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Sci Fi Legend to Host Writing Master Class on GC

He’s adapted Star Wars and Alien, he wrote Star Trek, he’s producing a feature film of Spellsinger and his Commonwealth series is a cornerstone of science fiction literature. Now Alan Dean Foster will make a special guest appearance at the 2012 Gold Coast Film Festival, presented by Australia Fair Shopping Centre, where he will hold a master class for emerging film talent.

Foster’s master class will be a highlight of the 2012 festival program and is a must for anyone who wants to study the intricacies of science fiction and fantasy writing, as well as learn more about the finesse involved in novelising film scripts and adapting other mediums for the screen. The class will include a thirty minute Q&A at the end and will cover a number of topics including:-

-    Elements to consider when writing a fantasy series.
-    Elements to consider when adapting it for cinema.
-    Tips for adapting a novel.
-    How to service fans of the books.
-    Planning transmedia elements for books and feature films while utilising new media to extend the screen work and continue the audience’s experience.
-    Tips for novelising your film.
-    Creating supporting materials for your works.
-    Things to consider when adapting a video game for screen or literature.
-    Advice to aspiring writers in both literature and the screen.

Foster's work to date includes excursions into hard science-fiction, fantasy, horror, detective, western, historical, and contemporary fiction. He has also written numerous non-fiction articles on film, science, and scuba diving, as well as having produced the novel versions of many films, including such well-known productions as Star Wars, the first three Alien films, Alien Nation, The Chronicles of Riddick, Star Trek, Terminator:Salvation, and both Transformers films. Other works include scripts for talking records, radio, computer games, and the story for the first Star Trek movie. His novel Shadowkeep was the first ever book adaptation of an original computer game. In addition to publication in English his work has been translated into more than fifty languages and has won awards in Spain and Russia. His novel Cyber Way won the Southwest Book Award for Fiction in 1990, the first work of science-fiction ever to do so. He is the recipient of the Faust, the IAMTW Lifetime achievement award.

Foster was also credited for the story of Star Trek: The Motion Picture and he will participate in a Q&A session at the end of a special screening of Star Trek: The Motion Picture on original 35mm print to be held during the film festival.

“There is no one with Alan Dean Foster’s extensive knowledge of science fiction and fantasy creation and adaptation in Australia. His body of work is incredible and I hope many fans of the genre as well as many film makers and screen writers attend the master class as well as the special screening of the original Star Trek on 35mm print”. Casey Marshall Siemer, Festival Director.

Foster has also written the fantasy series Spellsinger, about a young musician who is transported into a land of talking creatures where his music allows him to cast magic. He is currently in pre production on a feature film adaptation of Spellsinger with Australian producer Trevor Howis. Foster will be discussing his plans for the new film during his appearances at the Gold Coast Film Festival and Gold Coast Supanova Pop Culture Expo, both in April 2012.

When my wife and I drove the Bruce Highway in 1989, it was from Brisbane to where the tarmac ended at Bloomfield River.  This time it will be my pleasure to head south for my first ever visit to Gold Coast.  I look forward to meeting and interacting with every Australian fan possible and talking about my involvement with everything from Star Trek to Star Wars, from Alien to Riddick to the Spellsinger movie, at the Gold Coast Film Festival in April." Alan Dean Foster.

To register your interest in attending the Alan Dean Foster master class please email mail@gcfilmfestival.com.

The Gold Coast Film Festival presented by Australia Fair Shopping Centre, will be held April 19-29 at Birch Carroll and Coyle Cinemas at Australia Fair Shopping Centre in Southport. Gold Coast City Council’s Film Gold Coast is the major Government sponsor of the event. The full program of films and events will be available to view at www.gcfilmfestival.com in due course.