Revolutionary or Rebel
#MondayMusings – Rebels are opportunistic, but Revolutionaries strive for change
Continue readingWall-E – Getting to the Essence of Things
In a few seconds the audience (or executive in a pitch session) should be able to get the essential core of your story and character. One of my favorite quotes is by Albert Einstein: “If you can’t say it simply and briefly you probably don’t understand it well enough.”
Continue readingThe Dark Knight & Emotional Content
The Dark Knight is a classic example of the Emotional Toolbox premise that– “In the battle between reason (plot) and emotion (connection), emotion ALWAYS wins.”
Continue readingThe Dark Knight & The Power of Truth
In a Power of Truth film things are never what they seem. None of the major characters in The Dark Knight are what they seem at first glance. The tangled undergrowth of human duplicity catches and pulls at every character in the film.
Continue readingThe Dark Knight – Alfred & The Power of Love
A character driven by the Power of Love is often someone who tirelessly pushes another forward in a story. These characters— often soft-spoken, gentle and compliant on the outside— are made of strong, even steely, stuff on the inside. They believe the best place to be is the “power behind the throne.” All these qualities are very evident with Alfred.
Continue readingThe Dark Knight – Two Face & the Power of Conscience
Harvey Dent’s moral condemnation of crime fuels him to clean up Gotham and make it safe for ordinary citizens. He is a vigilant prosecutor of evil. After he is burned and Rachel dies, Dent moves toward his Dark Side and becomes Two Face, a twisted vigilante and self-appointed judge, jury and executioner.
Continue readingMamma Mia: We Need To Laugh!
#ThinkpieceThursday – This might be an ideal time to sell a comedy.
Continue readingThe Dark Knight, The Joker and Dr. Hunter S. Thompson – Power of Excitement
Two characters and films that explore the Dark Side of this Character Type: Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson and The Joker (brilliantly played by Heath Ledger) in Dark Knight . Each is a great look at the underbelly of this fascinating Character Type.
Continue readingCasino Royale – Power of Reason
Screenwriters Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and Paul Haggis move James Bond into the next phase of 007’s life in the excellent film, Casino Royale. It is a great example of how to transition a character.
Continue readingSteven Spielberg’s The Terminal
Tom Hanks, playing Vicktor Novorski, is the film’s star and occupies most of the screen time. Unfortunately, Vicktor is not the protagonist of the film. Neither the biggest emotional journey nor the emotional climax of the film belongs to Hanks. This a fatal flaw from which the film never recovers.
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