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The Clone Wars (2008)

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What scene-writing tools can be learned from martial arts?

AI✦Examines the Obi-Wan/Darth Maul showdown in episode 20 to demonstrate how character restraint–a protagonist’s need to wait rather than act–generates greater tension than flashy spectacle, using simplicity in staging to reveal internal conflict.✦

⏱ 1h 0m

Scenes · Character · Audience | 29 MAY 2023

Listen if you want to know why the distance between two characters matters more than what they say.

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In this slightly unusual episode of Draft Zero (but also incredibly on brand), Stu and philosopher-swordsperson Damon Young discuss how the lessons they have learned from martial arts can be applied to scenes. In particular, they discuss how approaching an opponent in a sword fight can be analogous to how characters approach conflict, such as: the distance between the characters, who chooses to engage first, how to feint, how to lure an attack by leaving yourself vulnerable, etc… →

Films: The Silence of the Lambs (1991) , The Devil Wears Prada (2006) , The Clone Wars (2008)

Shows: The Clone Wars 3x20

Scenes: Scene Structure , Conflict , Dramatic Irony , Showdowns

Character: Character Agency , Tactics , Subtext

Audience: Tension

"They, you know, they could have had any kind of flashy lightsaber battle, but they didn’t. They went for a kind of simplicity that demonstrated character."

— damon-young | DZ-100: Scenes through Swords