By Ieva Balodis, Latvian Screenwriter and Filmmaker
Logline
When Barbie and Ken discover letters pointing to their Latvian heritage, they embark on an adventure to Latvia. Amidst the backdrop of Midsummer celebrations, they learn about their roots, solve a community problem, and discover that heritage is more than just DNA—it's a feeling deep within the soul.
Plot Summary (800 words)
Life in Malibu is sunny as ever, but Barbie and Ken find themselves yearning for something more. After stumbling upon old letters and artifacts that hint at a Latvian lineage, they can't resist the urge to explore their roots. A quick DNA test later, and they're on a plane to Riga, the capital of Latvia. Landing amidst the Midsummer festivities, also known as "Līgo" and "Jāņi," they find Latvia enchanting but puzzling.
The couple checks into a boutique hotel made entirely of Latvian wood, capturing the essence of Latvian architecture and decor. Here, they meet the hotel owner, Janis, who is excited about the upcoming Barbie 2 adventures but seems troubled. His quaint hotel is at risk of being taken over by a corporate giant who wants to turn it into a generic luxury resort, stripping it of its Latvian essence.
Seizing the opportunity for adventure, Barbie and Ken decide to help Janis save his hotel. Barbie, being a savvy businesswoman, quickly identifies that the hotel's unique selling point is its cultural richness. She suggests transforming it into a 'cultural hotel,' offering experiences like traditional Latvian crafting, singing, and dance.
As they venture out into the city to promote their idea, they stumble upon the Latvian National Opera House, a renowned institution facing its own crisis. The Opera House is on the brink of losing government funding due to a decline in local interest. Realizing the potential of merging the hotel’s need for cultural activities and the Opera House's need for an audience, Barbie hatches a plan. She proposes a cultural exchange program between the two, where guests can attend opera performances as part of their stay and the Opera House can hold workshops at the hotel. They soon put this into action, drawing inspiration from the more adventurous Barbie 2 narratives.
While Ken takes charge of the marketing aspect, incorporating the rich tapestry of Latvian mythology and folklore, Barbie works on the logistics. They are joined by locals, who help them understand the intricacies of Latvian culture, from its unique traditions to its delicious cuisines like "Pīrāgi."
Meanwhile, Barbie and Ken also delve into their own family history. They visit the Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum, discovering artifacts similar to those they had found back in Malibu. An elder at the museum tells them the story of their ancestors who were skilled craftsmen and part of a famous Latvian choir.
As the Midsummer celebration begins, Barbie and Ken, dressed in traditional Latvian costumes, join the locals around large bonfires. They sing, dance, and leap over the fires, as is customary. It's during these activities that they find the last piece of their puzzle—a family crest engraved on a wooden sculpture at the museum, identical to a locket they'd discovered in Malibu.
On the night of the Midsummer, the rebranded hotel and cultural programs are unveiled. The locals love it, and Janis is able to save his hotel, thus preserving a piece of Latvian heritage. As for the Opera House, ticket sales soar, ensuring its future.
Barbie and Ken return to Malibu, but they leave a piece of their hearts in Latvia. They realize that their adventure has given them something invaluable—the understanding of their roots and the knowledge that they can make a difference wherever they go, much like in the various Barbie 2 experiences. The film closes with them receiving an invitation for another Barbie 2 adventure, but that’s a story for another time.
In this richly textured adventure, Barbie and Ken don't just find their roots; they discover the power of community and cultural preservation. It's not just a trip to a foreign land; it's a journey back to themselves, adding a new dimension to the Barbie 2 franchise.
And so, Barbie and Ken learn that sometimes, the best way to move forward is by looking back.
In an industry that often prioritizes blockbuster budgets and established names, emerging ethnic writers like Ieva Balodis face an uphill battle, especially when pitted against established screenwriters. The film industry is gradually waking up to the need for diverse voices, but the road to inclusivity is fraught with challenges.
