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Unexpected Lessons in Storytelling from

@EsotericB

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Do you remember this movie?

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@EsotericB

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Unexpected Lessons from "Back to the Future"

  1. Environment as Exposition - A silent background is sometimes better than a voice over

@EsotericB

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Unexpected Lessons from "Back to the Future"

  • Environment as Exposition - A silent background is sometimes better than a voice over
  • 2 + 2 = ? - Give the audience a chance to connect the dots, it creates interest

@EsotericB

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Who is the hero of this film?

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Heroes

Almost every book, article or YouTube video on storytelling will discuss "The Hero's Journey"

From Dan Harmon, creator of Community and Rick & Morty:

"A character is in a zone of comfort, but they want something. They enter an unfamiliar situation, adapt to it, get what they wanted, pay a heavy price for it, then return to their familiar situation, having changed."

@EsotericB

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Who is the hero of Back to the Future?

Marty

Doc

George

✅

He gives a rock star performance that influences Chuck Berry, but he stays the same person despite travelling through time.

Doc is alive at the end because he peeked at his future, but that didn't change him.

By standing up to Biff, he saves Marty's life and gained the confidence he needed to become a successful writer.

x

x

@EsotericB

9 of 14

Unexpected Lessons from "Back to the Future"

  • Environment as Exposition - A silent background is sometimes better than a voice over
  • 2 + 2 = ? - Give the audience a chance to connect the dots, it creates interest
  • The main character is not always the hero - but there is catharsis somewhere

@EsotericB

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A few months ago, watching John Mulaney:

Marty McFly is a 17 year old high school student, whose best friend is a disgraced nuclear physicist.

​

And I [kid] you not, they never explained how they became friends

@EsotericB

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How are Marty and Doc friends?

@EsotericB

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It doesn't matter!

Having them explain why they know each other would feel artificial and completely disrupt the pace

@EsotericB

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Unexpected Lessons from "Back to the Future"

  • Environment as Exposition - A silent background is sometimes better than a voice over
  • 2 + 2 = ? - Give the audience a chance to connect the dots, it creates interest
  • The main character is not always the hero - but there is catharsis somewhere
  • Arrive Late & Leave Early - People will just accept that characters know each when there is good momentum

@EsotericB

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Unexpected Lessons in Storytelling from

@EsotericB