Welcome to my StoryTherapy Workshops Series!
My workshops are for the curious and passionate beginner as well as for the working professional content creator, delivered for individuals or companies as well as educational institutions. My workshops can be executed remotely as well as on-site and rates will depend on individual purposes and needs.
I am Oliver Acker, German by passport, world citizen by choice. I have developed the StoryTherapy Workshop Series based on my experience for the last 25+ years in the animation industry, including working for some of the leading content creators and educators the world has to offer...
Why StoryTherapy Workshops?
Working in this industry for a while and you are bored and/or jaded...? Lost your passion? Feeling a little lost? The Story Therapy workshops will help you to re-evaluate your skillsets and adjust your expectations and refresh your passion.
Unstuck yourself...
Already familiar with the basics of becoming a Story Artist? The Story Therapy workshops will help you to learn new industry insights and procedures that will help you to push the quality and producitvity of your work and workflow.
Pushing your quality to the next level...
With the Story Therapy worrkshops you will learn the creative and techncial process on creating your own idea. Based on your own idea you will develop an animated short in form of an animatic (an elaborated, timed storyboard with sound). A perfect proftolio peace for any Aniamtion Artist.
Learn to develop your own idea...
The workshops will equip you with the tools and knowledge that requires you to enter the industry. You will learn what a Visual Story artist does, in which areas you can work with that knowledge and how to best prepare yourself to break into the industry. A portfolio review/preparation session is part of the workshop.
Break Into the Industry...
CUSTOM-MADE WORKSHOP FOR YOUR CREATIVITY NEEDS...
I can always prepare a custom-made workshop based on your requirements. My global network of artists, trainers and managers makes it possible to create any animation-production related workshop, masterclass or seminar for you. Terms and rates for that to be discussed.
Format: 2h Presentation
Theory/Practical: 100%/0%
Type: Presentation
Level: beginner
A theoretical introductory presentation that will explain what Visual Storytelling is, what areas and media it is applied to and what it takes to become a Visual Storyteller in animation and related industries.
STW-001. VISUAL STORYTELLING.
An Introduction
The StoryTheory Workshop Series
More information
Furthermore, this workshop will shine some light on what contemporary studios are looking for in a Story Artist.
Participants will be engaged by involving them into the presentation, enabling them to apply newly learnt knowledge and/or share existing experience.
Simplified Presentation Outline
  1. What is Story? What is Visual Storytelling?
  2. A Mini-History on Visual Storytelling for animation.
  3. Where is Visual Storytelling applied?
  4. The right Skill- & Mindset of a Story Artist!
  5. Types of Narrations
  6. The Tools and Methods required
  7. Active: Visual Storytelling samples (Storyboards & Animatics)
  8. Portfolio Guidelines
For Whom Is it
Any beginner with a passion and interest in Visual Storytelling. Educational Institutions and Content Creators.
Objective & Outcome
A basic understanding on the definition and tasks of a Visual Story Artist applied in form of some simple yet effective Visual Storytelling assignments.
More information
Furthermore, this workshop will shine some light on what contemporary studios are looking for in a Story Artist.
Participants will be engaged by involving them into the presentation, enabling them to apply newly learnt knowledge and/or share existing experience.
Simplified Presentation Outline
  1. What is Story? What is Visual Storytelling?
  2. A Mini-History on Visual Storytelling for animation.
  3. Where is Visual Storytelling applied?
  4. The right Skill- & Mindset of a Story Artist!
  5. Types of Narrations
  6. The Tools and Methods required
  7. Active: Visual Storytelling samples (Storyboards & Animatics)
  8. Portfolio Guidelines
For Whom Is it
Any beginner with a passion and interest in Visual Storytelling. Educational Institutions and Content Creators.
Objective & Outcome
A basic understanding on the definition and tasks of a Visual Story Artist applied in form of some simple yet effective Visual Storytelling assignments.
STW-002. VISUAL STORY DEVELOPMENT FOR ANIMATION PART 1: Preparation
