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Artwork for Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

Chas Fisher and Stuart Willis
Challengers
Tonal Shifts
Luca Guadagnino
Tennis
Shaun Of the Dead
Sorry To Bother You
Swiss Army Man
Film Noir
Fight Club
Adolescence
Mothership
Western Cinematic Storytelling
East Asian Storytelling
Meet the Parents
Rebel Ridge
Blue Moon
Relationships
Character Development
Emotional Depth In Film
Lewis Manor

Two emerging screenwriters – Chas Fisher and Stuart Willis – try to work out what makes great screenplays work. Discovering what it takes by analysing what successful writers put on the page.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes131Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TV & FilmArtsPerforming Arts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

Latest Episodes

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) and the trag... more

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 from game ... more

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 1940s. Yet, it a... more

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 reprehens... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Mel Kellingsworth
Guest player in the Actual Play Podcast.
Episode: 1dZ-01: Arkyvrs - A Mansion Most Vile - Ep1
Kim Ho
Guest player in the Actual Play Podcast.
Episode: 1dZ-01: Arkyvrs - A Mansion Most Vile - Ep1
Luke Clarke
Guest player in the Actual Play Podcast and friend of the podcast.
Episode: 1dZ-01: Arkyvrs - A Mansion Most Vile - Ep1
Tom Vaughn
Established screenwriter and teacher
Episode: DZ-120: Subtext is Overrated!
Mel Killingsworth
Frequent guest on Draft Zero
Episode: DZ-109: Talking DIRECTLY to your audience

Hosts

Chas Fisher
Co-host with deep involvement in screenwriting analysis and narrative craft, often contributing to both standard episodes and spin-offs.
Stuart Willis
Co-host focusing on structural analysis, character arcs, and practical craft lessons.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 254 ratings
  • Excellent explorations and in depth analysis of screenwriting craft, and even better banter. Highly recommend.

    Podchaser
    5
    Landerish
    3 years ago
  • Great analysis for anyone writing screenplays or novels

    Really helpful for illustrating craft issues, (POV, openings, antagonists, choices, and everything in between). They do a particularly good job of giving examples from different genres so that you can see how structural issues apply to a mystery, thriller, comedy, etc. They’re also very humble—maybe that’s an Australian thing, but to my American ears, it’s nice to hear.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PDXHamsterCat
    United States4 years ago
  • Amazing Screenwriting Podcast

    Really good hosts who work so hard on their podcast. The podcast is so detailed and has so much information that helps you become a better screenwriter. The delivery of information is so clear and the hosts are great to listen to.

    Would highly recommend listening to this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jessie 🧝🏽‍♀️
    United Kingdom4 years ago
  • 5 stars!!!

    STU-pendous. Fan-CHAS-tic. I’m sorry.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    impartial_observer
    United States5 years ago
  • Storytelling

    I’m a comic book artist who has gained a lot of insight from the analysis you guys provide...so many great tools that can apply to comic book storytelling as well!

    Thanks so much👍

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    joelgomezart
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise detailed, practical breakdowns of craft and structure.
A few note long episodes can venture off-topic, but remain insightful for many.
Many find the hosts' analysis accessible and engaging, with broad genre coverage.
Some viewers mention the hosts' fast-paced delivery as a challenge for pace-sensitive listeners.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#93
India/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#142
Netherlands/TV & Film

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

DZ-125: Oscars One-shot - BLUE MOON
Q: What are your main topics that you'd love to, having watched and then read Blue Moon?
I think we'll talk a little bit about the structure and we'll talk a bit about writing in real time.
DZ-120: Subtext is Overrated!
Q: Why is subtext overrated?
Vaughn argues that subtext is often an implicit result of character tactics rather than a goal in itself.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

What is Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two emerging screenwriters analyze what makes screenplays work by breaking down scripts, scenes, and narrative strategies. Episodes cover craft topics like structure, character arcs, point of view, and the use of subtext, often with practical takeaways you can apply to your own writing. A standout aspect is their blend of rigorous analysis with playful,Informal banter, plus regular references to a wide range of classic and contemporary films, which helps listeners see how theory translates to real scripts. The format often features close, technical breakdowns, detailed examples, and guests who contribute genre insights, making it a strong resource for writers at any level who want actionable craft guidance and a sense of community around sc... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast:

1. The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna
2. Scriptnotes Podcast
3. The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast
4. The No Film School Podcast
5. Team Deakins

How many episodes of Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast are there?

Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast launched 12 years ago and published 131 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast?

Recent guests on Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast include:

1. Mel Kellingsworth
2. Kim Ho
3. Luke Clarke
4. Tom Vaughn
5. Mel Killingsworth

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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