Events
PART 1 - ANYONE CAN REGISTER
Keynote Session: “A Pen, a Keyboard, a Song, and a Sandbox Walk into a Writers’ Room”
This keynote will look at the role of a playful mindset in your writing methods. We’ll look at how non-linear approaches to structural design can open up new ways of seeing for the writer and audience, whether you’re making film, TV, plays or games.
We’ll look at the relationship between the way we move to closure in our narratives, and the experience of endings in the world.
It will be followed by an optional interactive virtual social networking session.
This event will be proudly Auslan interpreted by Deaf Can:Do
WHEN: Friday 26 June, 4.00pm – 5.30pm ACST
( 4.30pm – 6.00pm AEST)
WHERE: Airmeet – a new online platform for networking – link will be provided to the registered participants 24hrs before the session starts
WHO: This session is open to anyone, at any point in their career
HOW: All you need is a good and stable internet connection and a laptop or desktop computer. No download is necessary, however you will need to download chrome browser if you don’t have it already.
What people are saying about Christy’s talks:
“As someone who has attended almost every Games Developers Conference (GDC) since 2005 – it’s hard to continue to find content
that is meaningful to me. Christy’s talk was just that,
great take aways, great presentation and slide deck.”
“Fantastically applicable advice.”
PART 2 - BY APPLICATION ONLY
The workshops applications are now closed. You can still participate in the Keynote and
The workshops are open to creatives in any artform, who are already working with story or design to some degree.
Creatives at any stage of their career are welcome, as the workshops are structured around peer teaching as well as mentor guidance.
Because there are speed mentoring sessions the day after the workshops finish, you sign up for both workshops rather than one or the other. Spaces are limited with guaranteed spots for South Australian residents.
Workshop #1: Interactive Narrative Design
Structuring your narrative for interactive projects doesn’t mean throwing out all you already know from screenwriting. In fact, adapting to different contexts will give you a deeper understanding of the core of techniques, and will stretch your skillset even further. This workshop is about some key elements of interactivity that affect how you structure your narrative and write your interactions.
This workshop is for writers and designers keen on developing their methods for interactive writing. It is suitable for practicing writers across any artforms, and is designed around peer-learning so all levels of experience welcome
OUTCOME: You will leave with a handout of checks to make when you iterate your narrative-based interactive projects.
What people are saying about Christy’s workshops:
- “A great learning opportunity, Christy is an excellent presenter and very knowledgeable. A useful exercise in opening your mind and seeing craft in a different way.”
- “It has been amazing. I feel like my story is so much stronger now.”
- “Christy’s mentorship and guidance has been something I’ve really valued and can’t wait to work with her again sometime in the future maybe! She’s extremely kind, patient and have been so open-minded to all of our ideas and blunders, and taken it all in stride!”
DURATION: 2.5 hours – split into 2 sessions: 1hr and 1.5 hrs, with an activity in between.
WHEN: Saturday 27 June, 10am and 3pm ACST
(10.30am and 3.30pm AEST)
WHERE: Zoom – links will be provided to the shortlisted participants
Workshop #2: Films/Games/VR/AR/Audio: Designing the Extended Audience Experience
Your film, VR, AR, game or audio project doesn’t begin when your audience presses play. Everything before and after isn’t merely marketing either. This workshop will take you from before your audience discovers your project, to after it, and even to your next project.
Come with your own existing project, whether it is in development, completed, or released.
This workshop is for writers and designers interested in developing their writing process so any part of their project – whether it be marketing copy, a digital extension, an adaptation, or a sequel – is thematically sound.
OUTCOME: You will leave with a worksheet and draft strategy.
What people are saying about Christy’s workshops:
- “A well-crafted and excellent experience! Incredibly valuable insights into the process of extending experiences.”
- “Thanks for a really informative and inspiring two days. This isn’t just lip service – it was one of the best delivered screen industries labs/workshops I’ve been to.”
- “The Extended Experience Lab is an opportunity for you to not only network with like minded creatives on a personal and professional level, but to be given insight into what an extended experience is and how it can value add to your creative process and product.”
DURATION: 2.5 hours – split into 2 sessions: 1hr and 1.5 hrs, with an activity in between.
WHEN: Monday 29 June, 9am and 5pm ACST (9.30am and 5.30pm AEST)
WHERE: Zoom – links will be provided to the shortlisted participants
Christy Dena is a writer-designer-director of transmedia projects and games. Her original projects have received multiple interactive writing awards including the AWG and WA Premier’s Book Awards. Christy has worked on projects for the ABC, SBS, Cisco, and Nokia. She has been commissioned to create installations for such places as The Cube, Science and Technology Centre, QUT; Experimenta’s International Biennial of Media Art; and Pop-Up Playground. She is currently developing her own local co-operative VR experience with companion short film, improvisational storytelling game, and writing a non-fiction book on Redesigning Narrative Design.
She ran an international Telematic Studio with CEMENTA, Forward Slash Story with Columbia University’s Digital Storytelling Lab, Extended Experiences Lab with Screen Queensland, and the international online conference on narrative design: Crafting Intangibles. Christy has mentored around the world, including Crossover Documentary Lab for Film Victoria, XMediaLab: Film Extended, for Screen Australia; The Pixel Lab for the London Film Festival; and the Crossover Indigenous Lab for Screen Australia. She has spoken at events around the world, including Transmedia Hollywood in LA; TEDxTransmedia in Geneva; the Documentary Organization of Canada; GOMA; Slamdance; AIDC; and the GDC in SF.
Photo of Christy Dena by Ricky Adam
