Hey Reader,

It's time for Storytelling Secrets, the monthly newsletter where I tell you a film I watched and practical takeaways for YOUR storytelling.

Film I watched: The Island (2005)

Looking back, this film reminds me of Ian Malcolm's quote from Jurassic Park: "Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should."

In this film, people use their DNA to create clones that are then forced to "donate" their organs in the event of a life-threatening disease or accident.

The clones are not aware of this since they are brainwashed from the day they are "born" and live in a semi-utopian society (heavily guarded, of course).

This all changes when the main protagonist questions the system. He and one of his friends escape and learn the truth: they are being grown as "insurance" for the clients of the evil mastermind who created this project.

This film poses some interesting questions, which leads into the next section...

Storytelling principle: Embed the moral questions into your story.

This film explores the challenging issue of clones and whether or not they are humans (spoiler: the answer is "yes").

The main villain also has a God complex, and God is specifically mentioned and posed as quite real. The villain says he has created life, who else can say that? His henchmen comments, "I guess that's between you and God."

God and the villain's twisted morals are constantly shown in opposition. God creates life, but this man twists it for the sake of "saving lives."
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​Here's the principle: embed the moral dilemmas into your story. Let the characters experience it. Showing the consequences is much more powerful than telling the audience "this guy has a God complex."
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If you want a great example, watch this film. Seriously.

Note: there is a tiny sex scene later in the film - it's predictable, so I was able to skip it no problem. Sigh...I have many things to say about the pervasiveness of nudity in films, but that's for another day.

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Yours,

Ryder Island Harnett