Robert McKee Seminars

Here is the latest information on upcoming Robert McKee courses and seminars:

Robert McKee's "Works / Doesn't Work" Film Review WIDOWS (2018) A Heist With a Heart McKee says: It Works. (Spoiler Alert!) This excellent film merges the Heist (one of the fourteen subgenres of Crime) with subplots of Social Drama, Political Drama and Domestic Drama and uses this mix of genres to revitalize tired conventions. The Major Dramatic Question The Heist reverses Sherlock Holmes. Instead of a master detective and his sidekick, these tales feature a brilliant criminal and his team. In a closed mystery of the Who-done-it, a mysterious someone commits a perfect crime, creating a puzzle for the master detective to solve. In the open mystery of the Heist, a master criminal's plan substitutes for an Agatha Christie brainteaser. [Read More...] Empathy The Heist team, like a corporation, hires a specialist to carry out each component of the plan: transportation, communications, weapons and high-tech security systems. Also like a corporation, the motivation for each expert is greed. As a result, empathy is often problematic. [Read More...] Setup / Payoff Generally, a payoff needs a setup somewhere in the previous telling, but when a genre convention grows decades old, it can become its own setup. In the first decades of the Crime Genre, for example, Honor Among Thieves was an accepted, although rather naïve, convention. After THE GODFATHER, the convention Thieves Betray Thieves took its place and in time wore itself out. [Read More...] Merged Genres Most Heist films focus on the plan and its execution, but WIDOWS added Domestic Drama (infidelity and the pain of widowhood), Political Drama (corruption and bribery) and Social Drama (street gang warfare). These subplots create unconventional motivations for the heist, dimensionalize characters and enrich the plot. In a key last act scene, for example, the Heist and Social Dramas intersect to set up and pay off each other. [Read More...] Find out how WIDOWS breathes new life into the Heist subgenre. READ FULL REVIEW » Robert McKee's 2019 Spring Seminars LOS ANGELES NEW YORK LONDON STORY March 28-30 ACTION DAY March 31 STORY April 11-13 Only NYC STORY in 2019! TV DAY April 14 STORY May 23-25 TV DAY May 26 Professional, Student and Repeater discounts available. (Contact mariah@storylogue.com for details.) REGISTER HERE » How Complex Should a Crime Protagonist Be? Robert McKee teaches the different dimensional requirements of Crime / Thriller protagonists, with reference to SHERLOCK HOLMES and MR BROOKS. WATCH VIDEO » A Message from Our Friends at Scriptapalooza 21st Annual Scriptapalooza Screenplay & Shorts Competition There are hundreds of other competitions that are popping up all over the web, with no track record, no connections and giving the illusion that they are connected to the industry. Don't be swayed by fancy websites, submit to a competition that has a proven track record for 20 years! Over $50,000 awarded in prizes All the reading is done by 90 producers and managers Scriptapalooza promotes the winners, runners-up, finalists and semifinalists for a full year Considered one of the best screenplay competitions by agents, managers and producers Scriptapalooza's goal: to seek out that storyteller and honor their script with a grand prize of $10,000. Each year dozens of production companies and literary representatives sign on as participants to read our winners, resulting in many scripts being optioned or outright bought. NEXT DEADLINE: February 4 Learn More » Get the Latest from Robert McKee Follow McKee Seminars:

McKee Seminars | Two Arts, Inc.
PO Box 681
Sherman, Connecticut 06784
United States
(928) 204-2323

Be sure to join us at the ScreenCraft Writers Summit in April! See list of panelists here.  Here's what last year's attendees had to say about it:     We'd love to see you there!

McKee Seminars | Two Arts, Inc.
PO Box 681
Sherman, Connecticut 06784
United States
(928) 204-2323

"Being a writer can be a very lonely profession. " - Lisa Graff, American Author A TANGLE OF KNOTS, LOST IN THE SUN

We're proud to bring you news of the 2019 ScreenCraft Writers Summit, in partnership with the Atlanta Film Festival.

