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How to Create the Good Life from Reel Life
Movies use the magic of storytelling to entertain, inspire, guide, and heal us. They not only show us how the world is, but how it ought to be. By exploring the hidden structure of movies, we learn the formula reel life heroes use to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. We discover how they are able to move from rags to riches, pain to pleasure, and defeat to victory. This approach presents a fascinating new method for analyzing and appreciating movies. It is a powerful guide for people who are interested in rewriting the script of their lives and creating the good life.
130 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 3, 2012
3 people want to read
About the author
Primrose Roberts
4 booksThe author has always had a deep interest in movies, myths, and metaphysics. She has spent many years exploring the art of storytelling and the craft of screenwriting. After writing several screenplays, she discovered that the heroes in movies were using many of the same techniques recommended in self-help books to achieve their goals. This book was written to share her unique insights about how the Law of Attraction and the Hero’s Journey intersect with storytelling and real life. The author has two children and resides in New Jersey. You can learn more by visiting her website at http://mavenrose.com.
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May 2, 2013
How To Create The Good Life from Reel Life
Primrose Roberts
Illusions are created on the widescreen every time a producer or director says Cut or Print. Each actor immerses himself/herself into their role, part or character hoping viewers will take the journey along with them into the lives of the characters that someone has envisioned for viewers to get to know and see. Reel/vs. Real: Just how different is what we see on the silver screen from what we deal with in our lives? On the screen and viewing a movie the set, the actions of the actors and the final outcome is orchestrated and predetermined. Real life does not work that way and even though he set our own goals, have our own hopes for success it takes work, overcoming obstacles and determination to bring to fruition what we often see at the end or a movie or in this case THE REEL LIFE. A screenwriter develops an entire script from one simple thought or idea. From that an entire world grows including a cast, roles, actions, storyline, goals and much more. Deciding on the outcomes is often written in the outline of the script or the script itself. Conflicts exist in order for the main character to strive to solve them before or at the end of the movie. But, heroes or main characters are human beings, aliens, dragons or even wizards but all have to solve or save the day before the final scene and the credits are shown. What are the qualities of a hero? The author defines a hero as “one who dares to participate in the eternal drama of life. He/she is the one who ventures out alone and willingly sacrifices his life for others.” The author gives detailed examples of how different heroes solve their problems, experience a character flaw and then finds a way to take aim or action at the problem, solving it. Examples given refer to movies or classic movies that bring back great memories for so many and for many readers too like The Wizard of Oz, Meet Me in St. Louis, Midnight in Paris and The Great Gatsby. Most heroes are driven to find a means to an end. Some hope to find not a specific thing or object but as she states what this object represents. Most just want happiness, security, respect, freedom or love. Heroes change from the start of a movie, transcend in the middle hoping to become smarter and stronger and finally keeping their feet flat on the ground hoping to find his/her true identity and saving mankind.
Let’s pretend a Martian came to earth and wanted to know more about our planet. The author calls him Joules and he cannot wait to learn or tour our world to find out what makes an earthling you might say tick! Storytelling: How would you tell a Martian about being an Earthling? How do we communicate our story to him? Some people recreate their entire future by imagining how they want things to turn out. Starting with evolution, learning how to fulfill our dreams, when religion comes into play, proper conduct, adhering to the rules, Christianity and the development of the European society the author’s research and explanations are extensive. Imagine what readers adult and young adult can learn from reading about our history and the history of humanity, the Church, Age of Discovery and even the new World, and how we learned to create new stories to fit into our vision of what life should be. Added within this chapter the author includes information about the Industrial Revolution, Lincoln and African Americans.
How does this relate to the reel life? Well, what happened during these time periods screenwriters envisioned and placed on the wide screen for viewers? Movies tell their own special stories and viewers hear the dialogue, the narrative and understand just like reading a novel, watching a made for TV movie or even reading an article in the newspaper, there is a beginning which describes the problem or area in question, the middle and then the end where you hope the situation is resolved. Movies provide a unique way or medium for people to relate special events, original stories, real life events or even parts of history to viewers bringing it to life. What would this Martian named Joules think about this? I would wonder what his opinion or take would be if he watched the Patriot, Gone with The Wind or even The Grapes of Wrath. The author includes in Chapter 2 many different movies, their primary storyline and we hear our guest ask: How do you create a good life?
The next phase would be goals and our visitor presents you with a map showing the Cave of Wonders where Aladdin’s lamp is buried. Would you travel across the Arabian Desert on foot?
How would you protect the lamp? Many characters face this dilemma like the main character in Lord of the Rings who inherits the One Ring of the Dark Lord Sauron from his guardian. How he protects it makes for an interesting and powerful novel. Our hero, Frodo, pursues his goals even though he knows he will face many obstacles. This first part of this chapter describes this movie, the main character and the fact that “nothing happens without desire.” She includes Home Alone, Blood Diamond, even Cinderella whose primary goal is to go to the ball. Each hero or heroine in a movie wants or seeks the good life but must take risks, undergo and overcome many obstacles before getting what they want. How many different characters do this, meet their goals and accept the challenge you can read in this chapter titled Goals. When you really come down to it the Reel life and the Real Life are not really that different. Both are unpredictable. Both require dealing with challenges and both require that the main character, you in real life, and the hero on the screen find ways to meet their goals successfully. The difference is that on the screen the outcome is predetermined by the writers, the character’s input and the screenwriter where in real life you create your own ending, own script and own result depending on how hard you pursue your goals.
