The Hero‘s Journey - A Screenwriter‘s Perspective

Malik Matias Basso is a seasoned screenwriter, cinematographer and director. 

In this episode Abdallah delves into Malik's knowledge of the concept of The Hero's Journey in storytelling and screenwriting as laid out by Joseph Campbell and beyond.

Films and Series Mentioned in the Episode:

• My Octopus Teacher (2020, Ehrlich and Reed)
• Black Mirror (2011, TV Serial)
• Groundhog Day (1993, Ramis)

Malik's Two Recommendations:

• Stalker (1979, Tarkovsky)
• Avatar (2009, Cameron)

Malik's Further Recommendations:

• Heaven (2002, Tykwer)
• Abre los Ojos (1997, Amenabar)
• Tierra (1996, Medem)
• Michael Clayton (2007, Gilroy)
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004, Gondry)
• Martin (hache) (1997, Aristarain)
• Another Earth (2011, Cahill)
• Mimosas (2016, Laxe)
• They Live (1988, Carpenter)

Malik's Work:

• DINAR MOVEMENT
• INSIDE IS
• A TRAVELLER’S GUIDE TO MUSLIM GRANADA
• MOSAIC nominated for the Human Rights Award at the Al Jazeera International Film Festival
• NORA (premieres September 2021)

 

Timecode Guide:

3:46 The beginnings making documentaries and how documentary is telling stories with found characters

The word documentary is quite deceiving - because you are telling a story.

5:18 My Octopus Teacher

9:10 Joseph Campbell and the 12 common stages of the Hero’s Journey in storytelling around the world and their psychological roots.

9:38 The basic structure of the classical Greek Tragedy

9:53 “If there is no heroism, there is no story”

10:02 Making relatable characters and the example of the bourgeois hero in Breaking Bad

12:20 What does it mean to be heroic?

12:02 A hero is someone who will sacrifice himself, his wellbeing, he will leave his comfort zone and bring healing to those around him.    

14:49 The hero as an example to others

15:13 Fulfilling your potential

16:05 “The best thing you can do for others is to fulfil your own potential”

17:45 Storytelling as warning signs and Greek Tragedy showing what happens beyond the limits of human behaviour and the therapy of it.

20:54 Black Mirror as a case

21:56 The deeper into hell the hero goes the more heroic he will be

22:00 Why storytellers want to put the hero through the worst possible things

23:59 Fiction vs Documentary in storytelling 

26:10 How Sci-fi may be a more effective form a storytelling 

26:46 Ertugrul as a case

28:38 The deeper the effect of the storytelling on you the less you will know of it

32:19 The hero is a hero from the moment he crosses the threshold

33:45 Should stories have a happy ending?

34:35 In human nature there is hope

35:55 Hollywood - its strong points and weaknesses

37:50 You can make documentaries and speak truth to power or you can tell fictional stories to inspire people and show them that something else is possible

39:40 The movie is the editor’s

40:10 How a story can take on a life of its own

43:10 Film as a means of manipulation and propaganda

46:15 Stalker by Tarkovsky

47:10 Avatar by James Cameron

 

Music by Ian Cattanach

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