Level: beginner & intermediate
Type: Hands-On Workshop with Daily lectures
Theory/Practical: 20%/80%
Duration: 5 Days
The first part of this comprehensive workshop will guide the participants through the steps of coming up with their own idea for an animated short. Furthermore the participants will then take the Idea to the next level and create a Synopsis and an Outline of the idea, maybe even a script, depending on the nature of the project.
More information
This workshop will enable the participants to understand what create good story and how to apply those principles to their own idea.
At the end of the first part of this workshop the participant will be ready to develop the visual aspects of their idea in form of a storyboard / animatic, which will be taught in the second part of the workshop.
Simplified Presentation Outline
  1. Story in Animation: Character Driven Storytelling
  2. Feature Story vs Animated Short vs Animated Series
  3. Commercial Story approach:
• The Idea - How to come up with an idea?
• Story Structure
• The Introduction: Characters and their world
• The Conflict
• The Solution
• Character Arcs & Character Relationships
4. The Artistic approach: I wanna do something expressive, non-commercial.
5. Basic Cinematography
• Shots
• 180 degree rule
• Transitions
• Composition
6. The Synopsis, Outline & Script
7. Dialogue Recording
For Whom Is it
Any aspiring artist or professional that has an interest to pimp their story knowledge by productions a visual story (animatic) for an animated short. Educational Institutions, Content Creators.
Objective & Outcome
A thorough understanding on how to approach story and how to prepare story for visual development. An outline or script, of an own idea.
More information
This workshop will enable the participants to understand what create good story and how to apply those principles to their own idea.
At the end of the first part of this workshop the participant will be ready to develop the visual aspects of their idea in form of a storyboard / animatic, which will be taught in the second part of the workshop.
Simplified Presentation Outline
  1. Story in Animation: Character Driven Storytelling
  2. Feature Story vs Animated Short vs Animated Series
  3. Commercial Story approach:
• The Idea - How to come up with an idea?
• Story Structure
• The Introduction: Characters and their world
• The Conflict
• The Solution
• Character Arcs & Character Relationships
4. The Artistic approach: I wanna do something expressive, non-commercial.
5. Basic Cinematography
• Shots
• 180 degree rule
• Transitions
• Composition
6. The Synopsis, Outline & Script
7. Dialogue Recording
For Whom Is it
Any aspiring artist or professional that has an interest to pimp their story knowledge by productions a visual story (animatic) for an animated short. Educational Institutions, Content Creators.
Objective & Outcome
A thorough understanding on how to approach story and how to prepare story for visual development. An outline or script, of an own idea.
STW-003. VISUAL STORY DEVELOPMENT FOR ANIMATION
PART 2: Execution
Level: beginner & intermediate
Type: Hands-On Workshop with Daily lectures
Theory/Practical: 20%/80%
Duration: 5 Days
The second part of the StoryTherapy: Visual Story Development focuses on the creative hands-on execution.
More information
Based on the prior efforts in Part 1 of this workshop, we will guide the participants on how to visualize their ideas in forms of thumbnails sketches and then taking it to the next level and develop a draft storyboard all the way to completing an animatic with a scratch track.
This workshop will also highlight how collaborative Visual Story Development is. Feedback is your best friend.
Simplified Presentation Outline
  1. Scratch-track and Basic Sound-Editing (Audacity) & Sound / Music Sourcing
  2. Advanced Cinematography
• Perspective
• Lighting (Contrast)
• Staging
• Camera Moves
3. Storyboard Tools (Storyboard Pro and Photoshop)
4. Drawing for Storyboards: Developing your own short-hand
5. Thumb-nailing: First visual draft of your script or outline
6. Using references successfully (VizRef)
7. Draft Storyboard (A ready-to-pitch Storyboard)
8. Story Collaboration:
• Pitching
• Critique / Feedback (listen & re-imagine)
• Story-RE-boarding
• Rinse & Repeat
9. Animaticn: Refined Storyboard w Scratch-track
10. Working remotely & On-Site
For Whom Is it
