Information Flow Awareness

Most Writers Don’t See or Understand Information Flow…

It is the advanced skill of getting a reader the information they need a fraction of a second before they need it in a story. You can’t do this with the front part of your brain. Only creative voice can pull this off when left alone.

Right now, Kris and I have watched the 2001 version of Ocean’s 11 and now we are watching it again while talking about it for the Kris and Dean show. After watching the movie a dozen times, studying it this last week, and now going over it again slowly, the movie has three and sometimes more major information flow levels happening.

First there is the basic level of the plot and all the characters moving around for the theft. The writers give us how they are going to do the heist, then give it again, and again and then again. All in different and interesting ways to make sure we viewers know at any moment what is happening. The writers and director take no chances that the viewers don’t know what they want the viewers to know.

And everything in the movie is a con, which has a side level of information flow.

Then there is the information flow about the relationships, both between the two lead characters and the Julia Roberts character. It is also a big con. And on that level the con going on against the casino owner. Ocean is conning him as well as robbing him.

Then on the really deep level, the information flow is on professional gambling. The writers and director explain the entire movie on that level in a poker game right at the start. The entire movie is a game between Ocean and the casino owner and the stakes are Julia Roberts.

Everything is expressed in gambling terms basic viewers can understand on the gambling level, but most viewers don’t even see it. That also is a second level that makes the movie feel good and right and makes clear the thieves are the good guys you should root for.

But that third level makes it a gambling movie all the way. Most viewers will get flashes of it, hints of it. To most viewers, it is a background flavor but actually it is the entire structure and bones of the movie. Wow, as a former professional gambler, the writers did not miss a beat with almost every scene and clearly had professional gambling advice. Even the stupid truck race had a clear point on the first, second, and third level.

Stunning movie for information flow. Watch Ocean’s 11 over and over to see what a masterpiece it is.

And to learn information flow.

The Kris and Dean Show Does Ocean’s 11 is on WMG Teachable.