Tuesday Night Write: Morgan Neville in Conversation with TNM Founder Shari Foos

About Guest Morgan Neville:

Morgan Neville is an Academy Award, Grammy Award, and Emmy Award-winning director and producer known for his work as a cultural documentarian. His acclaimed film Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, a documentary about Fred Rogers, was released by Focus Features in 2018 and has become one of the best-reviewed and highest-grossing documentaries of all time. His 2013 film 20 Feet From Stardom won the Academy Award for Best Documentary, as well as a Grammy Award for Best Music Film. His most recent film, Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain, premiered theatrically in 2021, and was the highest grossing documentary of the year. Other films include the Emmy-winning Best of Enemies, about the debates between Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley, They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead, about the production of Orson Welles’ final film, Keith Richards: Under the Influence, about the rock legend, and the global music film The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble. For TV, Neville recently directed The Saint of Second Chances for Netflix. As well as Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming with Dave Letterman, a docu-special for Disney +. Other works include; Shangri-la about music producer Rick Rubin, Watch The Sound with Mark Ronson, Abstract: The Art of Design, Song Exploder, Ugly Delicious, and The Painter and the Thief.

How It Works (1-hour Sessions):

INTRODUCTION & INSPIRATION

• A TNM facilitator sets up the session, including the TNM Core Concept of the week, a photo and a prompt.

WRITING: 21 Minutes

• Along with the photo you'll get the first prompt (7 minutes to write).
• Next, you'll get a second prompt to weave into your piece (7 minutes to write).
• Then it is time to edit into a maximum of 1 page or 500 words (7 minutes to write).

BREAKOUT GROUPS: 14 Minutes

• After the writing, you are randomly assigned to small breakout groups with 3-4 other participants.
• Everyone takes turns reading their piece without stopping for conversation or feedback. Simple acknowledgements such as "thank you for sharing" are welcome. While each person shares, focus on witnessing without judgement.
• After everyone has shared, feel free to discuss your process, the concept and prompt, or share about something else that's going on with you that may be relevant to the TNM experience. Speak for yourself only and refrain from giving advice or asking probing questions.
• NOTE: If someone in your group shares something deeply personal and may be in distress, please ask them if they are okay in this moment and don't hesitate to send a direct message to the TNM facilitator.

GROUP SHARE:

• In the final minutes, the group comes together to share their thoughts about their experience, answer questions, go deeper and have fun!

Salon Guidelines:

MUTUAL RESPECT

Remain aware and conscientious of your choice of words and tone. Please do not ask personal questions or give advice. Hate speech or hurtful behavior, regardless of the context will not be tolerated and will lead to immediate removal from the session.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Confidentiality is essential. What is said in the group must stay here. We do not record these session and will not tolerate any recording, transcribing, repeating others' stories or otherwise infringing on the rights and privacy of others.

CAMERAS ON

To ensure that everyone feels comfortable sharing their stories and their feelings, we require everyone to have their cameras on during sessions, except while writing. If you do not comply you will be removed from the session.

LISTENING

When listening to others' stories, put yourself aside so you can hear others from their perspective, without your own assumptions getting in the way. Your job is only to witness each other with appreciation.