The Art of Storytelling
The art of storytelling is about making your stories REMARKABLE and MEMORABLE. Remarkable is when something out of the ordinary happens. Memorable is when the emotions are stirred.
Great storytelling takes us on an emotional rollercoaster, building up to emotional peaks, and then dropping us down again and again. It's a storytelling arc that's used in many Hollywood movies.
Emerging story arcs:
Emerging story arcs build emotion earlier for audiences with short attention spans and scroll happy thumbs.
How to bring the drama up front? Follow our 3 simple tips.
Create Conflict – Stories are about conflict
Somebody wants something and they can’t get it.
If the character has a want and easily gets it there is no conflict and therefore no story.
Make sure there’s an obstacle or challenge in the way of your character.
Character + Want + Obstacle = Resolve
Disrupt the norm – Stories are about disruption
Normal sets the scene of life with it's regular patterns
Events disrupt the normal – internal or external, dramatic or melodramatic
A new normal emerges – a life that has been improved
Normal + Disruption + Change = Resolve
Delay expectations – Storytelling is story-delaying
Allow space for the audience to think, hope, visualise
Don't fill the time – use the time.
It's not so much what you say – but how you say it
Message + Space + Think = Resolve
Film techniques:
Here's some filmatic tips and tricks we use to bring our storytelling to life ensuring that it’s engaging for our audiences.
Framing – Frame subjects tight
We are often viewing film and animations on our mobiles, laptops or screens. Long cinematic wide shots maybe best for cinema
Pace – Pace the film quickly
Shorter faster cuts adds drama and excitement
Longer slower cuts allows time to connect with the subject.
Supers – Add unmissable supers
Sound on or off, the supers enhances the message
Pushes home the key messages.
Tell the viewer where to focus attention
Contrast – design with high contrasting colors
Small screens need bigger contrast
Compose – let the music carry their emotions
Compose for the story arc, building emotions.
To put it all together:
- Find authentic stories
- Choose the narrative
- Hire a great team