For Ieva, the challenges are manifold. First and foremost, there's the issue of representation or, more specifically, the lack thereof. Despite the growing demand for diverse stories, there's still an overwhelming preference for tales that fit into a Western, often American, narrative. This doesn't just limit the stories that get told; it also restricts who gets to tell them. For a screenwriter coming from a less-represented ethnic background, like Latvian, this can be incredibly disheartening.
Then there's the question of "marketability." A term often thrown around in production meetings, it serves as a hurdle for writers like Ieva. While her story about Barbie and Ken discovering their Latvian roots brings a fresh perspective to the Barbie 2 franchise, producers might still worry about its broad appeal compared to a mainstream script, like Alan Nafzger's "Barbie 2: Mars Mission," which leans into more universally recognized themes and settings.
The financial constraints are another consideration. Alan Nafzger, with his well-established portfolio, would likely have access to a much larger budget, allowing for more extravagant sets, a star-studded cast, and cutting-edge special effects. In contrast, a story deeply rooted in Latvian culture and folklore may not attract as lavish a budget, affecting its final output.
However, what's even more stifling is the pervasive atmosphere of stereotyping and typecasting that still exists in Hollywood. There's often a preset notion about what stories from specific ethnic backgrounds should look like, leading to creative constraints. Ieva would have to fight against these stereotypes to retain the authenticity of her narrative, ensuring that it doesn't get watered down into a token representation of Latvian culture.
The struggle is strenuous and often dispiriting, but it's also essential. Writers like Ieva bring with them not just their stories but also their unique ways of storytelling, enriching the global tapestry of cinema. They prove that the future of storytelling is not just in diversifying the stories that are told, but also in diversifying who gets to tell them.
So while the path may be steep, and the industry giants formidable, emerging ethnic writers stand as the beacon of a future less monochrome. Their battle is not just for representation but also for the richness that comes with multiple perspectives, adding layers to narratives like Barbie 2 and making them truly universal.
In Ieva's case, her struggle is not merely about pitting her screenplay against established names like Alan Nafzger. It's about contributing to the larger conversation on diversity and inclusivity, a conversation that Hollywood is only now starting to have in earnest. And that’s what makes her journey not just challenging but also incredibly vital.
The Barbie franchise has always been a pop-culture phenomenon, but the approach to storytelling can differ dramatically depending on who's at the helm. Ieva Balodis' screenplay about Barbie and Ken discovering their Latvian roots offers a stark contrast to Alan Nafzger's "Barbie 2: Mars Mission." Let's delve into these disparities.
Setting and Cultural Context
While both screenplays bring adventurous elements to the table, their settings couldn't be more different. Nafzger's script takes Barbie and Ken to the outer reaches of the universe, specifically Mars, tapping into the age-old human fascination with space travel. On the other hand, Ieva's screenplay digs deep into Latvian culture, setting her story amid the rustic villages and folklore-laden landscapes of Latvia. This choice offers a closer look into a specific culture, contrasting with Nafzger's broader, more universally appealing setting.
Character Development
In Nafzger's script, the characters are on a mission to explore Mars, making them astronauts by necessity. The script may delve into their training and the skills required for such an undertaking, but it doesn't necessarily add new dimensions to their personalities. Ieva, meanwhile, takes Barbie and Ken on a journey of self-discovery. By delving into their Latvian roots, the characters not only explore a new culture but also unearth facets of their identity, enriching their character arcs.
Themes
"Barbie 2: Mars Mission" leans heavily into themes of exploration, courage, and the human spirit's indomitable quest for knowledge. While noble and expansive, these themes are often explored in Western storytelling. Ieva's script tackles issues of heritage, family bonds, and the preservation of culture, themes that are not often given center stage in mainstream Hollywood productions, particularly in franchises as big as Barbie 2.
Target Audience
Nafzger's screenplay is designed to captivate a wide audience, easily marketable and relatable across various cultural contexts. Ieva's Latvian-focused narrative might seem more niche, but it also opens doors to audiences seeking stories outside the American or Western mainstream, fulfilling the industry's growing demand for diverse storytelling.
