Stories Are Soul Food

  This SASF episode breaks down the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk. What a story: How the devil messed up by killing Charlie, because martyrdom after Christ doesn't work. Charlie's cheerful masculinity made him a target. Why Charlie's "free speech" approach prevents civil war. Crazy progressives in public high schools and universities only "reproduce" because of your children. Live like Charlie by faithfully "raking the gravel" in your life. Watch Charlie Kirk's entire Man Rampant episode with Douglas Wilson for free on Canon Press's YouTube:https://youtu.be/bL4DxMZXNIA?si=tWcFKiIZ9XI_Ycc8

How do you identify stories with poison in them? They never say "TAKE THIS POISON." They always coat it in chocolate first...- "Make Me Famous" pitch reviews segment continues with "The Ghost Train". Maybe this is the episode wherein Nate finally likes a pitch.- Then the guys turn to stories that start out sweet but conceal poison in the end.- Harry Potter and The Hunger Games both start a story with something admirable (the underdog, self-sacrifice). That's the chocolate.- But once you like the chocolate, an author *can make you eat anything after that... even poison (self-pity, dissatisfaction, ungratefulness, victimhood mentality).- To demonstrate how a true underdog story works, Nate reframes the story of Joseph and the coat of many colors (not what that is).

On this episode of SASF Nate and Brian discuss the recent X controversy Nate caused, Why you should watch KPop Demon Hunters? How we as Christians should approach it and all forms of Media? How Miyazaki does anime well? and much more. - Nate and Brian discuss how Kpop Demon Hunters is a bad pitch, but done well- Why Kpop Demon Hunters is a better movie for girls to watch than the Disney Classic Beauty and the Beast- Why Kpop Demon Hunters isn’t a coming out movie.- Where viewers have prejudice against the movie because it’s in an Anime format, How Miyazaki does good anime while telling a good story. - How you shouldn’t be legalistic against a movie because it’s on Netflix

You have heard this SASF axiom: "A good dad can't be present in children's fiction." This is because if he was, there'd be no story for the kids to take care of -- BUT... there are a few exceptions... - Brian and Nate search for those elusive MG/YA unicorns: the good and present father. - What about To Kill a Mockingbird's Atticus Finch? Jeremiah Land from Peace Like a River? Guido in Life is Beautiful? In these stories, the good dad becomes the protagonist. - Uncle Frank in 100 Cupboards? Nate explains why he'd never call Uncle Frank a good father figure. - Heading further afield: what about Mustafa from The Lion King? Bandit from Bluey? Gomez Addams??
            - Finally the guys turn to real life: Ralph Moody's father, Pa Wilder, Bible characters including Nate's pick for best dad in the whole Bible: Jesus's earthly father, Joseph.

This week SASF listeners sent in their own pitches for an episode of "Make Me Famous" In this new SASF segment, Nate reacts for the first time to original ideas containing:- The Last Airbender meets Stranger Things plus reincarnation, a slave girl, and a menacing priest- A headstrong girl who awakens an ancient evil- Narnia fanfiction- a determined goat trying to succeed at roarball;- and much much MORE, including the elements of a good pitch. If you still have an idea, send it! We'll likely do another episode of "Make Me Famous" in the future.

Brian Kohl and Nate Wilson discuss F1: The Movie and K-Pop Demon Hunters. Nate explains that the latter sounds terrible on paper pitch but the filmmakers really pulled it off. They also touch on the teaser for Pixar's upcoming movie, "Hoppers" and why it's just a plain old bad pitch.

This episode offers a smorgasbord: Nate has never finished a Neil Gaiman book. Brian tells him why. They also discuss:- Sparta, Lycurgus, and delicacies.- Feminine vs Masculine glory.- Stoics vs Epicenes.

This episode offers a SASF smorgasbord: Is Nancy Drew healthy soul food for a teenager? The guys discuss syndicate writing such as Nancy Drew, Tom Swift, and the Hardy Boys. Also on this episode: Why theater is so often gay, why Broadway is boutique, and why Shakespeare isn't a counterexample. ... with a chaser of why you should still, probably, be writing and directing plays (on your way to making a movie).

