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Here is sort of an abstract train of thought from today.
If you watch a man swing over a river on a vine - you're watching a home movie. I've seen home videos of kids doing this.
If someone mentions that the vine isn't secure and maybe even gets a shot of how fragile that vine really is, it definitely adds suspense to the moment.
If the river happens to have have a bunch of sharp rocks sticking out and to fail would not be to get wet, but to DIE, then the stakes are higher even and you're really curious if this guy will make it. It has consequences.
But you might think he is an idiot for doing it. You might make fun of him for doing it and not respect him. Why is he bothering?
If you happen to know a Tiger is chasing him. Then you know he MUST jump over the river somehow - and eventhough he MIGHT die by falling and the vine MIGHT break - it's his only chance for survival.
But what if you happen to know something that he doesn't know - what if you know that an army of angry natives are hiding across the river ready to capture him and cook him up into a stew! Well, then you are captured because you have to not only know IF he gets across, but what happens when he gets there.
Very 30's serial style enhancement of a basic idea. Something which could have been a home movie became an action adventure film. But these same ideas could be applied to any idea.
The basic elements were: The basic goal + the danger of the goal + the consequence of failure + a strong motivator + the unexpected disaster awaiting success.
Anyone want to riff one off for fun?
If you watch a man swing over a river on a vine - you're watching a home movie. I've seen home videos of kids doing this.
If someone mentions that the vine isn't secure and maybe even gets a shot of how fragile that vine really is, it definitely adds suspense to the moment.
If the river happens to have have a bunch of sharp rocks sticking out and to fail would not be to get wet, but to DIE, then the stakes are higher even and you're really curious if this guy will make it. It has consequences.
But you might think he is an idiot for doing it. You might make fun of him for doing it and not respect him. Why is he bothering?
If you happen to know a Tiger is chasing him. Then you know he MUST jump over the river somehow - and eventhough he MIGHT die by falling and the vine MIGHT break - it's his only chance for survival.
But what if you happen to know something that he doesn't know - what if you know that an army of angry natives are hiding across the river ready to capture him and cook him up into a stew! Well, then you are captured because you have to not only know IF he gets across, but what happens when he gets there.
Very 30's serial style enhancement of a basic idea. Something which could have been a home movie became an action adventure film. But these same ideas could be applied to any idea.
The basic elements were: The basic goal + the danger of the goal + the consequence of failure + a strong motivator + the unexpected disaster awaiting success.
Anyone want to riff one off for fun?
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Los Angeles
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