Listen "DZ-54: Thematic Sequences"
Episode Synopsis
How does removing character and plot questions force your audience to engage with theme? Chas and Stu are joined, once again, by the inestimable Stephen Cleary. This episode is a spiritual sequel to our last episode with Stephen on sequence structure. That episode explored how sequences could be broken into plot, character, and plot/character sequences. Well, Stephen's back to talk about a different type of sequence: the thematic sequence. By limiting (or removing all together) questions related to character or plot, filmmakers can force their audience to engage with the deeper, underlying meaning of the story. Our deep dive onto this topic focuses on LOVE ACTUALLY, THE EXTERMINATING ANGEL, APOCALYPSE NOW, and IN THE BEDROOM. But it wouldn't be a Draft Zero without numerous digressions including into HUNGER, GET OUT, INFINITY WAR, and THE THIN RED LINE. As always: SPOILERS ABOUND! Audio quotations used for educational purposes only. Timestamps indicated below. Chapter markers included in the mp3. Watch it on on YouTube. Read the transcript on GitHub or in HTML. Special thanks to our Patreon supporters. If you would like more Draft Zero episodes more often, click here! EPISODE LINKS DRAFT ZERO RELATED EPISODES DZ-43: Driving Sequences – Character and Plot Intensity DZ-41: Theme and Worldview DZ-45: Arguments of the Scene INTRODUCTION: Thematic Sequences Sequence Structure Refreshed [@ 1m 51s] What is a Thematic Sequence? [@ 10m 21s] LOVE ACTUALLY written by: Richard Curtis [@ 13m 33s] JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/love-actually THE EXTERMINATING ANGEL story by: Luis Alcoriza & Luis Buñuel, screenplay: Luis Buñuel [@ 42m 29s] JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-exterminating-angel GET OUT(briefly) written by: Jordan Peele [@ 1 h 13s 28s] Watch: Get Out - Dinner Party Scene JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/get-out APOCALYPSE NOW written by: John Milius and Francis Ford Coppola, narration by: Michael Herr [@ 1h 17s 10s] Watch: "Because it's judgement that defeats us" JustWatch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/apocalypse-now-redux IN THE BEDROOM screenplay: Robert Festinger and Todd Field [@ 1h 57s 04s] WRAP UP AND KEY LEARNINGS [@ 2 h 42m 41s] Watch: The Thin Red Line - Opening Scene Please considering rating or subscribing to us on Apple Podcasts! or sharing us on the Social Medias! We like finding new listeners. Many thanks to Murirb, Sandra, Paul, Rob, Christopher, Joakim and Khrob for being top-level patrons. They're good humans.
More episodes of the podcast Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast
1dZ-01: Arkyvrs - A Mansion Most Vile - Ep1
26/10/2025
DZ-122: Escalating Antagonism 2
01/10/2025
DZ-121: Escalating Antagonism 1: SINNERS
29/08/2025
DZ-120: Subtext is overrated
01/08/2025
DZ-117: Tonal shifts
31/03/2025
DZ-116: Writing physical comedy
26/02/2025
DZ-114: Climaxes in Challengers
29/11/2024
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.