St. Davids Christian Writers' Conference

Zena Dell Lowe

Zena Dell Lowe, a co-founding partner and producer for Skirt Films, is also a scriptwriter, director, and actress.

Her play, Happy Holidays, Pending, was produced at the acclaimed Actor's Co-op in Hollywood. She won a Silver Award and a Telly Award for her short film, The Haunted Heart. Another of her films, Hard Shell, was accepted into the acclaimed Reel Women’s International Film Festival in LA.

Currently pursuing a Masters in Apologetics from Biola University, she also works as an adjunct professor at Covenant Christian College in Georgia, and teaches screenwriting and playwriting at various writer’s conferences around the country.

 

 

 

Zena Dell Lowe

"Hollywood Story-Telling Tools"

(What Hollywood Knows that Every Writer Should Learn)

Finding Your Story and the Three-Act Structure--Wednesday, 10:45 AM
The choice of what story to tell is the most important decision you will make as a writer. In this class, we will discuss personal and marketplace factors you should consider. Don't waste valuable time and energy on a manuscript that won't get published. Find out how to choose the right story from the get-go.

We will also break down the “Hollywood formula” and learn what Hollywood does that's so successful. Then we'll discuss the Hollywood Beat Sheet that you can apply to your own story, to make it work from the beginning, through the middle, to the end. (This class will use film clips. If possible, please watch the film Witness starring Harrison Ford prior to attending.)

Session #2 It's All About Character--Thursday, 10:45 AM 
Why do some literary and cinematic characters seem real while others fall flat? We will break down the essential elements for creating unforgettable, 3-D personalities for your stories. (This class will use film clips. While the instructor has selected clips that she believes best illustrate the principles being taught, please be advised that there may be some content suited for mature audiences only.)

Mastering Visual Images: The 7 Levels of Meaning in Story--Friday, 10:45AM
Do you want to take your story to the next level and really make it great? By studying the seven levels of meaning, you'll see that most writers only use one. In this session we will consider how stories can be a “visual” art form, and discover how more complex imagery can portray deeper levels of meaning. (This class will use film clips. While the instructor has selected clips that she believes best illustrate the principles being taught, please be advised that there may be some content suited for mature audiences only.)

Set-ups and Pay-offs--Wednesday, 2:30PM
The best authors weave subtle hints and clues into the plot, and then pay off those clues as the story unfolds. But clunky set-ups and lousy pay-offs can keep your story from ever being published. Learn how to master the fine art of setting up and paying off. (This class will use film clips. While the instructor has selected clips that she believes best illustrate the principles being taught, please be advised that there may be some content suited for mature audiences only.)

Calling & Responsibility: What is a Christian Artist?  Friday, 1:30 PM (General Session)
What does it mean for me to call myself a Christian writer? Does my work qualify as "good" as long as it lacks sex, bad language and violence? What should my goals be? Must I present the gospel in every story I tell? There is a lot of confusion in the church about this subject. This session will probe the moral dimensions of novel writing and what it means to be a Christian artist.