Bringing Your A-Game to Geekdom
Early next month I will be speaking at the Belvedere-Tiburon Library in northern California about the wide range of opportunities open to science fiction fans.
Read moreHunger Games
Change and Stability in The Hunger Games Franchise
Yesterday, Lionsgate announced that director Gary Ross has decided not to return to direct the second movie in the franchise, Catching Fire.
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Strong Female Heroines as Hitmakers
Following up on last month’s recap of the impressive performance by stories featuring strong female heroines, here’s more evidence that creating powerful women is good for the bottom line.
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The Book, the Movie, and the Story of The Hunger Games
Last weekend’s release of The Hunger Games movie has generated a lot of fan discussion about the differences between the book and the film. Some fans have expressed disappointment, even outrage, at various aspects of the book that were “left out” or “changed” in the movie. Other fans have praised the new material in the movie for expanding the story or increasing its impact compared to the book. And some, like a parent with two children, love them both just as much, but in different ways.
Read moreMarch’s Strong Females – By the Numbers
A few months back, when talking publicity strategy and planning for the blog, I predicted March would be a big month. I already knew Fate of the Jedi: Apocalypse had given the female characters some opportunities to really shine and I anticipated that the theatrical release of The Hunger Games would prove to be a game changer. There’s actually a lot to digest from this past weekend, so how about just the numbers for now.
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REVIEW: The Hunger Games (Movie)
After much anticipation, it was delightful to see The Hunger Games movie succeed so brilliantly. Check back later this week for more thoughts and analysis of the film, but in the meantime you can start with the movie review. The short version: it’s a 9/10.
Read moreStories from a Certain Point of View
A young hero from a desolate and isolated region, torn from that life by the evil machinations of an oppressive regime, mentored by a wise-yet-weary warrior, forced into new alliances and a rebellion, a singular life-defining shot that hits its mark… I bet you thought I was talking about Star Wars.
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The Hunger Games: Midnight Movie Premiere Recap (Spoiler-Free)
Last night I attended the midnight movie premiere of The Hunger Games at my favorite local theater. Here’s my preliminary, spoiler-free recap.
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Star Wars, The Hunger Games, and the Storytelling Power of Thematic Resonance
Good stories always have great characters. The great stories always have something more. What sets them apart are themes that resonate deeply with the reader, viewer, or audience. Great stories don’t just entertain – they make us think, challenge our assumptions or beliefs, or inspire us to do great things ourselves.
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Journey of a Strong Female Heroine: Katniss Everdeen
What sets The Hunger Games apart from the rest of the field, though, is its lead character, Katniss Everdeen, and the skill with which Collins executes a novel trilogy centered around a young female lead. Where so many others have failed, or not even bothered to try, Collins not only creates a Strong Female Heroine, but also makes the story her Heroine’s Journey from impoverished nobody to national symbol. There are far too few stories of this kind in the genre – or anywhere else for that matter – even amid the prolific storytelling boom of recent years. For authors, screenwriters, and others struggling to figure out how to write better female characters and better female-centered stories, The Hunger Games has to be at the very top of the list to read, analyze, and learn from.
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