Justin Kownacki

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story structure

Neil Gaiman MasterClass Review: Is It Worth It?
Storytelling

Neil Gaiman MasterClass Review: Is It Worth It?

A look at Neil Gaiman’s Masterclass: The Art of Storytelling — what does the course include, what are the highlights, and what’s missing?

By Justin, 4 months4 months ago
Daisy Ridley stars as Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Storytelling

The Storytelling Flaw That Ruined the New Star Wars Trilogy

There’s something missing from the new Star Wars trilogy, and without it, none of the characters can find satisfying closure.

By Justin, 4 months4 months ago
William Zabka stars as Johnny Lawrence in the hit Netflix series Cobra Kai, a TV sequel to The Karate Kid movie franchise
Storytelling

Cobra Kai: How to Build Character Through Internal Conflict

Cobra Kai’s pilot episode shows why every villain thinks he’s the hero of his own story… and why he’s also his own worst enemy.

By Justin, 5 months3 months ago
Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker movie poster
Storytelling

The Mystery Box Is Broken, and Here’s How to Fix It

From Lost to Game of Thrones to The Rise of Skywalker, the “mystery box” style of storytelling is coming up short. Here’s why — and how to fix it.

By Justin, 10 months4 months ago
Daenerys emerges victorious with her dragon behind her
Storytelling

Game of Thrones’s Biggest Surprise of All Was… a Satisfying Ending?

The final episode of Game of Thrones leaves no one entirely happy… and that’s exactly the way it should be.

By Justin, 2 years10 months ago
Jon Snow (Kit Harrington), Grey Worm of the Unsullied (Jacob Anderson), Ser Davos Seaworth (Liam Cunningham) and their army enter the destroyed King's Landing in HBO's Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode "The Bells"
Storytelling

How “The Bells” Ruins Several Major Character Arcs in Game of Thrones

In the penultimate Game of Thrones episode “The Bells,” the show explores the ugly side of war, power, and consequences — but is it good storytelling?

By Justin, 2 years2 years ago
Avengers: Endgame movie poster from Marvel Studios spotlighting the six original Avengers: Black Widow, Iron Man, Thor, Hawkeye, Captain America and the Hulk / Bruce Banner
Storytelling

How Avengers: Endgame Succeeds on the Strength of Marvel’s Characters

Avengers: Endgame owes its success to one word: character.

By Justin, 2 years4 months ago
Lady Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner), Lord Jon Snow (Kit Harrington), and Queen Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) have some tense character moments in season 8 of HBO's Game of Thrones
Storytelling

This Lazy Dialogue Habit Is Making Game of Thrones Funny By Accident

Overusing this soap opera writing trope will turn your story’s drama into comedy.

By Justin, 2 years2 years ago
Hugh Jackman, Zach Galifianakis, and Zoe Saldana are the voice actors of Sir Lionel Frost, Susan the Sasquatch, and Adelina Fortnight in Laika's animated movie Missing Link
Storytelling

The Unfortunate Lesson Storytellers Should Learn from Missing Link

Laika’s biggest animated fim is missing a crucial element that causes the movie to fall short of satisfying.

By Justin, 2 years2 years ago
Brie Larson as Carol Danvers on the movie poster for Captain Marvel
Storytelling

Captain Marvel: A Genius Lesson in Story Structure

Captain Marvel offers a smart answer to a hard storytelling question: how do you make a compelling movie about the world’s strongest hero?

By Justin, 2 years4 months ago

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