Hey Reader! Your storytelling insights are here.

Show I watched this month: House of David. 4 stars.

This show is one that I wasn't interested in at first, but surprisingly got better as the show went on.

Three scenes stick out to me.

The first is related to the titular character, David, and him slaying Goliath. It was an emotional moment, and I cried watching it the second time—and I don't consider myself weepy. Something about the lead up to this unknown boy slaying a great monster resonated within my heart. And this ties into the storytelling principle.

The other two scenes are related to Saul when the "harmful spirit" comes upon him. It's filmed like a nightmare sequence, and I'm very much a fan. I enjoyed how Jon Erwin (the writer/director) did not shy away from showing what it's like to be in the depths of demonic despair. This is what a life absent from God looks like.

But one of the most controversial aspects of the show is this: they used generative AI in over 70 shots in the first season, and 200 in the second.​

The scene of David vs Goliath? They used AI to extend a real film set to realistic proportions, thereby making the armies on both sides look massive. This would be considerably resource-heavy with traditional visual effects.

But make no mistake. They didn't type a few words into ChatGPT and spit out AI slop. After experimenting with AI myself, I can confidently say such claims are misconstrued.

I have a full video on generative AI out now. There's so much to explore, and I want to give the objections a fair shake.

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Storytelling principle: Heart first, message second.

The reason the scene of David killing Goliath hits so hard is the heart behind it.

We find David's fears relatable. We love seeing the underdog overcome evil. When you reach people's hearts, you can navigate the barriers we often put up to defend ourselves. This is not a bad thing per se, but it can become an obstacle when you're trying to spread a Christian message.

The key is to convey relatable emotions and experiences. Granted, not all of us are a shepherd boy or have seen any giants...

But we can all relate to the fear of being forgotten. That's what David's experience was as a lone shepherd tending his flock. Yet God used him to eventually rule a kingdom.

If you have any films/games you'd like me to review, reply to this email! I will personally read it. See you in the next one.

P.S. I have a secret podcast called The Editing Room that's only available as a membership. I dive into everything in this newsletter, but in even greater detail. You'll hear real-time thoughts on your favorite media, why it works, and how you can apply it to your own life and/or art. Learn more here → https://www.patreon.com/cw/RyderHarnett​

Yours,

Ryder Weepy Harnett