The Sixth Sense

Why shows like X Factor are a hit

Have you ever wondered why shows like X Factor (think American Idol if you’re from the States) are such a hit? We all reguarly mock them. We only ever admit to ‘catching a bit on an episode’ on the way to doing something more meaningful. But the truth is, here in the UK at least, 1 in 6 people watch X Factor and Saturday night. Why is this?

It hit me this last week as to why I think these shows work. And it all ties into this theme of ‘Story’ that I’ve been endlessly pursuing this last week or so. The truth of the matter is that shows like X Factor aren’t a hit because of the singing, good as some of the people are. The shows are a hit because of the stories attached to the people doing the singing.

At least as much of the show delves into the life stories of the various contestants. We hear about how they got to this point of entering the contest. The obstacles they had to overcome to this point. The other characters that helped or hindered their journey. And suddenly, before we know it, we are no longer just listening to a random individual trying to sing; we are caught up into an unfolding story. 

Its strange, but when you think about it, how much of life makes much sense at all outside of story? The movies we love are the ones with the most moving stories. We come back to work on Monday morning and we share our stories from the weekend. We lose ourselves in the fictional world novelists draw us into. Really, how much of life would make sense - or at least be enjoyable - except for story?

What do you think?

Tags: Story, Television, X Factor

Character - ‘As he chooses, he is’

I’m still thoroughly enjoying ‘Story’ by Robert McKee. I thought it might dry up somewhat as I got further into it, but it is just fascinating to read. I’m am learning so much about - you guessed it - story. As someone who is definitely wanting to become a better story-teller, it is really helpful and insightful.

Today I thought I’d share a few more great quotes on character:

“True character is revealed in the choices a human being makes under pressure - the greater the pressure, the deeper the revelation, the truer the choice to the character’s essential nature.”

“The only way to know the truth (about someone’s character) is to witness him make choices under pressure to take one action or another in the pursuit of his desire. As he chooses, he is.”

“Pressure is essential. Choices made when nothing is at risk mean little. If a character chooses to tell the truth in a situation where telling a lie would gain him nothing, the choice is trivial, the moment expresses nothing. But if the same character insists on telling the truth when a lie would save his life, then we sense that honesty is at the core of his nature.”

The context for these quotes is obviously related to building quality characters into a story. But I think these speak a lot of truth about being people of character too.

What do you think?

Tags: Character, Robert McKee, Story

Some great quotes from ‘Story’

As I mentioned on Friday, I’m thoroughly enjoying a book called ‘Story’ by Robert McKee. It is filled with some outstanding comments, insights, and observations. Here’s a few more I thought I’d share with you.

“Story isn’t a flight from reality but a vehicle that carries us on in our search for reality, our best effort to make sense out of the anarchy of existence.”

“When society repeatedly experiences glossy, hollowed-out, pseudo-stories, it degenerates. We need true satires and tragedies, dramas and comedies that shine a clean light into the dingy corners of the human psyche and society.”

“Master storytellers know how to squeeze life out of the least of things, while poor storytellers reduce the profound to the banal. You may have the insight of a Buddha, but if you cannot tell story, your ideas turn dry as chalk.”

“The world of a story must be small enough that the mind of a single artist can surround the fictional universe it creates and come to know it in the same depth and detail that God knows the one He created.”

Tags: Books, Quotes, Robert McKee, Story

Why we go to the movies

I’m reading a book called ‘Story - Substance, Structure, Style, and the Substance of Screenwriting’ at the moment. It’s by a guy called Robert McKee. I’m only a few pages in, but this quote absoultely leapt out at me. Really powerful.

We go to the movies to enter a new, fascinating world, to inhabit vicariously another human being who at first seems so unlike us and yet at heart is like us, to live in a fictional reality that illuminates our daily reality. We do not wish to escape life but to find life, to use our minds in fresh, experimental ways, to flex our emotions, to enjoy, to learn, to add depth to our days.

This definitely resonates with me deeply.

What about you?

Tags: Books, Quotes, Story