Based on a True Story: How to Secure, Write, and Sell Non-Fiction Screenplays & Book Proposals

Story Mapping the Films of Christopher Nolan

Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. PDT Duration: 75 minutes Each registration comes with access to the archived version of the program and the materials for one year. You do not have to attend the live event to get a recording of the presentation. In all webinars, no question goes unanswered. Attendees have the ability to chat with the instructor during the live event and ask questions. You will receive a copy of the webinar presentation in an e-mail that goes out one week after the live event. The answers to questions not covered in the live presentation will be included in this e-mail as well. ABOUT THE CRITIQUE All registrants are invited to submit an original Basic Story Map (which includes a Logline) for their project. All submitted Story Maps are guaranteed a written critique by instructor Daniel Calvisi. (Don’t know what a Story Map is? Don’t worry—you’ll learn during the live webinar!) ABOUT THE WEBINAR Learn the storytelling secrets of blockbuster Writer/Director Christopher Nolan by unlocking the intricate structures of his biggest films: MEMENTO, BATMAN BEGINS, THE DARK KNIGHT, INCEPTION, and THE DARK KNIGHT RISES. This webinar includes a FREE, never-before-published Story Map of INCEPTION, considered by many to be Nolan’s masterpiece. (The free Story Map will be e-mailed during the week to follow the webinar.) Story Analyst Daniel Calvisi will introduce you to the Story Map, which is used by 95% of commercial movies, including the films of Christopher Nolan. The Story Map breaks down a movie into its clear, concise dramatic elements and plot points. These are the building blocks of your story and the “signpost” beats of your plot, and they must be in the proper order and desired page range—no matter the genre—if you want to blow away the reader. It was first developed by Daniel Calvisi while working as a Senior Story Analyst for major studios like Miramax Films and Twentieth Century Fox, and later honed as he coached hundreds of writers and worked as a script doctor. This structure is what readers look for on the page and how movies are edited for the screen. Christopher Nolan and his writing partners, David S. Goyer and Jonathan Nolan, may write BIG movies for a global audience, but their scripts are always intelligent, relevant, and incredibly well-crafted. They push the envelope with fractured narratives, time jumps, complex set pieces, parallel plot lines, and five-act structures. Your script may not be structured as intricately as a Christopher Nolan film, but there is a lot to learn by delving into the mind of a master storyteller. This webinar includes a free, exclusive Story Map of INCEPTION and a critique of your Story Map from Daniel Calvisi. (The free Story Map will be e-mailed during the week to follow the webinar.) WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: • How to write a Story Map for your screenplay or any other. • How to develop a new concept from scratch, or diagnose problems in your existing script. • How to break down major movies so you can use them as templates for your own screenplays. • The structure of Christopher Nolan’s biggest movies, with an emphasis on his Dark Knight Trilogy and Inception. • What readers look for in a spec screenplay. • How to use theme and conflict to bind your protagonist’s pursuit of their dramatic goals. • The detailed characteristics of each crucial story beat—where to place them and how to use them in your narrative. • Essential story beats that appear in almost every major studio movie but have not been defined by any other source in such clear and practical terms, such as the First Casualty, Assumption of Power, and True Point of No Return. WHO SHOULD ATTEND? • Writers who want to utilize the structure used by Hollywood pros. • Writers looking for a more practical, industry-based approach to screenplay structure and outlining that applies to all genres. • Writers who are developing a new concept and want to begin with the strongest foundation possible. • Writers with a completed feature screenplay who want to locate issues that are holding the script back from reaching the “submission-ready” level. • Fans of Christopher Nolan films like Memento, The Dark Knight Rises, and Inception who would like to learn more about how he crafts his stories. HOW DOES THE CRITIQUE WORK? After the webinar has completed, all writers have two weeks to submit a Basic Story Map outline (no longer than one page) that includes a breakdown of their story’s main dramatic elements and a logline. Instructions on how to format your story map will be reviewed during the webinar. Daniel Calvisi will e-mail each writer notes on their story map within 60 days. (Don’t know what a Story Map is? Don’t worry—you’ll learn during the live webinar!) HOW DOES THE WEBINAR WORK? The webinar is broadcast over the Internet with the live audio being delivered through your computer speakers or over your telephone. The presentation is displayed directly from the Presenter's computer on to your computer screen. The Q&A is managed through a chat-style submission system with questions being answered by the Presenter for the entire class to hear. In the event some questions are not answered during the live session, an e-mail with all questions and answers will be sent to all webinar attendees. WHAT EQUIPMENT DO I NEED? All you need is a computer or iPad. You will be able to view the presentation and listen to the audio over the computer speakers. See below for complete system requirements. System Requirements For PC-based users: • Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server • Required: Internet Explorer® 7.0 or newer, Mozilla® Firefox® 3.0 or newer or Google™ Chrome™ 5.0 or newer (JavaScript™ and Java™ enabled) • Required: Internet connection, with cable modem, DSL or better recommended • Recommended: Minimum of Pentium® class 1GHz CPU with 512 MB of RAM (2 GB of RAM for Windows® Vista) For Mac-based users: • Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 (Leopard®), OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard®) • Required: Safari™ 3.0 or newer, Firefox® 3.0 or newer or Google™ Chrome™ 5.0 or newer (JavaScript™ and Java™ enabled) • Required: Internet connection, with cable modem, DSL or better recommended • Required: Intel processor with 512 MB of RAM or better recommended For iPad-based users: • Required: Free GoToMeeting app from the Apple App Store • Required: WiFi connection to use VoIP QUESTIONS? If you have questions about the webinar, please e-mail us at webinar@writersstore.com or call us prior to the start time at 800.272.8927. The Writers Store does not offer any refunds for the webinar. All sales are final.