DZ-79: Interweaving Timelines 2 - The Social Network

Listen to understand how manage stakes when you're using flashforwards. In this Part 2 of Interweaving Timelines (aka The Stu Monologue Episode), Mel, Chas and Stu tackle Sorkin/Fincher's The Social Network. As you’ll hear, it is clearly Stu’s favourite of the examples we cover and, ah, not Mel’s favourite. While all three bring their own biases and opinions on the reality of Facebook as it has become, we do manage to put the destruction of democracy to one side to actually analyse the meticulous craft that this film displays. We analyse Sorkin’s on-the-page skill with time jumps, managing intercutting and introducing characters - as well as explore how the flash-forward technique manages the absence of stakes (i.e. we know Facebook exists) and creates a different emotional experience to the flashbacks of Destroyer. Finally, and most importantly, we look at how the interweaving timelines change how the audience feel about Mark Zuckerberg (as portrayed in this film). 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? Send us feedback. Thanks to our Patrons, especially Randy, Garrett, Bjorn, Joakim, Khrob and Sandra. ——— CHAPTERS 00:00:00 – Introduction 00:01:48 – The Social Network 00:07:36 – The flash forward structure 00:18:46 – Why did we pick this film? 00:29:41 – What are the stakes? 00:42:45 – Time jumps & transitions 00:52:59 – Audience's perception of Mark 01:00:45 – Storyteller cuts 01:09:20 – Sorkin vs Fincher 01:16:07 – Wrap up & key learnings 01:23:15 – Backmatter FILMS THE SOCIAL NETWORK (2010) — (w) Aaron Sorkin (d) David Fincher SCRIPTS Study the script: THE SOCIAL NETWORK (2010) — Aaron Sorkin EPISODES IN THE INTERWEAVING TIMELINES SERIES DZ-78: Interweaving Timelines 1 - Destroyer DZ-79: Interweaving Timelines 2 - The Social Network DZ-80: Interweaving Timelines 3 - Little Women RELATED EPISODES DZ-43: Driving Sequences - Character and Plot Intensity DZ-78: Interweaving Timelines 1 - Destroyer ——— 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/2021/dz-79/