Whether you’re starting a new project, working on a rewrite, or want to learn new skills - join us to hone your craft.
All Classes take place 100% online utilizing free video conferencing software ZOOM so you can participate from anywhere in the world with an internet connection!
Some writers talk about creating connections with their characters so deep that the characters feel like real people. But how do you bring memorable, three-dimensional characters to life enough to make that connection?
In this workshop, equally suitable for fiction writers and screenwriters, we will discuss various movie/TV/Novels scenes and dissect them to see what makes the characters memorable. You will learn the power of subtext: how to embed details of motivation—thoughts, wants, goals, secrets, flaws, and delusions—into physical behavior, speech patterns, and specific habits that echo throughout your story. You will also learn how to distinguish your central character from every other character and from his or her environment, as a means of further establishing the character in the world of the story.
You'll receive handouts and a series of questions you can pose for your own work which come from “Dating Your Character.”
Come to class with your most important characters in mind, and leave with a better understanding about how to bring them to life.
This 2 Week Clinic Will Cover:
- What elements of characters engage the audience?
- Why characters are the most important and most difficult part of the writing process?
- How to design compelling and unforgettable characters.
- In class exercises.
- Live Q&A!
Marilyn R. Atlas is a talent and literary manager and award-winning producer. Among her credits as film producer are REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES for HBO, which won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival; A CERTAIN DESIRE, starring Sam Waterston; and ECHOES, which won the Gold Award at the Texas International Film Festival. Marilyn has also produced a variety of programming for the cable/pay TV market. In live theater, Marilyn co-produced the West Coast premiere of the musical God Bless You Mr. Rosewater by Ashman and Menken (the writers of ENCHANTED and TANGLED). She also co-produced the award-winning play To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday, which was made into a film starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Peter Gallagher. In 2014, she co-produced the play Detained in the Desert at the Guadalupe Theater in San Antonio, TX. Her additional credits as a producer in live theater include Today’s Special and As I Sing. In addition to Marilyn’s film/TV credits, she has sold (first time) novels “Chasing the Jaguar” to HarperCollins, “Hungry Woman in Paris” to Grand Central Publishing, and the “Ave Maria Bed & Breakfast” to Hachette Publishing, and the “Last Ride of Caleb O’Toole” to Source Books. Her Lifetime movie THE CHOKING GAME based on the YA book by Diana Lopez aired in summer 2014. Previously, Marilyn developed the BRIDES' MARCH for Lifetime Television as well as a limited television series. She previously produced the short musical version of REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVESin Los Angeles in 2009 and is involved in the current development of a full-length production for 2018. Marilyn is currently developing a TV pilot based on the Gary Phillips series of novels “High Hand” and “Shooter’s Point” featuring strong-willed African-American protagonist Martha Chainey. She is also developing a Chinese historical epic with the Metan Development Group and CODEBUSTERS, a children’s show for TV based on a series of best-selling books. Marilyn is also featured in the book “Write Now!” from Penguin/Tarcher. She is the co-author of a relationship-based, screenwriting guide called “Dating Your Character,” about an organic approach to character creation for Stairway Press’ 2016 catalog.
Cancellation Policy: You may cancel for a full refund up to 5 days prior to the start of the class. Cancellations requested after this period will be ineligible for refunds.
Please ensure you are familiar with our Code of Conduct.