MIKE MILLS - WRITER, DIRECTOR: BEGINNERS, THUMBSUCKER, 20th CENTURY WOMEN, C'MON C'MON
"It's hard to find someone who reads a script as deeply as Joan, and who researches a text with as many different tools: lots of emotions, running around a room, a broad knowledge of the history of stories, obscure classical music, perhaps a little psychic something, and on and on. Then, like a doula, it would be hard to find someone as sensitive and nurturing to the difficult process of having all these feelings, articulating them in a way others can relate to, even when you can't, even when it's beyond your present skill set...the questions and the wrestling bring me to a much richer understanding of what I'm trying to do."
WHAT IS IT?
BEYOND THE DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL...
...IS THE EVOLUTION!
A story is a series of feelings moving us through change. But what are the feelings and what is the change? The response is in the Evolution.
Current industry tropes ask creatives to manufacture explosive Crisis scenes followed by much turmoil leading to acceptance or forgiveness - which gives way to hopeful endings with likeable, relatable characters. Enter the Dad plus hug = cry scene. The throwing over of tables and smashing of plates, drunken walking through streets, wars, all manners of fighting and breakups. Sure, these plot events can appeal - but when they are driven by conflict for conflicts sake, or by a series of notes creatives feel they must follow in order to get greenlit - the meaning hollows out and the project falls flat.
Is it any wonder audiences click away before the end?
Compelling stories have more to offer than what we've all seen a thousand times before.
The Evolution is the most necessary and least understood emotional beat of the Journey.
The Evolution unpacks how we move through the Crisis and engage, deeply invested, all the way through to the ending. It charges each character with meaningful internal actions in the face of unpredictable plot events. Worlds, lives, and relationships change. The Evolution calls in the raw, surprising, new truth - it requires us to engage with Meaning, whether we like it or not, or even know it or not!
Follow WRITE EVOLUTION with PLOT POINT EVOLUTION and DIRECT EVOLUTION to learn how to put the emotional truth of your story in the script and on the screen. Keep your characters growing and your audiences riveted from start to finish!
WHO GOES?
The Lab Series is designed for Film, Episodic, Comercial, and all content creators. It may be attended individually …or by the entire team.
- Directors
- Writers
- Actors
- Producers
- Executives
- Production
- Designers
- Cinematographers
- Editors
- Brand Directors
- Any creatives interested in Story!
Please see See Films, Community and Quotes for Artists Joan has worked with and their thoughts.
WHEN / WHERE?
NEW* ONLINE SELF GUIDED
Anytime Self-Guided Online via Thinkific! For the first time ever, this course can be taken online at your own pace, for details check out the SELF-GUIDED!