Authors

What Screenwriters Need To Know About Story And Psychology – Jen Grisanti

Filmcourage

Published

January 4, 2023

Film Courage: What is story therapy?

Jen Grisanti, Speaker/Story/Career Consultant, Author: Story Therapy is something that I developed with the recognition with how psychology and story are so connected, whether it’s the psychology of the writer, the psychology of the protagonist or the psychology of the audience, it is all about the transformation that happens so it’s therapeutic. Story Therapy was a term that came to me with the recognition I knew about narrative therapy that was something that I studied when I was taking a deep dive into looking at story from all sides.

I’m all about the idea of how do we draw from meditation? How do we draw from spiritual books? How do we look at the healing books that help writers that help us also take a deep dive into the psychology of the character through looking at a wound that didn’t heal in the past that is creating a block in the present and preventing the character from hitting the dream in the future? The recognition of this was that if the pursuit is an opportunity for the character to become aware of the flaw that is holding them back and an opportunity for them to go one step toward healing that earlier wound, then…(Watch the video interview on Youtube here).

BIO:

International speaker Jen Grisanti is an acclaimed Story/Career Consultant at Jen Grisanti Inc., a 13-year Writing Instructor for Writers on the Verge at NBC, and a former 12-year studio executive, including VP of Current Programming at CBS/Paramount. Jen is the author of three books, Story Line: Finding Gold in Your Life Story, TV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write a Script That Sells, Change Your Story, Change Your Life: A Path To Your Success.

Grisanti started her career in 1992 as an assistant to Aaron Spelling. He served as her mentor for 12 years. She quickly climbed the ranks and eventually ran Current Programs at Spelling Television Inc., covering all Spelling’s shows, including Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place, and Charmed. In 2004, Grisanti was promoted to Vice President of Current Programs at CBS/Paramount, where she covered numerous shows, including Medium, Numbers, NCIS, 4400, and Girlfriends.

In January 2008, Grisanti launched Jen Grisanti Inc., a highly successful consulting firm dedicated to helping talented writers break into the industry. Drawing on her experience as a studio executive, where she gave daily notes to executive producers/showrunners, Grisanti guides writers to shape their material, write from their emotional truth, hone their pitches, and focus their careers. Since launching the consulting firm, Grisanti has worked with over 1000 writers specializing in television and features. Due to her expertise and mentorship, one hundred and six pilots have sold, including ten that went to series, and one hundred fifty-two writers have staffed.