DZ-86: Backmatter - Minimum Viable Product

Listen for screenwriting lessons from 2021, strategies for pitching projects, and insights on running a writers workshop

In their annual full backwater episode, Stu and Chas let out their pandemic hair, drop the ruse of objectivity, and allow themselves to have even more options about writing and the business of writing.

In this Backmatter entry, they go deep on: future episode topics; their screenwriting lessons from 2021 (especially on control); pitching projects; the minimum viable product & minimum loveable thing; and share their exper iences with running a writers workshop/group.

There are no Star Wars references in this episode, but there are plenty of Die Hard ones. Die Hard is the new Star Wars. Get over it.

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 Khrob, Theis, Sandra, Jesse, Randy, Paulo, Thomas, Jennifer, Malay, Alexandre and Lily.

———

CHAPTERS

• 00:00:00 – Intro: Backmatter
• 00:03:02 – Looking Forward - Episode Ideas
• 00:19:40 – Looking Back - Screenwriting Lessons
• 00:49:46 – Looking Now - Processes
• 01:28:26 – Outro

FILMS

• DIE HARD (1988) — (w) Roderick Thorp, Jeb Stuart, Steven E De Souza (d) John Mctiernan

SCRIPTS

• Study the script: DIE HARD (1988) — Roderick Thorp, Jeb Stuart, Steven E De Souza

SHOT ZERO DEEP DIVES

• DIE HARD: integrating inserts in the action
• Character Introductions 002: Hans Gruber

EPISODES IN THE BACKMATTER SERIES

• DZ-17: Where's my gold-plated ensuite?
• DZ-36: Backmatter - Time Risk and Fixing Movies
• DZ-47: Backmatter - A Lost Jedi, White Knighting, and Writers-On-Set
• DZ-57: Backmatter - Aesthetics and Forgiveness in Writing
• DZ-64: Backmatter - Controlling your Work, Treatments, and Writing Styles
• DZ-77: Backmatter - Prioritising and choosing projects
• DZ-86: Backmatter - Minimum Viable Product
• DZ-95: Backmatter - Building and Maintenance

———

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/2022/dz-86/