Every artist has an inspiration, a theme for their work. Filmmakers often create lists of films that have inspired them. These films usually exemplify mechanisms of successful storytelling. For many creative types, these inspiring movies serve as a place for reflection, which in turn can help to shape methods or mechanisms. Reflecting on what inspires us can help us get over creative blocks. Gwyneth Paltrow put together a helpful and interesting list in an article on Goop.com

The message is the most important thing in storytelling. If you are an advertiser, you grab and retain an audience that your client or product speaks to. If you are a politician, your messages captivate and hold the votes of the people who hear your message. If you are a scientist, explaining your discovery and what it means for other discoveries, is key to furthering your research. Most of the time, those who receive the messages, the audience, often have a skewed idea of wh