Sell Your Story To Hollywood: Writer's Guide To Show Business with Dr. Ken Atchity

Dec 12, 2018

Dr. Ken Atchity, a seasoned story consultant and professor, shares his journey from academia to Hollywood, underscoring the passion driving writers in the film industry. He highlights the transformative power of storytelling, discusses overcoming self-doubt, and emphasizes the need for proactivity in creative careers. Atchity dives into the essential elements for adapting narratives for film, covering storytelling structures and the importance of relatable characters. His insights on navigating success reveal the balance of talent, perseverance, and connections in achieving one's dreams.

02:16:36

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ANECDOTE

Tenure and Depression

Ken Atchity felt depressed after receiving tenure because it limited his freedom.
He realized security wasn't his priority; freedom was, which led him to the film industry.

insights

INSIGHT

Transition to Film

Ken Atchity's transition to film began with an encounter with Norman Cousins, who suggested the entertainment business.
Inspired by William Goldman's "nobody knows anything" quote, he started learning by reading contracts.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

First Film Project

Ken Atchity's first film project involved 16 romantic comedies, inspired by romance novels and courtly love.
He learned filmmaking on the job, quickly gaining experience during production.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

From Academia to Hollywood: A Journey of Creative Freedom

01:37 • 19min

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The Art of Storytelling: Roots and Influence

20:19 • 7min

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Conquering Fear: The Path to Dreams

27:41 • 10min

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Embracing Risks and Proactivity in Creative Careers

38:09 • 4min

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Navigating Artistic Landscapes

42:37 • 16min

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The Time Dilemma: Productivity and Creativity

58:19 • 16min

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Crafting Adaptations: Key Elements for Success

01:13:51 • 35min

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Mastering Storytelling Structures

01:48:31 • 16min

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Navigating Success in Hollywood

02:04:35 • 12min

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Adventures in the Screen Trade

William Goldman

Adventures in the Screen Trade is a candid and insightful look at the Hollywood film industry, written by William Goldman. The book is divided into three parts, offering essays on Hollywood realities, stories from Goldman's projects, and a practical guide to adapting a short story into a screenplay. It includes the full screenplay of 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' and provides valuable advice for aspiring screenwriters.

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Drama of the Gifted Child

Alice Miller

This book examines the consequences of repression and childhood trauma on an individual's mental wellbeing. Alice Miller argues that many successful people suffer from feelings of emptiness and alienation due to having to hide their own feelings, needs, and memories to meet their parents' expectations. The term 'gifted child' refers to those who survived abusive childhoods by adapting and becoming numb. The book helps readers understand and reclaim their true selves by acknowledging and accepting the truth about their childhood experiences.

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Moby Dick

Herman Melville

Moby-Dick is a novel that tells the story of Captain Ahab's maniacal quest for revenge against Moby Dick, the giant white sperm whale that bit off his leg. Narrated by Ishmael, the story follows the crew of the whaling ship Pequod as they embark on a journey that explores themes of obsession, man vs. nature, and the existential questions of good and evil. The novel is rich in detailed descriptions of whale hunting and life aboard a culturally diverse crew, and it has become a cornerstone of American and world literature.

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The grapes of wrath

John Steinbeck

Published in 1939, 'The Grapes of Wrath' is a powerful and poignant novel by John Steinbeck. It tells the story of the Joad family, Oklahoma tenant farmers who are forced to leave their home after the devastating effects of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. The novel follows their arduous journey along Route 66 to California, where they face numerous hardships, including poverty, exploitation, and the loss of family members. The book explores themes of family, survival, and the struggle for human dignity in the face of overwhelming adversity. It also delves into the broader social and economic issues of the time, highlighting the conflict between the powerful and the powerless. Steinbeck's work is known for its vivid portrayal of the human condition and its impact on American literature and society.

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Iliad and the Odyssey

Homer

The Iliad is an epic poem set during the Trojan War, focusing on the wrath of Achilles and the final weeks of the siege of Troy. The Odyssey follows Odysseus as he travels home from the war, facing various challenges and encounters along the way. Both poems are central to Greek mythology and have been influential in Western literature, composed in Homeric Greek around the late 8th or early 7th century BC. They were likely part of a long oral tradition before being written down and are known for their use of dactylic hexameter and the literary device of starting in the middle of the story (in medias res).

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The world according to Garp

John Irving

The novel tells the story of T.S. Garp, whose mother, Jenny Fields, is a strong-willed nurse who conceives him in an unconventional manner. Garp grows up to be a writer, wrestler, and devoted parent, navigating a world filled with 'lunacy and sorrow'. The story delves into themes of feminism, sexual identity, and the struggles of the characters against intolerance and violence. It features a complex Dickensian plot that spans Garp's entire life, including his relationships with his mother, his wife Helen, and his friend Roberta Muldoon, a transsexual ex-football player.

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Want to see the video version of this podcast on Youtube? Click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGVVXVdIMyo Want more writing videos? Check out our collection on Youtube here: https://bit.ly/2JZJXTi BUY THE BOOK - SELL YOUR STORY TO HOLLYWOOD: Writer’s Pocket Guide To The Business Of Show Business - https://amzn.to/2JlWBaC BUY THE BOOK - WRITING TREATMENTS THAT SELL: How To Create And Market Your Story Ideas To The Motion Picture and TV Industry - https://amzn.to/2Hakwcl MORE VIDEOS WITH DR. KEN ATCHITY https://goo.gl/dRBg3F CONNECT WITH DR. KEN ATCHITY http://www.storymerchant.com http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0040338 https://twitter.com/kennja https://www.facebook.com/TheStoryMerchant BECOME A FILM COURAGE MEMBER https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs8o1mdWAfefJkdBg632_tg/join CONNECT WITH FILM COURAGE http://www.FilmCourage.com http://twitter.com/#!/FilmCourage https://www.facebook.com/filmcourage http://filmcourage.tumblr.com http://pinterest.com/filmcourage BUSINESS INQUIRIES http://bit.ly/22M0Va2 SUBSCRIBE TO THE FILM COURAGE YOUTUBE CHANNEL http://bit.ly/18DPN37 LISTEN TO THE FILM COURAGE PODCAST https://soundcloud.com/filmcourage-com PROMOTE YOUR MOVIE, WEBSERIES, OR PRODUCT ON FILM COURAGE http://bit.ly/1nnJkgm SUPPORT FILM COURAGE http://www.patreon.com/filmcourage Please subscribe to our Youtube channel. You can show additional support via our Youtube sponsor tab by going here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs8o1mdWAfefJkdBg632_tg/join or through Patreon here - http://www.patreon.com/filmcourage. Thank you for listening! We hope you've enjoyed this content.

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