A post on Industrial Scripts examines James Cameron’s concept of the “third level of storytelling” and how he reaches that in Avatar: The Way of Water.
According to Cameron, this third level taps into the subconscious mind and beyond, connecting with our innermost desires so that the things we long for come to life on screen.
The first level of storytelling is surface: character, conflict, and resolution. “This level is important because if you do not do a good job of creating that deep connection with the audience, they will not be willing to go into the deeper levels with you,” the article says. The second level is theme, or what you’re trying to say. “Connecting to the deeper truth is what allows you to learn about your story and characters,” the article notes.
Cameron says at level three, you begin to tap into ideas that words cannot express. To create his sequel, Cameron wanted to identify and understand why the first resonated with audiences. He discussed this process during a recent podcast interview. “There was a level that was dreamlike that you couldn’t really express in a sentence,” he said. “It was just a dreamlike sense of a yearning — a yearning to be there experiencing that thing, being there in a place that was safe and where you wanted to be — whether that was flying, that sense of freedom…exhilaration, accomplishment.” Cameron rejected several script drafts that didn’t create a sense of “dreaming with your eyes wide open.”
By tapping into his audience’s sense of wonder and yearning, Cameron could convey his beliefs about the importance of protecting our environment without forgoing his need to entertain.
