👋 Helllooo! It’s great that you’re here.
I’m Christy Dena (pronounced Dee-na, she/they), and I’m a narrative design activist. When I say ‘we’ on this site, I mean all the folks reading this who think this way, too, and all those not here but do this work in the past, present, and future. It’s not a ‘royal we’ but a ‘solidarity we’!
Over the past few decades, I’ve worked on games, feature films and short films, television series and commercials, print, and theatre. I’ve judged over 19 awards around the world (including the Emmys, AWGIES, and Cartoons on the Bay), I’ve won awards for my (interactive) screenwriting (Aust Writers’ Guild, WA Premier’s Prize), and had multiple local and international nominations. I’ve worked with numerous clients locally and around the world (including Nokia, ABC, and Wieden+Kennedy).
I’ve taught at over 25 institutions around the world (including Griffith Film School, Norwegian Film School, & Humlab at Umeå) and specialist schools (including AFTRS, CalArts, and SAE). I’ve mentored at labs around the world (including the Cross-Over Lab, Power to the Pixel, and Creative Australia), and I’ve run (and co-run) labs (including Forward Slash Story, Extended Experiences Lab, and Crafting Intangibles). I’ve spoken at over 45 industry events (including Slamdance, Whistler Film Festival, & GDC). I’ve assessed arts funding across Australia, and artistic research grants in Norway and Austria. I’ve successfully acquitted over 20 arts and events grants. I’m a certified workplace trainer and assessor, and I’ve also won a teaching award. I’ve worked with kind, open, and creative colleagues as well as manipulative, vindictive, and afraid colleagues. I have a PhD in transmedia practice (Syd Uni), a post-graduate diploma in creative writing (Melb Uni), and a degree in visual and performing arts (Monash Uni). This isn’t all of me, either. I live and work on unceded Boonwurrung Country with my kitty daughter, Kirrip. When I create stories that are set locally, I consult with the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation.
Here is where you’ll find credits for the projects I’ve worked on, and below is a sampling of testimonials from different workshops and labs I’ve run, and talks I’ve given.
“Thanks for a really informative and inspiring two days, and thanks for the book. This isn’t just lip service – it was one of the best delivered screen industries labs/workshops I’ve been to.” Extended Experiences Lab
“The workbook is a fantastic resource, the presenter Christy is very knowledgeable, and you’re bound to meet kindred spirits during the course.” Extended Experiences Lab
“I recently had the honor and privilege of joining an awesomely impressive group of storytellers in Costa Rica for Forward/Story (“Forward Slash Story”), a residential lab for sharing our work and creative process with like-minded practitioners from across media and genre boundaries. We forged new friendships, built the foundation for future collaborations, and left inspired and transformed.” Forward Slash Story
“I’ve found my crew. We are a crew of story pirates united under a banner of reimagining narrative, and we are out to disrupt, inspire and reinvent the world.” Forward Slash Story
“This presentation is filled with mind blowing useful information that was clear and easy to understand. Love the art from the slides. Speaker knew what she was talking about. Definitely invite her back!” Narrative Summit, Game Developers Conference
“Fantastically applicable advice!” Narrative Summit, Game Developers Conference
“Extremely valuable. A melting pot for the future of narrative design. A useful transdisciplinary exercise for other professionals.” Crafting Intangibles
“The speakers broached interesting topics in ways I hadn’t considered them and were really thought provoking, opening questions and contemplation on these ideas.” Crafting Intangibles
“I have studied screenwriting and creative storytelling multiple times however this course has resonated with me on many levels that others have not. I have found all these lectures explore innovative perspectives on storytelling, that inspire and invite me to have a flexible approach to storytelling.” University course
“I was taught early in my education as a screenwriter that I can write queer films with diverse casts but that they belong in arthouse cinema and that the Almightly Box Office will never allow for more than token diversity. […] However, this lecture (and course) has retaught me what I once preached, representation in a writer’s room and on screen is vital in combating negative stereotypes.” University course
“If you’re looking to delve into your craft and reflect on your process as an artist, the Telematic Studio is for you. You’ll meet with artists from rich and diverse approaches to their work, who also share an open mind and a willingness to experiment, create and evolve. Telematic Studio helped me to believe in myself and my journey, encouraging me to grow and nurture my artistic muscle.” Telematic Studio
“I had a great time, and I learnt a lot. The studio is a great way to get exposed to diverse artists and a pool of knowledge/ expertise which are always not easy to find.” Telematic Studio
“Thanks to Christy for generating inspiring webinar discussions and very useful resources that I’m finding myself continually revisiting.” Teaching training
“Firstly, I’d like to thank Christy for the awesome facilitation and delivery of the training.” Teaching training