Sat February 13, 2016
Conjuring Better Characters
SEE EVENT DETAILS
at The Writing Salon
(see times)
Any story is only as good as its weakest character. A good story has an appealing hero. A great story has a remarkable hero, a memorable villain, and supporting characters that stick with us forever. This workshop will focus on how to develop truly unforgettable characters. You’ll learn how to craft a compelling hero, a formidable antagonist, and a mix of lively surprising supporting players who feel three dimensional even if they’re only in the story briefly.
“We’ll explore the dynamics of character contrast and how the elements of interaction can be shaped to enlighten and intrigue the reader — and keep the story moving forward,” says Kate. “We’ll also look at ways to deepen the characters, and make them more original and surprising, and yet also more sympathetic and believable.”
Through a combination of brief lectures with hand-outs, and individual & class writing exercises & games, this workshop will give both new and seasoned writers tools that they can put to use in a short story, novel, or screenplay.
Kate Montgomery wrote, directed and produced the Sundance indie feature Christmas in the Clouds, which won top honors at festivals in Austin, Santa Fe, Vancouver, Philadelphia and Ft. Lauderdale, and endorsements from Oprah Winfrey & Roger Ebert. She executive produced the micro-indie, Ever Since the World Ended, which won at the SF Indie Fest and the London Sci-Fi Film Festival. She has optioned & sold screenplays to producers and studios in the US, Canada and UK, and works for hire as a script editor and production consultant. Her current feature projects include the Italian romantic comedy Pane Vine, and the western Stealing Lily, for which she also wrote the adaptation. She has taught screenwriting to first & second year film students at the Weengushk Film Institute, where participants developed original stories from concept to camera-ready scripts.
show less
“We’ll explore the dynamics of character contrast and how the elements of interaction can be shaped to enlighten and intrigue the reader — and keep the story moving forward,” says Kate. “We’ll also look at ways to deepen the characters, and make them more original and surprising, and yet also more sympathetic and believable.”
Through a combination of brief lectures with hand-outs, and individual & class writing exercises & games, this workshop will give both new and seasoned writers tools that they can put to use in a short story, novel, or screenplay.
Kate Montgomery wrote, directed and produced the Sundance indie feature Christmas in the Clouds, which won top honors at festivals in Austin, Santa Fe, Vancouver, Philadelphia and Ft. Lauderdale, and endorsements from Oprah Winfrey & Roger Ebert. She executive produced the micro-indie, Ever Since the World Ended, which won at the SF Indie Fest and the London Sci-Fi Film Festival. She has optioned & sold screenplays to producers and studios in the US, Canada and UK, and works for hire as a script editor and production consultant. Her current feature projects include the Italian romantic comedy Pane Vine, and the western Stealing Lily, for which she also wrote the adaptation. She has taught screenwriting to first & second year film students at the Weengushk Film Institute, where participants developed original stories from concept to camera-ready scripts.
Any story is only as good as its weakest character. A good story has an appealing hero. A great story has a remarkable hero, a memorable villain, and supporting characters that stick with us forever. This workshop will focus on how to develop truly unforgettable characters. You’ll learn how to craft a compelling hero, a formidable antagonist, and a mix of lively surprising supporting players who feel three dimensional even if they’re only in the story briefly.
“We’ll explore the dynamics of character contrast and how the elements of interaction can be shaped to enlighten and intrigue the reader — and keep the story moving forward,” says Kate. “We’ll also look at ways to deepen the characters, and make them more original and surprising, and yet also more sympathetic and believable.”
Through a combination of brief lectures with hand-outs, and individual & class writing exercises & games, this workshop will give both new and seasoned writers tools that they can put to use in a short story, novel, or screenplay.
Kate Montgomery wrote, directed and produced the Sundance indie feature Christmas in the Clouds, which won top honors at festivals in Austin, Santa Fe, Vancouver, Philadelphia and Ft. Lauderdale, and endorsements from Oprah Winfrey & Roger Ebert. She executive produced the micro-indie, Ever Since the World Ended, which won at the SF Indie Fest and the London Sci-Fi Film Festival. She has optioned & sold screenplays to producers and studios in the US, Canada and UK, and works for hire as a script editor and production consultant. Her current feature projects include the Italian romantic comedy Pane Vine, and the western Stealing Lily, for which she also wrote the adaptation. She has taught screenwriting to first & second year film students at the Weengushk Film Institute, where participants developed original stories from concept to camera-ready scripts.
read more
“We’ll explore the dynamics of character contrast and how the elements of interaction can be shaped to enlighten and intrigue the reader — and keep the story moving forward,” says Kate. “We’ll also look at ways to deepen the characters, and make them more original and surprising, and yet also more sympathetic and believable.”
Through a combination of brief lectures with hand-outs, and individual & class writing exercises & games, this workshop will give both new and seasoned writers tools that they can put to use in a short story, novel, or screenplay.
Kate Montgomery wrote, directed and produced the Sundance indie feature Christmas in the Clouds, which won top honors at festivals in Austin, Santa Fe, Vancouver, Philadelphia and Ft. Lauderdale, and endorsements from Oprah Winfrey & Roger Ebert. She executive produced the micro-indie, Ever Since the World Ended, which won at the SF Indie Fest and the London Sci-Fi Film Festival. She has optioned & sold screenplays to producers and studios in the US, Canada and UK, and works for hire as a script editor and production consultant. Her current feature projects include the Italian romantic comedy Pane Vine, and the western Stealing Lily, for which she also wrote the adaptation. She has taught screenwriting to first & second year film students at the Weengushk Film Institute, where participants developed original stories from concept to camera-ready scripts.
show less
Date/Times:
The Writing Salon
2121 Bonar Street, Berkeley, CA 94702
The Best Events
Every Week in Your Inbox
From Our Sponsors
UPCOMING EVENTS
Great suggestion! We'll be in touch.
Event reviewed successfully.