The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna 176 | Michael Arndt on Balancing Plot & Emotional Storytelling
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Jan 25, 2024 Michael Arndt, Oscar-winner and friend-of-the-show, discusses the shift from rebellion to connection in movies, delves into the flawed nature of Barbie land, and explores the balancing act of plot and emotional storytelling in screenwriting. He also emphasizes the process of uncovering themes and stakes in a story and highlights the importance of having a supportive community of fellow writers in writing an original screenplay.
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Death of the Movie Rebel
- The "heroic male rebel" archetype, once a staple in films, has diminished.
- This rebel, seeking freedom from oppressive institutions, was potent in post-WWII culture.
Shifting Cultural Aspirations
- Post-WWII, individualism thrived, leading to rebel heroes rejecting conformity.
- Now, a yearning for connection and security drives the desire to join intentional communities.
Hogwarts as an Aspirational Model
- Michael Arndt's niece highlighted a shift in aspirational models.
- Instead of wanting individual freedom, younger generations crave the connection of institutions like Hogwarts.