Redwood (Hybrid): At the Heart of Screenplay: Character / Conflict

A comprehensive overview of the development practices of turning ideas into screenplays/scripts for film and/or video productions. The screenplay is a comprehensive set of instructions written in a specific format that addresses all of the crafts related to producing a movie; casting, cinematography, costume and set and sound design, direction and editing to list a few. Along with story development, a screenplay has two goals: Economy and Clarity. Economy in writing as few words as possible avoiding overly descriptive language. Clarity, so that everyone working on the film knows exactly what is required from their craft.

Toney Merritt, (MFA 1979) has been an Interdisciplinary Artist and Independent filmmaker for over 50 years, having completed over 30 personal films and videos; experimental, narrative and documentary. His films have screened a various venues such as the Paris Cinematheque, The London Coop, Pacific Film Archives, the San Francisco Cinematheque, Ann Arbor and Mill Valley Film Festivals, Anthology Film Archives, New York and the Oakland and DeYoung Museums, and recently, with a one-person retrospective at Lightbox Cinema in Philadelphia in 2021. Toney was the Program Director for the Mendocino Film Festival for 2 years, 2014 and 2015. He taught Film Production and Digital Editing at City College San Francisco, and Screenwriting for the San Francisco State University’s Digital Video Intensive Program. He was invited to present as a writer/director at the 2007, what was known as, Squaw Valley Community of Writer’s Conference, and invited back in 2008 to serve as a screenwriting mentor to 4 aspiring screenwriters. He has also served as a panelist for various festivals such as the SF International Film Festival and as a panelist for Independent Television Service, (ITVS) and the Rockefeller and Jerome Foundations, and most recently, the National Endowment of the Arts. www.toneymerritt.com