What just happened? Explain yourself!

I've often told my kids that it's the story's job to explain itself. When something happens that doesn't make sense--or has no context yet--then it's the story's job to give some sort of explanation. If the story neglects it's job, then the audience gets lost and the story suffers. Even mysteries explain themselves at the end (despite us pleading with the authors for just some more hints, that we subsequently completely miss). I suppose it's an unspoken contract between the audience and the author, a kind of fair play that makes the magic of stories happen.

There is a kind of story where this concept is completely ignored, where all you get are clues within clues within clues. It's a puzzle concept that provides a game for the audience to enjoy figuring out. But, I think those are pretty rare. For the most part, stories do a great job of explaining themselves. I think it's because that unspoken contract between author and audience is very strong indeed, so strong that the wait for an explanation usually is counted in the minutes, rather than hours.

But, that expectation can also create some really fun circumstances, such as when used by parodies or comedians. When we expect one thing, but get another, it's jarring. Back in Hollywood's early days, one of the expectations was that nobody would ever really be killed on screen. When a movie dared do it, the audience freaked out, some women going as far as fainting. Now, I'm not suggesting that leaving things unexplained will have the same effect, but it certainly is important to the audience. Perhaps the lesson would be: "Explain yourself, or lose your audience."

- M

Show, not Tell; Demonstrate, don't Pontificate

It's so easy to just describe all sorts of actions that we never get to see as an audience. It compresses time, gives detail, and is unbelievably boring. For example, we meet two characters for the first time and get some dialogue about events we haven't experienced (events never mentioned again) and these things are tossed out as though it should mean something. Another example is describing a character going through some event, but never letting anything actually happen to the character at all (like taking someone through a museum by taking a picture of the outside of the building and explaining that cool stuff is inside).

As an audience, we want to see pertinent events happen to characters. We want the sensations that come with it all. Sure, there are times that description moves the story along best, but most of the time we want to get our fingers gritty in details and experience it together with the characters. English teachers told me time and again to "show, don't tell." It took me a very long time to understand what that meant to me, and I think it's definitely a concept that is very individual and personal.

Of course, there's also the Hitchcock theory where what isn't seen is the most terrifying. But, that's the mind filling in all the details that aren't described. It's the absence of description--but something happened didn't it? So, your mind creates it all. That is incredibly effective in small doses, but for the most part, I want to see it and have it demonstrated. Show it to me, don't just tell it and move on.

- M

Maleficent, Disney's iconic villain is back!

Just in case you weren't aware, Maleficent is the vicious witch in the Disney classic Sleeping Beauty. This villain also transforms into a dragon, and imprisons an innocent girl in a magical sleep, surrounded by a magical wall of thorns. Well, Disney is now releasing a new movie featuring this iconic villain. I've loved the previews so far, and I'm crossing my fingers that they don't hold back. This villain is evil personified. There are no redeeming qualities about her, she is dangerous and completely wicked.

I've listed Maleficent as one of my favorite villains. She is wonderfully powerful, charismatic, and a direct force in the story. However, she is also a very one dimensional character. Her presence is felt throughout the classic movie, but she doesn't actually do more than act evil and prove her power is real. There is very little about who she is and why she is what she is. This new movie will bring all those questions about her background to light.

I'm an optimist about this movie, and what I've seen so far really looks great. Maleficent is a great villain, and this could make her even greater. What I hope is that they will still focus on story, rather than her itself, and make a compelling movie. And, I think the actress they picked (Angelina Jolie) is perfect for the role. Cross your fingers, this movie could make Maleficent as much a household name as Darth Vader.

- M

Physical descriptions, especially looks and clothing. How much does it matter?

I suppose there are two schools of thought regarding how much description is the right amount. Some say keep it simple, others say go for the gold and tell it all. Places and objects are not normally that big of an issue, but how about specific characters? Should you describe the hair, eyes, makeup, clothing, tattoos, distinguishing marks, and how about facial expressions, or quirks?

I've seen stories go into astonishing detail, where every physical feature was described brilliantly, and other stories where the same is tried and falls flat. Tolkien loved to describe the landscape to such detail that it was very easy for my imagination to put me right in the place and see it myself. However, such descriptions are long and don't move the story forward and so make it possibly too boring for the reader. At the same time, giving too little description doesn't establish a sense of place. It's a tough balance to achieve.

