Miscellaneous Movie Musings

[Cadaverous Pallor]

It's an interesting question - how much reality do you want in your storytelling? Should the president's name be correct or fictional? Which movie stars "exist" and which don't due to acting in the film itself? I love when movies play with that and have the actor exist anyway, so you have an actor saying that he hates himself or whatever. I can't think of an example off the top of my head.

More on realism:
On Family Guy, Stewie travels to the future.
Stewie: "Everything looks the same!"
Future Stewie: "What did you expect, it's only been thirty years."

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

It's an interesting question - how much reality do you want in your storytelling?

I think it depends on the story. If it a brand name pertains to something specific in the story itself and is vital to tell the story, then it should exist. It is not vital to the story to have Hanks work at FedEx. The story would not lose anything if he worked for a company by another name.

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Should the president's name be correct or fictional?

I think it also depends on the story. Is it a movie that is impacted by the Watergate scandal? If so, Nixon should be president. If the president's identity or political party is irrelevant, then a generic president should be featured. If 'The Day After Tomorrow' featured George Bush 2, then the movie would be seen as a jab at Bush and Republicans. It makes a total statement to have the president be an actual president.

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Which movie stars "exist" and which don't due to acting in the film itself? I love when movies play with that and have the actor exist anyway, so you have an actor saying that he hates himself or whatever. I can't think of an example off the top of my head.

This was a funny thing I noticed in 'Beverly Hills Cop 2'. The villain in that was Bridget Nielsen. At one point, someone interacts with a poster for the film 'Cobra' (the Stallone vehicle). At the time the movie came out, Nielsen and Stallone were together. So, who was Stallone married to in the reality of 'BHC2'? It's a good question isn't it. Does the villain just look like her?
:shruggage:

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

. It is not vital to the story to have Hanks work at FedEx. The story would not lose anything if he worked for a company by another name.

I cannot even read the rest of the thread, or even this post, before commenting.

You, Sir, are a fraud. You have never seen Cast Away.

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

It's an interesting question - how much reality do you want in your storytelling?

Chris and I were just discussing this question the other day. I think what brought it up was his recent Inspiration story and the "meaning" or "possible meanings" for the Crow and Charlie. Maybe it's because some of my favorite authors are "magical realists" and blur the lines of reality, but I LIKE to have my lines blurred. I like to have more questions to ponder than difinitive answers. I like a good mix of both reality and un-reality.

This can easily carry over to my feelings - or lack thereof - on product placement. Murakami regularly mentions Disney-realted things as well as pop-culture icons in ways that are jarring, but meant to be so. His reality references seem to punch out the magical realism of the story for a moment which is wonderfully jolting for the reader.

I have a strong desire to re-warch I <3 Huckabees or Adaptation again. I'm in a mood to ponder some more and those two films do a great job of questioning "reality".