Wes Anderson and the role of the writer in their own story
More important than anything else, a story must be told.
That’s what makes it a story.
It follows that whomever tells the tale will have a role in shaping it.
One story told by two people will have similarities, and differences.
It is an inevitable necessity that the story teller be a part of their tale.
Regardless of how hard they may try to disguise the fact, or not, the writer is always present in their own story.
They cannot fully omit themselves from their work.
There is as much of me in these posts as there is any person, place or subject matter that I write about.
Subsequently, there is as much J.K. Rowling in Harry Potter as the titular character himself.
J.R.R. Tolkein is in Gandalf, as George Lucas is in Yoda.
They are there, although they rather wish that you didn’t notice them.
The focus, of course, should be on the story. The characters. The people.
That’s what we read for, yes?
What compels me to bring up this idea of the writers role in their own story, and their constant struggle with that fact, is the portrayal of writers in Wes Anderson’s newest film, The French Dispatch.
All the men and women tell their tale in their specific and unique way.
And they are all fabulous at it.
The writing is superb.
It is concise.
It is descriptive.
And it is honest.
It is in all manner of account, anything I could ever hope to achieve.
So don’t get too caught up in what you are about to read.
Just go see the movie.
If you haven’t left yet, then ask yourself: If you do write, whom do you write for?
The first time I asked myself this question is when I read Stephen King’s book, aptly titled, On Writing.
In it, he describes an individual, unnamed of course (one mustn't ruin the mystique) he calls Ideal Reader.
This person, is whom he writes his stories for. When writing he imagines this person reading. And that is how he begins crafting his tale. With this Ideal Reader in his mind.
Now, each writer in this Wes Anderson story tells their tale to a particular kind of audience.
For example, one tells it like she is giving a grand presentation.
Another, imagines himself being interviewed by a talk show host.
One is in deep conversation with 2 specific individuals.
The other, while he is commuting on his bicycle, or a train, or other manners of transportation.
The point is that these writers have an audience in mind as they tell their story.
And they also have an ideal image of what they look like while they tell it.
Whether standing proud in a fine dress on a spotlit stage.
Sitting in a debonair suit, looking slightly abashed at his own genius.
Giving sage council as a wise, understanding elder.
Or chopping it up with the everyday man about town.
These writers write stories about other people, but they are writing about themselves.
They betray themselves, through their stories.
Though they always try and avoid it, they can’t seem to get out of the way of their own story.
Somewhere, along each of their storylines, they run into themselves.
Their own characters put them to task, and force tough questions upon them.
And here, the writers reveals themselves.
Their motivations. Their desire. Their pain. The reason they crafted the tale.
It is a naked (literal in one case), uncomfortable moment for them on the screen.
It is a beautiful struggle: The writers goal to keep themselves hidden in their own story, whilst being unable to do so.
They simply can’t help themselves.
And it is exactly this dynamic that has possessed me to write this post.
I’ve thought long and hard since last night about this movie. I can’t seem to get it out of my mind.
Now as I write I ask myself: Whom am I writing for?
What do I hope I sound like when I tell it? What do you, dear reader, think I look like?
Why do I want to tell this story?
Today, it’s because I want you to go and see The French Dispatch.
I hope you see me on a stool, tilted backwards so the front legs hang in the air, water bottle in my hand, frown on my lip, while it’s raining outside.
I hope I sound like Jeffrey Wright.
I hope you hear what I’m trying to say.
