With details of upcoming seminars and more:
Today's Event:
Follow-Up
Q&A Session - "The Age of Long-Form Television"
Robert answers your questions about the history of
long-form storytelling, as well as any more general writing principles
and concepts that you want clarified.
BONUS: In an exclusive pre-recorded interview, screenwriter and
producer Margaret Nagle shares insider information about finding
an agent, breaking into the TV industry, pitching your scripts, and
surviving the writers' room.
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Coming Up Next:
Thursday, November 12
1PM Eastern Time (US & Canada)
Join us as
McKee teaches writers how to design the shape of their story to hook,
hold, and reward the interest of a television audience.
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Missed Part 1 of the Series?
The recording
of the first live event in the series is now available. If you weren’t
able to join us last week, you can now gain instant access and catch up
at your convenience. (Recordings
available until January 31st, 2021.)
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"TV gives you a much greater opportunity to tell a
long-form story, to develop a character and keep it detailed."
- JOSHUA JACKSON
Actor
FRINGE / THE
AFFAIR
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The Freedom of Long-Form Writing
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There are
numerous, structurally unique television series, from Closed Episodes,
to Open Seasons and everything in between. Each show design influences
the way in which writing principles are used. A skilled writer, attuned
to these differences, turns the creative restrictions dictated by the
form to their advantage.
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Each episode
of a show like LAW AND ORDER is a complete unit, beginning with an
inciting incident, building over four acts towards a climax and
resolution. Writers with a strong premise and skillfully designed cast
can wield these tools with endless creativity.
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Whereas shows
such as THE HANDMAID’S TALE, OZARK and SUCCESSION contain stories that
continue season after season. Each story has turning points of minor,
moderate and major change, but nothing ever brings the story to an end.
The writers keep raising questions about the protagonist, revealing
character complexity and changing them for the better or worse. As a
result, these types of shows continue for as many years as they have an
audience.
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As a long-form writer, you must still create beats to
build scenes, scenes to devise sequences and sequences to create acts,
but how they are used to your advantage depends on your show’s
structural design. If you deliver on these writing principles, it can
be a viewing experience like no other.
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Register now
for McKee’s Television Webinar
Series, and catch up on Part 1, The Age of Long-Form
Television, at your convenience.
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"These
webinars have been amazing and I’m so grateful."
- Billie
Tomlinson
(Spring &
Fall Webinar Program Attendee)
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"I
couldn’t make it live each week, so it was super convenient to go back
to the recordings to watch. Thank you."
- Max
Rovo
(Spring Webinar
Program Attendee)
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Robert McKee
teaches how far in advance a writer might plan their long-form story
arc.
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McKee
Seminars | Two Arts, Inc.
PO Box 681
Sherman, Connecticut 06784
United States
(928) 204-2323
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"Long-form creatives are building the story
cathedrals of the 21st Century."
- ROBERT MCKEE
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Long-form
storytelling has already established itself as a dominant art form.
Thanks to magnificent series such as BREAKING BAD, THE WIRE and GAME OF
THRONES, writing for the screen has brought about a new understanding
of story. These shows, unfurling over 70+ hours, now reveal
complexities of character and world-building the likes of which we’ve
never seen.
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To assist our
worldwide audience, we're providing limited access to the recordings of
each event. If you can’t join us live, catch up on every lesson in your
own time. Recordings of this series will be available until January 31,
2021.
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"More and more, you're seeing television shows that
are better than 99% of the movies out there."
- ADAM SCOTT
Actor / Comedian
PARKS AND
RECREATION
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Discover the Future of Storytelling
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Since
Aristotle, there have only been four possible endings to a story: truly
positive, truly negative, ironically positive
(meaning the characters get what they want but pay an enormous price)
or ironically negative (meaning the characters don’t get what
they want, but as a result they learn as human beings).
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During the
evolution of long-form television series, a new type of ending has been
created: exhaustion.
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If a show works, an audience will remain rapt episode
after episode, year after year. What holds that emotional interest over
such a long period of time is character complexity as it is revealed
and changed.
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But when a
long-form series reaches the point where there is nothing of the
characters left to uncover, or there are no possible changes left, the
characters are exhausted. The audience knows their nature
absolutely, therefore there is nothing left for us to look forward to.
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Over a two-hour
film or 300-page novel, this can never be achieved. But over 6 or 7
seasons, as with THE SOPRANOS and MAD MEN, it becomes a new way of
ending your story.
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Our knowledge of stories is based on 2500 years of
writing. However, as new storytelling frontiers are explored, we
realize that refinements and variations on the timeless writing
principles are infinite.
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Long-form television is leading the way.
