The Idea: The 7 Elements of a Viable Story Idea for Screen, Stage or Fiction
September 7, 2018
Event Date: Saturday, September 22, 2018 || Speaker: Erik Bork || Check-in: 12:30 pm ||
So what does it take for an idea to be viable? The answer is actually pretty simple. A great idea, that’s well executed—one that grabs them emotionally, holds their attention, and powerfully entertains them. Join multiple Emmy winning writer-producer Erik Bork (HBO’s BAND OF BROTHERS) to find out! See more details below.
**The deadline has passed and REGISTRATION is now CLOSED for this event. Please view our calendar for upcoming events. Check-in begins at 12:30 pm.
More details:
This “idea” is the core premise or concept of the story, which basically comes down to the answers to the following five questions:
1. Whose story is it, and why should we identify with them?
2. What do they want, in their life circumstances and relationships?
3. What’s in the way of them achieving that?
4. What are they doing to try to resolve this? What makes it so
hard?
5. Why does it matter deeply—to them, and hopefully, to us?
This is a story’s basic DNA. And a reader’s interest in a piece of material (or lack thereof) tends to stem directly from the answers to these questions.
This class is focused on Erik’s acronym for these seven elements, using the word “Problem” (since every story is about one): Punishing, Relatable, Original, Believable, Life-Altering, Entertaining, and Meaningful. It’s about focusing more on getting the concept or premise right in the first place. Which Erik considers to be the key step that determines most projects’ chances of eventual success or failure.
Erik Bork won two Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards for his work as a writer-producer on the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers and From the Earth to the Moon, for executive producer Tom Hanks (and Steven Spielberg, on Band of Brothers). Erik has sold original series pitches to the broadcast networks, worked on the writing staff of primetime drama series, and written feature screenplays for Universal, HBO, TNT, and Playtone.
He teaches for UCLA Extension’s Writers’ Program, and National University’s MFA Program in Professional Screenwriting. He has also been called one of the “Top Ten Most Influential Screenwriting Bloggers” for his website, Flyingwrestler.com,
You can follow Erik on:
His Blog FlyingWrestler.com
Facebook: ScreenwriterErikBork
Twitter: @FlyingWrestler
Check out his book: The Idea: The Seven Elements of a Viable Story for Screen, Stage or Fiction at Amazon by clicking here.
Check out his free: “Ten Key Principles” at http://www.
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Join us on the Fourth Saturday at:
Westside Pavillion
Community Room B
10800 West Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064
**Located on level 3, behind Landmark Theatres. Park in the parking structure close to the theater. Go up to level 3 and follow the signs.
**Parking – first 3 hours free. Plenty of parking.
Meeting Timeframe: 1:00 pm to approximately 3:00 pm.
Members, please remember to bring your SWN membership card!
Any questions, email us at [email protected]
