NJ State Film Festival at Cape May

Contact: Tom Sims
New Jersey State Film Festival at Cape May
PO Box 595
Cape May, NJ 08204
Cell: 267-626-3688
Office: 609-884-6700
Email: info@njstatefilmfestival.com
www.njstatefilmfestival.com

WRITING THE MOVIE IN YOUR HEAD

(Cape May, NJ) You’ve had an idea that comes to your mind now and then. You think, “That would make a good movie.” Well why not do something about it? The New Jersey State Film Festival at Cape May is hosting an engaging, intense, interactive workshop in two parts, exploring the unique art and complex craft of the screenplay. The workshop’s instructor is screenwriter JC Stinson. His credits include Sudden Impact and City Heat as well as numerous production rewrites, dialogue polishes and development deals.  His line of dialogue “Go ahead, make my day.” is included in Bartlett’s familiar Quotations and has been honored by the American Film Institute as one of the hundred all-time most memorable film quotes. 

The first half of the workshop examines the various elements of a contemporary, professional screenplay and the techniques required to create those elements. Including...Story (how to develop it), Structure (what is it & how to use it), Character (who are these people & how to give them life), Dialogue (how to write what people say) and Plot & Action (what's the difference & how to use each).

Form and Format will also be discussed, deconstructed and demystified. Screenplay format can seem esoteric and intimidating. But the opposite is true. It's all about simplicity. Transforming complex stories and compelling characters into simple pictures & sounds. And form is all about thinking like a movie. Learning to think like a movie unlocks the ability to write like a movie. And format is the key.

The morning includes lecture, movie clips, selected readings from professional screenplays, lots of discussion and, especially, writing exercises.
 
The afternoon portion of the workshop is strictly BYOP...bring your own pages. Includes completed screenplays as well as works-in-progress. Or even story ideas in need of a jump start. Successful screenplays are always and only about the pages. Everyone reads their own & listens to each other's. Instructor will comment, evaluate, suggest. Or just commiserate. And so will the group. "The eye sees not itself but by reflection". As usual, that Stratford-On-Avon scribbler had it just right. Sometimes the best way to discover what works & what doesn't in your own work is to examine another's. And often, helping someone else's writing helps your own.

The New Jersey State Film Festival at Cape May is the state’s premiere film festival dedicated exclusively to the support and presentation of creative, challenging, groundbreaking, film/video works by New Jersey filmmakers. The Festival is also the region’s leading educational and cultural resource for youth and adult learners interested in all facets of the cinematic experience. For tickets and information, contact the Film Festival office at 609-884-6700 or visit them online at www.njstatefilmfestival.com.

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Cape May NJ State Film Festival
P.O. Box 595
Cape May, NJ 08204

(609) 884-6700
(609) 884-6722 (fax)

Email:
info@njstatefilmfestival.com