Types, Characters, Ensembles: Development and Orchestration

Zobrazit rozvrh

Kód Zakončení Kredity Rozsah Jazyk výuky Semestr
305MTCHE zápočet 1 8 hodiny výuky za celý semestr (45 minut), 19 až 24 hodin domácí příprava anglicky zimní

Garant předmětu

Jitka KOTRLOVÁ

Jméno vyučujícího (jména vyučujících)

Jitka KOTRLOVÁ

Katedra

Předmět zajišťuje Katedra produkce

Obsah

The module focuses on developing a film or series project through the lens of character development. It is designed for individual creators as well as established teams working on projects in the concept or treatment stage. The workshop alternates between theoretical input and group exercises in brief intervalls.

The aim of the module is to introduce participants to the fundamental theoretical concepts used in screenwriting, drawing among others on Lajos Egri’s theory, which is based on the belief that a strong story is built upon a psychologically complex character, and on John Truby’s method of thematic orchestration, which reveals the power of storytelling through a clearly defined network of character motivations.

Starting with the development of single three-dimensional characters the workshop builds in complexity with the development of character pairs (couples and protagonist-antagonist oppositions), to groups of four and ensembles of up to eight characters – culminating in a hands-on exercise using Lego figures.

In the theoretical section, we will introduce the foundations of character development methodology and compare three major approaches:

·Psychological criteria (e.g. in drama), illustrated by Waldo Salt’s Need/Mode model

·Type and function-based criteria (e.g. in genre films), following Christopher Vogler’s and Joseph Campbell’s archetypes

·Thematic criteria (e.g. in parables, theses, or propaganda), according to Lajos Egri

We will then explore possible combinations of these approaches, complemented by group exercises for each:

·Psychological typification based on Laurie Hutzler’s “Emotional Toolbox” and/or the Enneagram as a screenwriting tool

·Psychological character development for a cinematic theme following Lajos Egri’s “Forging the Unbreakable Bond”

·Typification and orchestration of characters according to a film’s thematic centre, following John Truby’s “Four Corner Opposition Method”

Students and/or teams currently developing projects, whether initial sketches or existing ideas, are welcome to apply the workshop to their material - but working from scratch is equally possible.

In case you are interested in a consultation about your characters, you can send a short pitch deck of your story in Czech or English to jitka.kotrlova@famu.cz by December 1st. The material will be forwarded to the lecturer.

Výsledky učení

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Předpoklady a další požadavky

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Literatura

Literature:

Egri, Lajos: The Art of Creative Writing

Citadel, 2020

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0806540733

Egri, Lajos. The Art of Dramatic Writing

Merricat Books, 2021

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1434403872

Truby, John : The Anatomy of Story . 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller

Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2018

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0865479937

Further Reading:

Cunningham, Keith: Sould of Screenwriting. On Writing, Dramatic Truth, and Knowing Yourself

Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd., 2008

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0826428691

Vogler, Christopher: The Writer's Journey - 3rd edition. Mythic Structure for Writers

Michael Wiese Productions, 2007

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1615931705

Hodnoticí metody a kritéria

Zápočet je udělen na základě 100% docházky.

Poznámka

Modul pro studující:

KP, FI, KSD, KR

O přednášejícím:

Dennis Todorovic

is of Czech-Montenegrin origin and lives in Germany. He is a writer and director, professor for story development Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF, former producer and occasional editor.

After numerous film jobs in Prague in the late 1990s, he studied directing at ARTTS Int. United Kingdom, BA Directing at the ifs, International Film School Cologne, EKRAN Masterclass Directing at the Andrzej Wajda Master School of Film Directing Warsaw, Authors' Programme at the International Film School Cologne, Acting Direction at Binger Filmlab Amsterdam, two screenwriting masterclasses at eQuinoxe Europe e.V.

He is a literature scholarship holder of the Baden Württemberg Art Foundation, the Wim Wenders Foundation and the Mediengründerzentrum NRW and was twice nominated for the Thomas Strittmatter Screenplay Award (2012, 2022).

His feature films, short films and music videos have been screened at numerous film festivals worldwide, including Locarno, Oberhausen, Clermont-Ferrand, Dresden and San Francisco: Amor Fati (short film, 2006), Sascha (feature film, 2010), Schwester Weiß (feature film, 2016), Lucid (novel with Christoph Mathieu, 2017), Tutorial (music video, 2018), Homeshopper's Paradise (by Nancy McGranakyQuaye / co-author, 2021), Five Songs For The Patriarchy (in development, 2024)

Další informace

Předmět je součástí nabídky volitelných předmětů fakulty

Rozvrh na zimní semestr 2025/2026:

Datum Den Čas Vyučující Místo Poznámky Č. paralelky
05.12.2025 10:00–15:30 Učebna KP 334 (FAMU)
Lažanský palác		 přednášková par. 1

Rozvrh na letní semestr 2025/2026:

Rozvrh zatím není připraven

Předmět je součástí následujících studijních plánů