Ronan Farrow, Juliette Lewis, Andre Holland and More on Storytelling for Modern Audiences: ‘Some People Connect on an Intellectual Level. But I Want to Be Moved’

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2025’s Sundance Film Festival saw a gathering of journalist Ronan Farrow, Audible’s Chief Content Officer Rachel Ghiazza, actors Juliette Lewis, André Holland, and Mamoudou Athie, along with EbMaster Executive Editor Brent Lang, for a panel discussion on storytelling tailored to today’s audiences. This insightful conversation, hosted by EbMaster, took place in the Cocktails and Conversations segment organized by Audible at the festival.

Farrow, who recently partnered with Audible and will present their upcoming investigative crime series titled “Not a Very Good Murderer,” emphasized the significance of in-depth storytelling and encouraged fellow creators not to let the time required to perfect a story discourage them.

Farrow stated that investing resources into stories that span multiple years is risky, but there are instances where complex projects necessitate such time and resources. It’s rare to encounter individuals who not only believe in the narrative itself, but also understand its structure.

If something requires a significant amount of time, it’s usually these situations where the potential rewards are substantial enough to justify a bold approach and substantial investment,” he explained. “Over the years, I’ve learned to seize such opportunities when they present themselves, even though they can seem daunting.

Lewis, who’s juggling two roles at Sundance with “By Design” and “Opus”, believes that the tales which resonate the deepest are those that tap into our emotions, irrespective of whether they’re conveyed via sound or images.

For me, what truly captivates is the emotional engagement with any narrative. Unlike some who connect on an intellectual plane, I yearn for feelings to surge and beliefs to waver. I’m drawn to the enigmatic, not wanting every detail neatly laid out. This desire extends beyond films; it could be a podcast, a song, or even a book – anything that stirs my emotions and keeps me guessing.

At Sundance, Holland is present not just as an actor, but also as a producer for the film “Love, Brooklyn.” When inquired about anyone who’s influenced his storytelling technique, the actor pointed to indie filmmaker Steven Soderbergh. They collaborated on the basketball-themed movie, “High Flying Bird.

Holland mentioned that he learned several topics from him, but what stood out was efficiency and community. Notably, all of his movies were produced using a consistent team, and they were made in remarkably efficient manners.”

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“In discussing the lessons Holland imparted, it’s the emphasis on efficiency and community that sticks out. It’s worth noting that all of his films are created with a recurring group of individuals, and they’re produced efficiently.

Holland went on, expressing a feeling of hope when considering the concept of community and joining forces with one another for shared endeavors. ‘Love, Brooklyn’ serves as a symbol of unity, demonstrating a group effort in creating a masterpiece.

In her role as Chief Content Officer at Audible, Ghiazza is responsible for selecting the artists and creators to partner with. She explained that this mission is a collaborative endeavor, driven by the pursuit of fresh, innovative ideas.

She expressed a desire to craft something unique, something that deviates from the ordinary, something rare and not easily found. We have the capacity to collaborate with pioneers who are venturing into uncharted territory. The flexible nature of our work allows us to invest time in nurturing ideas, helping them grow into their true potential.

Watch the full EbMaster & Audible’s Cocktails and Conversations panel in the video above.

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2025-01-26 17:48