DZ-95: Backmatter - Building and Maintenance

Listen listen to hear why first acts keep shrinking--and whether yours should too

Time for our annual backmatter episode, where we drop any ruse of any objectivity, and fully embrace our subjective opinions!

In this episode we discuss: potential topics for 2023; the ostensible shortening of first acts; balancing new projects vs current projects; how to maintain hope in the face of an industry as fickle as ours; and end with a discussion of Andor vs Obi-Wan. Yup, Star Wars is the new Die Hard. Get over it.

FYI we recorded this episode with both of us in the same room (for a more casual atmosphere )but that means there’s more technical gremlins like crosstalk. Our apologies in advance!

Thanks to Chris Walker for editing this episode. <3 Chris!

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

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CHAPTERS

• 00:00:00 – Intro: Backmatter
• 00:02:44 – Housekeeping
• 00:05:49 – Future Episode Ideas
• 00:25:52 – Are first acts getting shorter?
• 00:40:16 – New projects vs current projects
• 00:48:59 – Maintaining Hope or Avoiding Despair
• 00:54:21 – The Big Lessons of 2022
• 00:55:19 – Andor vs Keobi
• 01:14:37 – Key Lessons & Wrap Up
• 01:16:06 – Many thanks

SHOWS

• ANDOR — (w) Tony Gilroy
• OBI-WAN KENOBI

LINKS

• Read: LISTEN: Starship Q Star

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

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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-95/