The author continues with the chapter titled Roles. Joules would like to ask you, the reader to become the main character in a movie. You can become anyone you want. Think about it carefully, read Chapter four before deciding. The author describes the main characters and their roles in Trading Places, Wall Street, Beauty and the Beast and one of my favorites The Picture of Dorian Gray. How would you play this man? What would happen if you turned out just like him at the end? What a dynamic role that would be?
Stereotyping is another way a screenwriter presents characters in a movie. Those that have read Uncle Tom’s Cabin, or The Help have read novels that fall into this category. In our own life, or the real life you play many different roles in order to find who you really are. On the screen the actor can break out of jail, take a long road trip or pursue a specific goal or means to an end hoping that the end result or the story will inspire viewers. Next, in chapter 5 how do you prepare for a role? What happens when our Martian friend offers you a dragon egg? What will your response be? Read the first part of the chapter and learn more about this dragon, how we educate our young and prepare them for the challenges in life.
Author Primrose Roberts compares the wide screen’s reel images to that of our own images in real life. There are many movies that she sites dealing with how to prepare for certain real life situations like An Officer and a Gentleman or The Hunger Games. Are you able to predict an outcome as a result of all that comes before? Can you overcome obstacles and achieve your goals? Chapter 6 explains execution or how you are to go about putting your plan, your goals and your desires into motion. Chapter 7 explains Setbacks and what happens when things do not go according to plan. To learn more you can solve these two mysteries by reading the two chapters, finding out more about the Reel movies that are presented and deal with solving the unknown and balancing the future.
Finally, the author reveals to you through Joules that life on Mars is much better than on Earth. True or false? How would you describe your life on earth? Would you accept his invitation to go and visit Mars? Sounds interesting! This chapter includes movies like It’s A Wonderful Life, In the Heat of the Night and The Eagle. This chapter deals with solutions, resolutions and how not only the characters find their happy unique endings but how we can too. The last and final words deal with The Real Life.
From the colonial period to 9/11 to the imagination of those creating movies about vampires, Gladiators and the War of the Worlds, the widescreen takes readers into worlds you would never or might never visit. The Digital Age, Cyberspace and the internet all come into play in the Real World and the Reel World. Challenges are there and more to come and if we learn to play our roles the right way we all might achieve our own better and brighter Real World on in life and on the screen.
Great research, fast paced like a well written movie this is one book that teaches about movies, screenwriting, flaws and dealing with them, real life issues that we all face and how to become the best Real Person you can be! If you could rewrite your life and make it into a movie what would your storyline be and who would star as you?
Fran Lewis: Reviewer
Primrose Roberts
Illusions are created on the widescreen every time a producer or director says Cut or Print. Each actor immerses himself/herself into their role, part or character hoping viewers will take the journey along with them into the lives of the characters that someone has envisioned for viewers to get to know and see. Reel/vs. Real: Just how different is what we see on the silver screen from what we deal with in our lives? On the screen and viewing a movie the set, the actions of the actors and the final outcome is orchestrated and predetermined. Real life does not work that way and even though he set our own goals, have our own hopes for success it takes work, overcoming obstacles and determination to bring to fruition what we often see at the end or a movie or in this case THE REEL LIFE. A screenwriter develops an entire script from one simple thought or idea. From that an entire world grows including a cast, roles, actions, storyline, goals and much more. Deciding on the outcomes is often written in the outline of the script or the script itself. Conflicts exist in order for the main character to strive to solve them before or at the end of the movie. But, heroes or main characters are human beings, aliens, dragons or even wizards but all have to solve or save the day before the final scene and the credits are shown. What are the qualities of a hero? The author defines a hero as “one who dares to participate in the eternal drama of life. He/she is the one who ventures out alone and willingly sacrifices his life for others.” The author gives detailed examples of how different heroes solve their problems, experience a character flaw and then finds a way to take aim or action at the problem, solving it. Examples given refer to movies or classic movies that bring back great memories for so many and for many readers too like The Wizard of Oz, Meet Me in St. Louis, Midnight in Paris and The Great Gatsby. Most heroes are driven to find a means to an end. Some hope to find not a specific thing or object but as she states what this object represents. Most just want happiness, security, respect, freedom or love. Heroes change from the start of a movie, transcend in the middle hoping to become smarter and stronger and finally keeping their feet flat on the ground hoping to find his/her true identity and saving mankind.
