On Screen Manitoba

On Screen Manitoba is pleased to partner with Film Training Manitoba and DOC Winnipeg to present a two-day workshop with story consultant Tom Schlesinger on February 9 and 10.

In the Documentary Storytelling and Fiction Film Structure Workshop, you will learn how to develop film stories based on the interface of narrative content and the audience‘s emotional journey while watching your films. This allows you to organize the events in a powerful narrative sequence, maximizing the engagement and appreciation of the audience.

In this intensive, two-day workshop for directors, writers, producers, editors and story editors, you will learn Four Models of Story Development, and master Genre Strategies that will clarify your editorial choices during the writing, production and editing.

On Day One, we will first focus on how these Development Models apply to fiction films like One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest and Shakespeare in Love, so that you have a deep understanding of how these models function as lenses into your film stories. We will also be delineating the difference between structure and characterization for fiction films and documentary films, which is based on the audience’s relationship to these stories.

On Day Two, we will apply the Four Development Models to documentary films and focus on the 23 Essential Elements of great storytelling. In this light, we will review films like Man on Wire, Rivers and Tides, Restrepo, Buck, Bowling for Columbine, and Daughter from Danang.

Whether your primary focus is on documentary or fiction films, you will learn strategies that apply to both storytelling venues on each day. Through simple yet powerful creativity exercises, you will also learns storytelling techniques that you can readily apply to your current and future projects.

When: February 9 and 10, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Where: Red River College, room W215

Fee: $100 for OSM members / $150 for non-members

30 minutes one-on-one meetings on Feb.11 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. at the OSM office ($20 / free for workshop participants. Priority will be given to workshop participants).

Course Outline

Tom Schlesinger Biography

Workshop Testimonials

Please fill out the Registration Form and return to Michael at michael@onscreenmanitoba.com.

If you have any questions email Michael or call 204.927.5899.

Cancellation Policy

• Participants must cancel up to 4 full business days prior to the course start date to receive an 80% refund.
• No refund will be given to participants who cancel within 4 full business days before the course start date, or if they do not attend the course.
• We reserves the right to cancel, or postpone, any course where a minimum registration level has not been met. Participants registered for a course that is canceled will receive a full refund.