This issue really isn't even restricted to the written word. I remember an interview about the famous scene from the movie Independence Day where the White House is blown apart. The special effects team leader was talking about how detailed they were in putting chairs and tables, and even little coffee pots inside the model. I've watched that scene dozens of times, and I can't see any of that. So, I wonder if it was all wasted effort? On the other hand, the newest Lord of the Ring movies are simply dripping with detail (especially the elven places) and it's all wonderful.

Me, I'm a minimalist for the most part. I try to give imagination a prod in the direction I want and then let the reader take it from there. My belief is it makes things more interactive as the reader takes an active part in the story. There should be a give and take between author and audience throughout the story experience. To me it just makes more sense, and allows the reader to never be wrong as they visualize the characters and environments.

- M

How to Say Goodbye Forever?

Loss is a part of life, a necessary part of living. But, I think it's the most challenging thing we ever face. Even in stories, there is a real sense of loss when a disconnection happens. Of course, the greatest of these is loss of a loved one: death. When something is lost that can never be recovered, that emotions flowing out from it is intense and very personal.

In the sense of stories, loss is very important. It's one of the fastest methods to generate deep feelings, sympathy, and also back story. Loss is a powerful character motivator, and we all understand it. Even better, it's difficult not to resonate with characters dealing with loss. Such emotions are wonderful for writers, since they can stir them up in all sorts of ways. As a reader, I love it, and can't get enough.

Visual mediums of storytelling can make those emotions that much stronger, because of the power of actors. We sympathize without knowing it, or maybe we want to and so encourage the connection. It's a sort of hypnosis, where we put ourselves in the story directly. That's pretty amazing, and when used to tell a story it can really bring zing to it.

- M

Celebrating Heroes

There are many people to celebrate, and many ways to do so. Usually, here in the USA, a day is set on the calendar for the honors. We have days for presidents, civil rights, and much more. It's important to honor heroes and remember what made them significant. After all, our cultures are built on the backs of such people, and the more we understand their past actions, the more we progress. Also, we should know what makes a hero, what they do, why they do it, and what becomes of them.

With so many holidays, it's somewhat hard to know all the backgrounds of them all. I know some schools teach these things, but it seems most don't. I find that disappointing. Our children should know why people are deemed heroes. That's part of the learning to become adults, perhaps even a form of rite of passage.

I believe cultures are defined by their heroes. By celebrating them, we demonstrate our values and help the world know what we expect. To me, this brings the culture together in meaningful ways. It's always been my hope that with combined cultural heroes we can grow as a people. Heroes can do that.

- M

Men's Ties, those curious stranglers of throats

Fashion is a mystery to me. I don't pretend to understand why people like one sort of clothing and not others. I'm pretty basic, and once I find stuff I like I tend to wear them until my wife plucks them away and tosses them into the trash. On the subject of ties, I just helped my son get his very first one fitted. Amazingly, my fingers finally remembered how to tie a Half-Windsor knot and I showed him the method.

What is curious is why these things are still around? And it isn't solely a male item, since females wear them as well. How does a dangling strap of cloth appeal? I don't know. Now, bowties are cool (yup, love Doctor Who!), and at least interesting to look at--and then marvel if those suckers were actually hand tied. But regular ties are strange. They are typically too tight, get in the way, fall into soup, and generally are a nuisance in every manner possible.

They are, however, a constant source of amusement. Ties show up in all manner of places as things that are caught in something, spilled on, or are generally messy. Maybe that's why they are still in fashion, because they are sources of comedy? Or, perhaps it because by a man being perpetually uncomfortable it's supposed to make them sit up straight? I admit, I haven't a clue, but the tradition of ties continues unabated. I wonder if they will ever end?

- M

Exposition, or letting the audience know what's going on

Having the narrator speak directly tot he audience is risky, and sometimes drops a story right in its tracks. However, having an innocent within the story (usually the protagonist) be told what's going on--exposition style--actually is very useful. The hero and the audience are both clued in, and that helps the audience sympathize with what's going on and helps them understand why the protagonist isn't up to speed right away.

However, it's really pretty difficult to make this happen without slowing (or even stopping) the flow of a story. It almost always makes the story hiccup as the action is flowing. But, if it's interesting enough the reader won't notice overly much and will be happy for it. It takes a lot of care and tender touch to do this, and I tip my hat to any author that makes exposition easy for the audience.

