Avoiding Common Traps in Faith Based Storytelling, With Sean Gaffney
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Episode 8 - Avoiding Common Traps in Faith Based Storytelling, With Sean Gaffney
In this episode of the Faith and Family Filmmakers podcast, hosts Geoffrey Whitt and Jaclyn Whitt talk with screenwriter Sean Gaffney. They explore the intricacies of screenwriting for faith-based themes. Gaffney discourages the tendency for story writers to pander to the audience or theme, leading to unauthentic storytelling. He urges writers to let the story naturally convey the theme rather than forcing it.
They also Discuss:
- Letting theme flow out of the story
- The art of storytelling in musicals
- Testing your themes: writing authentically
- Balancing message and story
- The Power of truthfulness in storytelling
- Allowing Christian characters to have flaws and make mistakes
- Trusting your audience
- His movies In-Lawfully Yours and Not Your Romeo & Juliet
- Understanding the real needs of your clients
Sean Gaffney has authored well over two hundred produced plays, features, videos, animation projects, YouTube series episodes and short films (including for Big Idea and SuperBook). He was the Story Administrator for Warner Bros. Features and the Managing Director of Taproot Theatre (Seattle). Gaffney currently is an Associate Professor in Media Communication and Screenwriting at Asbury University, as well as Associate Dean of the School of Communications. He received his BFA from Drake University, his MFA from Columbia University, and studied with Act One: Writing for Hollywood.
Vimeo: https://www.vimeo.com/gaffneyinkwell
Linked In: https://linkedin.com/in/sean-gaffney12
The Faith & Family Filmmakers podcast helps filmmakers who share a Christian worldview stay in touch, informed, and inspired. Releasing new episodes every week, we interview experts from varying fields of filmmaking; from screenwriters, actors, directors, and producers, to film scorers, talent agents, and distributors.
It is produced and hosted by Geoffrey Whitt and Jaclyn Whitt , and is brought to you by the Faith & Family Filmmakers Association
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