TEDxConejo 2012- Lindsay Doran - Saving the World Vs Kissing the Girl

Lindsay Doran has worked in the movie business for more than 30 years as a studio executive and as a producer. She has served as the President and COO of United Artists Pictures, and as the President of Sydney Pollack's Mirage Productions. She currently divides her time between her producing duties and her work as "The Script Whisperer™" - anonymous consultation on high priority script development. Lindsay's first film credit was as Executive in Charge of Production on the mock-documentary "This is Spinal Tap." She later became the Executive Producer on two films directed by Sydney Pollack, "The Firm" and "Sabrina." As a Producer, her credits include "Dead Again," "Sense and Sensibility," "Nanny McPhee," "Stranger Than Fiction," and "Nanny McPhee Returns" (aka "Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang"). As an executive, Lindsay supervised dozens of films including "Pretty in Pink," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," "Planes Trains and Automobiles," "The Naked Gun," "Ghost," "The Thomas Crown Affair," "The World is Not Enough" and "Tomorrow Never Dies." She is the winner of numerous awards including the Golden Globe and the British Academy Award, both for "Sense and Sensibility." Lindsay tries to be guided by the Three Rules of Drama, found in an ancient text, as the basis for what motion picture entertainment ought to be: #1 It must be arresting and amusing to the drunk. #2 It must address the question, "How should we live?" #3 It must address the question, "How does the universe work?"
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxConejo, where x = independently organized TED event. At our TEDxConejo event, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized. For more information, visit ted.com/tedx.
For information on TEDxConejo, visit tedxconejo.com

[@markshelling8345]

Thanks Script Notes podcast

[@kevinilango7896]

Can you believe she did that whole thing without even slides to guide her own wording? This was one of the best talks I've ever watched.

[@lynnturman8157]

Those are some wonderful insights, Ms. Doran. A movie that's kind've a twist on this is THE HUSTLER. Paul Newman DOES accomplish what he wants (he beats Jackie Gleason) and yet the movie is a TRAGEDY. Why? Because he doesn't get the relationship. He loses the girl.

[@redcrest5]

Wow, the ending of Captain America: Civil War is a perfect example of this. The Russos and their writers set out to NOT write the cliched superhero movie ending with the giant battle over a city to save the world, and yet, wanted to make sure they delivered a super-high stakes final battle. They did it by doing this exactly, making it about his most important relationship (his long-lost and wrongfully persecuted best friend, Bucky). So even though he ends the movie losing basically everything (the friendship of the Avengers, the title of Captain America, and his reputation, literally becoming a fugitive from the law), it feels like a triumph because he was able to save Bucky. After hearing this talk, my positive emotional response to such a disastrous ending finally makes sense.

[@karlgan5247]

Exactly this. Because the great accomplishment wasn't about beating any bad guy, in this case - there is no villain VILLAIN, and in fact Cap A doesn't even touch that Sokovian guy who manipulated events, instead T'Challa is the one who apprehends him. The whole crux of this movie is RELATIONSHIPS, hence Civil War, hence Avenger v Avenger. There is no 'crisis' to resolve here as would be in a typical Marvel movie - the crisis is the tearing of the relationships between the Avengers.

[@peterarpesella]

Any writer/storyteller should check this out.

[@yesand]

"They just say 'I love you' over and over again." That got me teared up. Beautiful stuff. Great insight. Thank you, Lindsay.

[@HappyGlyn]

The real gem at the end of the movie, is when he says, "Where's your hat?". After being battered for 15 rounds he still notices the small things about her. Adrian is all that matters.

[@tonys32948376]

They validate each other at the end. It happens at the end of Mad Max: Fury Road too. After Furiosa is accepted back into the Citadel after defeating Immortan Joe, and she and the other women are riding the platform upwards when she sees that Max had sneaked away, because of his need to be as a lone wolf. They make eye contact and nod in mutual respect.

[@HappyGlyn]

The positive accomplishment in Rocky is him achieving the personal goal of going the 15 rounds: "Going the Distance". The positive relationship with Adrian is what made him want to set the goal in the first place, whereas before he didn't have any goals. So he does win the fight within himself, he just doesn't win the fight with Apollo, but the power of their relationship is built on self-worth and the appreciation of each other, not external possessions or accomplishments. This is one of the best TED Talks I've ever seen.

[@vanessajohn560]

Great breakdown

[@gorjc13]

It's amazing the way words and communication can, not just articulate a point, but make you feel it. This was excellent, thank you.

[@milescroberts]

Very sweet, and very wise. Thank you Ms. Doran!

[@animalhugger2077]

9:10 ... best part... made this whole thing worth watching! :)

[@MirskyMan]

This video is enjoyable and enlightening. However, the audio is way too low. I had to raise my computer's volume much higher than usual. Please, Lindsay and those involved in Conejo, use better mics next time.

[@SubhanArchived]

Wow

[@Sancarization]

👏👏♥♥

[@whatkindofblue17]

wow what an icon

[@DavidBernal]

Awesome!!

[@LaJewel]

Ignore her message at your own peril. Lindsay Doran is the new Joseph Campbell.

[@nesta6480]

The Death of Tragedy, opiates for the masses. Some of the best movies follow this format, some of the very best don't. It's a business first, can't fault it exactly, but it's limiting for increasingly intelligent audiences.

[@LaJewel]

Absolutely not. The woman's an intellectual's intellectual, and her message holds true for tough stories. It's not about business, it's about what about storytelling resonates for an audience. The business of film just happens to be about storytelling.

[@nesta6480]

LaJewel I disagree. She's not as bad an offender as others, and there is some insight here. That said, this approach is extraordinarily limiting, even in the context of traditional narrative. Also, the business of film has de-tracked from storytelling- that's the problem. The fact that she offers up Transformers as an example, in any context, is telling. If she's written any sublime narrative under her own name, I'd be surprised. She's a producer with a decent, if limiting understanding of what she's talking about- trust this as gospel at your own peril imo.

[@diegomorales8616]

Sublime equals tragic? tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TrueArtIsAngsty