Monday 8 January 2018

Robert McKee seminars

 With details of upcoming seminars for 2018, here's the latest information:

 
Happy New Year from the McKee Team! Stories need writers who involve themselves with other people, who don't avoid life. Yet some of the greatest writers of all time never left home. Masters such as Henry James and Emily Dickinson lived in their imaginations, with knowledge coming from reading and observation of the people around them.

 

LOS ANGELES
NEW YORK
LONDON
STORY: March 23-25
STORY: April 12-14
STORY: May 17-19
 
TV DAY: April 15
COMEDY DAY: May 20

 
Happy New Year from the McKee Team!
Stories need writers who involve themselves with other people, who don't avoid life. Yet some of the greatest writers of all time never left home. Masters such as Henry James and Emily Dickinson lived in their imaginations, with knowledge coming from reading and observation of the people around them.
The most important source of knowledge for writers is self-knowledge. What we want in a writer is somebody who is aware of the processes of thought and feelings that go on inside of oneself, and possesses a sensitive mind to the truth of human behavior. Essentially, writers need to recognize bullshit in the people around them, and in themselves.
If you are truthful about what is going on inside you and what is going on inside of every human being you meet, and you read enough to expand your knowledge outward into the world, then you will have plenty of material to build a great story.

 
From the McKee Library

 
How To Use Story Form To Express Your World View
Robert McKee discusses three story designs: Classical, Minimalism and Anti-Plot.

 
Cartoon of the Week

 
 

ROBERT MCKEE RETURNS to the US/UK in Spring 2018!

 
LOS ANGELES
In March 2018, McKee is back by popular demand, bringing his essential STORY Seminar back to L.A. (March 23-25).

 
NEW YORK CITY
In April, McKee brings the STORY Seminar and sought-after TV Series Day to N.Y.C. (April 12-15).

 
LONDON
In May, McKee returns to London (May 17-19) with the legendary STORY Seminar. Writers also have the unique opportunity to master the codes and conventions of "the angry art" at the Comedy Genre Day (May 20).

 
Look out for next week's newsletter:
"How do you balance writing with full-time work?"
Follow McKee Seminars:
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McKee Seminars | Two Arts, Inc. PO Box 681 Sherman, Connecticut 06784 United States (928) 204-2323


 

McKee's long-awaited STORYNOMICS book arrives this Spring!
On March 20th, discover how McKee's STORYNOMICS will equip you to use your story talent in the corporate world.

 
What is STORYNOMICS?
 
Based on the most in-demand seminar, STORYNOMICS translates the lessons of storytelling in business into economic and leadership success.
In STORYNOMICS, McKee partners with digital marketing expert Tom Gerace to map a path for brands seeking to navigate the rapid decline of interrupt advertising. After successfully guiding organizations as diverse as Samsung, Marriott International, Philips, Microsoft, Nike, IBM, and Siemens to transform their marketing from an ad-centric to story-centric approach, McKee and Gerace now bring this knowledge to business leaders and entrepreneurs alike.
 
Drawing from dozens of Story-driven strategies and case studies taken from leading B2B and B2C brands, STORYNOMICS demonstrates how original storytelling delivers results that surpass traditional advertising. How will brands and their customers connect in the future?
STORYNOMICS provides the answer.
 
Follow McKee Seminars:
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A Few Highlights from McKee's 2017
 

LOS ANGELES
NEW YORK
LONDON
STORY: March 23-25
STORY: April 12-14
STORY: May 17-19
 
TV DAY: April 15
COMEDY DAY: May 20

 
Happy Holidays from the McKee Team!
We'd like to wish all of you a wonderful holiday and a prosperous New Year. The McKee Team gleefully anticipates some R&R between Dec 22 - Jan 1. We will be available through contact@mckeestory.com to answer any requests/questions, but in the meantime we look forward to an exciting Spring season!
It's been a fantastic year for storytelling, with excellent releases such as GAME OF THRONES Season 7, BIG LITTLE LIES, and WESTWORLD all wowing audiences.
With the holiday season upon us and Oscar Award contenders popping up, McKee shares his thoughts on his top film picks for 2017.

