DZ-100: Scenes through Swords

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

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.

They reference classic conflicts such as Clarice interviewing Dr. Lecter in SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, when Miranda puts down Andrea in THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, and the final showdown between Obi-Wan and Darth Maul in the animated series THE CLONE WARS.

You can find Damon Young here: https://www.damonyoung.com.au/

As always: SPOILERS ABOUND and all copyright material used under fair use for educational purposes.

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→ Read the transcript for this episode.

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"I'm really interested in crafts, in the way we move from little bits of knowledge that we have to work through painstakingly one step at a time to a more fluid knowledge that we can deploy on the fly, as it were." — Damon-Young @ 00:04:25

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CHAPTERS

• 00:00:00 – Intro
• 00:02:45 – Interview with Damon Young
• 00:06:25 – › Distance and vulnerability between combatants and characters
• 00:19:19 – › Timing, kairos, and the perfectly placed strike in DEVIL WEARS PRADA
• 00:27:11 – › Adaptation versus fixation, the CLONE WARS duel as character revelation
• 00:40:51 – › Try-fail cycles, spent blades, and exhausted dramatic action
• 00:52:06 – › Asymmetry of vulnerability and unequal terms of engagement
• 00:59:19 – Thanks patreons!

FILMS

• THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991) — (w) Ted Tally, Thomas Harris (d) Jonathan Demme
• THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA (2006) — (w) Aline Brosh Mckenna, Lauren Weisberger (d) David Frankel

SHOWS

• THE CLONE WARS 3x20 "Citadel Rescue" — Steward Lee (d), Matt Michnovetz (w)

SCRIPTS

• Study the script: THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991) — Ted Tally, Thomas Harris
• Study the script: THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA (2006) — Aline Brosh Mckenna, Lauren Weisberger

LINKS

• Read: Damon Young
• Read: Damon Young (@[email protected])

RELATED EPISODES

• DZ-29: Showdowns & Scene Structure
• DZ-54: Thematic Sequences
• DZ-84: Choices & Decisions 1 - Booksmart
• DZ-85: Choices & Decisions 2 - The Farewell & Wrath of Man

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Full show notes at: https://draft-zero.com/2023/dz-100/