Hello, Readers! It’s Clevenger here, again. So, we’ve gotten to influences in other media. Ooh, boy! Lots to unpack here. And in some ways, very similar to Graham. So let’s knock off the list of things he covered really quick, so I can add something new.

Krull. Yes. I remember this movie came on every afternoon when my parents subscribed to HBO (we felt fancy) and I watched it over and over. Funny thing is, I cannot remember much about it. The weapon he used stuck out at me as one of the “coolest” but totally impractical weapons I had ever seen. So much so, that when Blade came out in theaters, I remember the underground “subway club” scene and thought… you stole that weapon from Krull, you monsters!

All those classics like “Casino,” “Godfather,” and others were movies I appreciated, of course. I appreciated the acting and performances as the craft they were. But when I think of how this media influences me as a writer… I have to think about “story telling”

Which leads me to “Star Wars.” Much like Graham, I have always loved Star Wars. I even remember watching “Caravan of Courage” with my younger sister on repeat because she loved Ewoks. The world was rich, and there were so many stories to be told. And as I grew up, I realized that the best stories told in the Star Wars universe, weren’t coming from the creator. “Empire Strikes Back” stands out as a great example of this. George Lucas presented the overall concept of the story arc, but Lawrence Kasdan and others (Leigh Brackett, Irven Kirschner) drove the telling of it. It showed, to me, the distinction between setting and story.

I have never read the Lord of the Rings. I’ve tried, but I haven’t been able to complete it. The setting is beautiful, but I cannot dig through the prose to get to the story. It’s just a preference in style, and I’m okay with being the “rogue” fantasy fan that doesn’t idolize it. And I remember seeing that the films were going to be released and was excited that I could take part in that world. I laughed that Peter Jackson filmed the story almost as I read it… five minute sweeping shots of absolutely gorgeous landscape and settings. Then thirty seconds of dialogue and scene, and then back to landscapes!

I’ve also spent HUNDREDS of hours in video games, to absorb story telling there. Games like “Assassin’s Creed”, “Elder Scrolls Morrowind” where I have set the difficulty to the easiest setting available, so that I can truly get through the game as quickly as possible. I find the beauty in story elements no matter what the medium may be.

But when it comes to TV and Movies, I really do appreciate the art as different pieces. I’ve seen amazing acting in badly written or poorly shot films. I’ve also seen amazing concepts that weren’t given the resources needed to make them shine. Like so many, the first two seasons of “Lost” resonated with me as original story telling and had me on the edge, and then watched as the last season confused me and went directions I wasn’t expecting. But I don’t get “angry” or “rant” about them. I question. Why did they do that? What was this writer’s idea? And is what I’m seeing “their” vision, or the studios? I remind myself that the artist isn’t always in control of what gets to print.

These are conversations I’ve had with Graham. We talk about our world, and the story. What our story needs to be and what are the essential elements. And if someone (agent, editor, publisher, etc.) came to us and said… “I don’t like this…” what would we be willing to change. Our core story is important to us. And maybe it won’t resonate with everyone. But like every other piece of media, I hope some part of it

Like Graham, I could go on… and on… and on… about games, movies, television and such that inspire me. There is so much content to choose from. But it’s a short blog this week (crunched for time). And I digress. Next we will talk about people who have made an impact, and Graham will start with a discussion about his mother. Let’s watch that unfold, and I’ll see you soon.

Be kind.

-Clevenger