The power and importance of storytelling is now widely accepted, but this book goes further to focus on storymaking. CONNECTION brings together a former scientist, a story consultant, and an improv actor to give you the critical thinking of science combined with a century of Hollywood knowledge in the creation and shaping of stories. The material is relevant to lawyers, politicians, public health workers, educators, activists-- everyone. In today's "Twitterfied" world, CONNECTION provides the narrative tools for effective communication.
About the Author: RANDY OLSON is the writer/director of the feature films Flock of Dodos: The Evolution-Intelligent Design Circus, (Tribeca '06, Showtime '07), Sizzle: A Global Warming Comedy (Outfest '08), and author of Don't Be Such a Scientist: Talking Substance in an Age of Style (Island Press '09). His work focuses on the challenges involved in communicating science to the general public and on the current attacks on mainstream science in fields such as evolution and climate science. He is a former marine biologist (Ph.D. Harvard University) who achieved tenure at the University of New Hampshire before changing careers to filmmaking by obtaining an M.F.A. in Cinema from the University of Southern California. He is an adjunct faculty member with the Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies at USC. His production company, Prairie Starfish Productions, is based at Raleigh Studios in Los Angeles. DORIE BARTON has been a professional actor in the film and television industry for twenty years, and a script consultant and writing coach for fifteen. Her work as a consultant and coach has led her to story development work with screenwriters, filmmakers, novelists, literary managers, and production companies, working on independent and studio projects, and both narrative and documentary films. Her work on camera as an actor has included several television series as a regular and recurring character, numerous guest star roles, and work in independent and studio pictures. She is also a multi award-winning stage performer, and has been a member of the esteemed Evidence Room theatre company since 2001. She holds a BFA from the renowned California Institute of the Arts, created by Walt Disney to provide artists with a well-rounded education in all art forms. BRIAN PALERMO is an actor with a wide range of performances in television, film, and top comedy venues. Palermo graduated from the University of New Orleans with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. He has been a performer, director, and teacher with The Groundlings, Los Angeles' premiere comedy theatre for over 15 years. On the other side of the camera, Palermo was a staff writer on the animated series Histeria! for Warner Bros. and has written scripts for Disney's The Weekenders and Dave the Barbarian. He's also written and produced promotional commercials for Fox and The Disney Channel, among others.