"The world of a story must be small enough that the mind of a single artist can come to understand that world in the depth and breadth of knowledge and detail that God knows this world" Mind blown 11 years later.

Just finished McKee's book (for fun, I'm not a "serious" story writer) and had to search for more of his work... Great stuff here! Thanks for posting this video! I'm definitely subscribing.

I've heard people make disparaging remarks about McKee. The more I listen to various bits by him on KZfaq the more I appreciate that he has thought long and hard about this and is very much worth listening to.

. . . limitations are inspirational . . .

I've never been to his seminars... but I have his book, "Story." I found it in Barnes and Noble, thought the cover looked awful, opened it, and realized it was amazing... True to the saying... I actually had an English teacher who was as good as McKee in high school - talked about the same sorts of things, though in terms of novels and short stories, not film. So this book was a great help to me, and I think it'd help audiences as well as writers.

@Maxcherrybailbonds Robert McKee does write. His unproduced screenplay MISS JULIE MONTGOMERY is excellent. The man can WRITE.

There's a quote of his which addresses your question: "The world is full of people who teach things they themselves cannot do"

He's so right. It's ironic but true... once you figure out what a story IS NOT...You feel oddly comforted and inspired to move about within those limits... invention is born from specific problems with specific challenges... limitations incite creativity... one does not see opportunity in a comfortable world.

Very generous.

I LOVE the fact that he has a "storylogue," now I just gota save up to join, lol.

he's good bob mckee i saw him in london and he was excellent ...i ve already had a screenplay accepted by the BBC and it needs a re write but they want to make it ...and they asked where did i learn to write and i said bob mckee...

A lot of popular books and movies sell well without paying attention to story structure ideas like McKee's... but we all know popularity does not mean the stories are good. At least McKee offers a framework to work around and to respond to, even if ultimately discarded or ignored.

I just took the Seminar in Chile a few days ago, and I totally recommend it for anyone. It's about writing, of course, but more than that it's about LIFE, human nature, human mind, human behaviour. If u have the chance to go, don't doubt it.

It's the similar perspective when you watch a tiny object under a microscope. (just like Dostoyevski zooming in one particular human emotion) You realize how big and detailed is the thing you are looking at. Creating a macro-world story and a micro-world story are basically the same. Both are very complex and tidy.

McKee, Truby and Syd made the usefulness of analytical approach to scriptwriting popular and accessible. These men are keen critical thinkers and problem solvers. If would be screenwriters were to rely purely upon other credited screenwriters for instruction, most may end up writing like the instructors. Instead, the aforementioned trio equips the writer with skill sets culled from many works of literature and screenplays. Au contraire, Syd Field did write a few screenplays.

And the best movies are usually set in VERY small worlds (Kaufman's movies, Glengarry Glenross, STOL).

@MeatballsMarlowe Having just read his book, I agree that you have to take a lot of what McKee says with a pinch of salt. But I think what he's trying to say is that you can't have a story which can be taken out of its setting and still have the same meaning - I haven't read War and Peace, but I imagine that the story wouldn't work outside the context of the Napoleonic War. Every story must be confined to a one, clear, perfectly realised setting. Or something.

Does anyone know where any of us can find a McKee's 'top ten' or 'top twenty' of 'rules' worth bearing in mind when we write? are the top ten tips in any of his books or better still, online?

mckee rocks and he smokes

genius

"Imagination is an old world. The times to give back to art is always coming. The grand scheme in world else is the dead black to end, where white of the write sheds the return to life in the find." James

veron films was here

I promise.

"You can't have a protagonist without desire, it doesn't make any sense. Any FUCKING sense!"

Don't get me wrong, I WORSHIP this man's honesty, expertise and wisdom...but WHAT has he written HIMSELF?

I just read War and Peace and I've got to strongly disagree with his statement about it being set in a "small little world." I think he needs to explain that a little better. I wonder if War and Peace were written today, would it pass McKee's standards for a good story.

I totally agree. Quoting David Fincher, "Those who can't do teach. Those who can't teach, teach gym. Those who can't teach gym, teach film."

Kevin, This may help when thinking about Uncle Jessie. Dad

@brightlights456X Numbers dont lie.

Those that can, do. Those that can't, teach. Those that can't teach, teach gym. Woody Allen

He actually has written and sold a lot of screenplays, but none of them have been made into movies.

He has written numerous scripts that have never gotten made. Some he got paid for, some he didn't.

If we were to stretch that reasoning than we'd say only the greatest athletes can make great coaches. Red Aurbach and Phil Jackson are the greatest coaches in NBA history. Phil was a limited player while Red didn't even play. Does that make them unfit to instruct a team? Teaching is its own art. Many succesfull screenwriters probably couldnt teach or spread their wisdom for the life of them. Oh he also wrote STORY. Best seller. So obviously he can write about writing. That good enough for you?

Are you on drugs? I'm DEFENDING McKee against those who are trying to call him out. People who say "those who can't DO - teach". That's why I apparently have 18 thumbs up cause I defended the guy against ignorant clones. Some of which can't read apparently and invert meaning at will.

What is the success rate of aspiring screenwriters? It's a time-consuming hobby. Who has time for failure in this field? It is a must to succeed. So if it takes 20 years to get that $1 million dollar screenplay sold, so be it. Otherwise it is a waste of time if full effort isn't put into it.

Ejko, you're sarcasm doesn't fit here. People won't know you replied to them if you don't hit "Reply" under their comment. There's no way for them to be notified by email otherwise.

~Rick and Morty~ "Fuck your limitations"

Sarcasm doesnt fit here? Oh shit wheres the guidebook? Were they handing them out at the door?

around 4:09 i think he briefly lapses into senility.

Those who can, do; others teach.

Lame. And there is the difference between you and Woody Allen.