Importance of Risk

E

Eximious

Well-known member
I'm currently exploring "the importance of taking chances" as a theme. I'm wondering if you guys can prime me with other good stories to explore? I'm leaning towards a meek, prudent young protagonist who learns the value of dreaming big from a "crazy uncle"-type.

Only thing that pops into my head is "City Slickers." I'm looking for ways to explore the theme with a younger protagonist (pre-workforce). Also, feel free to give me your thoughts on the importance of risk as a theme. As writers, we know a thing or two about risk.

Any ideas? I would include more of my thoughts, but I don't want to limit possible recommendations yet.
 
Any stories about someone who goes exploring across the oceans or frontiers are about risk, esp. in centuries past. Shogun. Darwin jumping onboard the HMS The Beagle. Lewis and Clark. Frontier exploration stories of Louis L'Amour often involved young protagonists heading into uncharted wilderness. Dances with Wolves on several levels. Titanic where Rose and Jack each are taking a chance at a new life in their own ways by hopping on bard the Titanic.
 
You need to think weirder. Because I some boring writer like me decided to take up base jumping, that would be a risk... but an *obvious one*. You want the idea that is not obvious...

So let's look at a base jumper - what is the risk to him or her? Is it falling in love?

- Bill
 
wcmartell said:
...So let's look at a base jumper - what is the risk to him or her? Is it falling in love? - Bill
Click to expand...

There was a movie made about base jumpers, can't remember the title, but they used base jumping skills and equipment to break into a building or bank or something like that. Wesley Snipes movie? Can not recall. But that seems like an example of combining a somewhat risky thing (base jumping) with another even riskier thing (a heist). And then what if the base jumper had to use those skills to save a love interest. And what if the hero had a fear of heights and was kidnapped into the plane of the criminals and had to overcome his fear and strap on a base jumping mini-parachute and jump out of a perfectly safe plane to save his woman? And then they both had to base jump out of a window of a tall building to elude the criminals hot on their heels, sharing the one tiny parachute? Sort of was also done in the movie Entrapment when they were in ?Malaysia.
 
Thanks for the responses. I sense that maybe instead of approaching the idea as "the importance of taking chances" it might be useful to think about it as "the fear of failure."

Thanks for the "think weirder" advice Bill. One of my old creative writing instructors used to always stress the "bar test" for writing, i.e. if your idea isn't interesting enough to capture a few seconds of attention at a busy bar, you'd best keep thinking.
 
Every great script should have the main character taking a huge risk...depending on their starting point in the story. A shy introvert saying hello to a stranger is a huge risk. Chief Brody in JAWS had to go after a killer shark in the shark's world...the water...a huge risk for a man who couldn't swim/scared of the water. It all depends on your starting world for the main character and putting them into a big risk area. Slumdog Millionaire took an uneducated kid from the street and put him on national television in a contest that requires great knowledge. Benjamin Button was a person shying away from personal contact and he was thrust into the real world. Have them forced to step into a world in which they would not go. A recovering alcoholic stepping into a bar is a huge risk. Start with your character's flaws/weaknesses and put them in the new world that will expose them. Take them way outside their comfort zone...the one place most of us don't want to go. Put the priest in Las Vegas!
 
Its the question of what is the most important inside of your protagonist caracter?! He has to have something that is larger than his own life. In JAWS it was not his fear of water it is safety of his children (not even his duty as sheriff)... Than you come to risk; not before...
Interesting it is...
 
IMO, Chance, risk, success, defeat, for me the whole idea of the Hero is about one who takes risks and succeeds. For the rest of us "not ready to be a hero right now types," the Hero becomes a symbol of hope for own ability to successfully deal with the unknown. We're fortunate, because during the movie, we get to be right there, next to the hero, as he navigates his way through the gauntlet of increasingly overwhelming negative odds toward his goal. Not only is it exciting, scary and fills us full of tension, but we learn something about taking chances. While our everyday life challenges are small in comparison to the dramatic events the cinematic hero encounters, nevertheless we too gain confidence for facing our own challenges from witnessing such acts of bravery and lucky foolishness.

I'm having a hard time trying to find a dramatic narrative that doesn't involve risk. Seems like most do whether that be chancing life and limb and confronting a Wooly Mammoth, or facing assurred death by defending oneself against an Invading Tribe, chancing unknowable powers and overcoming a Shaman's curse, chancing humiliation and surviving a new job, chancing rejection and finally finding love, chancing a dreary existence to seek fortune, fame and glory, or simply chancing self-destruction by confronting powerful opposing forces. What ever it is, it's about pursuing values (something wanted) and risking the chances of defeat.

Often stories are Moral Instructions because they inform us of what we, the audience, must do, if we are to improve and live a full life.

In short, stories with Heros are about chance, risk and pulling it together or facing defeat. In fact, the more you're able to put chance into the story, the more likely the audience will stayed glued to the screen.
 
Eximious said:
I'm currently exploring "the importance of taking chances" as a theme. I'm wondering if you guys can prime me with other good stories to explore? I'm leaning towards a meek, prudent young protagonist who learns the value of dreaming big from a "crazy uncle"-type.
Click to expand...

Yes Man is the only film I can think of about taking risks in life and getting rewarded for it. I'm not sure you will be able to get much inspiration from it though as the film was rubbish! Mind you a bad film doesn't mean a bad script right?
Also the "crazy uncle" teaching a young protagonist about dreaming reminds me of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory... could be worth a read?
Hope this helps!
 
Back to the Future

Star Wars

Ladyhawke

The Fellowship of the Ring

All stories wherein the young protagonist takes crazy-ass risks at the prompting of a crazy-uncle type mentor.
 
I wasn't sure whether we were discussing the action plot or the subplot or theme of taking chances. They are different but related. IMHO in Jaws the theme was the fight of money versus doing the right thing...security for the people of the town...including family. Close down the beaches and it could ruin the town, because they survive on tourism. So it was Brody against...I think it was the mayor who was against shutting down the beaches. Slumdog had a similar theme...money is not the most important thing...love, family, safety, faith, etc. His brother paid the price for taking the money over everything else. Scarface chose money and it cost him his life...if the main character chooses money over the other more important choices then they usually pay the price for that choice. Money and power are very often used as the evil choices against more important things as far as theme goes.
 
The more specific idea that caught my interest was the fear of risk itself. I can't believe I forgot to consider my good friend Mr. Frodo Baggins. On the other hand, something like Star Wars does have a reluctant hero in Luke, but more so due to his respect for his uncle's wishes than an inherent fear of uncertainty. Luke himself wants adventure, whereas I suppose one of my character sketches is more of like hobbit... or a conservative banker pre-financial meltdown!

Interesting discussion. It's been a pleasure reading these posts.
 
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