Secrets of Canadian Screenwriters
Thursday, May 15 at 7 PM, in the 2nd floor auditorium of the Toronto Public Library, 5120 Yonge Street, I’ll be moderating a panel of Canada’s finest screenwriters, Cal Coons, Malcolm MacRury and Janet MacLean. Collectively we have written many hours of film and TV and I’m excited to get all 3 of these talented pros in one place at one time.
I’ve planned an evening that focuses on craft:
What is a story?
The importance of structure and how to hold an audience
What makes a compelling character
How casting affects writing
Is it possible to have a common theme in your work when you write for series TV?
Being writers, we tell the best stories and are more articulate and entertaining than any other sector in the business. (Okay, I’m biased, but I’ve been to dinner with these people and it’s a blast.)
All of us will be showing clips from our body of work and having put together the clips myself, I can promise you will be impressed by the sheer force of creativity in their work. You’ll see clips from Murdoch Mysteries, The Border and Lives of the Saints among others. And Cal, Janet and Malcolm will be able to talk about what you’re seeing. It’s like the commentary track on a DVD–only live!
Malcolm will also be sneak previewing a teaser from his upcoming mini-series, ZOS, which has not been broadcast!
I’m hoping this will be an event that places screenwriting in the forefront of the creative process of film and television. After all, no director or producer or star even has a job until the screenwriter has finished theirs. It’s time the screenwriter be acknowledged and I’m grateful to the Toronto Public Library for sponsoring this event.
Hope to see you there!
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