DZ-35: Driving Characters or Character Driven?

Listen if you're writing a character study and unsure how to build momentum without external conflict.

Continuing their focus on "character", Stuart and Chas take a close look at films that may be considered character-driven... or rather character studies... or just plot-lite films? Whatever you call them, these films — CHEF, HAPPY-GO-LUCKY, and AMOUR — let their plots take a back seat to a closer examination of their characters. Stuart and Chas dive in to investigate how, without plot driving the story forward, do these films maintain our interest? We talk Mike Leigh's idea of the 'Running Condition', Character Choice, SceneWork and the myriad other techniques the filmmakers use to keep us interested.

PS: Note that all these films are writer/directors. Hmm. PPS: There is no backmatter this episode.

As always: SPOILERS ABOUND and all copyright material used under fair use for educational purposes.

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FILMS

• CHEF (2014) — (w) Jon Favreau
• HAPPY-GO-LUCKY (2008) — (w) Mike Leigh
• AMOUR (2012) — (w) Michael Haneke

SCRIPTS

• Study the script: AMOUR (2012) — Michael Haneke

LINKS

• IMDB: CHEF by Jon Favreau
• Listen: Watch it on iTunes or find it on JustWatch
• Read: Watch it on iTunes or find it on JustWatch
• IMDB: HAPPY-GO-LUCKY by Mike Leigh
• Listen: Watch it on iTunes or find it on JustWatch
• Read: Watch it on iTunes or find it on JustWatch
• IMDB: AMOUR by Michael Henke
• Listen: Watch it on on iTunes or find it on JustWatch
• Read: Watch it on on iTunes or find it on JustWatch
• Read: ScreenOnline: On Mike Leigh

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Full show notes at: https://draft-zero.com/2016/dz-35/