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Discover the
future of storytelling in Robert McKee's upcoming Television Webinar
Series.
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"I am
most grateful to have these appearing every week in my inbox,
especially during such strange times. I am finding fascinating insights
and it’s inspiring me to sort issues within my own existing work. I
knew something wasn’t right, but now I know what it is and how to fix
it."
- Rebecca
O'Reilly
(Spring Webinar
Program Attendee)
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Ironic vs.
Ambiguous Endings
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Robert McKee
discusses the pros and cons of straightforward, ironic, ambiguous, and
open endings.
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McKee
Seminars | Two Arts, Inc.
PO Box 681
Sherman, Connecticut 06784
United States
(928) 204-2323
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"The many components of love inspire writers to
create a fascinating range of love stories, from the courtship comedy
to the passion tragedy."
- ROBERT MCKEE
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McKee's LOVE STORY Webinar Series
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Today's Event:
Follow-Up
Q&A Session - "The Nature of Love"
Robert answers
your questions about the psychology of love, romantic ideals, the three
dimensions of love, and the history of the genre in Western cultures.
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Coming Up Next:
The Six Subgenres of Love
Thursday, October 15
1PM Eastern Time (US & Canada)
Join us as
McKee presents a detailed study of the genre, teaching why love stories
are found everywhere in contemporary storytelling, and how creatives
can discover new ways to mix and merge relationship stories with other
genres.
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Missed Part 1 of the Series?
The recording
of the first live event in the series is now available. If you weren’t
able to join us last week, you can now gain instant access and catch up
at your convenience. (Recordings
available until December 31st.)
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"It's funny how seeing a love story never gets
boring, because it's the dream, isn't it? It's the dream to have a true
connection with another human being."
- FELICITY JONES
Academy Award,
Golden Globe and BAFTA Nominated Actress
THE THEORY OF
EVERYTHING / ROGUE ONE
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The Enriching Power of the Love Subgenres
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Cinema is in
retreat. The events of the last six months, for the most part, have
decimated it, and yet it’s been in decline for many, many years. On the
other hand, long-form storytelling for the screen is growing ever
faster, with more series being produced, and with a wider variety than
ever.
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The key to a
television series is a multi-genre design. No matter the
dominant genre at the heart of a series, writers have the opportunity
to weave love stories with political drama, crime thriller or anything
in between.
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VANITY FAIR,
for example, is a story about achievement, a character rising from poverty
to finding a place in the world. But watching Rebecca Sharp manipulate
men is fascinating. Conversely, LOVECRAFT COUNTRY is an incredibly
violent show, but with romantic stories knitted throughout.
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Writers use
love stories to help generate the material necessary to run a
television series year after year.
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The definition
of a love story is very broad. It includes not only romance stories
about getting to the altar, but also relationships where the central
dramatic question is “Will this relationship last?” and tales of
sexual obsessions. Each of these unique designs also have the potential
to resolve for better or worse.
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So whether or
not your central plot is a love story, you must give deep thought to
the genre. Love is an essential thread, be it for television or the
novel, to weave into the fabric of your design.
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"McKee is
as insightful and intelligent as always, and this webinar series is so
professionally presented. A true pleasure to attend, thanks!"
- Sue
Scott
(Spring Webinar
Program Attendee)
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Love Stories and
the ‘Buddy Salvation’ Subgenre
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McKee
discusses the conventions of the Love Story and the similarities and
differences of the Buddy Salvation subgenre.
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McKee
Seminars | Two Arts, Inc.
PO Box 681
Sherman, Connecticut 06784
United States
(928) 204-2323
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In Stage 32's ongoing mission to discover new talent, we
are thrilled to announce our First
Annual Diverse Voices Springboard Program, a new
program intended to highlight creatives from underrepresented
background and underrepresented stories.
Ten
undiscovered writers from around the world will be
chosen to be showcased to industry professionals using Stage 32’s
online platform. Judges and the Mentor Board for the program include Lee Daniels Entertainment,
E. Brian Dobbins (Executive Producer, BLACK-ISH), Nelson Cole (Energy
Entertainment), Natalie Qasabian (Producer, SEARCHING), Austin Harris
(Disney/ABC Television Group), Chanlamar Carey (NBCUniversal Television
Group), Krista Sipp and Devon Byers (First Friday Entertainment),
Jalessa Jones (MetaMorphic Entertainment), Courtney J. Miller
(Producer, SAINTS AND SINNERS) and Megan Culberson (Alta Global Media).
