CATALYST WORKSHOP 2005

Communicating Science and Engineering	

*Deadline June 13, 2005 *	

In 2004, the American Film Institute offered the first Catalyst
Workshop. A weekend Workshop that welcomed 15 scientists to Los Angeles
and focused on storytelling and screenwriting, the Catalyst Workshop was
created to address one of the most significant issues facing our nation:
the need to engage society (especially young people) in the activity of
science. Through their participation, all 15 Workshop participants not
only became more informed about the business and craft of writing
movies, they also had the opportunity to submit a draft of a screenplay
and receive feedback from a professional reader. Receiving national
attention in such diverse publications as the journal /Science/ and the
_Los Angeles Times_ furthered the program's success.

The mission of the Catalyst Workshop is to provide a means for
scientists and engineers to become more knowledgeable about the
initiation of motion picture projects. The Catalyst Workshop encourages
those scientists and engineers interested in working in entertainment to
learn how to write and submit scripts.

The need for Hollywood to produce pictures with "better science" has
been pointed out in many forums. However, in order to accomplish the
goal of producing scripts with better science stories, an increase in
the number of science-literate writers is necessary. Most scientists
already possess some fundamental skills applicable to the filmmaking
process. Successful professionals in the scientific community often
possess excellent writing skills and they frequently juggle projectsÑas
writers do-working on several disparate projects simultaneously. And
scientists are often required to manage time well and accomplish
complex, creative goals. The Catalyst Workshop teaches scientists how to
utilize their existing skill sets within the film and television
profession.

The 2005 Catalyst Workshop will accept 12 to 15 qualified applicants to
focus on screenwriting craft and practice during five intensive days,
August 1 through 5. Faculty for each session will be professionals
working in film and television, which allows participants to see inside
the world of screenwriting in order to improve their own ideas for film
and television.

The Workshop is supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific
Research, for the purpose of increasing interest in science and
engineering, and strengthening the basis for scientific and engineering
disciplines. The Workshop curriculum has been designed by the American
Film Institute and will take place on its Campus.

*Monday, August 1, 2005*
	*Format*
    * How is a screenplay formatted?
    * What are the differences between film, television and other script
      formats?
    * Is there a format to telling the story?
    * Myth base for storytelling.

*Tuesday, August 2, 2005*
	*Story*
    * What is a story?
    * Plot and character.
    * Story in the various formats.
    * Participants' stories. 

*Wednesday, August 3, 2005 *
	*Outline*
    * The need for an outline.
    * Methods to detail your outline.
    * Computer assistance in outlining and writing. 

*Thursday, August 4, 2005*
	*Treatment*
    * What is a treatment?
    * How would a treatment be used?
    * Agents and managers.
    * The precursor to pitching. 

*Thursday, August 5, 2005*
	*Pitch*
    * What are successful pitches?
    * Pitch practice.
    * Producers and Development Executives. 

Non-Refundable Application Fee: $50

A selection committee will review applications. No fewer than two
science/engineering specialists and two screenwriting professionals will
review each application.

If you were an applicant or participant of the Workshop in 2004, please
be sure to apply with new materials for consideration, especially a new
story idea.

Cost of Attendance: $500 for the five-day intensive. (It is a full
five-day commitment.)

Each day begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. Lunch is provided every
day. Most likely there will be two to three evening sessions.

©2005 American Film Institute. All rights reserved.

http://www.afi.com/education/catalyst/default.aspx