Getting Lost In The Story!

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I think one thing I’ve never been able to understand is people who just don’t get the world of fiction. People who watch films and start attacking them for being too unrealistic. You’d watch a film with dragons and werewolves, but you’ll be complaining that the arrows are not similar to those used in the era. You watch a film on magic, but the kind of dressing the characters wear will be the focal point of your discontent.

And even worse are those who just refuse to accept the film for what it is. We all know that action films are just stunts and camera tricks. But that doesn’t mean they’re less interesting when you watch them. I’ve always been able to immerse myself in a film, and however outlandish the makers of the film try to make it, I try to enjoy it. Regardless of how insane the stunts get.

With regards to the world of fiction and storytelling, one of the best childhood memories for me is believing that professional wrestling was real. As in, I believed it totally. It was a hill I could die on. No matter the people who argued with me, I believed that the stunts, the fights, the rivalry, and everything about it was real. I felt the betrayals deeply, I felt the wins, and I enjoyed it.

And it never made sense to me when people told me that it was all staged. Like, how is it staged? If it’s staged, will Vince allow them to give his daughter SmackDown like that? Will that wrestler allow them to harass his family? It has to be real. Especially those backstage ‘sneak attacks’. From cage fights to wrestlers getting arrested, and even their stints with ambulances.

I believed them all, and believe me, it was an epic ride. But then, growing up, I realized that they were just a bunch of people acting out a script written by storytellers like me. And while I still enjoy professional wrestling till today, that spark it once lit up inside me is gone. The tension is gone, and even now, it’s a bit predictable. Now, I can almost see through their stunts, and social media has also shown that, despite being rivals in the ring, outside, they might be sweethearts. The man who’s harassing your family onscreen is actually taking you all to barbecue off-screen.

It was a real letdown to realize that Cane and Undertaker were not real brothers, or that the Undertaker’s opponents didn’t really “rest in peace’. But then, what can I do? Maturity showed me the truth, but I enjoyed the moment of ignorance and blind trust. Which is why even now, as an adult, I’m shocked when people tell me that as a child, they knew wrestling was staged. They never once doubted it. I can’t tell for sure if they’re lying or not, but if they are telling the truth, then I just find it sad. Such people will find it hard to invest in stories.

When they watch films, they’ll critique the CGI, they’ll talk about the stunts, and they'll complain about the props. But the main story itself, they’ll never be sucked in simply because other things are distracting them. And this is something that I can do effortlessly. When I watch a movie, provided it’s an interesting one, I’ll enjoy it. That’s why, even till tomorrow, I’ll be a die-hard fan of the Fast and Furious franchise. Even if they decide to drive a car to Ba Sing Se in the Avatar universe, or Dom Toretto decides to go and fight Superman himself in Smallville, I’ll still try to enjoy it. I’ll get sucked into the story and just go with it. I know it’s crazy, I know it’s insane, but what’s the harm?

The world is already too serious, why would I let that affect my private time as well? You don’t have to be too serious in my movies either. Just give me a good story, give me believable arcs, and you’ll get a die-hard fan.

People need to learn to enjoy movies for what they are. Because at this point, we really don’t know how to do that.

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_{Thank you for reading. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below, I would love to know what you’re thinking. Till we meet in the next post.}

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_{N.B: All images used in this post are mine. The thumbnail was designed using Canva.}

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