I don't think one avoid being manipulative in any form of *mainstream* storytelling because it's very essence is mass manipulation. What you can do is – 

(A)

#mainstream #hollywood

a) Stick with arthouse / highbrow storytelling and seek genuine enlightenment through creativity, sacrificing popularity and profit;

or –

(B)

#arthouse #creativity

b) Within the mainstream, be so subtle in manipulating your audience that they don't feel being manipulated.

Which means "emulating arthouse within mainstream".

(C)

#highbrow #screenwriter

The latter method involves deliberately triggering wider and more specific range of emotions than an average, crude, token "lizard brain" emotions purged by a typical blockbuster.

(D: End of thread.)

#blockbuster #emotions