Dramatic Construction and Film Grammar

Colleges and short-format online classes are in abundance, promising you that you will get what you need in only a few hours or a couple of semesters. But in reality, you'll need more. Alex believes that telling stories is a way of life, a way of seeing, not just a job, or an achievement in school. True storytelling involves more than just a few hours. This new long-format experience gives you the time needed to mature your talents, and connect with a community of storytellers. Surround yourself with other creators just as passionate and focused on telling stories as you are, with a drive and commitment that creates an environment for success.

This is a college-level course that Alex Mann taught at Art Center College of Design in the Entertainment Design Animation Track for 4 years, but with the addition of real-world elements, such as screenings with analysis, guests (based on availability), and community. In a unique in-person writer's environment, Alex combines the master class curriculum that includes analysis, reviews, and guidance, with time for one-on-one mentoring.

Whether in addition to your current schooling, or instead of school, you will experience how to see and tell stories for animation, live action, features, or shorts, plus have access to additional one-on-one mentorship along the way.

Now is your chance to work directly with Writer, Director, and Story Artist Alex Mann!

This program is your doorway to discovering the process of seeing how your stories can resonate with an audience. Get direction, and be a part of the story community! It is a process that you will use and build on for the rest of your life.

Open to aspiring writers, story artists, directors, and others who possess the passion, dedication, and drive needed to create your own feature short-film story outline, and later, an animatic.

Element 1 - Dramatic Construction

BLOCK A: Weekly, in-person meetups with the other members of the story team. The first 13 weeks will be engaged in ​​dramatic construction, where you will focus on the fundamentals of story structure, character development, and theme, giving you the principles for problem solving story solutions in your own personal or professional work. This program will help you see results fast! 

Element 2 - Film Grammar

BLOCK B: After a short break in the course, Alex continues with 9 weeks of weekly in-person meetups.  This second section will focus on film grammar, with an emphasis on learning cinematic fundamentals culminating in creating a performance based short animatic. Through analyzing classic Hollywood movies, lectures, and topic specific handouts, we will gain insights into visual/visceral storytelling.  CTN will create a private Facebook group for the team, to post their animatics and connect in-between meetings. Included are one-on-one coaching sessions with the mentor, Alex Mann. 

Element 3 - Producer Show 

This 22-week course ascends the mountain with you having an opportunity to have your 'animatic' shown in the story room of the Producers Show in November 2022, at the CTN animation eXpo.  (Not all animatics are chosen. Everyone is invited. Ticket to the eXpo is included.)

• You want to work in the animation and film industry. 
• You are a college student, early newcomer, or story enthusiast. 
• The program can be completed as an alternative or supplement to college, graduate programs, trade school, and alongside your career. 
• You can work in-person once a week. 
• You are imaginative, motivated, and driven to a life of creating and telling stories.  
• You are dedicated and self motivated.  College Level Understanding of Animation, Storytelling, Writing.  
• You have your own computer, and have access to animation/drawing software used for building an animatic. 
• You speak and understand English. 
• You can meet deadlines. 
• You are ready to have fun with an amazing team of storytellers in a unique professional and creative studio environment. 

PRE-REQUISITES  

BLOCK A and B:

18 years or older

Must speak and understand English well. 

A passion for visual storytelling.    

BLOCK B only:

Knowledge of a visual storytelling software. Choice of specific software preference is up to you! (Photoshop, Storyboard Pro, Harmony, etc.) 

Bring your own equipment. (Laptop, tablet, etc.) 

Drawing Required. College-level drawing skills are needed to create a short animatic at the conclusion of this program. 

You will want to put in 15 hours per week of extra time on your project, to always be prepared for the following week. 

LONG FORMAT:

This Master Class Program is In-Person  

Entire Program Duration: May 9, 2022 - October 24, 2022

Block A: Dramatic Construction - May 9, 2022 - August 8, 2022

Block B: Film Grammar - August 22, 2022 - October 24, 2022

Every Monday, 6 pm - 9 pm

Limited Seating

Sign up for the full course Block A and B, OR sign up for Block A only.  VIEW OPTIONS

Course culminates with an industry story room  'Producers Show' and Wrap Party, held at the prestigious Creative Talent Network Animation eXpo (CTNX 2022), November 17-20, 2022, in the animation capital of the world - Burbank CA.  (Not all animatics are chosen. Everyone is invited. Ticket to CTNX 2022 is included.)  Reserve your Hotel Room now for CTNX 2022 before they sell out: HOTEL RESERVATION

Student Discounts Available. Enquire using the contact us form and tell us what ticket and event you are registering for.                    


The CTN Foundation is awarding a limited number of full scholarship seats to this program.   

HOW DO I APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP:

Click the apply button and fill out the application. This application is for a scholarship seat in this program awarded by the CTN Foundation.   (Limited number of scholarships are awarded)