DZ-121: Escalating antagonism

Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast

How do the antagonistic forces in your story escalate distinctly from the protagonists’ journey?

We often struggle to develop the middle stages of a story. Could this be because we focus on our protagonists’ journeys and plot structure more than on how the antagonistic powers are awakened, wronged, discovered, gathering strength and revealing themselves?

In this episode, Chas and Stu are joined by professional screenwriter and playwright Kim Ho to explore how a generative story cycle (from tabletop role-playing game MOTHERSHIP) can be used to develop stories, not just write them better. This cycle is TOMBS: Transgression - Omens - Manifestation - Banishment - Slumber. Kim also contrasts this cycle with the Onset, Discovery, Confirmation, Confrontation cycle identified by horror philosopher Noel Carroll, as well as the philosophy of the FINAL DESTINATION franchise as analysed by The Morbid Zoo.

By applying the TOMBS cycle to Ryan Coogler’s amazing 2025 original feature SINNERS, we discover how focusing on the rising power of the various sources of antagonism can generate narrative fuel (and make your second Act sing); force your protagonists to Survive, Solve or Save (pick one); and how this escalation in antagonism can be mapped quite separately from your protagonists’ character arcs.

To prove that TOMBS does not just work for horror stories, we polled our patreons for which other genres to explore. Stay turned for our next episode where we apply the TOMBS cycle to thriller REBEL RIDGE and comedy classic MEET THE PARENTS.

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

CHAPTERS

• 00:00:18 – What is TOMBS?
• 00:31:04 – SINNERS
• 01:17:51 – Key learnings & wrap up
• 01:23:51 – Patreon thanks

RELATED EPISODES

• DZ-49: Antagonists! (Part 1) - vs Humans

LINKS

• Kim Ho on IMBD
• Mothership
• The Philosophy of Final Destination by the Morbid Zoo
• The Philosophy of Horror by Noel Carroll

More Draft Zero is brought to you more often by our awesome Patreons. Especially Lily, Paulo, Alexandre, Malay, Jennifer, Thomas, Randy, Jesse, Sandra, Theis, and Khrob.

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We are @stuwillis, @mehlsbells and @chasffisher on Twitter. You can find @draft_zero and @_shotzero on Instagram and Twitter.

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