The Writer’s Journey

June 19 & 20, 2010

Master Class with Christopher Vogler

The Writer’s Journey Master Class is a quest to discover how stories create emotions in an audience. The essence of stories will be explored, tracing the bones and nervous system, so to speak, of the storytelling process. The mechanisms of stories are intimately connected with the vital organs of the body and combine with imagery deeply implanted in our minds to create strong emotional responses when we hear or see a good, „healthy“ story, with all its parts operating in balance like a healthy human body.

The Writer’s Journey is inspired by ancient patterns of narrative embedded in myths and fairy tales. These structures and systems still have power to fascinate us and bring up strong emotions, as workshop leader Christopher Vogler has witnessed in dozens of Hollywood productions where he has been called upon to provide the mythic touch. In the Master Class he brings a systematic approach to structuring stories from the ground up using the Hero’s Journey pattern as a roadmap.

The first part of the workshop deals with structure. It defines the essence of the contract between the storyteller and the audience, and covers the 12 stages of the classic mythic journey, with discussion of alternative approaches to structuring stories. Film clips will demonstrate how the mythic structure stirs emotion. The second part is devoted to character, and will introduce the eight major archetypes, a primal cast of characters that are always in demand. In addition, Christopher Vogler will open up his bag of Hollywood story tricks, sharing the secrets he has learned in working for the major studios in Los Angeles on hundreds of productions.

The Writer’s Journey will explore:

  • The origins and essence of storytelling
  • A 12-stage template for story structure derived from myths and fairy tales
  • How to connect with the emotional centers in the body
  • How to use the engine of polarity to make your story come to life
  • How to add deeper levels to your stories and characters
  • How to create the powerful emotional effect of catharsis
  • How to use 8 useful archetypes of character
  • Current screenwriting techniques for winning over the reader
  • Secrets of entertainment from the world of vaudeville

The Master Class will take place on June 19 and 20 every day from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Gloria Palast right in the heart of Munich on Karlsplatz („Stachus“) within the framework of the MUNICH INTERNATIONAL short film festival and with the support of the FilmFernsehFonds Bayern. Unless otherwise noted, our standard Terms & Conditions apply.

The Trainer:

Christopher Vogler is a veteran story consultant for major Hollywood film companies and a respected teacher of filmmakers and writers around the globe. His book „The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers“, applying the ancient patterns of myth to modern story-telling, has helped to shape the way people in movies, TV, and publishing think about stories and is required reading at many film schools and literature programs. He has influenced the screenplays of movies from THE LION KING to THE WRESTLER.

www.thewritersjourney.com