In his whole career, i've written scripts that have not gotten made because i've always put the audience ahead of the studio exec. The problem in hollywood is you can't really do that until you get to the point where you're powerful enough, essentially, to become an alter. And what the audience wants is something new. Don't listen to anyone else her than the audience. Trust the audience.
Michael speaks with neuroscientist and literature professor Dr. Angus Fletcher about 25 of the most powerful developments in the history of literature, from ancient Mesopotamia to Elena Ferrante. Fletcher says these literary technologies can alleviate grief, trauma, loneliness, anxiety, numbness, depression, pessimism, and ennui — all while sparking creativity, courage, love, empathy, hope, joy, and positive change. Fletcher is a professor of story science at Ohio State’s Project Narrative, the world’s leading academic think-tank for the study of stories. His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the Mellon Foundation, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.