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DECEMBER, JANUARY
& FEBRUARY USER GROUPS
DECEMBER 13th USER'S GROUP: "SPIN-THE-MODEL-DELUXE" This December we're going to try something pretty daring! Instead of our usual user's group where we analyze an existing movie, play or book, we're going to create one. Using Dramatica's "Spin-the-model" feature, an audience volunteer will randomly pick one of the 32,768 storyforms. Then, Chris Huntley, co-author of the Dramatica theory, will guide the group through encoding the appreciations and we will write a story "off-the-cuff". Kinda like story improv. Except that by the end of the night, we should have a story that though bizarre, should hang together and make sense. The story will become the property of all who participate, and if anyone wishes to take the story and actually write a script from it, they may be making history: the first script with a randomly generated deep structure "argument". Imagine if it actually sells! Come join us for what promises to be an enlightening evening: Wednesday, December 13th -- 7:00pm, at the offices of Screenplay Systems: 150 E. Olive Ave. STE 203, Burbank. In the heart of downtown Burbank, off the 5 freeway Olive Ave. & Verdugo exits. Ample parking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JANUARY 10th USER'S GROUP: USING DRAMATICA FOR INTERACTIVE MULTIMEDIA Recently, Chris & Melanie spoke at noted narrative theorist Dr. Marsha Kinder's USCinema class, "Interactive Narrative Theory." During the class, they suggested how Dramatica's theory and software might be used in the writing of interactive multimedia stories. It was so interesting and well-received that we thought our users might benefit from a similar presentation. "Using Dramatica for Interactive Multimedia" will be the subject of the January 10th user's group meeting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FEBRUARY 7th USER'S GROUP: ANALYSIS: "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD" Recently, Katy Monahan Huntley, a member of the Dramatica Department who has a Masters in Broadcast Communications and Electronic Media, (emphasis in theory and critical analysis) did an analysis of "To Kill a Mockingbird". The February 7th User's Group will be an analysis of the story. Katy actually analyzed the book, but she says the film has the same storyform. "The film expresses the core of the story, though the book is much richer in its thematics, and its detailed examination of prejudice in society." Katy's Dramatica storyform for this story will be available to anyone who brings a floppy disk to the class. See the film (or read the book) and come prepared to join in the group story analysis. NOTE: The February User's Group will be held one week EARLY, to avoid conflicts with Valentine's day. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SOFTWARE NEWS: DRAMATICA WRITER'S DREAMKIT -- A NEW PRODUCT? As some of you may know, we recently discontinued "Dramatica Lite" and released the "Dramatica Writer's DreamKit" software. Previously, "Writer's DreamKit" was the name of our accessories pack, but we liked that name so much we decided to put it on the new product. The new Dramatica Writer's DreamKit is now the lower-priced, streamlined version of Dramatica Pro, targeted for beginning to intermediate writers. WDK is similar to "Lite", while adding more functionality, improved compatibility with Windows 95, and the new "StoryGuide" workbook. The new StoryGuide literally holds your hand through answering all the storyforming questions, then guides you from concept to completion. We think this is what many users have always wanted, and hope it helps to bridge the gap between coming up with a storyform and producing a finished work. So what about Dramatica Pro users? Read on. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SOFTWARE NEWS: DRAMATICA PRO UPDATE EXPECTED IN MARCH In March we are expecting to release an update to Dramatica Pro. Version 2.0 will also include "StoryGuide Pro", which will be similar to the WDK StoryGuide. There are numerous new question paths and reports, and a number of interface improvements, as well as performance improvements. The final feature set will be announced by the end of February. If you haven't already done so, please send in your registration card to make sure you are contacted about the update. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WEEKLY DRAMATICA WRITERS' GROUP CONTINUES! The Dramatica Writers' group, an ad hoc collection of writers interested in using the software and theory to create and analyze their work, continues to meet weekly Tuesday nights at the offices of Screenplay Systems (see address above). If you have a script you'd like feedback on, or are interested in getting to use the software or theory, you might want to check it out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WORLD-WIDE WEB SITE IMPROVED More work has been done to the Dramatica World-Wide Web site. We are continuing to add more articles as well as visual materials to assist our clients. If you have a web browser, check us out at: http://www.well.com/user/dramatic/ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DRAMATICA SEMINAR AT UCLA EXTENSION: UCLA was so impressed with the Dramatica theory and software that they wanted the authors to teach a class in February/March. The February/March class is spread out over four Saturdays, and promises to be quite fun.
When: 4 Saturdays: February 24-March 16; 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Where: UCLA: 147 Dodd Hall Fee: $165.00
Registration: (via UCLA Extension)
Phone: (310) 825-9971 FAX: (310) 206-3223 E-mail: Enroll@Unex.UCLA.edu
A TWO-DAY UCLA Extension class in Dramatica is scheduled for mid-May. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RECENT PRESS & RADIO QUOTES ON DRAMATICA
OK -- so we like to brag a bit. The press has been exceedingly supportive of Dramatica. Here are some quotes from four recent reviews: "We're sold! I know reviewers aren't supposed to be so unabashed about software they test, but frankly Dramatica Pro is the best thing to happen to story telling since Eve gave the apple to Adam! Calling it Brilliant! would only diminish its true value to writers of any kind." "Dramatica Pro, the CyberCure for writers block. This is the best software of its kind that you're going to see in this millennium." -- David Buchanan, Screenwriters Online Insider Report "Dramatica Pro represents a major leap for novelists, playwrights, screenwriters and fiction writers. Dramatica Pro's user interface unquestionably stands head and shoulders above its other top three competitors, StoryLine Pro, Collaborator and Plots Unlimited. Simply put, you can create a tightly structured story within Dramatica Pro's unique environment, powered by its powerful Story Engine, that truly makes whatever story you create quite logical." -- Randy Sydnor, KLA "Software In Review" "If Collaborator is the conscientious grad student T.A., Dramatica Pro is the worldly writing professor with the philosophical bent. Like the former, it uses question/answer format to get your story flowing and growing. That's about where the similarities end, for Dramatica takes theory to a level Collaborator never dares approach." "Dramatica Pro may teach you more about the intricacies of the writing craft than any other product on the market." -- Back Stage West "Dramatica revealed to me my underlying themes, which proved invaluable for heightening my conscious awareness of the play" "Dramatica formed a consensus and conclusions that helped me to see the story more clearly and objectively. I felt as though Dramatica saw through me, into the ideas that I was unconsciously formulating without my own conscious knowledge. Dramatica's assessment of my story theme and character's motivations had a surgical precision that left me feeling exposed." "Dramatica enabled me to see what I wasn't seeing, to see outside my own story mind, by consolidating all the information I provided the program. This kind of confirmation and insight can be very encouraging to a playwright, or to any writer who writes alone, without a living, breathing partner to give her feedback" -- Francesca Riviere, Parabasis Magazine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ABOUT THIS MAILING LIST: No one likes "junk mail". Screenplay Systems does not pass this list out to any other companies. If you do not wish to receive any notifications from us in the future, please send e-mail to "Newsletter@Screenplay.com" and ask to be removed from the electronic newsletter. If you like receiving information from us, just keep us posted when you change e-mail addresses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OUR E-MAIL ADDRESSES:
Thank you for your continued support, Stephen Greenfield |
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Copyright
© 1994-2006 Write Brothers, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |