Episode 8 - Bonus: Avoiding Common Traps in Faith Based Storytelling, With Sean Gaffney In this bonus, members only episode of the Faith and Family Filmmakers podcast, hosts Geoffrey Whitt and Jaclyn Whitt talk with screenwriter Sean Gaffney. They explore the intricacies of screenwriting for faith-based themes. Gaffney discourages the tendency for story writers to pander to the audience or theme, leading to unauthentic storytelling. He urges writers to let the story naturally convey the theme rather than forcing it. They also Discuss:Letting theme flow out of the storyThe art of storytelling in musicalsTesting your themes: writing authenticallyBalancing message and storyThe Power of truthfulness in storytellingAllowing Christian characters to have flaws and make mistakesTrusting your audienceHis movies In-Lawfully Yours and Not Your Romeo & JulietUnderstanding the real needs of your clientsSean Gaffney has authored well over two hundred produced plays, features, videos, animation projects, YouTube series episodes and short films (including for Big Idea and SuperBook). He was the Story Administrator for Warner Bros. Features and the Managing Director of Taproot Theatre (Seattle). Gaffney currently is an Associate Professor in Media Communication and Screenwriting at Asbury University, as well as Associate Dean of the School of Communications. He received his BFA from Drake University, his MFA from Columbia University, and studied with Act One: Writing for Hollywood. Sean's Website Sean's Facebook page @gaffneyinkwell on InstagramSean on YouTube Vimeo: https://www.vimeo.com/gaffneyinkwellLinked In: https://linkedin.com/in/sean-gaffney12The Faith & Family Filmmakers podcast helps filmmakers who share a Christian worldview stay in touch, informed, and inspired. Releasing new episodes every Monday, we interview experts from varying fields of filmmaking; from screenwriters, actors, directors, and producers, to film scorers,  talent agents, and distributors. It is produced and hosted by Geoffrey Whitt and Jaclyn Whitt , and is brought to you by the Faith & Family Filmmakers Association Support Faith & Family Filmmakers Our mission is to help filmmakers who share a Christian Worldview stay in touch, informed, and inspired. Please help by becoming a supporting member or leaving One-Time Donation. We will keep you up to date on newly released and upcoming episodes and what is happening in the Faith and Family Filmmakers Association.Enter the Faith & Family Screenwriting Awards festival Jaclyn's Actor's Reel Script Writing Workshop: https://www.faffassociation.com/actors-reelCopyright 2024 Ivan Ann Productions