 
4 Films Robert McKee recommends
for writers to see this Holiday season

 
THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI
 
"Superb storytelling. Watch how turning points violate expectation to deliver instant insight."
NOVITIATE
 
"Powerful Social Drama—institutionalized fanaticism turns morality into soul crushing tyranny."
THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER
 
"How to revive a tired genre? Reinvent reality. Add psychic power to the conventional realism to the psycho-thriller and an old form becomes new again."
THE FLORIDA PROJECT
 
"The child's point of view on life and friendship has never been better expressed."
 

 
Robert McKee's Top Film Recommendations from 2017

 
 
  • THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI
  • THE SALESMAN
  • THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER
  • LADY MACBETH
  • GET OUT
  • NOVITIATE
  • THE FLORIDA PROJECT
  • MOTHER!

 
Robert is looking forward to SEEING...

 
 
  • THE SHAPE OF WATER
  • PHANTOM THREAD
  • THE DISASTER ARTIST
  • FILM STARS DON'T DIE IN LIVERPOOL

 
Cartoon of the Week

 
 

DIALOGUE: ONLINE
Robert McKee's First-Ever Online Course Is Now Live!

 
Write Compelling Dialogue
that takes your Characters and Story to the Max
Register before the New Year and receive 30% OFF!
$597 $417.90
For the very first time, McKee is making one of his programs available as a digital course. Use the coupon discount code LAUNCH17 at mckeestory.teachable.com to receive your exclusive discount.

 
Last chance to register for the
London Spring 2018 Early Bird Discount!
 
 

Register before the New Year and Save an Extra 10%!
In May, McKee brings his STORY Seminar to London (May 17-19). Writers also have the unique opportunity to master the codes and conventions of "the angry art" at the Comedy Genre Day (May 20).

 
20th Annual Scriptapalooza
Screenplay & SHORTS Competition
 
Longevity is key. There are hundreds of other competitions that are popping up all over the web, with no track record, no connections and giving the illusion that they are connected to the industry. Don't be swayed by fancy websites, submit to a competition that has a proven track record for 20 years!
Voted #1 competition on Moviebytes! - "Readers Choice"
 
Why should you submit your script to Scriptapalooza?
  • Over $50,000 awarded in prizes
  • All the reading is done by 90 production companies
  • We promote the winners, runners-up, finalists and semifinalists for a full year
  • Considered one of the best screenplay competitions by agents, managers and producers
 
Scriptapalooza's goal: to seek out that storyteller and honor their script with a grand prize of $10,000. Each year dozens of production companies and literary representatives sign on as participants to read our winners, resulting in many scripts being optioned or outright bought.
www.scriptapalooza.com | EARLY BIRD DEADLINE: Jan 5, 2018
Follow McKee Seminars:
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Why is Research Crucial to Writing?

Research is meat to feed the beast of invention.

Generally, a story thrives on research of three types; research of memory, research of imagination and research of fact.

First, ask yourself "What do I know from personal experience that resonates with my characters' lives?" Explore your past, relive it, then write it down. In your head it's only memory, but written down it becomes working knowledge.

Secondly, ask "What would it be like to live my character's life day by day?" While memory gives us chunks of life, imagination takes fragments of experience that seem unrelated, then finds hidden connections and merges them into a whole. A working imagination is research.

Finally, suppose for a moment you're writing in the genre of Domestic Drama. You were raised in a family and you can imagine families. But if you read respected factual works (anthropological, social, psychological studies etc) on the subject of family life, you'll reach a depth of knowledge and understanding you couldn't have gained any other way.

Research thoroughly enough and you will finally experience a phenomenon authors love to describe in mystical terms. Characters will suddenly spring to life and make choices of their own free will, take actions that twist the plot in new, unexpected directions until you can hardly keep up with the outpourings. This isn't your story's immaculate conception. This is the result of research.
 


From the McKee Library
 



How do you know when you've done enough research and you can actually start writing?

Robert McKee discusses how to balance your time between writing and research, and being wary of using research as procrastination.
 


Cartoon of the Week
 

 


Robert McKee's First-Ever Online Course Is Now Live!

Write Compelling Dialogue
that takes your Characters and Story to the Max

Register before the New Year and receive 30% OFF!
 

 


For the very first time, McKee is making one of his programs available as a digital course. Use the coupon discount code LAUNCH17 at mckeestory.teachable.com to receive your exclusive discount.

 


McKee Alum Success Story
 



"I wanted to do it in the simplest possible way, to prove that the writing is the most important aspect of the filmmaking process."

- Julian Karikalan

Congratulations to Writer/Director Julian Karikalan who saw his micro-budget feature LOVE AND LOVE ONLY achieve worldwide digital release. The cross cultural romance "involved a minimal crew, real locations and a shoestring budget."
 


If you've had success as a McKee alumnus, get in touch at:
contact@mckeestory.com
 
Hello McKee Tribe,
"It takes 20 years to make an overnight success."
- Eddie Cantor
Your goal should be a good story told well. As all writers know, this takes months of hard work, in many cases years, to fully realise. But the path to success doesn't have to be trodden alone.
McKee Seminars are proud to partner with Screencraft for the 5th Annual Screenwriting Fellowship.
Write the truth. Good luck!
The McKee Team
Write the Truth
 
The 5th annual ScreenCraft Screenwriting Fellowship is open for applications (Deadline: January 31)! Accepting original TV and film screenplays from writers who are seeking career mentorship and unparalleled industry access and introductions. Winners receive an all-expenses paid trip to Los Angeles for meetings at major studios, management companies and agencies! 
 

All of last year's winners signed with managers!


Recipients of the 2018 ScreenCraft Screenwriting Fellowship will meet with development executives at 5 major studios (including NBC Universal, Warner Bros, Sony Pictures, Lionsgate and 20th Century Fox) as well as acclaimed producer and former studio executive Lawrence Grey who has engineered many notable script sales, including TWO script sales for over $1M each! 


Image

"Aspiring screenwriters, take note." – The Hollywood Reporter
"This is a damn good opportunity." – No Film School
"Jumpstart your writing career!" – IndieWire


The chosen recipients will receive ongoing professional support and a special trip to Los Angeles for meetings and introductions to key entertainment executives, producers and representatives. To apply, simply submit your feature film script or original television script, along with an optional cover letter.

Additionally, up to four winners will receive complimentary passes to Robert McKee's legendary STORY seminar in either Los Angeles, New York City or London ($865 value)

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Past ScreenCraft Fellowship recipients have optioned their projects and signed with top representatives at 3 Arts Entertainment, United Talent Agency, William Morris Endeavor, Creative Artists Agency, Anonymous Content, Circle of Confusion, Paradigm Talent Agency, ICM, Bellevue Productions, Plattform and many more. 

 

APPLY HERE 


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Also: if you are planning to produce your own film, consider applying for the ScreenCraft Film Fund, backed by BondIt Media Capital. The final deadline is Dec 1! 

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We look forward to reading your screenplay! 

As always, keep writing, 

- Team ScreenCraft 
 
 

 


Why are Theatre and Cinema lagging behind TV?

Whilst the novel holds its own and long-form television takes us into an exciting future, theatre and cinema lag behind. Fewer and fewer films of quality are made every year, and fewer and fewer compelling plays. Why?

It's not a question of form. Story form remains understood. The explorations of minimalism are wonderfully done in films like MOONLIGHT, and MANCHESTER BY THE SEA, 45 YEARS - all minimalist works with a novelistic emphasis on the inner life.

It's a question of content. The fault lies in theatre and cinema becoming conservative in their willingness to explore the dark side of human nature, and the ugliness in this world. They're all trying to be uplifting, and as the great H. L. Mencken would say, "The up-lifters are the enemy." Self-consciously uplifting works can lead to shallow content. Whereas, the content of long-form TV and fine novels are often fearless and deep.
 


Look out for next week's newsletter:
'Why Is Research Crucial to Writing?'
 


From the McKee Library
 



Do I need to know the ending of my TV series before I write the pilot?

Knowing your climax can help create well structured long-form writing such as BREAKING BAD.
 


Cartoon of the Week
 

 


Robert McKee is Back in LA and NYC in Spring 2018!
 


Register soon to avoid disappointment.
 

 


In March 2018, McKee is back by popular demand, bringing his essential STORY Seminar to Los Angeles (March 23-25).

 

 


In April, McKee brings the STORY Seminar to NYC (April 12-14). Writers also have the unique opportunity to master the codes and conventions of long-form storytelling at the TV Series Genre Day (April 15).

 


McKee Alum Success Story
 

 


Congratulations to Gerard Lee for his excellent work on the Emmy-nominated TOP OF THE LAKE, a crime drama co-written with Jane Campion for BBC Two (UK), BBC UKTV (Australia and New Zealand), and Sundance Channel (US).

We at Team McKee wish them the best of luck
in the Emmy race with Season 2!
 

 

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