And writers can learn about self-editing at a free Antioch Writers’ Workshop mini-seminar next Sunday … and/or spend next weekend learning about how to write for television, feature-length movies, or both.
FilmDayton (www.filmdayton.com) is offering a two-day screenwriting workshop on Saturday, March 9, and Sunday, March 10; participants may opt to attend the full weekend, or to attend from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday to focus on “TV Writing 101: Sculpting the One-Hour Drama,” or on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. to focus on “Advanced Feature Writing: Structuring the Feature Drama.”
Both days of the workshop will be held at Red Oak at the Hook Estate (1231 Hook Estate Drive, off Philadelphia Drive, Dayton).
And the weekend’s workshop will be led by Marisha Mukerjee, who will guide participants on the steps toward finishing a script and provide professional feedback as well as writing tips.
Mukerjee was head of film faculty and taught screenwriting at Northwestern University and co-produced the feature film “The Grind.” Now she is head of FEMPIRE, an all-female development group in Los Angeles, and working on several television projects. She also works in Development at Cineflix Studios in Los Angeles as a development coordinator/executive assistant to the executive vice president.
Writers should bring an idea for a story, a laptop and screenwriting software.
“No one should be intimidated by the screenwriting software requirement,” says Megan Cooper, executive director of FilmDayton. “When participants register, we’ll provide information about how to download software, some of which can be found for free. Learning how to format a screenplay is part of the experience; producers and directors see so many scripts, they require a specific format.”
But what about writers of novels, stories or nonfiction? Can they learn from this workshop?
“The core of a good movie or TV drama is a story, so I think writers of all types might be interested in seeing how their ideas would translate to screen,” Cooper says. “Some ideas might work well in print and on screen; other ideas might translate better to screen than print. I think it’s important to come to this with an open mind, a willingness to learn and to play with ideas and story concepts. And what an opportunity to work with a pro like Marisha.”
Cooper says that participants should gain a strong working knowledge of how full-length movie features and TV dramas are created, from initial premise, to characters, to how to translate ideas into actual pages of script.
The workshop is $75 for one day or $130 for the whole weekend. Lunch and snacks are provided both days. Because of the interactive nature of the workshop, seats are filling quickly; to register or to learn more, go online to www.filmdayton.com and click on “Education,” or on “Calendar” to find the screenwriting workshop link.
Events
Tuesday, March 5, 2 p.m.: Wright State University, Atrium of Millett Hall, "Women Write: Pushing the Boundaries in Young Adult Fiction," with local authors Katrina Kittle, Kristina McBride, Trudy Krisher and yours truly, Sharon Short. Co-sponsored by Department of English Creative Writing Program Committee, the Women's Center and the Charles & Renate Frydman Educational Resource Center. For additional information, contact the ERC at (937) 775-2878. Open to the public. Refreshments and book-signings to follow.
Tuesday, March 5, 7 p.m.: Books & Co. at The Greene, in Beavercreek, local author Mindee Arnett (featured in last Sunday's "Literary Life") will introduce "The Nightmare Affair," her debut young-adult novel published by Tor Books.
Thursday, March 7, 7 p.m.: Books & Co. at The Greene, popular children's author Michael Buckley will introduce three new books: "NERDS: Book Four: The Villain Virus," "The Sisters Grimm: Book Nine: The Council of Mirror" and his picture book, "Kel Gilligan's Daredevil Stunt Show." Buckley has also written and developed shows for the Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon and the Discovery Channel.
Saturday, March 9, 1 p.m.: University of Dayton Speaker Series, at 1700 South Patterson Building on River Campus, Nicholas Kristof, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist and co-author of "Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide," will offer a free talk. Co-sponsored by the University of Dayton's Consciousness Rising; a book-signing will follow. For more on the University of Dayton Speaker Series, go online to go.udayton.edu/speakerseries.
Sunday, March 10, 2 p.m.: Books & Co. at The Greene, Antioch Writers' Workshop Free Sunday Mini-Workshop, a "Self-editing/Grammar Boot Camp!" Need help polishing your manuscript (fiction or nonfiction) for submission to a publication, agent, or contest? This free event will give you the tips you need to simplify the process, and maybe even make it fun. Led by Kate Geiselman, Sinclair Community College instructor of English, and Rebecca Kuder, Antioch University Midwest instructor of creative writing. For more information, go online to www.antiochwritersworkshop.com.
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