On Screenwriting and Media with Dr. Rosanne Welch
Writing, Film, Television and More!
This video montage gives you a quick impression of what it is like to attend one of the Screenwriting Research Network‘s annual conferences.
The 2020 conference will be Oxford, UK. 2021 will be in Vienna, Austria and 2022 will be my event, held at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri.
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** Many of these books may be available from your local library. Check it out!
I’m so excited to have been invited to be the keynote speaker at the 10th Screenwriters´(hi)Stories Seminar being held on the campus of the Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie in São Paulo, Brazil – NEXT WEEK!
Click through for more information in Portuguese and English
It’s all thanks to my friend and colleague from the Screenwriting Research Network (who is actually the president of the network this year) Carmen Sofia Brenes who suggested me to the committee planning the seminar.
I’ll be speaking on “Why Researching Screenwriters (has Always) Mattered” which will be focused on the importance of storytellers in all cultures, and how screenwriters have become this last century’s most powerful storytellers thanks to the reach of technology.
It’s a daunting thing to be asked to be a keynote speaker and I’ve been writing my speech for a few weeks now, still in a bit of a fog that such a fun thing should happen – but the tickets came today so now it’s a reality. I have to finish this speech (and the Google Slides that goes with it) – and PACK!
Here is a summary of my talk. I hope to have it recorded, too. Watch this space for information on a possible live stream of this event.
SUMMARY
To understand the world we have to understand its stories and to understand the world’s stories we must understand the world’s storytellers.
A century ago and longer those people would have been the novelists of any particular country but since the invention of film, the storytellers who reach the most people with their ideas and their lessons have been the screenwriters. My teaching philosophy is that: Words matter, Writers matter and Women writers matter. Therefore women writers shall be my focus. Why? Because they have been the far less researched and yet they are over half the population. We cannot tell the stories of the people until we know what stories the mothers have passed down to their children. Those are the stories that last. Now is the time to research screenwriters of all cultures and the stories they tell because people are finally recognizing the work of writers and appreciating how their favorite stories took shape on the page long before they were cast, or filmed, or edited. But also because streaming services make the stories of many cultures now available to a much wider world than ever before.
For the second year in a row I’ve been invited to do a couple of my favorite lectures about Doctor Who to the attendees of the SD (San Diego) Who Con which happens this coming Friday-Sunday October 4-6th.
It’s a chance to wear my new 13th Doctor (played by actress Jodie Whitaker who I first saw in Broadchurch) shirt and trenchcoat (which I bought from a vendor at last year’s SC Who Con). I’m updating two of my lectures on the show and its quality writing and then doing a ‘superbowl/commentary’ group watch of an episode called School Reunion which I use in my television writing courses as an example of a tight script/backdoor pilot.
* Friday. October 4, 2019
1:00-2:00
Dr. Rosanne Welch
How Doctor Who Redefines Masculinity: Join Dr. Welch in a discussion about masculinity and Doctor Who.3:30-5:00
Dr. Rosanne Welch
School Reunion Workshop: Dr. Welch will deconstruct the David Tenant episode “School Reunion” to show how well written it is, highlighting the set-up/payoff style of writing; the 4-act structure and the deft inclusion of exposition.* Saturday, October 5, 3019
11:30-1:00
Dr. Rosanne Welch
School Reunion Workshop: Dr. Welch will deconstruct the David Tenant episode “School Reunion” to show how well written it is, highlighting how the set-up/payoff style of writing; the 4-act structure and the deft inclusion of exposition.* Sunday, October 6, 2019
11:00-12:00
Dr. Rosanne Welch
Gender Diversity in Doctor Who: Join Dr. Welch as she discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the various writers and showrunners of the program.
This all came about thanks to a chance meeting on the Raleigh Studios lot with a wonderful fellow Who fan who happens to bear a striking resemblance to Alex Kingston, the actress who played the character River Song. Her office was strewn with Who memorabilia so I stopped in one day to say “Hi” and talk Who and she connected me to the organizers of the event. So the moral of this story is – say “Hi” to more people often. You never know what new (time) travels might be right around your next corner- — Rosanne
WHO CON 2019 “WHODUNNIT?”
OCTOBER 4 – 6, 2019
AT THE FOUR POINTS SHERATON HOTEL
8110 AERO DR, SAN DIEGO, CA 92123 [Map]
Presenting my talk at most recent SRN Conference in Porto, Portgual
I’m pleased to announce that I am beginning the first year of a two year term on the Executive Committee of the Screenwriting Research Network. I will assist with editing the newsletter and meet via Skype once a month with some of the most wonderful colleagues I’ve had the chance to work with so far in my career.
The Screenwriting Research Network was established in 2006 by Ian Macdonald when it became clear that there was interest across the world towards research on screenwriting, but individual scholars tended to be isolated. I’ve been a member since I attended my first conference in Madison, Wisconsin. Since then I’ve presented at – and listened to fascinating presentations – in such wonderful international locations as Leeds, New Zealand, Milan and Porto, Portugal – with Oxford and Vienna next on the list.
And I’m most excited about the fact that the 2022 conference will be held at my home campus of Stephens College!
** We have returned from Porto and I am streaming out our photos over the next few weeks.
* A portion of each sale from Amazon.com directly supports our blogs
** Many of these books may be available from your local library. Check it out!
Places settings at BH Foz for SRN Conference dinner. Wow!
This was the restaurant for a shared evening conference dinner with a large group of attendees. They took very good care of us and the sangria flowed freely.
** We have returned from Porto and I am streaming out our photos over the next few weeks.
* A portion of each sale from Amazon.com directly supports our blogs
** Many of these books may be available from your local library. Check it out!
Another night, another sunset, Porto, Portugal
Sunset from BH Foz Restaurant at evening dinner during the recent Screenwriting Research Network Conference.
** We have returned from Porto and I am streaming out our photos over the next few weeks.
* A portion of each sale from Amazon.com directly supports our blogs
** Many of these books may be available from your local library. Check it out!
Chatting with conference attendees before my talk at the Screenwriting Research Conference in Porto, Portugal
A great way to encounter these international friends I only see in person once a year at the 2019 Screenwriting Research Conference.
** We have returned from Porto and I am streaming out our photos over the next few weeks.
* A portion of each sale from Amazon.com directly supports our blogs
** Many of these books may be available from your local library. Check it out!
Opening Reception, Screenwriting Research Network Conference, Porto, Portugal
Chatting with Rose Farrell, Ronald Geerts and others at this reception on the beach. A great way to encounter these international friends I only see in person once a year.
A great way to encounter these international friends I only see in person once a year at the 2019 Screenwriting Research Conference.
** We have returned from Porto and I am streaming out our photos over the next few weeks.
* A portion of each sale from Amazon.com directly supports our blogs
** Many of these books may be available from your local library. Check it out!
Opening Reception, Screenwriting Research Network Conference, Porto, Portugal
Chatting with Armando Fumagalli and others at this reception on the beach.
A great way to encounter these international friends I only see in person once a year at the 2019 Screenwriting Research Conference.
** We have returned from Porto and I am streaming out our photos over the next few weeks.
* A portion of each sale from Amazon.com directly supports our blogs
** Many of these books may be available from your local library. Check it out!