Character Map Workshop – April 29
- What tools are in storyteller’s Emotional Toolbox?
- What determines a character emotional power in a story?
- How does a storyteller create fictional characters that always “ring true”?
- What is the Character Map?
- What six questions define a character?
- What are the four dynamic conflicts that motivate any character’s actions?
- Character Map demonstration/exercise:
- How does emotion generate action?
- What key emotion does the hero/protagonist always share with the villain/antagonist?
- How does the antagonist attack or tempt the hero emotionally?
- How do heroes/protagonists fall to the ”Dark Side”?
- What must the protagonist surrender in order to prevail in the story?
- What important emotional step must a character take to complete his/her emotional journey successfully?
Thriller Workshop – April 30
- Emotion Power vs Genre
- What is a Thriller vs a Detective Story vs a Crime Story?
- How motivation and character determine Story Type
- What is the Power of Truth?
- How the Power of Truth propels a protagonist through the thriller plot line and creates an emotional bond with the audience.
- How great story twists develop Power of Truth themes of loyalty and betrayal.
- How deceit and deception keeps the audience off balance.
- How storytellers can increase mistrust and suspicion by turning allies into enemies and enemies into allies
- What drives a Power of Truth story?
- How storytellers create a compelling internal emotion dynamic for a thriller protagonist
- How the motivation and psychology of a male protagonist differs from that of a female protagonist.
- How non-traditional narrative structure is created through character development.
- How storytellers can re-imagine and refresh this popular film genre and make it uniquely their own.
RomCom Workshop – May 2
This program will help you get to the heart of one of the most beloved film genres. Great ”date movies” are often the biggest box office hits. Most other kinds of films have a love story or buddy subplot. The program includes a complete discussion of:
- How the Power of Love drives the protagonist through the story
- How to couple and uncouple lovers or buddies in sequences that are both entertaining and emotionally moving
- How to develop the psychological pairings that create the most sparks and ignite the hottest romance
- How to use the three key elements that make the romantic journey interesting and worthwhile
- How to establish the qualities of attraction and repulsion that keep the characters and the audience off balance
- How the motivation and psychology of a male protagonist differs from that of a female protagonist
- How to re-imagine and re-invent this enduring film genre and make it uniquely your own
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I finally caught up with fellow UCLA classmate Sacha Gervasi’s documentary about 80’s metal band Anvil. Anvil: The Story of Anvil is a testament to the human spirit, the passion that drives every creative person and the power of positivity and perseverance. If you are a struggling writer, artist, filmmaker or musician this film is for you. You will either quit what you are doing in despair or rejoice in the gift of being able to do what you love despite the cost.
The film begins by listing the headlining acts of the 1984 Super Rock festival in Japan: Scorpions, Whitesnake, and Bon Jovi, all of whom have gone on to fame and fortune, except one– Anvil.
Despite their drive, ambition and passion, this hapless Canadian band never caught fire commercially. At age 50, singer and lead guitarist Steve “Lips” Kudlow drives a delivery truck for Children’s Choice Catering, hauling heavy food cases over snowy drifts to schools. Drummer Robb Reiner works in demolition and construction. The two are childhood best friends. Their band is still together after 30 years, playing sports bars and area taverns for their small but loyal group of fans.
Early in the film, Lips gets an unexpected email from a European fan, Tiziana Arrigoni, who offers to set up a European tour for the band. They all quit work for 5 weeks, estimating they will earn 1500 Euros per show. The tour has a promising start at a big Rock festival in Sweden but it all quickly goes downhill. The band walks away with more expenses than payments.
Along the road they band crosses paths with other metal rockers, who pay homage to Anvil as a seminal influence. Director Sacha Gervasi was a fan as a teen and even worked for the band as a roadie for several years. He now returns, after a successful career as a screenwriter, to chronicle their indomitable spirit and dedication to their dream in this wonderful poignant, funny, odd ball film.
The story is told with heart and love and but is unsentimental about financial disaster, second mortgages, homelessness (one band member lost his house) and just plain bad luck. Put it on your NetFlixs queue. You won’t regret it!
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