLIGHT (2015) — Tom Mccarthy, Josh Singer Study the script: CAROL (2015) — Patricia Highsmith, Phyllis Nagy LINKS Read: The Q&A Podcast with Jeff Goldsmith: Phyllis Nagy - CAROL Read: The Q&A Podcast with Jeff Goldsmith: Tom McCarthy - SPOTLIGHT YouTube: OUR LITTLE SECRET directed by Monique Schafter, written by Monique Schafter & Chas Fisher, Produced by Lee Matthews (link available only outside of Australia) YouTube: Every Frame a Painting: - Snowpiercer - Left or Right by Tony Zhou Read: AV Club: Stu on GOT vs The Expanse (with excellent followup by Motard) Read: SyFy: The Expanse Read: TableRead Production App EPISODES IN THE OSCARS SERIES DZ-30: Oscars revisited - Spotlight and Carol RELATED EPISODES DZ-04: Catharsis and the Post-Coital Cigarette DZ-05: Shifting audience point of view and heightened emotions DZ-08: Status Transactions DZ-10: Midpoint Reversals and The Ride DZ-15: World Building Rules, Okay? ——— 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/2016/dz-30/