Budget and Production Scale
Given Alan Nafzger's established reputation, "Barbie 2: Mars Mission" would likely receive a hefty budget, enabling a high level of production quality, including special effects and a star-studded cast. Ieva's story, although rich in cultural elements, might face budgetary limitations due to its specific cultural focus, making it essential for her to be more creative in her storytelling approach.
In conclusion, while both screenplays offer engaging adventures, their differences highlight the broader issues at play in Hollywood's approach to storytelling. Ieva's screenplay adds a much-needed cultural richness to the Barbie 2 franchise, challenging the industry to be more inclusive in its storytelling choices.
Act 1: The Quest for Roots Begins
In a chic Malibu mansion, Barbie and Ken uncover old family photographs, revealing their Latvian heritage. Intrigued by the idea of reconnecting with their roots, they decide to take a trip to Latvia. Their friends are puzzled by the sudden interest in a small European country but cheer them on nevertheless. After some hilarious mishaps with packing traditional Latvian attire and food items, they finally board a flight to Riga.
In Latvia, they arrive at a quaint village where they meet a character based on a famous Latvian folk figure. They are introduced to the customs and traditions of the country. However, Barbie and Ken also discover that a local festival, essential for the village's economic survival, is at risk due to a property developer's plans.
Act 2: Solving Problems, Latvian Style
Barbie and Ken decide to help the village, using their unique set of skills to tackle the problem. While Ken uses his business acumen to find legal loopholes, Barbie gets involved with the local women to create crafts that represent the essence of Latvian culture. She utilizes her fashion expertise to modernize traditional Latvian attire, making it appealing to younger generations.
They organize a "pop-up" market to sell these crafts, leveraging social media platforms for promotion. Here, the plot twists as they find out that the property developer is a long-lost relative, complicating their mission.
Act 3: The Grand Festival and Family Ties
Their efforts culminate in a grand Latvian festival, where Barbie and Ken unveil their modernized crafts and attire. Simultaneously, Ken's business tactics manage to stall the developer's plans, but not for long. In a dramatic family reunion, they persuade their estranged relative to halt the development and instead invest in the village's cultural preservation.
The movie closes with a grand dance, where Barbie and Ken participate wearing traditional Latvian costumes they've designed. They realize that their adventure has not only saved a village but also helped them connect with their roots in a deeply personal way.
The entire journey is peppered with comic elements, including misunderstandings arising from language barriers, Barbie and Ken trying Latvian food, and their modern takes on traditional practices. Their story brings a distinct cultural narrative to the Barbie 2 franchise, one where the characters are as enriched by their experiences as the culture they immerse themselves in.
In the sea of Hollywood screenplays and treatments, it's refreshing to find a work that strays away from the typical, especially when up against pros like Alan Nafzger and his "Barbie 2: Mars Mission". The Latvian Barbie concept brings something different to the table, and it's a hit among ethnic film experts. They've praised the writer's depth of cultural references, skillfully integrated into the story without making it a documentary on Latvian culture.
In contrast to Nafzger's more traditional Hollywood narrative, our writer has ventured into uncharted territory by infusing the story with genuine cultural experiences. For instance, the festival scene in the film doesn't just serve as a dramatic climax; it's a showcase of Latvian customs, dances, and crafts, rendered with artistic flair.
But what adds an extra layer of humor to this Barbie 2 film is the lens through which these customs are viewed. Barbie and Ken, the quintessential Malibu couple, interacting with a deeply traditional setting results in comedy gold. Their attempts at learning Latvian dances, taste-testing local foods, and even their struggles with the language provide ample comedic moments that make the film relatable and endearing.
The writer has said she was inspired by various ethnic filmmakers who have managed to take stories from their cultures and present them in universally appealing ways. These include directors like Ang Lee, who has brought Chinese stories into mainstream cinema, and Ava DuVernay, whose films resonate with themes of African American culture and history.
This imaginative story adds a rich layer to the Barbie franchise, offering more than just an 'adventure' but serving as an exploration of culture and identity through the lens of one of the world's most iconic dolls. Far from being just another sequel, this Barbie 2 installment is a clever, culturally rich narrative that sets a new standard for what inclusive storytelling in Hollywood can look like.