
DZ-126: Secrets and Clues
Apr 30, 2026 - 01:28:40
Radio and PodcastLive Radio & Podcasts
What magic do Christmas movies use to make them so rewatchable? In this "backmatter" episode of Draft Zero, Stu, Chas, and Mel Killingsworth embark on a festive exploration of what makes holiday films so engaging and so...
DZ-115: A Christmas Special - Rewatching & Rituals is an episode from Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast by Stuart Willis. What magic do Christmas movies use to make them so rewatchable? In this "backmatter" episode of Draft Zero, Stu, Cha...
This episode belongs to Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast.
Use the player on this page to stream the episode online.
Published Dec 23, 2024, 01:56:39 long, audio available.
What magic do Christmas movies use to make them so rewatchable? In this "backmatter" episode of Draft Zero, Stu, Chas, and Mel Killingsworth embark on a festive exploration of what makes holiday films so engaging and so re-watchable that they can become part of our rituals. To that end, we breakdown the charm of of Christmas films like KISS KISS BANG BANG, RIDERS OF JUSTICE, and IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE. We discuss what defines a holiday movie, the power of nostalgia, the importance of ensembles to a sense of family, and how voiceover, snappy dialogue and intricate plots can make something rewatchable. For each of us, we see these films as gateways to introspection and shared experiences during the holidays. And we are briefly joined by filmmaker (and friend of the podcast) Damien Cassar who talks us through the meaning of nostalgia and it's relationship with the "pain of homecoming", and how Christmas/Holiday films provide comfort and a sense of belonging amid ever-changing societal dynamics. Merry Christmas! As always: SPOILERS ABOUND and all copyright material used under fair use for educational purposes. Thanks to Chris Walker for his excellent editing this episode. CHAPTERS 00:00:00 – Cold Open 00:01:00 – What do we mean by Holiday Movies? 00:18:52 – Kiss Kiss Bang Bang 00:41:16 – Riders of Justice 01:03:45 – Sponsorship: Arc Studio Pro 01:06:30 – It's A Wonderful Life 01:48:37 – Key Learnings & Wrap Up 01:51:03 – On Nostalgia 01:54:28 – Many thanks to our Patreons This episode brought to you by (drum roll) ArcStudio: go to for $30 off a pro subscription! And how can we forget our awesome Patreons ? Especially Lily, Paulo, Alexandre, Malay, Jennifer, Thomas, Randy, Jesse, Sandra, Theis, and Khrob. Please considering rating or subscribing to us on Apple Podcasts or sharing us on the Social Medias! We like finding new listeners. We are @stuwillis, @mehlsbells and @chasffisher on Twitter. You can find @draft_zero and @_shotzero on Instagram and Twitter. BUY DRAFT ZERO MERCH via TeePublic
You can listen to DZ-115: A Christmas Special - Rewatching & Rituals online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.
DZ-115: A Christmas Special - Rewatching & Rituals is an episode from Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast by Stuart Willis.
This episode is 01:56:39 long.
This episode was published on Dec 23, 2024.
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You can listen to DZ-115: A Christmas Special - Rewatching & Rituals on this page when the episode audio is available from the podcast feed.
DZ-115: A Christmas Special - Rewatching & Rituals is from Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast by Stuart Willis.
Published Dec 23, 2024 and 01:56:39 long