Any aspiring artist or professional that has an interest to pimp their story knowledge by productions a visual story (animatic) for an animated short. Educational Institutions, Content Creators.
Objective & Outcome
A basic understanding on the definition and tasks of a Visual Story Artist applied in form of some simple yet effective Visual Storytelling assignments.
More information
Based on the prior efforts in Part 1 of this workshop, we will guide the participants on how to visualize their ideas in forms of thumbnails sketches and then taking it to the next level and develop a draft storyboard all the way to completing an animatic with a scratch track.
This workshop will also highlight how collaborative Visual Story Development is. Feedback is your best friend.
Simplified Presentation Outline
  1. Scratch-track and Basic Sound-Editing (Audacity) & Sound / Music Sourcing
  2. Advanced Cinematography
• Perspective
• Lighting (Contrast)
• Staging
• Camera Moves
3. Storyboard Tools (Storyboard Pro and Photoshop)
4. Drawing for Storyboards: Developing your own short-hand
5. Thumb-nailing: First visual draft of your script or outline
6. Using references successfully (VizRef)
7. Draft Storyboard (A ready-to-pitch Storyboard)
8. Story Collaboration:
• Pitching
• Critique / Feedback (listen & re-imagine)
• Story-RE-boarding
• Rinse & Repeat
9. Animaticn: Refined Storyboard w Scratch-track
10. Working remotely & On-Site
For Whom Is it
Any aspiring artist or professional that has an interest to pimp their story knowledge by productions a visual story (animatic) for an animated short. Educational Institutions, Content Creators.
Objective & Outcome
A basic understanding on the definition and tasks of a Visual Story Artist applied in form of some simple yet effective Visual Storytelling assignments.
STW-004. «Break into a creative job, survive and thrive!»
A sharing session.
Level: all levels
Type: Sharing Session / Presentation
Theory/Practical: 100%/0%
Duration: 1h (chapter I-III + intermission) / 1h (chapter IV-VI + epilogue)
Having worked for 25+ years in the animation industry, globally as well as remotely, I am sharing my thoughts and experience in this entertaining one hour sharing session. Looking at the various pit-stops of an artist and how to overcome some of the creative and other life-challenging struggles on the way up… sideways… and down.
My journey into the land of make-believe
More information
The content of this sharing session is based on my book with the same working title "Break into a creative job, survive and thrive!" that is currently being developed.
My experience and advice are divided into chapters and each chapter will elaborate on the Good, Bad and Ugly.
Depending on the background of the participants of this sharing session I will either elaborate on the beginnings and the tedious yet rewarding path up the creative career ladder or I will share my views and advice with working professionals that feel jaded and/or stuck, to help them claiming some of their passion back and to unstuck themselves.
During this sharing session I will share share how I made my way into the industry and managed to stay passionate and dedicated throughout the many years despite the rough chapters presenting themselves during my journey.
I share first hand advice on breaking into the industry and how to thrive and  stay relevant while keeping a happy and balanced life. The participants will learn from my mistakes, in hope they can avoid making the same mistakes and benefit from the things that worked really well for me and might work well for them too.
The content of the sharing session and that of my book has been refined in collaboration with Ingmar Hänsch, music producer and therapist in Ibiza, Spain. Ingmar has years and years of experience with individuals that feels challenged by life events. Being a creative himself, he developed great solutions for like-minded people in particular, which encouraged me to bring Ingmar on board as advisor to develop problem solving tools with me that will be particularly elaborated on my book.
The content of this sharing session is applicable to most jobs and ambitions in the creative industry, yet especially those working or intending to work in the animation industry will benefit greatly from this session.
Simplified Presentation Outline
PROLOGUE:
AND INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER I:
THE INNER CALLING FOLLOWED BY THE PASSIONATE YEARS OF STRUGGLES & JOY
When the dream becomes a goal and passion and dedication propels you forward, overcoming almost every hurdle on the way.

CHAPTER II:
THE BREAK-THROUGH AND ITS DELIGHTFUL HONEYMOON PERIOD
The Chance to prove yourself: You landed your first gig. Life is great. Most probably the most rewarding chapter of your creative career.

CHAPTER III:
TAKING OFF THE PINK GLASSES: THE PERIOD OF REALIZATION
Living your dream became a sobering reality, politics, repetition and realization set in. You (hopefully) grew as a person and long for a broader spectrum of evolution. How to go on and upwards from here?

INTERMISSION:
CONCLUSIONS
A collection of thoughts and advice based on the creative macro-world and its challenges.

CHAPTER IV:
GRUMPY PEOPLE SYNDROME: THE JADED, MATURE YEARS
The job isn‘t that fun anymore, its a means to make money to pay your bills. Your passion dies off, your anger towards upper management reaches new heights. Suddenly everything feels like a compromise. Lack of sense of reward.

CHAPTER V:
THE NEW YOU - ARRIVAL!
The journey taught you many lessons, with self reflection, maturity and an open mind you can turn things around for yourself and rediscover your passion for the subject matter or discover new passions.

CHAPTER VI:
LIFE INTERVENTION - EMERGENCY PLAN
You are being made redundant or other life changing events throw you off course and you feel overwhelmed by the challenges of getting back on track.

EPILOGUE:
CONCLUSIONS
A collection of thoughts and advice based on the creative macro-world and its challenges.
For Whom Is it
Any aspiring and professional artist that struggles with themselves, the circumstances, from a creative block and / or sudden absence of passion for the job in this industry. Educational Institutions, Content Creators.
Objective & Outcome
To release creative blocks, self-doubts, help solving struggles as well as succeed overall in a balanced life of any emotional and creative creature working in a fun yet demanding job.
More information
The content of this sharing session is based on my book with the same working title "Break into a creative job, survive and thrive!" that is currently being developed.
My experience and advice are divided into chapters and each chapter will elaborate on the Good, Bad and Ugly.
Depending on the background of the participants of this sharing session I will either elaborate on the beginnings and the tedious yet rewarding path up the creative career ladder or I will share my views and advice with working professionals that feel jaded and/or stuck, to help them claiming some of their passion back and to unstuck themselves.
During this sharing session I will share share how I made my way into the industry and managed to stay passionate and dedicated throughout the many years despite the rough chapters presenting themselves during my journey.
I share first hand advice on breaking into the industry and how to thrive and  stay relevant while keeping a happy and balanced life. The participants will learn from my mistakes, in hope they can avoid making the same mistakes and benefit from the things that worked really well for me and might work well for them too.
The content of the sharing session and that of my book has been refined in collaboration with Ingmar Hänsch, music producer and therapist in Ibiza, Spain. Ingmar has years and years of experience with individuals that feels challenged by life events. Being a creative himself, he developed great solutions for like-minded people in particular, which encouraged me to bring Ingmar on board as advisor to develop problem solving tools with me that will be particularly elaborated on my book.
The content of this sharing session is applicable to most jobs and ambitions in the creative industry, yet especially those working or intending to work in the animation industry will benefit greatly from this session.
Simplified Presentation Outline
PROLOGUE:
AND INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER I:
THE INNER CALLING FOLLOWED BY THE PASSIONATE YEARS OF STRUGGLES & JOY
When the dream becomes a goal and passion and dedication propels you forward, overcoming almost every hurdle on the way.

CHAPTER II:
THE BREAK-THROUGH AND ITS DELIGHTFUL HONEYMOON PERIOD
The Chance to prove yourself: You landed your first gig. Life is great. Most probably the most rewarding chapter of your creative career.

CHAPTER III:
TAKING OFF THE PINK GLASSES: THE PERIOD OF REALIZATION
Living your dream became a sobering reality, politics, repetition and realization set in. You (hopefully) grew as a person and long for a broader spectrum of evolution. How to go on and upwards from here?

INTERMISSION:
CONCLUSIONS
A collection of thoughts and advice based on the creative macro-world and its challenges.