Let’s pretend a Martian came to earth and wanted to know more about our planet. The author calls him Joules and he cannot wait to learn or tour our world to find out what makes an earthling you might say tick! Storytelling: How would you tell a Martian about being an Earthling? How do we communicate our story to him? Some people recreate their entire future by imagining how they want things to turn out. Starting with evolution, learning how to fulfill our dreams, when religion comes into play, proper conduct, adhering to the rules, Christianity and the development of the European society the author’s research and explanations are extensive. Imagine what readers adult and young adult can learn from reading about our history and the history of humanity, the Church, Age of Discovery and even the new World, and how we learned to create new stories to fit into our vision of what life should be. Added within this chapter the author includes information about the Industrial Revolution, Lincoln and African Americans.
How does this relate to the reel life? Well, what happened during these time periods screenwriters envisioned and placed on the wide screen for viewers? Movies tell their own special stories and viewers hear the dialogue, the narrative and understand just like reading a novel, watching a made for TV movie or even reading an article in the newspaper, there is a beginning which describes the problem or area in question, the middle and then the end where you hope the situation is resolved. Movies provide a unique way or medium for people to relate special events, original stories, real life events or even parts of history to viewers bringing it to life. What would this Martian named Joules think about this? I would wonder what his opinion or take would be if he watched the Patriot, Gone with The Wind or even The Grapes of Wrath. The author includes in Chapter 2 many different movies, their primary storyline and we hear our guest ask: How do you create a good life?
The next phase would be goals and our visitor presents you with a map showing the Cave of Wonders where Aladdin’s lamp is buried. Would you travel across the Arabian Desert on foot?
How would you protect the lamp? Many characters face this dilemma like the main character in Lord of the Rings who inherits the One Ring of the Dark Lord Sauron from his guardian. How he protects it makes for an interesting and powerful novel. Our hero, Frodo, pursues his goals even though he knows he will face many obstacles. This first part of this chapter describes this movie, the main character and the fact that “nothing happens without desire.” She includes Home Alone, Blood Diamond, even Cinderella whose primary goal is to go to the ball. Each hero or heroine in a movie wants or seeks the good life but must take risks, undergo and overcome many obstacles before getting what they want. How many different characters do this, meet their goals and accept the challenge you can read in this chapter titled Goals. When you really come down to it the Reel life and the Real Life are not really that different. Both are unpredictable. Both require dealing with challenges and both require that the main character, you in real life, and the hero on the screen find ways to meet their goals successfully. The difference is that on the screen the outcome is predetermined by the writers, the character’s input and the screenwriter where in real life you create your own ending, own script and own result depending on how hard you pursue your goals.
The author continues with the chapter titled Roles. Joules would like to ask you, the reader to become the main character in a movie. You can become anyone you want. Think about it carefully, read Chapter four before deciding. The author describes the main characters and their roles in Trading Places, Wall Street, Beauty and the Beast and one of my favorites The Picture of Dorian Gray. How would you play this man? What would happen if you turned out just like him at the end? What a dynamic role that would be?
Stereotyping is another way a screenwriter presents characters in a movie. Those that have read Uncle Tom’s Cabin, or The Help have read novels that fall into this category. In our own life, or the real life you play many different roles in order to find who you really are. On the screen the actor can break out of jail, take a long road trip or pursue a specific goal or means to an end hoping that the end result or the story will inspire viewers. Next, in chapter 5 how do you prepare for a role? What happens when our Martian friend offers you a dragon egg? What will your response be? Read the first part of the chapter and learn more about this dragon, how we educate our young and prepare them for the challenges in life.
Author Primrose Roberts compares the wide screen’s reel images to that of our own images in real life. There are many movies that she sites dealing with how to prepare for certain real life situations like An Officer and a Gentleman or The Hunger Games. Are you able to predict an outcome as a result of all that comes before? Can you overcome obstacles and achieve your goals? Chapter 6 explains execution or how you are to go about putting your plan, your goals and your desires into motion. Chapter 7 explains Setbacks and what happens when things do not go according to plan. To learn more you can solve these two mysteries by reading the two chapters, finding out more about the Reel movies that are presented and deal with solving the unknown and balancing the future.
Finally, the author reveals to you through Joules that life on Mars is much better than on Earth. True or false? How would you describe your life on earth? Would you accept his invitation to go and visit Mars? Sounds interesting! This chapter includes movies like It’s A Wonderful Life, In the Heat of the Night and The Eagle. This chapter deals with solutions, resolutions and how not only the characters find their happy unique endings but how we can too. The last and final words deal with The Real Life.
From the colonial period to 9/11 to the imagination of those creating movies about vampires, Gladiators and the War of the Worlds, the widescreen takes readers into worlds you would never or might never visit. The Digital Age, Cyberspace and the internet all come into play in the Real World and the Reel World. Challenges are there and more to come and if we learn to play our roles the right way we all might achieve our own better and brighter Real World on in life and on the screen.
Great research, fast paced like a well written movie this is one book that teaches about movies, screenwriting, flaws and dealing with them, real life issues that we all face and how to become the best Real Person you can be! If you could rewrite your life and make it into a movie what would your storyline be and who would star as you?
Fran Lewis: Reviewer
Displaying 1 of 1 review