TARSEM

Tarsem's film "The Fall" is, in my opinion, a modern masterpiece. This film's elegant visual style and storytelling, as well as the performances of Lee Pace and the captivating Catinca Untaru, make for one of the most memorable cinematic experiences of the last decade.

Understanding Jung and Understanding the Audience

Telling stories is about putting yourself forward as a vehicle for human understanding. The storytellers of the future could gain a much greater understanding of humanity, and more specifically themselves and their audience, by studying the work of Carl Gustav Jung.

His work in the area of psychology informed the creation of the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator which is a test that can be taken online HERE.

Jung has been informing artists and storytellers for some time. The below documentary looks at the life of the man and his journey as an individual.

Eyvind Earle and the Precision of Design

Tyrus Wong and the Magic of Atmosphere

Bioshock Infinite, Irrational Games and Powerful Storytelling

A few years back a good friend and a fellow professor showed me the opening sequence of a video game called "Bioshock." He knew I didn't play games, but he also knew that I love storytelling in any form if it is quality. For the next several minutes I was taken through the opening ten minutes or so of a beautiful sequence that immersed me in an experience that was truly an act of "participation mystique."

It was immediately apparent to me and in interviews that these artists were connoisseurs of great storytelling, and both knew the genre and were pushing it's boundaries. The game creates a bold storytelling experience by referencing classic moments from Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining,"...

...as well as using visual imagery from genius Fritz Lang's "Metropolis."

The auteurs behind this experience are currently developing a follow-up to the game called "Bioshock Infinite".

Let no one doubt that these artists are storytellers with aspirations in the tradition of those artists I've mentioned above, and that they are truly aspiring to "tell forward."

"Mythophoric Character Design" at Wellesley College

I would like to take the opportunity to thank Wellesley College for inviting me this past week to give my lecture on "Mythophoric Character Design." It was a genuine pleasure to spend the afternoon with all of you and my family and I had a lot of fun walking the paths of your beautiful campus. For more on the visit as well as more photos of the event, be sure to follow this link to The Jewett Art Gallery

A special thanks to my RISD colleague and former classmate Clara Lieu. It is always a pleasure, my friend.

No Words Needed

One of the more amusing aspects of being a teacher, in an institution where almost no subject is taboo, is that students ask me just about anything that pops into their heads. I am constantly having to think on my feet, and I really feel a responsibility to give them honest answers that also include answering, "I don't know."

This post is an answer to one of my favorite questions regarding storytelling: "What is your favorite movie scene of all time?"

Here is a clip from Spirited Away by Sensei Hayao Miyazaki, who is one of the finest, if not the finest, storytellers alive today. Ignore the dialogue and drink in the music, sound effects and scenery. The shot of the little house with the orange roof happens to also be my favorite shot of all time.