The advent of cinema required filmmakers to invent a whole new language for storytelling. In the silent era, images—not words—propelled the action. It was unlike any narrative form that preceded it. Filmmakers employed powerful visuals, cut with dynamic and rhythmic editing to tell stories without dialogue—and in many cases, without the use of title cards. (The original microcopy?) By distilling storytelling to its essence, silent filmmakers crafted engaging narratives that burrowed into your psyche and expanded into your imagination.

How did they do this? This talk will explore the essential tools and tricks that allowed these silent filmmakers to create “cinemagic.”

In this session, you will:

• Be inspired to write stories that show, don’t tell.
• Learn how powerful a few choice words can be.
• Embrace the value to giving your words room to breathe and the spark to ignite new ideas.