One particular method that I enjoy is when the clueless protagonist goes and finds some expert/wise guy and asks specifically what's going on. Doing it this way also follows the audience's train of thought precisely and so the information is not only important, but highly desired. It goes with the old saying of, "make them want to know it, and they will want to listen." I think back on a scene from The Last Starfighter where new trainees are given a brief introduction to what's going on--as a viewer I wanted to know, and was delighted to see it all happen as it should. As a bonus, the exposition gave new reasons to expand the plot and grow the characters. It was wonderful.

Is exposition necessary? Absolutely, particularly with worlds that are created especially for the story. But, treat it carefully and let the audience get what it needs while also making it flex into the plot at the same time. As an audience we don't want to be clubbed over the head with it.

- M

Live Action Fantasy, LARP, and Fireball Mania

There was a hilarious video on YouTube a while back with some live action role players doing their stuff, and one fellow was throwing his arm forward and yelling, "Fireball, fireball, fireball!" Having no context, and no clue what was going on made it funny. I'm sure it was very serious at the time, but it just came off as the silliest thing ever in the video. I can respect that, mainly because people were willing to let go of normal behavior and go for the fantasy with everything they had.

I've never done LARP (Live Action Role Play), though I have done board games with role play. It does sound like fun. Take your brain, set it aside, and get into the spirit of a game with fantasy or science fiction rules. Dress up, get into character, and let it all hang out. I think we take ourselves way too seriously much of the time, and events like these allow us to take a vacation from reality and have fun in a world of make believe--just like we did when we played as kids.

In a way, I admire people who participate. It's actually just another version of dress-up like anyone who is into historical re-enactments (especially Civil War ones), except the story happens based on someone's imagination. I'll bet that when things are going well, it's a complete lark to be a part of it. Running around, slaying monsters and being heroic. It's fantasy, so why not sling magic or whip around a 40 pound sword?

A wise man once said: Work hard, and play hard; if it's worth doing, do it with all you have.

- M

Spoilers, giving it all away, and skipping to the end

He's a ghost, it was all a dream, all this time it was actually the detective, he was on Earth all along, it's made of people. Spoilers to surprise endings. We've all had someone ruin the surprise. But, I have a question: does a story based entirely on a surprise ending have lasting power? If you already know the twist ending, do you want to see/read the story over and again?

It's an interesting question. I know the appeal of surprise endings, since they can shock/surprise/delight in ways that not many other storytelling methods are able to. However, that puts the entire point of the story onto one single event. It's a gamble. Done well, I think the stories do have long lasting power (The 6th Sense is a fairly current one, but you'll have to judge for yourself if the story is as powerful once you fully understand what's going on). But, I'll go out on a limb and suggest that mostly the surprise/twist ending is used for a quick shock without any betting that it will bring an audience back again and again.

Now, onto the biggest threat to a surprise ending... spoilers. People who have experienced the story telling others about it before they see it. There's no way to prevent it from happening, and when it does it changes the experience entirely. If you aren't surprised at the end, then what was the point? If you know from the very beginning that the good guy is actually the bad guy in disguise, then the story won't have its intended effect. Besides, I love to hear about stories, and it is nearly impossible to tell someone not to let me in on the ending--because I want to know, and I'm endlessly curious.

It makes me wonder: did people tell each other about Darth Vader being Luke's father? That movie still does well...

- M

Novelizations of movies, and how they work hand-in-hand

I love movies based on books, mainly because they have a lot more meat to them and so seem to be a lot more detailed. There's another side to it, though, and that's making a book from a movie screenplay. I'm a sucker for them. I freely admit that I enjoy those more than the actual movie more often than not. I have talked with some authors about the process (and it doesn't sound all too pleasant) and I'm amazed how well they generally pull it off. Scenes are included that are cut in the final movie, characterizations are normally stronger, and even the dialogue is better.

When I have the opportunity, I'll grab the novelization of a movie the moment it comes out (which is usually prior to the release of the movie, amazingly enough). To me, they go hand in hand. Together, they form a larger story that works better than either on their own. Of course, that's an opinion, but it does appear to hold up to scrutiny. I encourage you to check out the official novelization of any movie you enjoy.

