Raiders - An Appreciation

[Andy D]

Just as an aside to a discussion in Craft Chats, I thought I’d post this.

Obviously movies and books are different - and the craft behind them is too - but there is an overarching skill of storytelling, and I tore out this short piece from Empire a few months ago to remind myself just how well Raiders of The Lost Ark manages it (especially in those first legendary 13 minutes, most usually telling and challenging for us, the first chapter).

I was going to add, somewhat glibly, that’s it’s good to remember how ‘cos it’s not magic’ but in honesty, I think it is! But knowing what the ingredients are to make up and spice that formula, can perhaps help us create something magical too.

 

[Hannah F]

Just a me-the-dummy question: how do I make it big enough to read? The little magnifier (+) on the do-things-with-it bar doesn't seem to work.

 

[CageSage]

Just a me-the-dummy question: how do I make it big enough to read? The little magnifier (+) on the do-things-with-it bar doesn't seem to work.

That's my question, too - plus, how to spin it so I don't have to do the contortionist-thing to read.

 

[Andy D]

Probs best to download and then rotate in your viewer?

 

[Vagabond Heart]

Probs best to download and then rotate in your viewer?

Andy, you big tease, lol. Tried that - too pixelated.

 

[Barbara]

I can't even download it.

 

[Rich.]

@Andy D, I think the issue might be that when you were composing your post and you inserted the images, down under the composition window, you selected >Insert >Thumbnail instead of >Insert >Full image.

>Insert >Full image results in this (which can be right-clicked and downloaded at a reasonable resolution):



While the >Insert >Thumbnail results in this (at a much lower resolution):

 

[Vagabond Heart]

Lol, Rich is our new go-to tech guy

 

[Barbara]

I learn something every day. Like for example how to insert pics

and to wear sunglasses when looking at big smileys.

 

[Andy D]

Doh! I didn’t even think I had inserted it, thanks Rich!

 

[Barbara]

Erm, it might be because I'm getting old, but I still can't read it. (Insert geriatric emoji.) Can you give us the gist of it? (And don't just say 'a very good film'.)

 

[Rich.]

Yes, it looks like even at a higher resolution the text is illegible.

 

[Andy D]

Honestly, who'd have thought attaching a file would be soooooOOOOOOO difficult?

And as if today, being Easter Sunday (happy Easter Sunday btw) and my Dad's birthday (and my Mum and Dad's wedding anniversary, although I'd forgotten that part) wasn't busy enough? What with driving two hours to see the family - only to find out within two hours of arrival that my sister had Covid - and so I've now driven another two hours swiftly back.

Ok, how about these scans? Although, I warn you, at this point they're really not going to be worth the wait. Sadly for the last few years Empires gone from writing really great long pieces to tiny ones surrounded by massive pictures. Ho-hum.

Frankly, you're lucky I don't post a link of this morning's sermon, cos it was AMAZING change-your-life-stuff with a backdrop of dawn breaking over the Sussex Downs. But I think here we frown upon such things.

Anyway, where's that chocolate?

X

 

[Hannah F]

Chocolate deserved. Just stay off the dates. And out of wicker baskets.

 

[Barbara]

@Andy D i think you secretly wanted to give us a lesson on how to create suspense. I bow to you, the master.

 

[Pamela Jo]

I

Honestly, who'd have thought attaching a file would be soooooOOOOOOO difficult?

And as if today, being Easter Sunday (happy Easter Sunday btw) and my Dad's birthday (and my Mum and Dad's wedding anniversary, although I'd forgotten that part) wasn't busy enough? What with driving two hours to see the family - only to find out within two hours of arrival that my sister had Covid - and so I've now driven another two hours swiftly back.

Ok, how about these scans? Although, I warn you, at this point they're really not going to be worth the wait. Sadly for the last few years Empires gone from writing really great long pieces to tiny ones surrounded by massive pictures. Ho-hum.

Frankly, you're lucky I don't post a link of this morning's sermon, cos it was AMAZING change-your-life-stuff with a backdrop of dawn breaking over the Sussex Downs. But I think here we frown upon such things.

Anyway, where's that chocolate?

X

I would say any writer who can conceive of and deliver a sermon that inspires at this point in human history deserves repetition. This quote from a rabbi gave me a new insight
. "I didn't really understand God until I had children. The frustration of creating beings that insist on ignoring your instructions and go off on their own tangents seemingly bent on self-destruction is now personal." Hope your sister recovers easily.

 

[Andy D]

Thanks Pamela Jo, she seems well and I’m testing negative so far!