Comments on: Attention Twin Cities: Awesome Class is Back http://denniscass.com/2009/03/10/attention-twin-cities-awesome-class-is-back/ Tue, 20 Jul 2010 02:50:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Dennis Lang http://denniscass.com/2009/03/10/attention-twin-cities-awesome-class-is-back/#comment-477 Dennis Lang Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:10:09 +0000 http://denniscass.com/?p=751#comment-477 An article in "The New Yorker", 3/16/09, about screenwriter/director Tony Gilroy (the "Bourne" films, "Michael Clayton") reminded me of the "Awesome" class and how Dennis approached the question of invention and creativity. Gilroy talks about the "reversal" in screenwriting: anything that's a surprise as a way of keeping the audience interested. The article goes on: "Gilroy believes that the writer and moviegoing public are engaged in a cognitive arms race. As the audience grows savvier the screenwriter has to invent new reversals--madder music and stronger wine.... How do you write a reversal that uses the audience's expectations in a new way?" You may remember the scrambled time frame of "Michael Clayton" creating puzzles within the larger puzzle of the story itself. Meanings that became comprehensible and logical only long after we've observed the initial action. An article in “The New Yorker”, 3/16/09, about screenwriter/director Tony Gilroy (the “Bourne” films, “Michael Clayton”) reminded me of the “Awesome” class and how Dennis approached the question of invention and creativity. Gilroy talks about the “reversal” in screenwriting: anything that’s a surprise as a way of keeping the audience interested.

The article goes on: “Gilroy believes that the writer and moviegoing public are engaged in a cognitive arms race. As the audience grows savvier the screenwriter has to invent new reversals–madder music and stronger wine…. How do you write a reversal that uses the audience’s expectations in a new way?”

You may remember the scrambled time frame of “Michael Clayton” creating puzzles within the larger puzzle of the story itself. Meanings that became comprehensible and logical only long after we’ve observed the initial action.

]]> By: Sara Aase http://denniscass.com/2009/03/10/attention-twin-cities-awesome-class-is-back/#comment-457 Sara Aase Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:19:43 +0000 http://denniscass.com/?p=751#comment-457 Let the arm wrestling begin. Let the arm wrestling begin.

]]> By: Dennis Lang http://denniscass.com/2009/03/10/attention-twin-cities-awesome-class-is-back/#comment-451 Dennis Lang Tue, 10 Mar 2009 18:35:37 +0000 http://denniscass.com/?p=751#comment-451 As an "Awesome" alumnus, this is an imaginative, terrifically engaging class. Also, for me a chance to put a person together with the fellow who wrote the memorable "Head Case". Predispositions are challenged, new possiblities of thought are discovered. As an “Awesome” alumnus, this is an imaginative, terrifically engaging class. Also, for me a chance to put a person together with the fellow who wrote the memorable “Head Case”. Predispositions are challenged, new possiblities of thought are discovered.

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