Beginnings: Setting a Story into Motion
In July, I shared a video essay by screenwriter Michael Arndt on insanely great story endings. The 90 min presentation is a brilliant excavation of how narrative works, and how crisis and catharsis interweave to create ‘insanely great’ story endings. The Oscar winning screenwriter of ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ and ‘Toy Story 3’ has also created […]
Bear Skin #148
Ray Dalio – Principles
Ray Dalio, is an American billionaire, hedge fund manager, philanthropist and founder of the investment firm Bridgewater Associates. He is listed in Bloomberg in 2018 as one of the world’s 100 wealthiest people alive. His 2011, he self-published a book, Principles, a New York Times best seller which outlines his logic and personal philosophy for investments and […]
The Neverending Story: Part II
When Bastian hides in an attic to read a mysterious book, he discovers that this is no ordinary story……..the Neverending Story is a living book. It tells of Fantasia, a land of magical creatures threatened by the Nothing. The Childlike Empress needs a new name and only a human child can grant it. Hardly believing what is […]
Save the Cat
Blake Snyder was a well known American screenwriter and theorist, and his book “Save the Cat” is a leading guide to writing for screen. In it, he outlines several tricks of the story telling trade. One strategy he outlines is for getting the audience to side with the protagonist early on. Featured in the title, […]
Who is the baddy?
We all know that story does not work without a crisis; the protagonist requires a challenge to overcome, the dragon to slay, the mountain to conquer, the darkness to subdue. Every hero requires a nemesis and every protagonist, an antagonist. This is the stuff of good stories – drama, tension, a fight. Random House Unabridged […]
Why Little People?
Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay… small acts of kindness and love. – Gandalf, “The Hobbit, An Unexpected Journey”. In continuation from […]