2012 Writing Workshops - From Pixar To Noir

WALL-E photograph: Copyright Pixar/Disney.

Many thanks to everyone who came to The Magic of Pixar Writing Workshop today. I hope you enjoyed it - and I wish we'd had more time to explore the many themes of Pixar's films, not least a deeper examination of the Hero's Journey and how it relates to such movies as WALL-E and Finding Nemo. 


I think, given the tremendous response - and requests - I will be presenting a second Magic of Pixar Writing Workshop, probably in February 2012. 

We will look at different films - Up, especially, and Monsters, Inc - and how they relate to themes of childhood, aging and our deepest fears and emotions, as well as the sheer fun and excitement of the Cars movies.

In the meantime, the first Writing Workshop of the New Year will be on Saturday January 21st and will have a Noir theme, exploring one of the most powerful and enduring genres of literature and movies - the heightened emotions, vivid characters, crackling dialogue and labyrinthine plots of everything from Raymond Chandler, James M Cain and Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon, to the gamechanging sci-fi noir of Blade Runner and more contemporary "retro noir" of Chinatown, Sin City and the Christopher Nolan Batman/Dark Knight movies.

We will also plan a "practical" writing workshop, looking at issues like epublishing, self publishing (both vital areas given the vastly changing world of traditional publishing), approaching agents - and the research, planning, outlining and commitment involved in creating and completing literary and film projects.

In the meantime, happy holidays to everyone - and thank you all for such a wonderful welcome and such enthusiastic support this year. And particular thanks to the boundless energy of Connie O'Connor of the Central Sierra Arts Council.

Warmest wishes for a cold but beautiful season,
Alexander