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They Ruined It!!! An
Adaptation Workshop CLASS STRUCTURE
Introduction: Elements of story. Visual storytelling - how film stories differ from novels, short stories and stage plays. Participants outline their source material/story. Brian and Keith review the five pillars of movie structure. Participants examine their stories for filmic elements and a strong central character. Analysis: The Grabber - five ways to engage your audience from page one. Discussion: the most effective way to start your story. Viewing/discussion of the openings of two great movies that will form the ongoing examples of great movie adaptations.
Participants discuss their central character and his/her journey. Initial incidents and new directions. Instruction and discussion: from the creation of the conflict and the start of the protagonist's journey to the first turning point. Participants look for potential story beats in their source material/stories. Viewing and analysis of the first act of a successful movie adaptation, including set-up, inciting incident and the first turning point. Viewing of sequences from the ongoing movie exemplars to the turning point. Lunch Break Participants share ideas and possibilities for their first turning point. Analysis: mid points and major setbacks. Viewing and discussion of sequences from the ongoing movie exemplars to the midpoint and major setback. Participants are encouraged to select scenes from their own stories that have potential to be both visually and dramatically compelling. What should you leave in, what should you take out, and what happens if the requisite scenes or story beats aren't in your source material? How to re-create and re-energize your story for film. SUNDAY 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Participants share their possibilities for midpoint and major setback. Viewing and analysis: climax and aftermath. Viewing and discussion of climax and aftermath sequences from the ongoing movie exemplars. Participants share what their potential climaxes and aftermaths could be. How far can you stray from the original (and much-loved) material? Discussion: Keeping the faith - questions you might want to ask the original author. Lunch Break Discussion and demonstration: Dialogue, description and action - pirating your original material for great lines. Characters - using originals, or creating new ones. Participants retell their stories in cinematic terms, based on the weekend's discussions and promptings. Discussion: Obtaining story rights. Finding a Producer. Dealing with an audience that has "read the book", etc.
E-mail Brian & Keith if you'd like to register for a weekend screenwriting workshop. |