A few years ago, Open CulÂture readÂers listÂed SlaughÂterÂhouse Five as one of your top life-changÂing books. But Kurt VonÂnegut was not only a great author. He was also an inspiÂraÂtion for anyÂone who aspires to write ficÂtion – see for examÂple his 8 rules for writÂing ficÂtion, which starts with the so-obviÂous-it’s-often-forÂgotÂten reminder nevÂer to waste your readÂer’s time.
In this video, VonÂnegut folÂlows his own advice and sketchÂes some brilÂliant blueÂprints for enviÂsionÂing the “shape” of a stoÂry, all in less than 4 minÂutes and 37 secÂonds.
SheerÂly Avni is a San FranÂcisÂco-based arts and culÂture writer. Her work has appeared in Salon, LA WeekÂly, MothÂer Jones, and many othÂer pubÂliÂcaÂtions. You can folÂlow her on twitÂter at @sheerly.
Walt DisÂney’s 1937 proÂducÂtion, Snow White and the SevÂen Dwarfs, broke new ground on a numÂber of fronts. It was 1) the first cel-aniÂmatÂed feaÂture film ever proÂduced; 2.) the first aniÂmatÂed film made in colÂor — techÂniÂcolÂor actuÂalÂly; and 3.) DisÂney’s first aniÂmatÂed film, one of many comÂmerÂcial and artisÂtic hits to come. (Catch a quick clip here.)
Two years latÂer, DisÂney proÂduced an in-house docÂuÂmenÂtary, How Walt DisÂney CarÂtoons Are Made, that walks you through the stages of Snow White’s develÂopÂment – the writÂing of the first stoÂry lines, the draftÂing of the aniÂmaÂtion sequences, the hand paintÂing of 250,000 celÂluÂloid frames (done by “pretÂty girls,” as they say) and beyond. Back in the day, AmerÂiÂcan filmÂgoÂers watched this footage in the cinÂeÂma, the trailÂer before the main feaÂture film.
MeanÂwhile, you can also watch online ParaÂmounÂt’s 1939 answer to DisÂney’s big hit — GulÂlivÂer’s TravÂels, anothÂer cel-aniÂmatÂed TechÂniÂcolÂor feaÂture film directÂed by Dave FleisÂchÂer, who latÂer brought us an aniÂmatÂed verÂsion of SuperÂman (1941).
If you would like to supÂport the misÂsion of Open CulÂture, conÂsidÂer makÂing a donaÂtion to our site. It’s hard to rely 100% on ads, and your conÂtriÂbuÂtions will help us conÂtinÂue proÂvidÂing the best free culÂturÂal and eduÂcaÂtionÂal mateÂriÂals to learnÂers everyÂwhere. You can conÂtribute through PayÂPal, PatreÂon, and VenÂmo (@openculture). Thanks!
In late FebÂruÂary, Charles FerÂguÂson’s film – Inside Job – won the AcadÂeÂmy Award for Best DocÂuÂmenÂtary. And now the film docÂuÂmentÂing the causÂes of the 2008 globÂal finanÂcial meltÂdown has made its way online. A corÂrupt finanÂcial indusÂtry, its corÂroÂsive relaÂtionÂship with politiÂcians, acaÂdÂeÂmics and regÂuÂlaÂtors, and the trilÂlions of damÂage done, it all gets docÂuÂmentÂed in this film that runs a litÂtle shy of 2 hours.
Inside Job can be purÂchased on DVD at AmaÂzon. We all love free, but let’s rememÂber that good projects cost real monÂey to develÂop, and they could use real finanÂcial supÂport. So please conÂsidÂer buyÂing a copy.
HopeÂfulÂly watchÂing or buyÂing this film won’t be a pointÂless act, even though it can rightÂly feel that way. As Charles FerÂguÂson remindÂed us durÂing his Oscar accepÂtance speech, we are three years beyond the Wall Street criÂsis and taxÂpayÂers (you) got fleeced for bilÂlions. But still not one Wall Street exec is facÂing crimÂiÂnal charges. WelÂcome to your pluÂtocÂraÂcy…
There was a good deal of time-travÂel in the ABC hit series Lost, one of the more ambiÂtious and popÂuÂlar shows of the past decade. But neiÂther Jack, Sawyer, HurÂley, nor any of our othÂer beloved 21st cenÂtuÂry castÂaways ever went back to the year 1969. If they had, and if they’d had access to a TV, they might have found themÂselves watchÂing a show about — themÂselves.
Well, sort of. The New PeoÂple ran on FriÂday nights on ABC from SepÂtemÂber 1969 through JanÂuÂary 1970 (It lastÂed only 17 episodes). We’ll take a shot at sumÂmaÂrizÂing the genÂerÂal premise, which might ring a couÂple of bells:
A plane crashÂes on a remote island in the PacifÂic, leavÂing its motÂley group of surÂvivors strandÂed and fightÂing about what to do next.… As they explore their new home, they find an entire town, fulÂly stocked with proÂviÂsions and weapons, but creepÂiÂly empÂty. Soon the surÂvivors disÂcovÂer that this island was once set up .…to be an AtomÂic EnerÂgy ComÂmisÂsion testÂing site!
No Lost fan can live withÂout a conÂspirÂaÂcy theÂoÂry, but we’re pretÂty sure there was nothÂing fishy in the comÂmonÂalÂiÂties, and in the end, are we not all chilÂdren of GilliÂgan? FurÂtherÂmore, there’s a good deal more to the plot, which includes racial conÂflict, adoÂlesÂcent angst (the surÂvivors are all colÂlege stuÂdents), and a healthy dose of Lord of the Flies-style chaos. Full episodes are not online, but at TVobÂscuÂriÂties you can find a wealth of relatÂed conÂtent, clips, links to reviews, and even the theme song, with lyrics.
Also, be sure to check out the episode guide, which realÂly does intrigue. NumÂber 12, for examÂple:
The Pied Piper of Pot. StepÂpenÂwolf thinks his felÂlow islanders are too uptight, so he grows potent marÂiÂjuaÂna that threatÂens to send the stuÂdents into a harÂrowÂing, one-way trip.
The New PeoÂple was proÂduced by Aaron Spelling, who went on to bring us CharÂlie’s Angels, The Love Boat, Hart to Hart, and BevÂerÂly Hills 90210, among many, many othÂers. But we’re not sure if he ever did come up with anothÂer charÂacÂter as comÂpelling as StepÂpenÂwolf.
(Thanks to Bryan Thomas)
SheerÂly Avni is a San FranÂcisÂco-based arts and culÂture writer. Her work has appeared in Salon, LA WeekÂly, MothÂer Jones, and many othÂer pubÂliÂcaÂtions. You can folÂlow her on twitÂter at @sheerly.
We're hoping to rely on loyal readers, rather than erratic ads. Please click the Donate button and support Open Culture. You can use Paypal, Venmo, Patreon, even Crypto! We thank you!
Open Culture scours the web for the best educational media. We find the free courses and audio books you need, the language lessons & educational videos you want, and plenty of enlightenment in between.
