# DZ-122: Escalating Antagonism Across Genres Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/draft-zero-a-screenwriting-podcast-770577/dz-122-escalating-antagonism-across-genres Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/draft-zero-a-screenwriting-podcast-770577/dz-122-escalating-antagonism-across-genres.md Podcast: [Draft Zero: a screenwriting podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/draft-zero-a-screenwriting-podcast-770577) Published: 2025-10-01T08:51:00+00:00 Episode link: https://draft-zero.com/2025/dz-122/ Audio file: https://media.transistor.fm/779f2dad/51340437.mp3 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/draft-zero-a-screenwriting-podcast-770577/episodes/dz-122-escalating-antagonism-across-genres Duration seconds: 6291 ## Resource Listen to learn how thinking of your hero as the horror (for your villains) makes your script dynamic. In this episode Chas, Stu and guest Kim Ho continue their exploration into the power(s) of antagonism and how focusing on them can develop story. While Part 1 looked at the horror film SINNERS, in Part 2 we venture into genres beyond horror with the action-thriller REBEL RIDGE, and the comedy classic MEET THE PARENTS. To both these films we apply the generative story framework TOMBS (Transgression – Omens – Manifestation – Banishment – Slumber) and are surprised at just how well it maps. TOMBS comes from the MOTHERSHIP sci-fi horror table-top role-playing game. Which we love. We explore how TOMBS, and thinking about antagonism in general, allows writers to deepen their understanding of their characters, their relationship of the heroes with the antagonists, and generate story fuel in a way that escalates the story. We discuss how thinking of your hero as the horror for your villains helps everything become more dynamic. Oh, and we talk about launching an actual play podcast. Which is happening. Stay tuned! As always: SPOILERS ABOUND and all copyright material used under fair use for educational purposes. LIKE THIS EPISODE? Discuss with our Patrons on Patreon . Watch and comment on YouTube . Send us feedback. Thanks to our Patrons, especially Lily, Paulo, Alexandre, Malay, Jennifer, Thomas, Randy, Jesse, Sandra, Theis and Khrob. → Read the transcript for this episode. ——— "There's a great line from Don Johnson later where he says, the deal was fair. The issue is that you felt that you were allowed to offer it. He tells him that he has transgressed against the rules of the laws or the rules of this system of this world." — Chas Fisher @ 00:12:09 ——— CHAPTERS 00:00:00 –… ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/draft-zero-a-screenwriting-podcast-770577/episodes/dz-122-escalating-antagonism-across-genres/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/draft-zero-a-screenwriting-podcast-770577/dz-122-escalating-antagonism-across-genres.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.