Writing can be a solitary task at times. This event gives you the opportunity to meet, network and pitch with some of Hollywood's best creative minds.

The McKee Team

We're excited to welcome more speakers and mentors to the 2019 ScreenCraft Writers Summit in Partnership with the Atlanta Film Festival. Join us from April 5th - 8th for workshops, panels, cocktail parties, pitch events and mentorship with some of Hollywood's top screenwriters, agents and producers at the historic Georgian Terrace Hotel in Atlanta. Atlanta is currently America's hottest city for producing movies and TV! Known as Hollywood of the South, Atlanta is hosting more big-budget productions than Los Angeles, including The Avengers, Black Panther, The Walking Dead and many more shows! Click here to reserve your badge now. Prices will increase after February 10th. Stay tuned for the final schedule announcement soon. So far, the confirmed 2019 speakers and mentors include: Darrien Gipson National Director, SAGindie Enid Portuguez Director of Communications & Events, Writers Guild Foundation Chad Kennedy VP of Current Programming at WBTV (Oversees The 100, Legends of Tomorrow, Veronica Mars, Lethal Weapon, Castle Rock, What/If, and Doom Patrol) Julie Plec Executive Producer, Showrunner (CW's Roswell: New Mexico, The Vampire Diaries, The Originals) Meg LeFauve Oscar-nominated Screenwriter (Inside Out, The Good Dinosaur, Captain Marvel) Steven de Souza Screenwriter (Die Hard, The Running Man, Commando) Stephany Folsom Screenwriter (Thor: Ragnarok, Pixar's Toy Story 4) Doug Jung Screenwriter & TV Writer (Star Trek Beyond, Big Love, The Cloverfield Paradox) Hannah Ozer Literary Manager, Kaplan/Perrone (Company represents writers of The Fault in Our Stars, The Disaster Artist, 500 Days of Summer) Jacob Krueger Founder of Jacob Krueger Studio, WGA-winning writer of the Emmy-winning film The Matthew Shepard Story Sandra Leviton Producer, Former TV Executive, Speaker and Consultant on Film/TV Development and Production (FX Network, AMC Network, Walden Media and More) Justin Littman Literary Manager, The Gotham Group (Clients wrote/directed Super Troopers, Amanda Knox, Rafiki, etc) Emily Dell Director, Screenwriter (B-Girl, CryptTV, DreamworksTV, Verona Graphic Novel) And many more will be confirmed soon! We expect to announce the full list of mentors and the final schedule by the end of February. This event WILL SELL OUT. And while there will be a waitlist, make sure you don't miss this opportunity. GET YOUR BADGE NOW Last year all Elite Badges sold out by the early deadline. This year we've expanded our venues to accommodate a few more attendees.   "Writing is lonely work, especially if you're out in the wilderness developing your craft and trying to break into the industry. Luckily, you have ScreenCraft on your side. The ScreenCraft Writers Summit, in particular, is a great place to learn about the business; meet people who have made it in Hollywood as writers, producers, creators and agents; and, most importantly, connect with a supportive community of writers who share both your goals and aspirations." Faisal Azam & Erica Veils (Finalists - Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition in 2018, Semifinalists - ScreenCraft Pilot Launch TV Script Contest in 2017)

McKee Seminars | Two Arts, Inc.
PO Box 681
Sherman, Connecticut 06784
United States
(928) 204-2323

