Journey

MARK RUFFALO - Actor/Director: Sympathy for Delicious, Actor: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

"I had the pleasure of working with Joan before directing my first feature. It was a crash course in directing done quietly and lovingly with humor and meaning. I had been working on the film for ten years and in that time become too close to it. I asked her to help me, "know that I know what I know", and she did just that. Joan lead me to the structure of the story. She led me to understand the logic of the film emotionally. Helped me find the tools that I needed to walk onto the set with confidence and joy. Consequently I always knew where I was and what I wanted. I was always able to let the Actors play and be free in the structure that I knew so well from the work I had done with Joan in preparation. I was able to communicate with my DP and crew what I wanted and why. Everything was funneled into the story. I highly recommend Joan for Directors and Actors alike. She really knows what the hell she is doing. She has spent years doing it. There are very few people out there that have such a clear handle on material and the trick of getting that material to a screen."

WHAT IS IT?

The Journey Lab focuses on crafting Story Arc. The Technique™ thinks of screenplay structure as a roller coaster ride through a truth. No story moves in a predictable straight line, it has rises and falls and loop de loops...unexplained stops and diversions, and where it ends up, might just be somewhere you never expected. So how do you craft this arc? How do you find the structure that is unique and delivers on what you want to say in a creative, compelling, utterly authentic way? What makes the structure true to YOU? Whether you are Directing, Writing, Acting, or Producing, this lab will show you what’s beyond the Hero’s Journey.

An understanding of the Transformative Journey has been central to Joan's work on films and television shows such as Transparent, Beginners, Arbitrage, Snow White and the Huntsman, Little Miss Sunshine and Whale Rider. Now you can experience The Technique™ to instantly connect you to the feeling, emotional depth, and rhythm of your work. This full on craft intensive workshop is designed to ground your skills and bring your creativity to the next level. There is no need to bring a project. The Technique™ can be applied to all fields in any entertainment platform. Up your game, whether you are pitching, writing, acting, directing, designing or producing.

WHAT DOES IT COVER?

Day 1: The Map

This first class reveals Joan's proven techniques to clarify the thematic structure of your screenplay, film or character. Physical and written excercises allow you to embody the core structural journey of your project.

Understand the building blocks of Journey
Define the roadmap of your project
Learn how overall Action, Beats and Relationship combine to create structure
Connect to rhythm as the essential force in storytelling

Day 2: Emotional Logic

Learn the tools of Emotional Logic (aka the 5 Point Journey). You will never think of the “Hero’s Journey” as your only structural option again.

Learn how to use the first and last line of a project to find the Emotional Journey
Learn how to define and hone the 5 key scenes essential to your story
Think outside the “Hero’s Journey” box
Make your structure sing in it’s own individual way

Day 3: Making It Move

Explore the practice of Emotional Logic. Put a 5 point journey on it’s feet. Case studies from projects Joan has developed allow you to delve deeper into how the Transformative Journey works.

Learn how Transparent and Whale Rider used Emotional Logic to craft their unique structures
Investigate the connection between rhythm and action
Explore how Emotional Logic supports the key creative choices your project demands, from writing to rehearsal to shoot

WHO GOES?

The Journey Lab is designed for Film, Episodic, Commercial and all content creators. It may be attended individually by the Writer, Director or Producer...or by the entire Team.