Brian forces Nate to watch two new kids movie trailers... one from Pixar, and one from China. Pixar's new movie Elio flopped harder than anything that's come before. The top-grossing animated movie this year comes from China... it's Ne Zha 2, and it's made 2.2 billion (!) dollars. The guys talk about why Ne Zha 2's trailer is better than Elio's. But it still kinda stinks: The last couple years for children's animation has been very poor. Artificial Intelligence makes you dumber, but it will soon replace this level of bad production. Find out what an AI future might look like on this episode of Stories Are Soul Food.

The guys welcome Scott Minor of Realm Makers for a cameo on Christian fiction... Meet the Realm Makers conference: A decade or two ago, Christian fiction publishers only wanted Amish romance; but Scott's wife Betty was a Christian fantasy writer... so together they founded Realm Makers! Nate's headlining at Realm Makers in two weeks: So Nate asks Scott about fantasy authors' greatest strength... and their greatest weakness. The guys discuss the future of Christian fiction, including Christian fiction "stars" like Mike Nawrocki (Veggie Tales), Katie Lee (Connie from Odyssey), and S.D. Smith (Green Ember).

We've got good news for you: Lucia and Ameera come on SASF to discuss HELP HELP!Yes, it's about the launch of Lucy and Ameera's new movie/book review podcast!The new podcast/show is named Help Help We're Being Repressed. (Yes, that's a Monty Python reference.)On this first episode of Help Help, Nate and the girls discuss writing female characters badly (and goodly).Subscribe to their new podcast wherever pods are podded!This and much more on this special episode of SASF.

Brian says he showed "Batman Begins" to his kids and enjoyed it; Nate goes on a rampage.Nolan's Batman earnestness necessitated the Joker to give us all some relief. "Why so serious, Batman?"Nolan is a great artisan but a terrible philosopher. "I run because they need me to run."... But it was all worth it for LEGO Batman.How long can Hollywood's obsession with superhero movies continue? Apparently forever.Is "Down with Hollywood" a good rallying cry?Why AI is the strangler fig for all that's real.What could end the entertainment industry in America? Social media may already have done it.This and much more on this episode of SASF.

When you've been hurt, what kind of character will you be? God gives you hardship as a Storyteller does: because readers love what happens when a character is down but finds a way to get back up; Remember that it's in the cellars of affliction that God makes his choicest wines (Rutherford); Be at once tender and merciless with your own victimhood; Stop assuming nobody else at church has the dark backstory of trauma and abuse that you do. Take heart from Grandpa Jim, who used to "get chose" to fight the bullies every day after school. What kind of wine will you be?

Time to talk about Christians in novels:+ Secular novelists love to make their villains hypocritical Christians.+ Christian novelists are very honest about their Christian characters' flaws as well.+ So don't be offended when you bump into a fake Christian in a story.+ Nate walks through the flaws of his Christian protagonists (Niffy, Rupert, etc.).This episode dissects Christians and their character flaws on the page... and in real life.

Brian asks Nate what tips he'd give a teenage SASFer who wants to become a movie director. And, perhaps surprisingly, Nate's advice has nothing to do with movies. Because if you want to direct feature films when you grow up, you're the kid saying "I am gonna be an NFL quarterback." That kind of career wish has everything to do with whether you're the kind of person who could manage someone else's million-dollar investment. That doesn't just happen for wanting. Are you ready to convince the rich guys, direct the talent, soothe the producers, reject the bad network notes, talk to the cinematographers, and maintain total clarity on your artistic vision for the film through it all? And that assumes you know your stuff when it comes to story (watch Canon+ resources like "On Directing" and "Fantastical Wordcraft") and aren't hoping your elementary critical analysis will take the place of artistic talent. The best thing you can be doing is MAKING films with your (or your parents') iPhones. Also in this episode, the guys take some potshots at allegory, Reformed Facebook groups, Edmund Spenser, and more.