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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
Rebel Ridge
Meet the Parents
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.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes135Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TV & FilmArtsPerforming Arts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

Latest Episodes

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 BARBIE, WIDOWS an... more

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

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 talking abo... more

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 this "prim... more

Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Mel Kellingsworth
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
Kim Ho
Multi-award-winning playwright and screenwriter
Known for The Newsreader and NCIS Sydney
Episode: DZ-121: Escalating Antagonism in SINNERS
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

Mel Killingsworth
Host of Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast and co-hosting partner, frequently contributing craft insights and analysis.
Stuart Willis
Co-host on the show, known for guiding discussions and driving analysis with practical screenwriting knowledge.
Chas Fisher
Co-host and lead analyst on craft topics, often steering discussions and challenging assumptions.

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
    4 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 Kingdom5 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.

The hosts deliver deep, practical craft insights with clear breakdowns.
A highly actionable resource for writers at any level, with entertaining banter.
Long episodes that feel fast-paced due to the hosts' expertise and chemistry.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#127
India/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#186
South Africa/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#203
Israel/TV & Film

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

DZ-129: Steadfast Character Arcs - Agents of Change
Q: Do the audience enter the story expecting a character arc?
Yes, especially in Disney-adjacent storytelling like Moana, where the blueprint of the journey signals a quest and a potential transformation, though the film may emphasize steadfastness as a driver of the plot.
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?

A craft-forward show that relentlessly analyzes screenplays and storytelling choices. Across episodes, the hosts dissect character arcs, structure, secrets, and pacing using concrete film and TV examples, often pairing technical theory with practical takeaways for writers and editors. The format blends deep-dive analysis with approachable banter, making complex craft approachable for both aspiring writers and industry veterans. Notably, the show frequently features guests who bring genre expertise and practical storytelling experience, and the hosts' Australian perspective adds a distinctive, humorous flavor to serious craft discussions.

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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 Treatment
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 135 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. Luke Clarke
3. Kim Ho
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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