Did you know there’s a story beat that can be used as a tool to help crack your own story and to help you identify the genre of other stories? Jose reveals his method in this episode, using the movie Avatar as an example. Meanwhile, Naomi reveals she’s never seen Avatar, and asks for your help testing Jose’s theory: Which movie do YOU want to know the genre of? Post it in the Comments below and we’ll try to figure it out using Jose’s method!
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LaLaLand
My guess (before listening to the podcast) is : a cross between “Rite of Passage” and “Buddy Love”
Hey James!
I could buy La La Land as a Rite of Passage story (if you consider “following your dreams” to be a specific and universal enough phase of life that people can relate to). At the end of the second act, each of the main characters is facing a question about the paths that they’re on in pursuit of their dreams.
(And, for what it’s worth, I think Mia is the real main character.)
Even though there is a strong relationship storyline, and the main characters do each need something from the other which makes them more complete, I don’t think it’s a real Buddy Love story and here’s why: other than maybe the Break Into 2 (which I don’t remember exactly what happens there), the other big turning points revolve around the characters’ individual goals rather than around the relationship.
Let me know what you think when you’ve heard the episode!
Naomi
This is a tough one though, James. May need to call Jose in for another opinion.
Sorry, wish I could give an opinion but I’m embarrassed to admit that I have yet to watch La La Land. :|
I hope – promise – to watch it soon!
Jose –
I’ll see Avatar as soon as you see La La Land. :P
Super Bad – thought it was great/funny – I love these kinds of movies but couldn’t crack what genre – what do you guys think?
Hey Chris!
As much as the assumption might be that Superbad is a Buddy Love story — because it’s famously a bromance — I think it’s actually an ROP (and I’m not just saying that because I have ROPs on the brain from talking about La La Land!).
If you look at the character journeys, they’re really all about each guy’s pursuit of love/relationships/sex. At the end of the second act, each of the 3 main guys are facing getting what they want but not the way they want it, or not getting what they want because of some other assumption they have. The right of passage may actually be learning that friendship is the realest love. Or something along those lines. :)
Naomi
Thanks Naomi! I see what you’re saying – and makes sense :)
Let’s try Collateral Beauty. I think it reads like a ROP. Although the main character is searching for something in each written letter, the secondary characters are also working through one aspects of the letters.
Ooh, Patricia – I haven’t seen Collateral Beauty yet! Interesting analysis of it. Do you feel like at the All Is Lost and/or Dark Night of the Soul part of the movie, that there’s something that speaks to what the main character has learned over the course of the story? And – part two – do you think it indicates that he’s learned an ROP-type lesson? Food for thought! Can’t wait to see it myself so I can chime in with a more informed answer for you :)
What happened to the podcast?