The goal the Search for Diverse Voices Springboard is to
provide opportunity for writers who have traditionally not had a voice
in the industry. Stage 32 will find and amplify ten writers from
diverse backgrounds and the most interesting projects from passionate
storytellers. The Mentor Board will meet one-on-one with the winning
writer to provide support and Stage 32 will grant ten writers the
opportunity to showcase their work to it's global community of
over five hundred decision makers. Since 2011, Stage 32 has helped over
five hundred writers find representation and work in film, television
and new media.
Writers can submit both feature film and television scripts for
consideration. Interested creatives can visit Stage 32's Diverse Voices
Springboard registration portal here.
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"The key to winning the war on cliché is research,
taking the time and effort to acquire knowledge."
- ROBERT MCKEE
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McKee's New LOVE STORY Webinar Series
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"I am so
blown away. In truth, I didn’t think I needed a webinar on Genre
because I know what I am writing about…until I participated and
realized that I didn’t. Once again Bob McKee has pulled the rug of
comfort and expectation out from under me and put me on the path to
being a deeper, more aware writer."
- Dean
Cycon
(Spring Webinar
Program Attendee)
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Robert McKee
returns for the second installment of his new, in-depth Fall Webinar
Program. Join us this month for the LOVE STORY series, as McKee
delivers three masterclasses on the psychology, principles and
conventions of story’s most prevalent genre.
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"To do the writing, I have to have time to do
research."
- JEAN-JACQUES ANNAUD
Academy Award-Winning Director / Writer
BLACK AND WHITE IN
COLOR
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Why Self-Discovery is Key to Creativity
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Whether you
are writing an action adventure for the big screen, a sprawling
detective thriller for television, or a 300-page love story, you must study
the form. Never assume that because you’ve seen or read stories in
your genre you know it.
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First, list
all those works you feel are like yours, both successes and failures,
for the study of stories that don’t work is illuminating... and
humbling.
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Genre study begins the first time you rewatch, or
reread, a story.
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Break each
story into elements of setting, character roles, events, and value.
Once complete, stack these analyses one atop the other and begin
mapping the coordinates of your work by asking: What do the stories in
my genre always do? What are its conventions of time, place, character,
and action?
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The most
valuable insights come from self-discovery. Nothing ignites the
imagination like the unearthing of buried treasure.
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Until you
discover the answers, the audience will always be ahead of you.
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Have You Found
Romance at the Heart of Your Story?
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Join us for
McKee’s upcoming LOVE STORY Webinar Series
to learn exactly what you need to be asking yourself when it comes to
your work, then use this opportunity to ask Robert any questions you
may have about the genre in which you're writing.
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Robert McKee
discusses how to approach a new project, and methods writers can use to
inspire their creativity.
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McKee
Seminars | Two Arts, Inc.
PO Box 681
Sherman, Connecticut 06784
United States
(928) 204-2323
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CONGRATULATIONS TO MCKEE ALUMNI
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The 2020
Primetime Emmys were another huge success for McKee’s students. Our
congratulations go out to the 34 alumni nominated across 15
awards, with 6 wins!
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Selected works involving STORY alumni nominated for an
Emmy:
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INSECURE
SCHITT'S CREEK
BETTER CALL SAUL
THE CROWN
DRUNK HISTORY
STRANGER THINGS
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WATCHMEN
SUCCESSION
RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE
THE HANDMAID'S TALE
OZARK
THE LATE SHOW
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IS YOUR MEDIUM HOLDING YOU BACK?
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Take the best
writing from television and ask yourself: “What films are the equal
of that?” If you study great examples of long-form storytelling
like MAD MEN, THE WIRE, or more recently the exceptional FLEABAG, BETTER
CALL SAUL and THE CROWN, you’ll find the answer is simple: they
don’t exist.
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No film from
the last ten years has the complexity of character or the depth of
insight of BREAKING BAD. No comedy written for the big screen is as
consistently funny as CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM.
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This November,
join Robert McKee for his updated and in-depth Television Webinar
Series and discover the lengths that storytelling can achieve.
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McKee’s TV
Webinar Series
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In this series
of three 90-minute lessons (+30-minutes of Q&A), and three
exclusive 2-hour follow-up Q&A sessions, Robert McKee teaches the
evolution and strengths of long-form storytelling, how to design your
series across multiple seasons, and the depths you can reach in
character and story complexity.
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Recordings
available until January 31st, 2021.
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"McKee illuminates those underlying principles that
too few writers know."
- BRIAN COX
Emmy & Golden Globe Award-Winner
SUCCESSION / ADAPTATION / RED / ZODIAC
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McKee
Seminars | Two Arts, Inc.
PO Box 681
Sherman, Connecticut 06784
United States
(928) 204-2323
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"Respect and master your genre and its conventions.
Never assume that because you've seen films in your genre you know
it."
