MIDPOINT Series Launch 2024

How do anthology, continuing and limited series work? What are
common TV drama genres? Examining the formal structures and
common story elements that compose the “DNA” of a series, we will look for the ‘engine’ that powers the storytelling in each series format and genre: the careful interplay of character, theme, arena and plot.

At the core of each series lies an engine, a central question, a central
conflict that, unlike in a movie, must not be solved. Stretching a movie
for 8 hours might not be the solution either, for a series is NOT a long
film chopped into small pieces. So how do you provide the fuel to go
beyond the pilot? What sustains the conflict and makes the audience
want to watch the next episode?

While in film, the legendary chicken and egg question of which comes
first: the plot or the character remains unanswered, in TV series,
CHARACTERS are the way to go: they are the reason we come back to
watch the show.

In this lecture, Cyril will study the specifics of series characters. How
they have to be approached, how they must be combined and
confronted with one another in order to sustain conflict and generate
situations and scenes for a long time. He will also discuss how they
affect the narrative specifics that are at the core of any series, whether
procedurals or serialized, all that good stuff that makes a series
a series.

How well do you know your protagonist?

This is the person that you are hanging around with most of the day. You think about him/her, you dream about him/her, you write his/her story, you have feelings about him/her, but how well do you really know your protagonist? And why is this so important?

In a fascinating and surprising lecture, Sari Azoulay Turgeman will expose the importance of developing a relationship between you and your protagonist and also to other characters. How does this relationship affect the dramatic plot. How it helps you to write better and faster. You'll get some easy tools in order to know him/her better. You will discover that the more you are aware to this connection between you and your protagonist, the more your story becomes personal and therefore universal.

“AI & Creativity” is designed to introduce screenwriters and producers to the potential of generative AI technology. After gaining a solid understanding of the basics of generative AI, including its underlying principles and common terminology, the course will explore practical applications of generative AI in concept and script development. With a focus on learning how to use AI models for brainstorming ideas, structuring narratives, and generating dialogue, participants will learn how AI powered tools can help in the concept and writing process as well as in the creation of pre visualization and pitching materials. By the end of the course, participants will be able to experiment with integrating generative AI into their workflows.