43: Embracing Your Uniqueness (CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS)

What is the definition of family? Welcome to 'Schlock Fest' where we choose bottom of the barrel movies that can help us live a meaningful story. First up is Joseph's pick, a Walmart Bargain Bin find called FOUR BROTHERS. We explore how these four wayward men reunite when their source of unity is violently taken from them. Joe also shares stories about his band of brothers.  Introduction (0:00) Why We Chose FOUR BROTHERS (1:08) Tone-Deaf Schlock (9:17) Family Unity & Community (13:23) Conclusion (20:31) All Things Narrative educates and empowers you to master the art of storytelling. Learn more at: allthingsnarrative.com Follow us on Instagram @allthingsnarrative Like us on Facebook @allthingsnarrative Connect with Derrick on Letterboxd @thenarrativeguy Check out Joseph's stop-motion films on YouTube @JoeLee Stark25 Produced by All Things Narrative LLC

How do you find beauty in the ordinary? In our final installment on 'Authenticity', Nick gets personal in a conversation about Jim Jarmusch's poetic film PATERSON. We discuss the order-disorder-reorder process through the biblical prophets, along with an uncomfortable reality about loving films. We share insights from Richard Rohr and Eugene Peterson about what it means to live content in the moment. And Nick also reflects on some of the other films we've discussed previously, and the story they weave together.  Introduction (0:00) From Anger, to Grief, to Compassion (2:02) DO THE RIGHT THING and AFTERSUN (19:00) INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS and NETWORK (22:55) Metaphor and the Film Community's Shadow (28:39) The Active vs. Inner Life in PATERSON (39:09) Context & Subversion in PATERSON (48:51) Poetry in Everyday Life (54:12) What Are You Turning Towards? (1:07:37) Conclusion (1:15:55) All Things Narrative educates and empowers you to master the art of storytelling. Learn more at: allthingsnarrative.com Follow us on Instagram @allthingsnarrative Like us on Facebook @allthingsnarrative Connect with Derrick on Letterboxd @thenarrativeguy Check out Joseph's stop-motion films on YouTube @JoeLee Stark25 Produced by All Things Narrative LLC

How do you hold onto what's real when everything around you feels artificial? In our next episode on 'Authenticity', we deep dive into one of the most critically-acclaimed satires of all time: NETWORK. Through its novel-esque writing and theatre-like directing, NETWORK is a masterclass at showing how societal decay corrupts our true self, and the wayward journey back towards authenticity. We discuss how this film is godless, but true in its chilling relevancy for us today. Derrick also shares about his journey as a writer and how that factors into NETWORK.  Introduction (0:00) Why We Chose NETWORK (4:00) Context: A Poignant Satire (15:00) "I'm going to kill myself": Meaninglessness (19:45) "I'm being made": Corruption (29:00) "The Tube as Gospel": Idolatry (37:30) Corrupting the Camera (47:00) "But not me": Authentic Hope (52:00) Conclusion (1:05:00) All Things Narrative educates and empowers you to master the art of storytelling. Learn more at: allthingsnarrative.com Follow us on Instagram @allthingsnarrative Like us on Facebook @allthingsnarrative Connect with Derrick on Letterboxd @thenarrativeguy Check out Joseph's stop-motion films on YouTube @JoeLee Stark25 Produced by All Things Narrative LLC

How do you contend for what you believe in, even when the odds are stacked against you? Joseph leads us through the film 300, the next entry in our 'Authenticity' series. We discuss how a film like 300 can be so beloved across diverse contexts such as schools, churches, addiction recovery, and Narrative Therapy. We also weed out fact versus fiction in its depiction of Spartan history, and debate whether Zack Snyder is actually a good director.  Introduction (0:00) Why We Chose 300 (0:45) Is Zack Snyder Worth Defending? (10:25) History vs. Myth (21:12) Narrative Therapy and the Power of Films like 300 (31:19) Warriors of Faith (36:40) Conclusion (40:33) Narrative Therapy article on Film use in Substance Abuse Contexts All Things Narrative educates and empowers you to master the art of storytelling. Learn more at: allthingsnarrative.com Follow us on Instagram @allthingsnarrative Like us on Facebook @allthingsnarrative Connect with Derrick on Letterboxd @thenarrativeguy Check out Joseph's stop-motion films on YouTube @JoeLee Stark25 Produced by All Things Narrative LLC

How much of our identity is dictated by your biology versus your environment? In our new series on 'Authenticity', we wrestle with the nature vs. nurture debate through the lens of the archetypes, using the film MEGAMIND. We also discuss the difference between Internal and Intentional States, the intersection between God's will and our desires, and Jason's own experiences of navigating his archetypes.  Introduction (0:00) Why We Chose MEGAMIND (0:55) Nature vs. Nurture in MEGAMIND (7:17) Subverting Archetypes (20:59) Agency & Archetypes (27:57) Conclusion (48:43) Stay up to date with our movie club, and see which films we'll cover in the future. Interested in learning more abut archetypes? Consider booking our Archetypes in the Workplace workshop for your company's next staff development day at: allthingsnarrative.com. Follow us on Instagram @allthingsnarrative Like us on Facebook @allthingsnarrative Connect with Derrick on Letterboxd @thenarrativeguy Check out Joseph's stop-motion films on YouTube @JoeLee Stark25 Produced by All Things Narrative LLC

