'Project Hail Mary' Is the Blueprint to Save Hollywood (and Our Future)

About this episode

This episode discusses how Andy Weir's 'PROJECT HAIL MARY' serves as a blueprint for revitalizing Hollywood and addressing cultural fatigue with current cinematic trends.

We’ve all said it: "They don’t make movies like they used to.” It's true, too...but Andy Weir's PROJECT HAIL MARY is the blueprint for how to fix the problem! This is the story of how my 11-year-old son — a kid raised on a steady diet of Marvel and Star Wars — ended up sobbing through a 28-year-old disaster flick and declaring it the best thing he’s ever seen. It’s also about why Hollywood is currently failing its audience, and how a science teacher lightyears from home in PROJECT HAIL MARY holds the key to saving the movie business and maybe even our future . If you’ve ever felt fatigued by superheroes and god-like beings, if you’re a screenwriter trying to work out what’s next, or if you’re wondering how a culture could so dramatically l ose its way , this episode of 5AM StoryTalk is for you! ON THE ITINERARY: DECONSTRUCTIVE VS. CONSTRUCTIVE ART: The difference between art as a "mirror" and art as a "hammer." THE 11-YEAR-OLD LITMUS TEST: Lessons from ‘Deep Impact’ on why grounded human drama triggers "awe." THE SCIENCE OF MORAL BEAUTY: Exploring Dr. Dacher Keltner’s research on why acts of courage are emotional triggers. SUPERHERO FATIGUE: Why…

People in this episode

Host: Cole Haddon

Topics covered

• Hollywood
• movie industry
• art and culture
• science fiction
• emotional storytelling
• superhero fatigue

Keywords

• PROJECT HAIL MARY
• Hollywood
• superhero fatigue
• emotional triggers
• art as a mirror
• art as a hammer
• grounded human drama

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: PROJECT HAIL MARY, Deep Impact

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