Free Story Structure Training - Corey Mandell

Here is our full interview with Corey - https://youtu.be/CWfcjN8ajHg

“When in doubt, have a man come through the door with a gun in his hand.” ― Raymond Chandler

I've taken a bunch of Corey's classes and they were incredible. After taking a lot of writing classes, including some really great ones in college, finding his stuff was life changing. Because he teaches actual storytelling, I realized that none of my other classes were really teaching that. It's so different from "story structure" teaching that's really just a formula. Corey's classes teach storytelling in a way that's organic and that works with any story. There's no beats or "do this at the 10% point" or anything. Really unique stuff. In the maybe eight years since I took his first class, I've never found anyone who teaches it like he does. And his other instructors are all great screenwriters in their own right who have worked in the industry, so they all know what they're doing in a real world way. 10/10 recommend to anyone.

“Opposition must rise to the level where we have no idea how things are gonna play out.” Picturing Corey inside a dark parking lot and the Coen brothers will only respond to his questions with 'What do you think?'

Make the obstacle a wheelchair. Your own.

I am fascinated by how so many modern Hollywood writers went to college and know about so many tools but Hollywood can’t write a box office hit more than six times a year these days. Something isn’t clicking in the industry anymore. I’m not blaming the man in this video. I agree with all of the advice he’s giving. I just find it strange that this legitimate information he’s discussing just isn’t registering with writers well enough to show up in most films anymore. I mean, look at Disney for example. Who works there? They need help! But on a more positive note, I love Film Courage’s channel.

Wonderful!, thank you.

Thanks Film Courage and a special Thanks to Corey. Happy Turkey Day.. Nice your throwing a bone out to us in this video. I write fair stories. I don't do Compelling conflict. This will help tremendous.

Video finally starts at 2:40

I feel like his advice isn't some major revelation. Most writers KNOW strong conflict is necessary. The problem is actually creating believable and interesting conflict is a challenge. I'm constantly reminded of that Ira Glass quote about not being able to close the gap between your taste and your skill.

Lol the parking garage storys are such great character traits lmao i def don’t wanna live thru it but hearing it thru the guy who got stuck looking for his car with jack lemmon n steve martin really illustrates like movie

There is no “technique” or guide book to writing a good story. It takes heart, honesty and patience. If your story is not personal to you the writer, no amount of lectures is going to fix it.

I think he's talking about tension. Conflict is the scene, but tension is the intensity of that scene.

Lota folks selling picks & shovels, not that these ain't might fine ones. My advice, live a life like Hemmingway, Edgar Allen Poe, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Oscar Wilde, Becket, etc. Then take those experiences, extrapolate them into 3 or 4 Acts. String them together with each characters pathos/ethos driving their reckless abandon for pursuit of resolution, always trying to cloak their true motive/feeling, but eventually it becoming apparent as the reveal their true motive/soul in the resolution of their demons/conflict. Another words, a Tuesday for you & I.

I was very curious about how people invent a good story for the movie, so I subscribed to this channel. All this is new knowledge to me and it is very interesting. Thank you so much for the great information and for your generosity, Corey.

I’m looking forward to signing up for the workshop!

Thank you Film Courage

Out of context. Love all the videos. But would love to see the old thumbnail font and format. The ever nostalgic film courage OG thumbnail fonts pls 🤧

Obstacles, inconvenience and opposition is a really useful tool to test for compelling conflict, especially the point about it being a sudden and unexpected rise in opposition once we already understand what is important to the character and why. As well as rejecting any idea that is too easy to solve. A great free lesson. Obviously the example is basic. That's the point of examples. The way to use the advice is to take a hard look at your own work and find blind spots, not just dismiss it as advice you already know.

What happens when you apply six sigma to all the advise on film courage? You get the Firm Courage Method. It took me over 3 years to perfect it.