How does one become a great artist? Finishing out our "I Am The Protagonist" series is Jason's pick, the beloved Pixar film RATATOUILLE. We discuss the role of criticism in art, while settling the debate once and for all whether anyone can cook.  Introduction (0:00) Why We Chose RATATOUILLE (0:54) Jason & Remy (10:10) Survival vs. Artistry (16:28) Criticism & Great Art (28:18) Who You Are vs. Who You Can Become (36:24) Our Takeaways from RATATOUILLE (42:24) Conclusion (50:54) Stay up to date with our movie club, and see which films we'll cover in the future. Ready to take your storytelling to the next level? All Things Narrative exists to guide you towards telling and living your story more meaningfully. Get the exclusive episode "5 Tips to Improve Your Storytelling" when you sign-up for our email list at: allthingsnarrative.com Follow us on Instagram @allthingsnarrative Like us on Facebook @allthingsnarrative Connect with Derrick on Letterboxd @thenarrativeguy Check out Joseph's stop-motion films on YouTube @JoeLee Stark25 Produced by All Things Narrative LLC

Have you ever struggled to be accepted by your family or community? In this next installment in our "I Am the Protagonist" series, Joseph takes us through the quirky animated film CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS. We discuss the feelings of rejection that come when we embrace our uniqueness.  Introduction (0:00) Why We Chose CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS (0:37) Yearning for Parental Acceptance (7:55) Joseph & Flint (15:11) Finding Acceptance from the Community (23:15) Conclusion (32:23) Stay up to date with our movie club, and see which films we'll cover in the future. Ready to take your storytelling to the next level? All Things Narrative exists to guide you towards telling and living your story more meaningfully. Get the exclusive episode "5 Tips to Improve Your Storytelling" when you sign-up for our email list at: allthingsnarrative.com Follow us on Instagram @allthingsnarrative Like us on Facebook @allthingsnarrative Connect with Derrick on Letterboxd @thenarrativeguy Check out Joseph's stop-motion films on YouTube @JoeLee Stark25 Produced by All Things Narrative LLC

What is the relationship between the movies we love and the stories we live? This is a question we explore with on this podcast. But in this episode, we examine the pitfalls of our own premise through one of the most acclaimed films of all time: CINEMA PARADISO. Nick leads us through this intimate installment of our "I Am the Protagonist" series. Nestled within this so-called love letter to the movies is a cautionary tale about the dangers of projecting our worldviews onto others. We also wrestle with the iconic ending, which might be more tragic than you think.  Introduction (0:00) Why We Chose CINEMA PARADISO (1:05) A Love Letter to Cinema? (6:40) Torn Between Two Worlds (14:58) Cinema's Prevailing Influence (23:25) The Ending: Hopeful or Tragic? (35:44) Nick & Toto (47:33) Conclusion (55:31) Stay up to date with our movie club, and see which films we'll cover in the future. Ready to take your storytelling to the next level? All Things Narrative exists to guide you towards telling and living your story more meaningfully. Get the exclusive episode "5 Tips to Improve Your Storytelling" when you sign-up for our email list at: allthingsnarrative.com Follow us on Instagram @allthingsnarrative Like us on Facebook @allthingsnarrative Connect with Derrick on Letterboxd @thenarrativeguy Check out Joseph's stop-motion films on YouTube @JoeLee Stark25 Produced by All Things Narrative LLC

Have you ever felt trapped in a conflict that’s beyond your control? We kick off our brand new series “I Am the Protagonist” with a very personal film for Derrick: Hayao Miyazaki’s PRINCESS MONONOKE. This Studio Ghibli fantasy epic wrestles with how we can reconcile differing points of view. We also discuss the way it layers both Western and Eastern forms of storytelling, while analyzing it from different perspectives such as Christianity and Narrative Therapy.  Introduction (0:00) Why We Chose PRINCESS MONONOKE (1:49) Context: Miyazaki's Vision and Japanese History (8:13) Confronting Our Demons of Hatred (16:21) Sacred vs. Secular (23:41) Derrick & Ashitaka (35:40) Death & Resurrection (46:54) Conclusion (1:00:03) Stay up to date with our movie club, and see which films we'll cover in the future. Ready to master the art of storytelling? Book a FREE consultation for classes and coaching at: allthingsnarrative.com. Follow us on Instagram @allthingsnarrative Like us on Facebook @allthingsnarrative Connect with Derrick on Letterboxd @thenarrativeguy Check out Joseph's stop-motion films on YouTube @JoeLee Stark25 Produced by All Things Narrative LLC   Asian Drums - Vadodara by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100396 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Happy New Year! Derrick shares updates for 2025, including a sneak peek at this upcoming season, along with an exciting tease of an upcoming book feature! Join us as we continuing exploring the connections between the movies we love, and the stories we live. All Things Narrative educates and empowers you to master the art of storytelling. Learn more at: allthingsnarrative.com Follow us on Instagram @allthingsnarrative Like us on Facebook @allthingsnarrative Connect with Derrick on Letterboxd @thenarrativeguy Check out Joseph's stop-motion films on YouTube @JoeLee Stark25 Produced by All Things Narrative LLC