THE ELUSIVE CRAFT OF UNSCRIPTED STORY 

       I have collaborated with the best names in the business such as RJ Cutler, Louis Theroux, Danny Strong, Michael Moore, Chris Smith, the makers of “Tiger King,” Lisa Ling and Phil Rosenthal. And I've  learned a great deal in the process as a director, writer, DP and series creator. I have funneled this knowledge back into my work  as a story consultant as I continue to develop, direct and produce multipart unscripted series and one-off documentaries. In short, I combine contemporary, up-to-date story-telling techniques with a thorough knowledge of the traditions of narrative in a unique approach that delivers results.  It's not rocket science, but the art of crafting a story is inherently elusive so don't be shy about asking for help.

       In my consultations, I  work closely with directors, editors and producers to enhance the structure and impact of their stories by first identifying the critical narrative strengths and weaknesses in a film or series. I then methodically rebuild the spine of the story by reworking the structure and, simultaneously, heightening the arcs of the protagonists as well as the antagonists, or the opposing forces creating obstacles for the journey of the central characters.  Gravitas and emotional resonance come by fleshing out an unscripted narrative's thematic underpinnings and bringing them to the foreground so that audiences can connect to the universal themes of a particular story. The right placement for a backstory sequence is an acquired craft and its inclusion is essential in terms of giving the narrative depth and momentum.

       Sounds easy, right?  But it's not. Every film or series poses new challenges and genre is an increasingly important part of the rapidly changing unscripted landscape. That's why my approach blends contemporary approaches to unscripted storytelling with the core traditions of narrative filmmaking that date all the way back to the days of Sergei Eisenstein. 

       To found out more click here.