LOOKING DEEPER INTO A GHOST STORY

by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) A24 Films has continued to expand the boundaries of what is possible in filmmaking. Their latest project, A Ghost Story, takes chances in ways that have not been seen… Continue reading →

A GHOST STORY looks at the possibility of something more

Is there life after death? What happens to our bodies and spirits when we die? Will we be able to see the world we leave behind? What will happen to our family and… Continue reading →

Rules Don’t Apply For Warren Beatty

By John Bucher (@johnkbucher) I had the opportunity to screen RULES DON’T APPLY with legendary filmmaker Warren Beatty recently. Here were three story lessons I took away from our talk afterwards. 1) Character… Continue reading →

GELASON: The Gift of Suffering

  By John Bucher (@johnkbucher) Steve Gleason offers you a gift in the new documentary that bears his name. He offers access to the most intimate parts of his difficult journey. He offers… Continue reading →

Collective Connections: A Barbershop For Everyone

By John Bucher (@johnkbucher) There remain a few human connections we all share in our ever-changing journey of cultural and technological advancement. We all eat. We all drink. We all sleep. We all… Continue reading →

In Defense of Eagles: The Necessity of Stories That Inspire

By John Bucher (@johnkbucher) It’s sad and shocking to me how certain types of stories get branded with pop culture terms that render them ineffective. “Inspirational” will keep certain film goers away from… Continue reading →

ANCIENT IDEAS, AMBITION, AND OUR FINEST HOURS

By John Bucher @(johnkbucher) There are two prevalent themes floating through the cinematic journey explored in The Finest Hours. Both are ancient ideas that remain as relevant today as when they were first… Continue reading →

THE REVENANT and the Myth of Redemptive Violence

by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) Walter Wink coined the phrase “the myth of redemptive violence” in his 1999 book, The Powers That Be. The idea behind the myth is that the only way one… Continue reading →

The Uncommon Conflict of A Man Named Common

            “James Bevel wasn’t perfect. Martin Luther King wasn’t perfect. That’s what I loved about getting to experience this film. You got to see the human beings.” Common could… Continue reading →

LEARNING TO BE DISAGREEABLE

I grew up afraid of people that disagreed with me. I think I learned to do that in church. The standard reaction to those we disagreed with was avoidance. I remember learning that… Continue reading →