Story Grid Writers' Room

Leslie concludes her epic examination of the action story on an epic scale with the epic-est epic of them all, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. This 2003 conclusion to The Lord of the Rings trilogy was directed by Peter Jackson from a screenplay he wrote with Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. Each week one of the Story Grid Editors—Jarie Bolander, Valerie Francis, Anne Hawley, Kim Kessler, or Leslie Watts—pitches a film as an example of a significant story principle. The rest of us explore different aspects of the story so we can all understand it better. Click here for the full show notes.

Come along to Mexico and decide whether the movie or the novel is tastier, as Anne pitches Like Water For Chocolate in her study of novels adapted to film. The 1992 Mexican film was directed by Alfonso Arau from the screenplay Laura Esquivel adapted from her 1989 novel of the same name. Each week one of the Story Grid Editors—Jarie Bolander, Valerie Francis, Anne Hawley, Kim Kessler, or Leslie Watts—pitches a film as an example of a significant story principle. The rest of us explore different aspects of the story so we can all understand it better. Click here for the full show notes.

Wake us up when it’s over! Kim continues her study of stories that don’t work this week with 2016’s Passengers, written by Jon Spaihts and directed by Morten Tyldum. This film had a flaw so widely perceived that several film blogs created fixes for it. We’re going to do the same. Each week one of the Story Grid Editors—Jarie Bolander, Valerie Francis, Anne Hawley, Kim Kessler, or Leslie Watts—pitches a film as an example of a significant story principle. The rest of us explore different aspects of the story so we can all understand it better. Click here for the full show notes.

Let’s get whisked away to Singapore to explore Modern Love with the 2018 film Crazy Rich Asians. This romantic comedy was written by Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim and directed by Jon M. Chu. Each week one of the Story Grid Editors—Jarie Bolander, Valerie Francis, Anne Hawley, Kim Kessler, or Leslie Watts—pitches a film as an example of a significant story principle. The rest of us explore different aspects of the story so we can all understand it better. Click here for the full show notes.

We’re all aboard this week to try to separate the truth from the lies in The Girl on the Train. This 2016 psychological thriller was directed by Tate Taylor from a screenplay by Erin Cressida Wilson, based on the record-breaking bestseller of the same name by Paula Hawkins. Each week one of the Story Grid Editors—Jarie Bolander, Valerie Francis, Anne Hawley, Kim Kessler, or Leslie Watts—pitches a film as an example of a significant story principle. The rest of us explore different aspects of the story so we can all understand it better. Click here for the full show notes.

It’s a disaster this week as the Leslie leads our fearless crew through Deep Impact. This first of two 1998 films about giant space rocks hitting the earth was written by Bruce Joel Rubin and Michael Tolkin and directed by Mimi Leder. Each week one of the Story Grid Editors—Jarie Bolander, Valerie Francis, Anne Hawley, Kim Kessler, or Leslie Watts—pitches a film as an example of a significant story principle. The rest of us explore different aspects of the story so we can all understand it better. Click here for the full show notes.

Hope, love, and injustice intersect this week in Anne’s pitch: James Baldwin’s 1973 novel If Beale Street Could Talk, and the 2018 film adaptation that was written and directed by Barry Jenkins. Each week one of the Story Grid Editors—Jarie Bolander, Valerie Francis, Anne Hawley, Kim Kessler, or Leslie Watts—pitches a film as an example of a significant story principle. The rest of us explore different aspects of the story so we can all understand it better. Click here for the full show notes.

The Wachowskis once again give the Roundtablers reason to tear their hair out, this time with their 2015 failed blockbuster, Jupiter Ascending. Despite a fine cast, a promising storyline, and brilliant special effects, this story doesn’t really work. Kim leads us in trying to figure out why. Each week one of the Story Grid Editors—Jarie Bolander, Valerie Francis, Anne Hawley, Kim Kessler, or Leslie Watts—pitches a film as an example of a significant story principle. The rest of us explore different aspects of the story so we can all understand it better. Click here for the full show notes.

The Roundtablers return to the love story this week with Sense and Sensibility. This Oscar-winning 1995 adaptation of Jane Austen’s 1811 novel was written by Emma Thompson and directed by Ang Lee. Each week one of the Story Grid Editors—Jarie Bolander, Valerie Francis, Anne Hawley, Kim Kessler, or Leslie Watts—pitches a film as an example of a significant story principle. The rest of us explore different aspects of the story so we can all understand it better. Click here for the full show notes.

The multiple personalities around the Roundtable try to puzzle out whether the 1995 thriller Primal Fear works, and why—or why not. This film, starring Richard Gere and Edward Norton in his first feature film role, was written by Steve Shagan and Ann Biderman, based on William Diehl’s 1993 novel of the same name. It was directed by Greg Hoblit. Each week one of the Story Grid Editors—Jarie Bolander, Valerie Francis, Anne Hawley, Kim Kessler, or Leslie Watts—pitches a film as an example of a significant story principle. The rest of us explore different aspects of the story so we can all understand it better. Click here for the full show notes.