Dynamic learning with the Narrative Lab

Ten young filmmakers sit around a conference table staring intently at a screen with an image of a young man sitting at a computer in a large room.  “He seems lonely,” says Bree as she begins analyzing the composition of this, her first camera assignment,  “...and he’s off to the side…he feels small in the big room.”  “Yeah, he’s isolated from everyone else in the room by a wall,” echoes Vinny.  “So what would you name this image?,” asks the instructor.  Bree pauses, “man works alone.”  Other students nod and prepare their own images for analysis.  

The above scenario, which took place in our 2022 Narrative Lab, exemplifies the kind of dynamic learning that is typical of this group of your filmmakers! The diversity of their stories mirror the diversity of their own life experiences – but one thing remains the same – they are talented filmmakers eager and hungry to share their vision with the world.  Their stories range from the unspoken attraction between two friends to a teen struggling with mental illness in the wake of a dying family member.  This group hopes to infuse the Narrative Lab with nuanced tales steeped in personal experiences.

Michael shared how his script has changed from his initial idea to now: “After meeting with my instructor, I chose to tell my own personal story that I faced during the COVID times and how much discrimination and racism happened to me.”

Another student, Benji, reflected on his progress through the Narrative Lab program: "I learned a lot about character development. Before I came to Reel Works, I didn't know much about actually writing this stuff, I was mostly focused on post-production. What Reel Works has taught us is very helpful for people with my level of pre-production and screenwriting background."

Over the last few weeks, the students have delved into their projects, exploring wants vs. needs, story structure, character development, and the occasional camera challenge.  This December, the Narrative Lab pitched their stories to the community at Paramount Network.  With their story cards in hand, they shared their pitches and are incorporating the feedback they received from professional filmmakers into their screenplays.  

We can’t wait to see what they create!