This is a story of fear and hope... packed with tools for powerful storytelling.

With recurring nightmares as a child, screenwriter and video games creator Jacob Carpenter decided to face his fears straight on. He studied horror films. His parents made a deal with him. He could watch any film he wanted... provided he read the book version first.

That's how Jacob discovered that 'the dark side' is where the human condition is at its most profound. It's where storytelling is at its most impacting. "The point of exploring the villain, for example, is not to point out how terrible he is," he says. "The point of the villain is to point out how human he is."

And here we are in 2020. "We're waiting for our 'Citizen Kane. We're waiting for the thing that establishes that paradigm shift, that opportunity to do something new and beautiful."

The struggle for redemption is upon us, Jacob says, "and I don't know that it will cause any change in storytelling. But I do think that storytelling will be part of the way that we get through it."

So fasten your seatbelt, strap on a helmet and dive with us deep into the depths of darkness... if you dare.

#17: Why Jacob Carpenter's Stories Are So Dark

Story WarriorsBy Jack VincentOct 10, 2020