Storytelling for The Screen: An Introduction to Story for Creative Collaborators

Cinema and television are narrative media, so a deep understanding how stories work is an advantage for everyone working in the industry. No matter what your role is in the creative process, being able to deconstruct a script and harness your talents to serve the story is an invaluable skill.

This day-long workshop examines the basic building blocks of story, especially as it works in film and television. We will look at:

• Why We Tell Stories
• How Stories on Screen Differ from Other Narrative Media
• Audience Participation in the Story
• Creating and Sustaining Dramatic Tension
• When (and Why) to Withhold Information and When to Share It
• How to Find The Beginning, Middle and End of Your Story
• How to Choose what to Keep and What to Pare Away in a Second Draft
• Plot and Character  – How They Are Intertwined

The morning will be a lecture with q & a. There will be examples from different short films. The afternoon will consist of a film analysis, showing the theory we have at work.  This workshop will suit people interested in Writing, Directing, Editing and Acting for The Screen.