Storytelling for the 21st Century

More on the Big Idea in Cinema Storytelling

actone — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:41:33 +0000

Bobette Buster, an adjunct faculty member of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, wraps up her presentation about the role of the Big Idea in movies today. A PDF version of the slide presentation that accompanied her talk may be found here.

A question-and-answer session with the audience and panel follows, and then Rev. Scott Young, director of Graduate Student and Faculty Ministry for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at USC and UCLA, wraps up the two-day symposium with some closing remarks.

This was the final presentation of the two-day Act One Story Symposium, held in October of 2008 at the historic Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood.

How Storytelling is True, Good, and Beautiful

actone — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:19:57 +0000

Dr. Peter Kreeft, renowned philosopher and author of over 50 books, including Socrates Meets Jesus, delivers a presentation about the good, true and beautiful in storytelling.

This was the ninth talk in a series presented at the Act One Story Symposium, held in October of 2008 at the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

From Truth to Fiction

actone — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 17:00:14 +0000

Karen Hall, who has numerous writing and producing credits for television and has been nominated for six Primetime Emmy Awards, discusses the use of one’s own experiences in storytelling.

This was the eighth talk in a series presented at the Act One Story Symposium, held in October of 2008 at the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

In Defense of Happy Endings: A European Perspective

actone — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:29:21 +0000

Armando Fumagalli, professor of Semiotics and Director of the Master Program in Screenwriting and Production for TV and Cinema at the Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan, discusses the nature and value of happy endings in cinema from a European point-of-view.

This was the seventh talk in a series presented at the Act One Story Symposium, held in October of 2008 at the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

What Flannery Knew

actone — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:51:48 +0000

Barbara Nicolosi, screenwriter, adjunct professor of film at Pepperdine University, and former executive director of Act One, discusses Flannery O’Connor’s use of paradox to create haunting moments in storytelling.

This was the sixth talk in a series presented at the Act One Story Symposium, held in October of 2008 at the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

What Flannery Knew slide presentation

actone — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:05:43 +0000

This PDF document contains the slides that accompanied Barbara Nicolosi’s presentation, “What Flannery Knew”.

How Dark is Too Dark?

actone — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:06:27 +0000

David McFadzean, creative and executive producer of the TV sitcom Home Improvement, explores the question: how dark is too dark in cinema storytelling?

This was the fifth talk in a series presented at the Act One Story Symposium, held in October of 2008 at the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

The Healing Power of Stories

actone — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 21:59:46 +0000

Chuck Slocum, Assistant Executive Director at Writers Guild of America West, explores the healing potential of storytelling.

This was the fourth talk in a series presented at the Act One Story Symposium, held in October of 2008 at the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

Heroes

actone — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 22:56:45 +0000

Dr. Peter Kreeft, renowned philosopher and author of over 50 books, including Socrates Meets Jesus, delivers a presentation about heroes. He proposes seven preconditions for a hero — hierarchy, teleology/purpose/design, natural law, absolutes, free will, honor, and suffering — in order to start a discussion of the question: do heroes exist today?

This was the third talk in a series presented at the Act One Story Symposium, held in October of 2008 at the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

Story as Epiphany

actone — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:12:15 +0000

Chris Riley, author of The Hollywood Standard and professor of film at John Paul the Great Catholic University, makes a presentation about epiphanies in movie storytelling.

This was the second talk in a series presented at the Act One Story Symposium, held in October of 2008 at the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

What’s the Big Idea?

actone — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 17:15:40 +0000

Bobette Buster, an adjunct faculty member of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, makes a presentation about the role of the Big Idea in movies today.

This was the first talk in a series presented at the Act One Story Symposium, held in October of 2008 at the historic Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood.

What’s the Big Idea? slide presentation

actone — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 16:55:43 +0000

This PDF document contains the slides that accompanied Bobette Buster’s presentation, “What’s the Big Idea?”

Visual Stories from Hollywood: Beyond Blockbusters and Reality TV

actone — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:08:56 +0000

Rev. Scott Young, director of Graduate Student and Faculty Ministry for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at USC and UCLA, launches the symposium with a presentation on visual storytelling in Hollywood.

Welcome and Introductions

actone — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:01:26 +0000

Vicki Peterson, director of the Act One: Writing for Hollywood program, opens the symposium and describes the format for this two-day discussion of cinematic storytelling. She then introduces Barbara Nicolosi, one of the founders of Act One, who describes the genesis of this event.