DZ-93: Talismans (Part 1)

Listen to so you can write talismans that are powerful tools for accessing character!

In this series, Chas and Stu discuss TALISMANS. Physical objects that are imbued with meaning by a character or characters. They’re a powerful tool to access inner character.

In this first part, we lay the groundwork to discuss talismans and present something of a taxonomy. What makes talismans powerful? What makes them different from MacGuffins or characters? What types of Talismans are there? In the second part, we will breakdown THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER, IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE, and another film.

Examples we cover here include: TOP GUN, SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER, BETTER CALL SAUL, LORD OF THE RINGS, CASTAWAY, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, THE DARK KNIGHT, THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER, RONIN, PULP FICTION, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, BREAKING BAD, BACK TO THE FUTURE, THE TERMINATOR, TITANIC, INCEPTION, STAR WARS (of course), THE MATRIX, ANDOR (spoilers!), LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, MAD MAX: FURY ROAD, and PULP FICTION.

Thanks to Chas Fisher & 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

00:03:15 – Talismans in our own lives

00:08:41 – Scott Myer's definition of Talismans

00:18:58 – What are not Talismans?

00:21:48 – Wardrobe

00:28:26 – Talismans vs Characters

00:43:18 – Talismans vs MacGuffins

00:49:33 – Photos

00:53:53 – Jewellery

01:02:22 – Weapons & Tools

01:10:02 – Vehicles

01:12:03 – Letters & Journals

01:14:19 – Andor (Spoilers)

01:16:20 – Talismans and Rituals

01:24:14 – Wrap Up & Key Learnings

FILMS

THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER (2022) — (w) Taika Waititi, Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (d) Taika Waititi

IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE (2000) — (w) Wong Kar Wai, Liu Yichang (d) Wong Kar Wai

CAST AWAY (2000) — (w) William Broyles Jr (d) Robert Zemeckis

THE DARK KNIGHT (2008) — (w) Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan, David S Goyer, Christopher Nolan (d) Christopher Nolan

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD (2015) — (w) George Miller, Nico Lathouris, Brendan Mccarthy (d) George Miller

SCRIPTS

Study the script: THE DARK KNIGHT (2008) — Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan, David S Goyer, Christopher Nolan

Study the script: MAD MAX: FURY ROAD (2015) — George Miller, Nico Lathouris, Brendan Mccarthy

LINKS

Read: Go Into The Story - Talismans

Read: Go Into The Story - Story Talismans

EPISODES IN THE TALISMANS SERIES

DZ-93: Talismans (Part 1)

DZ-94: Talismans (Part 2)

RELATED EPISODES

DZ-11: Adventure for the MacGuffin!

DZ-87: Keeping Genre Fresh

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Full show notes at: https://draft-zero.com/2022/dz-93/