Is Mckee Worth It?

[bennettk]

Hey Film Threat Forum Fanatics,

Everyone keeps saying how amazing the Robert McKee Story seminar was...How much it helped them and changed their story for the better...Blah..Blah..Blah.

I was playing the Kaufman character bit: "Bah, who needs that."

So, I fiannly sold my big screen T.V. to see McKee.

Fanatics out there, tell me I made the right decision. Who has any of their own stories to tell?

I will see him on Sept. 05th but now I'm having buyers remorse.

After all...It was my big screen...

BENNETT

[bennettk]

I cannot believe for one second that not one single Film Threat Fanatic has any opinion or advice on this subject.

Hello?????????????????

[Cid]

I wish I could tell you, bud. I've never seen been to one of his seminars before, though I've thought about it.

I think it would be entertaining at the very least. Expensive entertainment, perhaps, but entertaining.

[3ldfilms]

Most people probably didn't want to have to sell their tv's to go see him ;)

[peryteran]

I just read your post and my only thoughts are....

a) If you feel like you need structure, then he might be the answer.
b) If you have structure, you're going in witha big advantage.
c) If you're going in looking to make contacts, there are probably easier ways to do it.
d) let me know how it went and I'll tell you how many episodes of Law and Order I watched that night
e) you can always go to a bar if you want to watch tv.

good luck

[Lilwolf]

You could have just got the book. $35.00.

[bennettk]

Get the book?

Who reads these days? (very sarcastic)

$35 would have probably been a good start.

Nevertheless, since it appears to me that most Film Threat Fanatic Screenwriters have not attended McKee's workshop, I'll give everyone a play by play come Monday.

Stay tuned…

BENNETT

[Furious D]

I have a question about Robert McKee.

Has he ever actually written a script?

If he has actually written a script, then what the hell was it, and if it was so brilliant then how come I haven't heard his name mentioned in connection with it?

[Rory L. Aronsky]

Truth is Furious, is because there's nothing to be found in connection with some sort of brilliance. The guy must have some spark about writing scripts or something, but looking at the IMDB:

He wrote a show called "Kate Loves A Mystery" which attempted to bring MRS. Columbo to the forefront, except she solves crimes as a reporter. That only lasted in 1979.

His second writing credit was for a 1994 TV movie called Abraham, about the biblical character. And he also made an appearance as himself in "20 Dates".

[Furious D]

Thanks & props to Rory for answering my question. I just always wondered about McKee's record, but I've always had something better to do than actually do any digging myself.

I've been hearing about him as being the be-all-end-all of screenwriting theory since Syd Field went out of fashion while I was in film school.

Maybe he's a brilliant and inspiring teacher, I don't know. I haven't got the kind of green it takes to partake of his wisdom. What I can say is that all previous attempts to find a magic formula dispensed from some sage have left me cold.

I won't say whether he's worth it or not. That's up to the individual writer. Bennett, maybe his advice is right for you. I would have bought the book before dumping my big screen to pay for a seminar. Heck at the prices I've seen advertised most of the audience would have to be already successful filmmakers.

Maybe that's his secret? Telling the already successful that they're doing it right. I'll have to buy a ticket after my first million dollar deal to find out.

--Stay Furious
D

[bennettk]

Hello Film Threat Fanatics,

Just got back from the front lines of Day 1 McKee.
Third row in fact...

For now, all I I can say is Wow! Big Screen T.V. who?

More to come Monday...

[Rory L. Aronsky]

It really takes balls for a man to give up his big screen TV like that. So I'm looking forward to reading your details on this guy.

[Rory L. Aronsky]

Hey benett, I was in the IMDB just rooting around for quotes and came upon the ones in the Adaptation. (2002) listing and McKee was mentioned in it by way of Donald Kaufman (Nicolas Cage):

"McKee says we all have to realize we write in a genre, so we must find originality within that genre. Did you know that there hasn't been a new genre since Fellini invented the mockumentary...? My genre's thriller, what's yours?"

[bennettk]

Hello Film Threat Fanatics,

Anyone interested in hearing about my adventures with Bob McKee, I'm going to start a new Thread entitled:

I CALLED BOB MCKEE AN ASSHOLE AND LIVED TO TELL ABOUT IT

BENNETT

[mynameisnobody]

All you need to know can be found within the following books:

1. The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell.

2. Creating Unforgettable Characters by Linda Seger.

3. Elements of Style for Screenwriters by Paul Argentini.

4. Adventures in the Screen Trade: A Personal View of Hollywood and Screenwriting by William Goldman.

But, if you have the money to throw around...sure, go to the seminar, network, and most importantly...have fun.

[El Duderino Diablo]

I have three screenplay relevent books that I occasionally look to for guidance, inspiration and post-writing reality check:
For guidance I have Alan A. Armer's Writing the Screenplay for TV and Film 2nd edition.
That's a college leftover, for sure.
For inspiration I have Tarantino's Pulp Fiction screenplay but I'd much rather have my old copy of the Monty Python and the Holy Grail screenplay.
For a reality check I ahve Noel Baker's Hard Core Roadshow, a must have for every aspiring screen writer.
:tup:

[bennettk]

Whether he knows it or not.
The Dude has a good idea here.

What guidence do y'all draw from.

Up and above THE ALL MIGHTY MUSE, we all need guidence from now and again. Maybe for structure, maybe for composition...

What books do you read? What manuals do you use? What guru's have you seen?

Who do you get behind when it comes to fine tuning your precious....

Let's go writers, let's write...

BENNETT

[Ayii]

I attended a McKee seminar in Calgary about 6 years ago and it was my first exposure to anything about screenwriting. Naturally, I found it quite informative, but I also enjoyed the presentation that McKee uniquely delivers. He is quite captivating and knows how to educate through entertaining. At the time his book “Story” just came out, and I bought it at the conference. I remember reading random paragraphs and realizing that the book is pretty much verbatim what he says during the seminar.

So, if you can afford it, I would go to the seminar. It was discounted for the Calgary one, but I hear it can be quite expensive in the US. If not, buy the book (or visit your library) if you’re curious.

I would like to recommend the book “Crafty Screenwriting” for a very straightforward approach on screenwriting. Read the sample pages online (www.craftyscreenwriting.com) and see if it interests you. The sample pages hooked me, so I bought the book and think it’s fantastic.

[bennettk]

Hello Film Threat Fanatics,

It seems that this should be a threat...oops... thread all on its own...

Lets create our own mini symposium here folks.

Who's been optioned? Who's been produced?

What courses did you attend? What books have you read? Any professors you want to rave about? How about gurus and coaches...

Writing's like golf, all you have is your mind and the ball. And for writers...It's you and the ballpoint pen.

But behind every great player is a great coach...

What worked for you?

P.S. Let's get the ball rolling...Tee Hee

ONWARDS & UPWARDS

BENNETT