While I was researching information for common fantasy genre themes and typical story lines/narratives, I stumbled upon a site that gives advice for those that are writing about fantasy books, however there was a part of it that can be applied to our short film as it fits perfectly for what we are aiming for our short film.”You use the fantasy to highlight the reality” is the core of what we are trying to achieve with our short film.
“This is the nature of write what you know, and the fantasy writer’s version of that is, write what’s real. Which sounds like very bad advice, because last time I checked, none of us were plagued by dragons or sentient fungal cities or old gods come back to haunt us. But that’s not the point — the point is, you use the fantasy to highlight the reality. The dragon is the callow bully. The lease on your fungal apartment is up and your financial woes puts you in tithe to the old gods who in turn make for very bad neighbors. You grab the core essence of a true problem and swaddle it in the mad glittery ribbons of fantasy — and therein you find glorious new permutations of conflict. Reality expressed in mind-boggling ways. Reach for fantasy. Find the reality.“
It had a lot more that I thought would be useful when thinking about our short film and should take into consideration.
“fantasy has to be about characters above ideas, above culture, above all the fiddly fantasy bits. Great characters are our vehicle through the fantasy.“
“Put differently: find the little story in the big story because the little story needs to actually be the big story.“
“Though the stage is essential, theater is not about the stage. All the pieces on it contribute to the action, the blocking. But theater is not about the stage. Theater is about the stories of people, and so too is fantasy.“
“We need to find our story in your story. If we can find no recognizable landmarks, if we can find no familiar paths — even murky ones — we won’t connect with your story. The weirder you go the harder you must strive to connect with us.“
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