Students will explore the fundamentals of storytelling through reading, writing, film-viewing, and discussion. We will learn how scenes work, how to plan and evaluate our scenes, and will develop a toolbox of skills to enhance our own scene building. Various narrative contexts will be considered throughout the semester, while our writing practices will focus mainly on the short narrative form. Essentials of a Good Story.

When you look at a well-written scene, you should be able to state in summary what the events and emotions are. Event, function, structure and pulse. What makes an event in a scene? Event does not have to be spectacular, but it does have to be interesting and meaningful. It has to make the story go somewhere. Situation - - line of action - - new situation. Pulse is emotional, an .

Published by Focal Press, Elsevier Inc, 2008. Ideas for the Animated Short. As human beings, we live in story all the time. Story is as natural and essential to us as breathing.

As in Frankenstein, Jaws. As in Cinderella, Aladdin. As in A Night in. Casablanca, The Marriage of Figaro. As in Moby Dick, Lord of the Rings, Indiana Jones.

Published by Focal Press, Elsevier Inc, 2008. A mother singing a lullaby. A man yelling at the top of his lungs. Children telling jokes, playing, and laughing. A bank teller counting money. What mother would sing Heavy Metal to her newborn? Is the man yelling HELP! What does he need and will he get it? .

Watch a favorite movie clip to fuel ideas about strategies that characters use to argue or get their way with other characters. Or take them from scenes in stories you like. Better yet, take them from real life. Compile a list of such strategies to use when you write your scenes. Storytelling is a process of change.

It is possible to pull the reader into the heart of the story, beginning in media res. Without getting lost, if your opening lines offer enough details of a situation, setting, and potential conflict. Commenting on some aspect of character, setting or event before entering the scene; this can be terse or long. Refers to the way one breaks down events into small steps of action. How beats can help clean up your scenes. Then you can make the beats escalate.

Published by Focal Press, Elsevier Inc, 2008. The definition of story, why all stories and characters seem the same, why conflicts and themes seem similar, originality in story, and the difference between feature films and the animated short. Themes are often based on human needs. Identify the story elements of this short film.

Published by Focal Press, Elsevier Inc, 2008. Where do good ideas come from? How do you know when an idea is good? Where Do Ideas Come From? When you have nothing. In Respire, Mon Ami. Know your concept, theme, or meaning. When audiences watch a film, they trust you to take them on a journey and bring the.