Everything You Wanted to Know About Story Development by Shane McNeil

Held at City of Perth Library Auditorium (not the State Library!), this practical masterclass delves into the honesty of story development.

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Provocative, practical and refreshingly honest, this masterclass is ideal for writers, filmmakers and storytellers ready to stress-test their ideas and think differently about story.

Writer, director, producer, developer, (former) academic and (failed) film critic Shane McNeil invites screen creatives to join him for a bold, honest and highly interactive masterclass that pulls no punches on how stories really work in today’s screen market.

In this session, Shane will crack open his rusty 35-year-old toolbox of story tips, tricks and traps, sharing what he’s learnt along the way, what he didn’t learn soon enough, what he should have learnt better, and the things he’s still grappling with as the industry continues to shift. Drawing on decades of experience across writing, directing, producing and development, this masterclass offers a rare look at storytelling from someone who’s lived it from multiple angles.

This is not a passive sit-back-and-listen session. Audience engagement will be actively encouraged, with participants invited to bring along a 30-second “elevator pitch” for potential interrogation, discussion and constructive challenge. It’s a chance to test ideas, sharpen concepts and gain practical insight into what resonates in the current screen landscape.