Sunday 30 April 2017

Linda Aronson: Two-Day Writing Masterclass - Sydney

If you are a writer in film TV or games (or want to be) and the only story model you know is one hero-on-a-chronological-journey you are at a serious professional disadvantage. The reality is that games, films and TV forms are now full of multiple protagonist stories. But in addition you need to master over a dozen nonlinear and fractured forms, including nine types of flashback, multi-plot and fractured tandem narrative, because these forms are now mainstream.

They are routinely nominated in the Academy and Golden Globe Awards and the Emmys and they're on TV every night. Audiences expect them. They are everywhere and, crucially, they are hybridising.

Like today’s leading writers in Europe and the USA, these forms need to become part of your stock in trade. Linda Aronson is the world expert in these complex structures. She is the only guru to provide practical guidelines for creating them. New Structures for New Audiences explains them.

Schedule

Day 1: (29 July 2017): 

Mentor antagonist stories, tandem narrative, multiple protagonist narrative, double journeys, simple flashback.

Day 2: (30 July 2017) :

Complex flashback forms, consecutive stories (including Pulp Fiction), fractured tandem, nonlinear fixes for film. Nonlinear in games and to promote binge viewing in new generation serial TV serials.
The 'what' and the 'how to create' of six families of nonlinear and multiplot narrative and their subcategories (over 30 story structures) that don't fit the Hollywood model, including 9 types of flashback structure.
How each form relies on splitting up, multiplying or truncating the basic three act structure of traditional screenwriting according to predictable patterns that you can use as templates.
How to use multiple protagonists, mentor antagonists, the passive protagonist and how the same character can be a protagonist in one time frame and antagonist in another; ‘the death of the second act’, that is, structures that truncate or do away with the second act altogether; also, stories that are exposition-heavy and cannot be told suspensefully except via non-linear.
How to use cross-connecting devices, including the 'macro plot' and 'the facilitating character'. 

How to use the 'portmanteau structure' a structural technique which permits a number of stories to piggyback on the structural build of one story (as in Pulp Fiction, Amores Perros, etc.)
Using a portmanteau to create your own Pulp Fiction-style structure.
Using nonlinear fixes for problem feature films.
How to use nonlinear series arcs to trigger binge viewing in new generation TV drama serials.
How nonlinear forms in games can increase emotional engagement and replayability. 


TICKETS



What the experts say.

'Linda Aronson is one of the great and important voices on screenwriting.’
~Linda Seger

'At last you will understand Pulp Fiction! All the vague confusing things that teachers and studio executives say about flashback, turning points and multiple protagonists are whipped into coherent shape, in a comprehensive, precise and extremely practical theory.' ~Christopher Vogler, The Writers' Journey

'Anyone who has heard Linda Aronson speak about screenwriting knows that the insight that she can offer YOU, about YOUR screenplay, is extraordinary. I have personally heard all of the so-called ‘script gurus’ speak, and I can tell you, if you want advanced professional script insight, Linda is the person for you.'
~Chris Jones, Academy-Award Nominated Screenwriter, organizer London Screenwriters' Festival

‘Linda Aronson is one of my heroes. My inspiration. Screenwriting Updated blew me away - Linda Aronson was the first person, maybe still the only person to really talk about the fact that structure doesn’t always have to be about one form.’ ~Pilar Alessandra. Leading Hollywood Scriptwriting Teacher.

‘F- ing brilliant’ ~Duncan Thompson, writer/script editor/screenwriting teacher.

'Narrative structure goddess' Linda Aronson ~Lucy Hay, top UK script editor.



Saturday 29 April 2017

Linda Aronson

Linda Aronson is one of the best screenwriting "gurus" out there. Here she discusses advanced screenwriting techniques such as non-linear stories, flashbacks and stories with multiple protagonists.


Friday 28 April 2017

Wednesday 26 April 2017

Kingsman: The Golden Circle

Kingsman: The Secret Service introduced the world to Kingsman - an independent, international intelligence agency operating at the highest level of discretion, whose ultimate goal is to keep the world safe. 

In Kingsman: The Golden Circle, our heroes face a new challenge. When their headquarters are destroyed and the world is held hostage, their journey leads them to the discovery of an allied spy organization in the US called Statesman, dating back to the day they were both founded. In a new adventure that tests their agents’ strength and wits to the limit, these two elite secret organizations band together to defeat a ruthless common enemy, in order to save the world, something that’s becoming a bit of a habit for Eggsy.

Starring Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Taron Egerton, Mark Strong, Halle Berry, Pedro Pascal, with Sir Elton John, and Channing Tatum, and Jeff Bridges



Saturday 22 April 2017

Slyvester Stallone on screenwriting

Slyvester Stallone on screenwriting, with maybe the best advice you can give to a newbie writer.


Friday 21 April 2017

Saturday 15 April 2017

Three Mistakes Screenwriters Make That Ruin A Screenplay

Michael Hauge shares three mistakes Screenwriters make in Act 1 that ruin a screenplay.


Friday 14 April 2017

Monday 10 April 2017

The 2017 Hawaii Film Challenge

Sometimes having a great story isn’t enough to get it done. You need the right location, equipment, casting, talent... a lot of blood, sweat and tears to make a film. That’s where the 2017 Hawaii Film Challenge comes in! Submit your 10-12 minute film script here!

Your story can be set anywhere in the world, it's up to you. If your script’s chosen, they’ll fly you and/or your core team of Director, DP, Editor and Sound to Hawaii to make your film!

The deadline is July 15th 2017. Give it a shot!



Saturday 8 April 2017

Scott Frank

In this BAFTA lecture, Scott Frank illustrates the importance of opening scenes, the challenges his craft encompasses and how, ultimately, "it's all about the words".


Friday 7 April 2017

Thursday 6 April 2017

The Emperor of Time

The strange and sordid tale of Eadweard Muybridge, the man who accidentally invented motion pictures. The film is told from the point of view of Muybridge's abandoned son and viewed completely through a nineteenth century early cinema contraption called a mutoscope.


Wednesday 5 April 2017

Wild Elephants

Elephants, right? Nature film. Ho hum. This one surprised me. Take a look.


Tuesday 4 April 2017

Ben Wheatley

Ben Wheatley talks about his approach to writing (Free Fire, Kill List and High Rise) and how he got his early work produced.


Monday 3 April 2017

Onions and Garlic

This animated short tells a humourous Hebrew folk tale about a man's venture to introduce onions to a far away kingdom and a disreputable man's attempt to exploit that.


Sunday 2 April 2017

Saturday 1 April 2017

April Fool's Day

A prank done for April Fool's Day for a math class. The professor "accidentally" drew on the projector with a whiteboard marker, and got help from a YouTube video to fix things.