I've just spent a fascinating 3 day weekend attending a Robert McKee screenwriting seminar. McKee is a renowned American "talking head", theorist and lecturer on writing for films. His real emphasis is on the importance of story - structure, substance and style - hence the title of his long-running seminars Story.
The content across the three days was terrific. For current or budding writers, McKee's classical theory, illuminating examples and street cred are stimulating and inspiring.
However ...
A real challenge for me - and seemingly many other attendees both here in Australia and abroad - is that McKee is not that nice a bloke!
Big deal you might think.
But the downside is that his personality really does get in the way of his terrific content and experience. His diatribes against mobile phones, the French, anyone arriving late and even families detracts from his brilliance at dissecting, interpreting and teaching the intricacies of story telling.
Perhaps it's his performance background that drives him to deliver his 5 x 2 hour monologues each day for three days. No interaction is allowed, and woe betide anyone who does something to distract him.
And it's a bloody shame.
It really is.
His content and experience, coupled with a more facilitative and participative style, would improve his Story seminars out of sight. A bit less self-obsession or self-orientation might also make him a nicer bloke - that couldn't hurt.
It might also make him a little easier to work with in Hollywood. It came as only a small surprise that while he has had a number of screenplays optioned (or purchased), none have been made.
All that said, I definitely got my money's worth from the weekend. I received plenty of inspiration and a bucket load of practical tips that I can use in my writing.
But do you know anyone whose personality gets in the way of their gift of knowledge/experience?
The content across the three days was terrific. For current or budding writers, McKee's classical theory, illuminating examples and street cred are stimulating and inspiring.
However ...
A real challenge for me - and seemingly many other attendees both here in Australia and abroad - is that McKee is not that nice a bloke!
Big deal you might think.
But the downside is that his personality really does get in the way of his terrific content and experience. His diatribes against mobile phones, the French, anyone arriving late and even families detracts from his brilliance at dissecting, interpreting and teaching the intricacies of story telling.
Perhaps it's his performance background that drives him to deliver his 5 x 2 hour monologues each day for three days. No interaction is allowed, and woe betide anyone who does something to distract him.
And it's a bloody shame.
It really is.
His content and experience, coupled with a more facilitative and participative style, would improve his Story seminars out of sight. A bit less self-obsession or self-orientation might also make him a nicer bloke - that couldn't hurt.
It might also make him a little easier to work with in Hollywood. It came as only a small surprise that while he has had a number of screenplays optioned (or purchased), none have been made.
All that said, I definitely got my money's worth from the weekend. I received plenty of inspiration and a bucket load of practical tips that I can use in my writing.
But do you know anyone whose personality gets in the way of their gift of knowledge/experience?