Are You a "Creative" Writer? If your finished story contains every scene you've ever written, if you never throw an idea away, your work will most likely fail. No matter our talent, we all know in the midnight of our souls that 90 percent of what we do is less than our best. This is why we fall in love with an idea on Monday, sleep on it, then reread it with disgust on Tuesday. Our first choices come from the surface of our imaginations, and are often clichés. True inspiration comes from a deeper source. If your research inspires you to create ten or twenty versions of every scene, and then you make brilliant choices to find that 10 percent of excellence and burn the rest, every scene will fascinate and the world will sit in awe at your genius. No one has to see your failures unless you add vanity to folly and exhibit them. Genius consists not only of the power to create, but of taste, judgement, and will to weed out false beats and lies. Learn from Robert McKee LOS ANGELES NEW YORK LONDON STORY March 28-30 ACTION DAY March 31 STORY April 11-13 Only one in 2019! TV DAY April 14 STORY May 23-25 TV DAY May 26 Professional, Student and Repeater discounts available. (Contact mariah@storylogue.com for details.) REGISTER HERE » Does a Writer Need Conflict in Their Life to Be Creative? Robert McKee teaches the necessity of "staying hungry" as a writer, and the dangers of being too comfortable. WATCH VIDEO » Get the Latest from Robert McKee Follow McKee Seminars:

McKee Seminars | Two Arts, Inc.
PO Box 681
Sherman, Connecticut 06784
United States

What Beats At the Heart of All Fine Writing? We all share the same crucial human experiences. Each of us is suffering and enjoying, dreaming and hoping of getting through our days with something of value. This is why when you ask yourself, "If I were a character in these circumstances, what would I do?" the honest answer is always correct. You would do the human thing. The more you penetrate the mysteries of your own humanity, the more you come to understand yourself, the more you are able to understand others. When we survey the stories created by Shakespeare, Homer, Austen, Hemingway and Dickens, we realize they were all born of a single humanity. The root of all fine writing is self-knowledge. Learn from Robert McKee LOS ANGELES NEW YORK LONDON STORY March 28-30 ACTION DAY March 31 STORY April 11-13 Only one in 2019! TV DAY April 14 STORY May 23-25 TV DAY May 26 Professional, Student and Repeater discounts available. (Contact mariah@storylogue.com for details.) REGISTER HERE » Why Should Writers Express Meaning Through Story? Robert McKee teaches the function of a Controlling Idea, and the writer's task of communicating meaning through the climax of your story. WATCH VIDEO » Get the Latest from Robert McKee Follow McKee Seminars:

McKee Seminars | Two Arts, Inc.
PO Box 681
Sherman, Connecticut 06784
United States
(928) 2

Are You Committed to Being a Better Writer? Secure writers don't sell their first drafts. Unfinished work invites tampering, while polished, mature work seals its integrity. You'll get an agent, sell your work and see it realized on screen the way you intended, but only when you write with surpassing quality. Not until. Story is about mastering the art, not second guessing the marketplace. Why McKee's STORY Seminar? This intense three-day seminar gives you a deep dive into the substance, structure and style of classic story design. ·         Story design: the meaning of story, the substance of story, the limitations and inspirations of story structure & genre, act design ·         The principles of character dimension and design ·         The composition of scenes ·         The writer's method: working from the inside out; the creative process from inspiration to final draft Robert McKee's STORY Seminar is ideal for Screenwriters, TV Writers, Novelists, Playwrights, Filmmakers, Directors, Producers, Documentary Makers, Actors and more... LOS ANGELES March 28-30 NEW YORK April 11-13 Only one in 2019! LONDON May 23-25 Professional, Student and Repeater discounts available. (Contact mariah@storylogue.com for details.) REGISTER HERE » Robert McKee's ACTION Day The Art of Excitement Thousands of years of storytelling tradition dating back to Gilgamesh have molded and shaped Action conventions. The highly kinetic genre is a specialized and coded story form requiring deep awareness and discipline. In this intensive one day session, McKee teaches the goals, tools and secrets of Action so you can capture and sustain the audience's excitement. ·         The six Mega Genres ·         The core value, emotion, event and cast of Action ·         The Action set-piece: turning the story, expressing character, using the setting and movement ·         The sub-genres of Action LOS ANGELES March 31 Professional, Student and Repeater discounts available. (Contact mariah@storylogue.com for details.) REGISTER HERE » Robert McKee's TV SERIES Day The Art of Long-Form Storytelling Storytelling on television has entered its Golden Age. The long-form TV Series is the evolution of the epic poem, begging for characters and plot complex enough to sustain 100 hours of story. Robert McKee's all-new TV Series Day brings you the tools and the knowledge to master television's long-form storytelling challenges. ·         Long-form story design, levels of conflict, series variations ·         Long-form character design, arcs, characterization, dimensions, desire vs. need ·         Breaking down BREAKING BAD: scenes, sequences, acts, character dimensions NEW YORK April 14 LONDON May 26 Professional, Student and Repeater discounts available. (Contact mariah@storylogue.com for details.) REGISTER HERE » Follow McKee Seminars:

McKee Seminars | Two Arts, Inc.
PO Box 681
Sherman, Connecticut 06784
United States
(928) 204-2323

Form vs. Formula: What is Story? If we look at the sea of stories told throughout history, the writer may come to believe that anything can be a story. But if we look deeply, if we strip away the surface, we find that at their heart, all stories utilize the same principles. Every story is an embodiment of a universal form. Across all cultures and through all ages, this innate form has been endlessly variable but changeless. From Homer to Tarantino, Shelley to Bergman, every storyteller articulates this ageless set of principles in a unique way, but the essential form is identical. But form does not mean formula. There is no screenwriting recipe that will guarantee your cake will rise. Story is far too rich in mystery, complexity, and flexibility to be reduced to a formula. Only a fool would try. A writer must study and learn the form. Learn from Robert McKee Don't miss your opportunity to master the story form with Robert McKee in Los Angeles, New York and London. LOS ANGELES NEW YORK LONDON STORY   March 28-30 ACTION DAY   March 31 STORY   April 11-13 The only NY STORY in 2019! TV SERIES DAY   April 14 STORY   May 23-25 TV SERIES DAY   May 26 Professional, Student and Repeater discounts available. REGISTER HERE » McKee Seminar Alumni 2019 Golden Globe Winners & Nominees The 2019 Golden Globes was another great success for STORY Seminar graduates, with 71 McKee Alumni nominated across 11 awards. Congratulations to all those recognized for their excellence, and to the following 22 winners! ·         Winner - Best Motion Picture ·         BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY ·         Peter Morgan — Story ·         Michelle Duncan — "Shelley Stern" ·         Winner - Best Motion Picture - Musical / Comedy ·         GREEN BOOK ·         Paul Sloan — "Copa Maitre D'Carmine" ·         John Sloss — Executive Producer ·         Winner - Best Television Series - Musical / Comedy ·         THE KOMINSKY METHOD ·         Andy Tennant — Director ·         Corbin Bernson — Himself ·         Ken Miller — Series Casting ·         Winner - Best Television Series - Drama ·         THE AMERICANS ·         Kevin Dowling — Director ·         Jean de Segonzac — Director ·         Gavin O'Connor — Director / Executive Producer ·         Alik Sakhavrov — Director ·         Joseph Weisberg — Creator / Executive Producer ·         Bradford Winters — Writer / Consulting Producer ·         Laurie Holden — "Renee" ·         Scott Cohen — "Glenn Haskard" ·         David Woods — Producer ·         Sheri Bylander — Film Editor ·         Winner - Best Limited Television Series ·         AMERICAN CRIME STORY ·         Ryan Murphy — Director / Executive Producer ·         Anthony Hemingway — Director / Co-Executive Producer ·         Scott Alexander — Creator / Executive Producer ·         Robert Morse — Dominick Dunne ·         Winner - Carol Burnett Lifetime Achievement Award ·         Carol Burnett Congratulations to All McKee Alumni Nominated in 2019 Robert McKee's STORY Seminar alumni are consistently recognized as some of the best writers, directors and producers in the business. Don't miss your chance to join this exceptionally talented group of creatives. JOIN THEM » Has There Been a Rise in Faulty, Formulaic Storytelling? Robert McKee discusses the difficulties of producing truly excellent writing and the history of this common problem. Watch Video » From the McKee Collection Follow McKee Seminars:

McKee Seminars | Two Arts, Inc.
PO Box 681
Sherman, Connecticut 06784
United States
(928) 204-2