In the category of hopes and dreams, I do fantasize about having that particular task assigned to me one day--or even better would be having one of my own books made into a movie. Anyway, the process is an intriguing puzzle. The writer is given an early draft of the screenplay, without all the final alterations, and then very little else. Any holes, or leaps, must be filled in by the imagination of the writer. It's amazing what happens, and I'm a big fan.

So, I tip my hat to all the writers who are tasked with filling out a novel based solely on the basic screenplay of a movie that is still in the works. Incredible feat of skill. I salute you!

- M

Rainbows, the wonderful arches of color that hold up the sky

Colors are a complete mystery to me. I have a type of color blindness (Red-Green specifically) which prevents me from seeing the particular shades of anything. I can see strong colors, but lose everything else. And, yet, rainbows are miraculous splashes of color that go beyond my ability to describe. They are intense, precise, spectacular bursts of vision that sizzle in the mind and revitalize lost loves. I can only imagine what colors they actually hold, and it makes me grin at the thought.

Perhaps because of my inability to see colors properly, I'm fascinated by the subject. Sadly, it makes the new 3D movies a bit of a wash for me, since the colors used to separate the layers just don't work on me. Anyway, colors never seem to end. I'm absolutely astonished by the number of shades, new names, and the amazing swirls all around that never stop. It's fantastic!

You see, despite my colorblindness, color is all around me and I love to recognize that fact. I've at times been driven nearly to despair because of it, but the truth is that I'm grateful to be included in a world of vibrant color without limits. And rainbows are the crescents of hope above it all. What incredible miracles they are! And how many types of rainbows are there? Again, incredible!

Winter rainbows are my particular favorites.

- M

James Bond, the old and new, the books and the movies.

Spy fiction is fun. Gadgets, intrigue, secrets, politics, and barely understandable details of international behavior. In the genre, James Bond is probably the biggest star, though there certainly are others. I've enjoyed the short stories quite a bit, and the movies a great deal. There's quite a lot of difference between the written fiction and the movies, but the spirit remains the same.

In the end, there's a good guy outmaneuvering the bad guy, while things are saved and all is made well again. It's a funny kind of fiction really, because it rarely goes wrong in the end, and the hero is usually not in much danger throughout. Almost like watching a ninja movie, because you know how it's going to work out before it even begins. But, then, I think the fun of spy fiction isn't in the result but in the method.

James Bond movies are usually loaded with gadgets and technology. However, the books are the opposite, emphasizing James Bond's skills specifically and not the devices. Being a complete nerd, I love the gadgets and all the little toys of the movies. It's one reason I love Batman stuff. The gizmos give a flair to the genre that I don't see in most other stories. And, especially James Bond.

I do wonder about the various actors and writers who have dealt with Mr. Bond movies over the years. My favorite has been the new Daniel Craig version, just because he's more action and less flirt. But, the stories have a certain depth to them that I like, though Bond never seems to really grow much as a person--instead remaining tough and grimacing throughout. However, in a few of the new movies we see him actual doubt himself and change and grow. I like that, and I hope it continues.

- M

The Monster Inside You

I've been thinking a lot about the remarkable book from long ago: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (free on Kindle right now). It's a classic story of the evil and good within us all, though in the story those two aspects are specifically put front and center where all sorts of havoc is caused. I'm sure everyone knows the story, how Dr. Jekyll makes a potion that releases Mr. Hyde in a kind of multiple personality disorder.

What makes this story fairly unique is that it's so obvious. Facing our own worst demons is the plotline of many stories, but this one puts it in a special place. Here the plot is that these two aspects of human life are inseparable, and splitting them apart is not only impossible but disastrous. I think the author was demonstrating how we must recognize the duality of our nature and carefully contain the evil within by an act of will. It's a powerful subject, touched on by most every religion I can think of, and yet we many times forget about this battle within ourselves.

Philosophizing aside, this story is ripe for remakes. I doubt it could ever really be done horribly, because the idea is so quickly relatable and powerful. I would be it could make an incredible movie, especially since the tragic hero is also the villain. I have seen the old black and white film, and it was good, but I'd bet modern cinematic storytelling could make this a very powerful experience. I'd love to see it. Especially with Hollywood on a kick of doing classics currently (even a new version of Frnkenstein is being done, called "I, Frankenstein").

Check out this story, if you've missed it. The author also wrote Treasure Island, also a worthy book to read if you haven't already.

- M