Amongst the most fundamental storytelling techniques is to tread the path less travelled. That’s why you don’t see many scenes in movies where characters are carrying out mundane tasks – going to the the bathroom or having breakfast – except when those actions have unusual significance and move the story forwards. A good storyteller doesn’t waste our time with characters who make sensible, conservative decisions. Instead, the characters get put in situations where they do things that we would never do.
Spike Jonze’s new short, “I’m Here”, apart from being a truly wonderful short, is a wonderful illustration of this principle. If there was no limit to what you could do to save your true love, how far would you go?
So sit back, open your mind and your heart, and watch it here.
PS – The idea of a virtual screening with limited places and where you can connect to the other watchers is very interesting. Is it pretentious? Is it charming? Is it necessary?