- ROBERT MCKEE
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McKee's LOVE STORY Webinar Series
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McKee’s new
fall webinars are carefully crafted to ignite your creativity and fuel
your writing. Join us this October for the Love Story Webinar Series,
as McKee delivers new, in-depth material that goes beyond the live
seminar, and directly to the art of the heart.
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Watch Live or On Demand
As a courtesy to our students around the globe, we're
allowing access to the recordings of each event for a limited time. If
you can't join us live, catch up on every lesson at your convenience. Recordings
available until December 31st.
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"There is no enterprise which is started with such
tremendous hopes and high expectations and yet fails so often as
love."
- ERICH FROMM
Philsopher /
Writer
THE ART OF
LOVING
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Why You Must Exceed Audience Expectations
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Many of the
actions in any story are more or less expected. By genre convention,
the detective in a Thriller will discover a crime, the protagonist’s
life in an Education Plot will hit rock bottom, the lovers in a Love
Story will meet.
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Genre
conventions are universally known and anticipated by the audience.
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As a result,
fine writing puts less stress on what happens than to whom, why
and how it happens. The richest and most satisfying pleasures of
all are found in stories that focus on reactions that events cause and
the insight gained.
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The two lovers
meeting in a Love Story is a necessary element of the form. However, if
they meet as lovers in such stories have always met: two dynamic
individuals are forced to share an adventure together, or any of the
other countless clichés, then the audience will collectively groan and
all empathy will be lost.
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Your
imagination must rise to the occasion and fulfill convention, but in an
insightful and unique way. Master storytellers guide audiences through
rich, creative variations on convention that exceed expectations by giving them not only
what they hoped for, but more than they could have
anticipated.
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Learn how to
exceed the expectations of your audience in McKee's LOVE STORY Webinar
Series
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"I’m so
enjoying Mr. McKee’s current webinar... he’s truly a genius! Every
aspiring fiction writer MUST read what Robert writes about story and
character."
- Kristina
Gorcheva-Newberry
(Story Craft
Webinar Attendee)
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Writing Your
Own Love Story
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Robert McKee
teaches the objectivity and insight needed to write a love story
inspired by your own life experience.
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McKee
Seminars | Two Arts, Inc.
PO Box 681
Sherman, Connecticut 06784
United States
(928) 204-2323
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"It has
been very difficult to write without my normal structure and lack of
solitude but these weekly webinars have kept me from giving up. Thank
you guys for your efforts in getting these out."
- Karin Dominkovics
(Spring Webinar Program Attendee)
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Where Do You
Find the Time to Write?
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The
difficulties of the past 6 months have placed writers, directors and
other creatives under enormous physical and emotional pressure. As you
struggle to balance the new normal with your creative life, you must
ask yourself a simple question: “Can I live without writing?”
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You can close
your eyes and ears, put down your tools and wait for this to pass. Or
you can summon the determination and discipline to continue with the
reason you sit at your desk every day...
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Final Session: McKee's Story Craft Webinar Series
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Tomorrow's live Q&A session wraps up the September STORY CRAFT webinar series, but
you can still enroll and catch up on every session you missed by watching them On
Demand. To assist our worldwide audience in these difficult times,
we're providing access to the recordings of each event until November
30th.
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Enroll today
and catch up at your convenience, as Robert McKee delivers the
crucial insight you need to understand your work in the context of the
story universe, to hook and hold the interest of your audience, and to
lift your story from a good telling to a work of art.
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Coming Up Next...
SEP 29 - Follow-Up Q&A Session
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Words From Our Webinar Attendees:
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"These
webinars are inspiring me to make more effort to put pen to paper (or
fingers to keyboard!) and pursue my ambitions. I really look forward to
each week's webinar, particularly in these strange and uncertain times
when they are both a welcome focus and distraction."
- Sharon Grey
(Spring
Webinar Program Attendee)
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"I am
most grateful to have these appearing every week in my inbox,
especially during such strange times. Thank you for offering this
online option. I am finding fascinating insights and it’s inspiring me
to sort issues within my own existing work. I knew something wasn’t
right, but now I know what it is and how to fix it."
- Rebecca
O’Reilly
(Spring
Webinar Program Attendee)
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"I
honestly had such a good time popping into each week’s episode. It was
a nice break from working and I learned more about the principles
Robert has put together than I had previously. I couldn’t make it live
each week, so it was super convenient to go back to the recordings to
watch. Thank you."
- Max Rovo
(Spring
Webinar Program Attendee)
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McKee
Seminars | Two Arts, Inc.
PO Box 681
Sherman, Connecticut 06784
United States
(928) 204-2323
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