CHAPTER IV:
GRUMPY PEOPLE SYNDROME: THE JADED, MATURE YEARS
The job isn‘t that fun anymore, its a means to make money to pay your bills. Your passion dies off, your anger towards upper management reaches new heights. Suddenly everything feels like a compromise. Lack of sense of reward.

CHAPTER V:
THE NEW YOU - ARRIVAL!
The journey taught you many lessons, with self reflection, maturity and an open mind you can turn things around for yourself and rediscover your passion for the subject matter or discover new passions.

CHAPTER VI:
LIFE INTERVENTION - EMERGENCY PLAN
You are being made redundant or other life changing events throw you off course and you feel overwhelmed by the challenges of getting back on track.

EPILOGUE:
CONCLUSIONS
A collection of thoughts and advice based on the creative macro-world and its challenges.
For Whom Is it
Any aspiring and professional artist that struggles with themselves, the circumstances, from a creative block and / or sudden absence of passion for the job in this industry. Educational Institutions, Content Creators.
Objective & Outcome
To release creative blocks, self-doubts, help solving struggles as well as succeed overall in a balanced life of any emotional and creative creature working in a fun yet demanding job.
STW-005. Asian Storytelling and IP Creation for the European. Animation Market
Level: intermediate & pro
Type: Presentation with concluding Q&A session
Theory/Practical: 100%/0%
Duration: 1-2 hours
I do receive lots of request from Asian companies how to appeal and break into the European Market with their own IP. This presentation will give you a good idea about the way productions are funded, produced and marketed in and for the European Market.
More information
This presentation might be especially helpful for Asian service provider that want to switch to creating their own IP.
This presentation will shed light onto the differences in Character development for animation, its design and appeal and how to make your story to appeal to European investors and audiences.
The presentation will also elaborate on how films are usually funded in Europe and how to potentially tap into the funds by co-producing with local content creators.
Also important is to give a clear understanding on the differences in work culture and pipeline, especially so during co-productions.
Simplified Presentation Outline
CURRENTLY IN DEVELOPMENT!
  1. Audience: Relevant Cultural Differences Asia vs West
  2. Work-Culture differences Asia vs West
  3. Pipeline differences Asia vs West
  4. Story Appeal - Captivating the Western Audiences
  5. Funding & Marketing in Europe
  6. Show formats in Europe
For Whom Is it
For working professionals, startups and animation studios that intent to upgrade to higher quality productions. Educational Institutions, Content Creators.
Objective & Outcome
A better understanding on how to target European audiences and investors / co-production fundings.
More information
This presentation might be especially helpful for Asian service provider that want to switch to creating their own IP.
This presentation will shed light onto the differences in Character development for animation, its design and appeal and how to make your story to appeal to European investors and audiences.
The presentation will also elaborate on how films are usually funded in Europe and how to potentially tap into the funds by co-producing with local content creators.
Also important is to give a clear understanding on the differences in work culture and pipeline, especially so during co-productions.
Simplified Presentation Outline
CURRENTLY IN DEVELOPMENT!
  1. Audience: Relevant Cultural Differences Asia vs West
  2. Work-Culture differences Asia vs West
  3. Pipeline differences Asia vs West
  4. Story Appeal - Captivating the Western Audiences
  5. Funding & Marketing in Europe
  6. Show formats in Europe
For Whom Is it
For working professionals, startups and animation studios that intent to upgrade to higher quality productions. Educational Institutions, Content Creators.
Objective & Outcome
A better understanding on how to target European audiences and investors / co-production fundings.
STW-006. ANIMATION PRODUCTION MASTERCLASS
Level: PRO
Type: Masterclass with lectures and Hands-On Evaluations and Assignments
Theory/Practical: 90%/10%
Duration: 3-5 days (depending on the requirements)
The flagship Masterclass for every animation professional and / or studio that wants to push the limits and reach new heights in terms of production quality, production methods and content creativity.
PRO LEVEL
More information
In this Masterclass we will elaborate on the major content-creation and animation production processes. We will make a deep dive how to maximize your efforts in each department and how to push the overall quality outcome.
We will also cover things on how to work productively in this day and age with remote personal and creative individuals.

