DZ-72: Theme & The Story Synopsis - Development Tools 2

Listen tolearn concrete tools for developing theme in the early stages of your writing.

Continuing our look at tools used in development, Chas & Stu are joined by Stephen Cleary to talk about Theme, The Thematic Logline and what Stephen calls The Story Synopsis. All are tools to help writers better understand their theme and how it is dramatised. We use the classic film WITNESS as an example, so spoilers abound.

Thanks to Meegan May for reading the examples. Meegan May is an emerging queer screenwriter and former military intelligence analyst with plenty of award winning scripts and extensive experience in development. Look her up! http://meeganmay.com

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

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CHAPTERS

• 00:00:00 – Intro: Theme in Development
• 00:01:54 – The Story Synopsis
• 00:04:19 – Plot & Theme / Praxis & Mythos
• 00:11:12 – Back to the Story Synopsis
• 00:13:45 – Witness
• 00:16:09 – Thematic Logline
• 00:17:00 – Using the Thematic Logline in development
• 00:22:26 – Witness - 1st Act in Story Synopsis
• 00:25:46 – Witness - 2nd Act in Story Synopsis
• 00:28:55 – Characters, Plot & Theme
• 00:30:27 – Witness - Book drops his facadé
• 00:33:25 – Witness - 3rd Act in Story Synopsis
• 00:40:49 – Witness - Complete Story Synopsis
• 00:41:51 – Using the Story Synopsis in development
• 00:48:04 – Rewriting using the Story Synopsis
• 00:54:53 – Wrap Up

FILMS

• WITNESS (1985) — (w) William Kelley, Earl W Wallace, William Kelley, Earl W Wallace, Pamela Wallace (d) Peter Weir
• LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962) — (w) Michael Wilson, Robert Bolt (d) David Lean
• MACBETH (1971) — (w) Kenneth Tynan, Roman Polanski (d) Roman Polanski

SCRIPTS

• Study the script: WITNESS (1985) — William Kelley, Earl W Wallace, William Kelley, Earl W Wallace, Pamela Wallace
• Study the script: LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962) — Michael Wilson, Robert Bolt

SHOT ZERO DEEP DIVES

• Editing an Emotional Jolt: WITNESS

LINKS

• Website: Meegan May

EPISODES IN THE DEVELOPMENT TOOLS SERIES

• DZ-106: How do you know if you have enough story?
• DZ-71: Treatments & Loglines - Development Tools 1
• DZ-72: Theme & The Story Synopsis - Development Tools 2
• DZ-81: Pitch Decks & Look Books - Development Tools 4
• DZ-73: Selling documents - Development Tools 3

RELATED EPISODES

• DZ-41: Theme and Worldview
• DZ-54: Thematic Sequences
• DZ-71: Treatments & Loglines - Development Tools 1

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Full show notes at: https://draft-zero.com/2020/dz-72/