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.

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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

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Full show notes at: https://draft-zero.com/2022/dz-86/