Dramatica Weekend Workshop Syllabus

Dramatica &
Accessories

Software

StoryWeaver

$29.95

A step by step approach to story development, from concept to completed story for your novel or screenplay. More than 200 interactive Story Cards guide you through the entire process.

Details and Demo

Dramatica

$149.95

The most powerful story structuring software available, Dramatica is driven by a patented "Story Engine" that cross-references your dramatic choices to ensure a perfect structure.

Details and Demo

Movie Magic Screenwriter

$149.95

The most advanced screenwriting software available, Movie Magic is deemed a "preferred file format" by the Writer's Guild. An industry standard, MMS is used by professionals and studios around the world.

Details and Demo

Throughline Index Cards

$9.95

Interactive index cards - Name them, add notes, titles, colors, click and drag to re-arrange, adjust font, save, export and print. An essential tool for every writer.

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DramaticaŽ

Weekend Workshop

Syllabus

Developed by

Melanie Anne Phillips

Chris Huntley

Welcome to our class in the Dramatica Theory of Story
and the software that bears its name!

(Click on the links below for a complete outline
of each section of the syllabus!)

Our purpose in this class is to provide you with a wealth of new tools, techniques, and a new understanding of what stories are and how they work. Software-wise we will show you how to use Dramatica to go from concept to completion of a fully developed sequential treatment.

Dramatica Theory easily divides into two topics: the structure of story Vs. the telling of story. We refer to the structure of story as “The Elements of Structure.” We refer to the telling of story as “The Art of Storytelling.” The class is organized so that we will move back and forth between the structural and story telling approaches to story.

1 Introduction and Overview

An introduction to the four elements of structure, the four stages of communication, and some of Dramatica’s fundamental concepts.

2 The Elements of Structure: Character

A structural understanding of Characters .

3 The Art of Storytelling: Storyforming

A look at the 8 essential questions which describe a story’s dynamics.

4 The Elements of Structure: Theme

The Thematic Appreciations of a Storyform.

5 The Art of Storytelling: Storyencoding

A look at the process of selecting the symbols for your story.

6 The Elements of Structure: Plot

The static and progressive appreciations of Plot.

7 The Art of Storytelling: Storyweaving

A look at the considerations involved in how to present your story to an audience.

8 The Elements of Structure: Genre

The structure and modes of expressing Genre.

9 The Art of Storytelling: Reception

A look at how the audience is author of their own Reception.

Recommended Viewing List

We recommend viewing as many of these films as possible before the class. Consider reviewing the films you have already seen before. Though we will be showing brief clips from many of the films, we have found that the fresher your memories are of the films, the more you will get from the examples we use.

Highly Recommended:

Star Wars

The Fugitive

The Wizard of Oz

To Kill A Mockingbird

Moderately Recommended:

Casablanca

The Godfather

The Verdict

If you haven’t anything better to do on a Saturday night:

Pulp Fiction

Rain Man

Remains of the Day

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf*

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