2.Main Content
Genre Season: Drama & Rites of Passage
Fri 28 November 2008
Drama in the suburbs in Little Children
This one day workshop devoted to Drama & Rites of Passage is the last workshop in November's Genre Season series.
Designed for writers, producers and script editors, the programme aims to get under the skin of the key film genres and dissect their inner workings. This isn't film studies but a practical development workshop that aims to equip participants with the insight and tools required to write original and satisfying genre films.
Drama & Rites of Passage
Drama is by far the most popular genre amongst screenwriters, perhaps because we think of it as unencumbered by the storytelling constraints that seem to govern other genres. But whilst filmmakers love Drama and Rites of Passage, they remain the hardest genres to get right.
More than just character studies or truthful observations of human behaviour, Drama and Rites of Passage are deceptively simple, powerful genres with rich, complex demands to make of both their writers and those that watch them. In this session we consider whether it is possible to clearly define the characteristics of these broad genres and we examine how to push them hard enough to ensure that they properly come alive. How do we organise the storytelling, build pace, develop conflict, raise the stakes and reveal character? How can we get these stories to reach their audiences without the pulling power of axe murderers or magic wands? In this day-long workshop the emphasis will stay on work: practical, discussion-led and energising, you’ll go back to your desks ready to raise hell. Dramatically speaking.
Prior to this course, participants are asked to view:
Little Miss Sunshine, directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris and written by Michael Arndt.
About Schmidt, directed by Alexander Payne, screenplay by Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor adapted from the novel by Louis Begley.
COURSE OUTLINE
10.00 - 11.20: Session 1 - Defining the terms
• What is genre, what is it for, why is it important?
• What characterises different genres?
• What defines ‘drama’ as a genre?
• What defines ‘rites of passage’ stories?
11.20 - 11.40: Break
11.40 - 13.00: Session 2: Successful Drama
• How does drama work in film stories?
• What makes a successful drama?
• What makes a successful ‘rites of passage’ story?
• What pulls audiences to drama and rites of passage films?
This session will consider Little Miss Sunshine as well as clips from other films.
13.00 - 14.00: Lunch break
14.00 - 15.00: Session 3 - Theory into Practice 1
• What questions can we ask of stories to investigate how they are functioning as dramas or rites of passage?
• How much overlap could there be between these two genres?
• What do we need to focus on when we tell drama stories?
• How do we increase conflict, raise the stakes and build up great characters in drama?
• How do you organise drama stories?
15.00 - 15.20: Break
15.20 - 17.00: Session 4: Theory into Practice 2
This final session will look at participants' story outlines and consider them in terms of the genre definitions and requirements we have discussed. This concluding session will also consider why drama and rites of passages fail and examine the pitfalls to avoid.
This session is taught by Kate Leys, a script editor and advisor who regularly runs masterclasses for industry practitioners. She has been head of development at some of the UK's most successful production houses and has a long career in the film industry with experience in every sector.
The workshop takes place at BFI Southbank and runs from 10am - 5pm. The cost of attending this one-day workshop is £120 + VAT (total £141). Script Factory Members are eligible for a 10% discount, making the Members’ fee £108 + VAT (total £126.90).
Places are strictly limited to 20 participants, so please book early to avoid disappointment. To book by credit/debit card please call us on 0207 851 4890.
For further details on this session and to find out more about the others making up our Genre Season click here