DZ-29: Showdowns & Scene Structure

What can fight scenes – whether physical or verbal – teach us about structuring any scene?

In exploring how to write good fight scenes, Stu and Chas compare how writers structure memorable showdowns – both verbal and physical. Fights vs arguments. Swords vs insults. Lightsabres vs passive aggressive subtext. To do this, they analyse the showdowns in EASTERN PROMISES, ROB ROY, THE FORCE AWAKENS (yes, yes, we finally let Stu officially discuss Star Wars), A FEW GOOD MEN, BREAKING BAD and BEFORE SUNSET.

As a result, they discover how larger structural elements like mid-points, reversals and act breaks can play out in making individual scenes compelling and dynamic. Also, they learn that great screenwriters don’t just write “They fight” when writing fight scenes.

In Backmatter, we learn that Quentin Tarantino is a listener!

PS: Please complete our listener poll. 

EPISODE LINKS

• EASTERN PROMISES by Steven Knight
  • Vimeo: Eastern Promises fight in the bath house
  • The Nerd Writer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgLoIasrz9Q (YouTube)
• Youtube: ROB ROY sword fight
• Reddit: [RESOURCE] Star Wars: THE FORCE AWAKENS by Lawrence Kasdan & J.J. Abrams and Michael Arndt
• A FEW GOOD MEN by Aaron Sorkin
  • Youtube: A FEW GOOD MEN courtroom scene
• Dailymotion.com: Saul Goodman kidnapped by the meth cooking duo
• BEFORE SUNSET by Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke & Julie Delpy
• No Film School: Simplest Way to Make Your Films More Interesting: Use ‘Therefore’ & ‘But’ Instead of ‘And Then’
• The Movie Crypt Podcast: Episode 131 – Gareth Evans
• Draft Zero: DZ-08: Status Transactions and the Power of Washing Machines
• Draft Zero: DZ-10: Midpoint Reversals and the Ride

BACKMATTER

• Brett Easton Ellis Podcast: Quentin Tarantino
  • FULL Excerpt Link: https://overcast.fm/+BT14ACZVM/39:25
• Draft Zero: DZ-13: True That – Tips from Tarantino
• Draft Zero: DZ-27: Competing Views on Screenplay Competitions
• Reddit.com/r/screenwriting: Can screenplay competitions be worth it?
  
• Thirteen Minutes: Why Backmatter Matters
• SKTCHD: Backmatter and the Golden Age of Comic Book Letters Columns
• Listener Poll: Draft Zero & Patreon?

Please send feedback to ask at draft-zero.com, via our web form or twitter @draft_zero  We are @chasffisher and @stuwillis on twitter.

Please considering rating or subscribing to us on iTunes! or sharing us on the Social Medias! We like listeners.