The Masterclass can be executed remotely but even better to be performed on-site as we can get a first hand impression on how your studio is setup and how you are running your productions. Upon completion of the Masterclass we can extend our services as consultant to help you executing and monitoring your progress based on our suggestions.

This Masterclass will be customized to your needs depending on an evaluation we will have together before we finalize the outline and outcome of the masterclass.
Simplified Presentation Outline
  1. Making the jump from Service provider to creating own IP
  2. What makes a strong IP & Story
  3. Contemporary Animation Production Pipeline
  4. Specific tools for specific needs
  5. Planning & Budgeting
  6. Recruitment and Talent Development
  7. Training
  8. Outreach and Marketing
  9. CoProductions and Collaborations
  10. Outsourcing Productions and Sequences
  11. Future-proof production methods
Objective & Outcome
Based on an evaluation prior the masterclass, we can give constructive feedback and guidelines on how to improve the production quality, production methods and the creative content of your productions.
More information
In this Masterclass we will elaborate on the major content-creation and animation production processes. We will make a deep dive how to maximize your efforts in each department and how to push the overall quality outcome.
We will also cover things on how to work productively in this day and age with remote personal and creative individuals.

The Masterclass can be executed remotely but even better to be performed on-site as we can get a first hand impression on how your studio is setup and how you are running your productions. Upon completion of the Masterclass we can extend our services as consultant to help you executing and monitoring your progress based on our suggestions.

This Masterclass will be customized to your needs depending on an evaluation we will have together before we finalize the outline and outcome of the masterclass.
Simplified Presentation Outline
  1. Making the jump from Service provider to creating own IP
  2. What makes a strong IP & Story
  3. Contemporary Animation Production Pipeline
  4. Specific tools for specific needs
  5. Planning & Budgeting
  6. Recruitment and Talent Development
  7. Training
  8. Outreach and Marketing
  9. CoProductions and Collaborations
  10. Outsourcing Productions and Sequences
  11. Future-proof production methods
Objective & Outcome
Based on an evaluation prior the masterclass, we can give constructive feedback and guidelines on how to improve the production quality, production methods and the creative content of your productions.
The instructors
Oliver Acker
I am Oliver Acker, German by passport, world citizen by choice. I have developed the StoryTherapy Workshop Series based on my experience for the last 25+ years in the animation industry, including working for some of the leading content creators and educators the world has to offer...
Dino Athanassiou
Dino is an Animation Director in the classic Hollywood tradition of rich character performance, both traditionally drawn and computer-animated.
Jens Rasmus Nielsen
Jens started as a political documentary filmmaker in an independent media group and co-founded the Office for Graphic Literature (ArGL) in 1989 while studying various humanities at the University of Hamburg...
What people say
Senior Animator, ILM, Vancouver
Oliver was the training manager at Lucasfilm Singapore and he oversaw my development as an animator in the early days and has always offered great guidance throughout his time there.
Oliver Acker has been employed with Ngee Ann Polytechnic as a Visiting Consultant from 03 August 2009 to 31 May 2010. During his tenure, Oliver had helped set up a teaching production studio...
Management & Strategy, Ngee Ann Polytechnic
Production Designer, Paramount Pictures, USA
Oliver is teacher and a professional. He provides support and knowledge in so many aspects of animation. He is a delight to work with — I hope to work with him again…
Lead Animator, ILM, Singapore
I was part of the training Lucasfilm Animation Singapore, where Oliver was in charge of the artistic development and where he prepared the course material and working with his US counterparts to prepare the team for animation production on the CG TV series "Star Wars: The Clone Wars".
Head of Animation Department, SAE Indonesia, Jarkata
Oliver is a wonderful mentor with deep knowledge and experience in the animation field. The friendly and engaging way he delivers his education is a great experience for the students...
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