Elements of Storytelling
FOCUS on ideas, voices and/or people have not had their story told?
- Ask a central question
- Ask yourself “why” five times
- What five other questions would audiences want answered?
- Look for a microcosm (a smaller story)
- Find a POV
- Sketch a story map
CENTRAL COMPELLING CHARACTERS
- Search for motivation
- Capture emotion
- (Although) Keep your distance
- Maintain objectivity
- Find compelling action
CONFLICT
- Another person
- Society
- Technology
- Internal
SURPRISES
- Stunning visuals
- Unexpected sounds
- Poetic writing
- CCCs themselves
PACING
- Mix it up
- Weave in natural sound
- Split sound bites
- Let content determine pacing
GOOD AUDIO
- Keep it real: at least one official and one ordinary person
- Audio compliments visuals
- Silence and natural sound