Stories Are Soul Food

Brian says he showed "Batman Begins" to his kids and enjoyed it; Nate goes on a rampage.Nolan's Batman earnestness necessitated the Joker to give us all some relief. "Why so serious, Batman?"Nolan is a great artisan but a terrible philosopher. "I run because they need me to run."... But it was all worth it for LEGO Batman.How long can Hollywood's obsession with superhero movies continue? Apparently forever.Is "Down with Hollywood" a good rallying cry?Why AI is the strangler fig for all that's real.What could end the entertainment industry in America? Social media may already have done it.This and much more on this episode of SASF.

When you've been hurt, what kind of character will you be? God gives you hardship as a Storyteller does: because readers love what happens when a character is down but finds a way to get back up; Remember that it's in the cellars of affliction that God makes his choicest wines (Rutherford); Be at once tender and merciless with your own victimhood; Stop assuming nobody else at church has the dark backstory of trauma and abuse that you do. Take heart from Grandpa Jim, who used to "get chose" to fight the bullies every day after school. What kind of wine will you be?

Time to talk about Christians in novels:+ Secular novelists love to make their villains hypocritical Christians.+ Christian novelists are very honest about their Christian characters' flaws as well.+ So don't be offended when you bump into a fake Christian in a story.+ Nate walks through the flaws of his Christian protagonists (Niffy, Rupert, etc.).This episode dissects Christians and their character flaws on the page... and in real life.

Brian asks Nate what tips he'd give a teenage SASFer who wants to become a movie director. And, perhaps surprisingly, Nate's advice has nothing to do with movies. Because if you want to direct feature films when you grow up, you're the kid saying "I am gonna be an NFL quarterback." That kind of career wish has everything to do with whether you're the kind of person who could manage someone else's million-dollar investment. That doesn't just happen for wanting. Are you ready to convince the rich guys, direct the talent, soothe the producers, reject the bad network notes, talk to the cinematographers, and maintain total clarity on your artistic vision for the film through it all? And that assumes you know your stuff when it comes to story (watch Canon+ resources like "On Directing" and "Fantastical Wordcraft") and aren't hoping your elementary critical analysis will take the place of artistic talent. The best thing you can be doing is MAKING films with your (or your parents') iPhones. Also in this episode, the guys take some potshots at allegory, Reformed Facebook groups, Edmund Spenser, and more.

Discover why today's kids need stories about failing institutions and how courage plays a vital role in rebuilding them. The discussion dives into the importance of empowering youth to face conflicts head-on while addressing deeper systemic issues. Unpack the intricacies of U.S.-Canada political dynamics, reflecting on leadership challenges and the significance of maintaining purpose. With practical insights, this talk emphasizes the necessity of resilience and relating to one another amid political uncertainty.

Brian springs an awful Aslan casting surprise on Nate, and the results are delightful. The SASF discussion of Greta Gerwig's new Netflix Narnia series ranges far afield. Planet Narnia, which book of the series is Nate's favorite, Lewis's repeated character archetypes, adaptation of books to film... this one has all things Lewis. Including Nate's claim that Edmund / Eustace / Digory all behave the way they do because CSL had thumbs that couldn't bend.

It's old news that the boys aren't reading. The NY publishing industry was obsessed with the idea when they first took at look at Nate's work twenty years ago. This episode of SASF features the story of the (female) editor who wanted to reach boys with Nate's manuscript of Leepike Ridge by 1) taking out the treasure, 2) taking out the father figure, and 3) making the book about the relationship between the boy and his widowed mom. The industry at large moved on to graphic novels to try to get boys to read. But Nate says things have gotten worse since then: Boys weren't reading then; they aren't even watching now. Hollywood is currently freaking out over the difficulty of getting young adult males into theaters. Turns out boys play video games a bit and watch YouTube and p*rnography a lot (devastating). The rest of the podcast discusses how to defeat the algorithms by creating dopamine with your family instead of your phones. This is the first step to freeing a generation of young people enslaved to the doomscroll.

What should your decision process be when you are thinking about moving your family across the country to a new place? Well, the answer is rooted in story. Are you moving to a place where you can be a better character, where your kids can be more active, where your family can grow -- or are you relocating yourself merely to consume the products that are brought to you by this new community? Don't be a hummingbird, be an ant. Jump on the moving walkway and start running. This discussion of communities, moving, and what makes Moscow, Idaho different from other parts of the US is equal parts practical and (probably) offensive. Enjoy!

The speakers dive into cherished childhood memories of animated films, reflecting on how their tastes have shifted. They critique the lack of depth in modern animation, addressing issues like character development and storytelling evolution. A sharp analysis of 'Zootopia' tackles its underlying themes, while lively debates on beloved franchises highlight nostalgia and skepticism towards recent releases. The discussion emphasizes the importance of critical thinking in evaluating animations, encouraging young audiences to assess what makes a good story.

This week the guys discuss some frustrating creative decisions behind the new Season of Severance. #severance #benstiller #adamscott