Psychology & Film: How to Increase Narrative Impact
Date & Time
Location
Description
Every second on the screen creates a connection to viewers’ emotions and cognition. Knowing psychological principles (and discoveries) can be a great tool to heighten your narrative vision and intention.
In this workshop we’ll look at the key points of “Psychocinematics”: tools that creators use for standout content. We’ll begin with your own emotional/cognitive viewpoint, move through writing and development options, examine casting and character choices, evaluate sound and visual components, and assess specific editing techniques, all leading to a novel experience for audiences.
The workshop will provide the exercises, resources, worksheets, and more to help you find new ways to enhance your own unique content. There is a lunch break.
Key topics:
- Psych self-assessment/profiles of current filmmakers
- Ways to enrich characters with deeper profiles
- Visual and sound techniques that amplify your intention
- Editing as a cognitive/emotional apparatus
- Audience studies: film and series
- Application to your current project
Participants should bring a current project-in-progress: outline, script, or rough footage.
Tuition
Instructor
Brenda Varda
Brenda Varda is a recent Twin Cities transplant from Los Angeles where she founded Wordspace, a studio for writers in media and live performance, and was also development lead for Element Media. She has taught a variety of arts and psychology courses at the New York Film Academy and UCR including Psychology of Performance, Media Psychology, Psychology of Cinema, and Creative Writing. Her own works for stage and film have been supported by the Center for Cultural Innovation, SOSE, UCIRA Emerging Artist Fund, the L.A. History Project, Edge Fest, the Mellon Foundation, and the Gluck Foundation. As a playwright and composer her works have been presented at Sacred Fools, the Industry, CalTech, the Broadwater, Unknown Theatre, and more. She is a graduate of Antioch College (Psychology & Creativity) and UCR (Creative Writing) and a member of the Playwright’s Center, SAG-AFTRA, WGA (past), and SCL.
Class Registration Guidelines & Cancellation Policy
- Space is assigned on a first-come basis. Registrations must include payment in full. Registrations are accepted after registration deadlines if space is available.
- If minimum enrollment has not been reached by 7 days prior to the start date of a class, FilmNorth may cancel it, in which case registrants will immediately be notified and receive a full refund within 2 business days. A check will be issued for registrations that were paid in cash. In lieu of a refund, students have the option of applying their tuition to another class scheduled in the same calendar year.
- For those needing to cancel a registration at least 7 days prior to the first class session, 100% of the tuition will be refunded minus a $25 administrative fee. For registration cancellations received less than 7 days prior to the first class session, 50% of the tuition will be refunded minus a $25 administrative fee. As of 5:00 pm the day prior to the first class session, no refunds or credits/exchanges will be given (Friday at 5:00 pm for Sunday classes).
- Tuition is not prorated for missed class sessions.
- By registering for this class you are agreeing to our Community Values Statement.
Questions
If you have any questions regarding this class, please send us an email or call (651) 644-1912 ext. 2.