The Good

storyteller

How to make storytellingeffective and useful forspreading knowledge

by MATTIA TEMPONI

Turin | October the 1th, 2012

About me #1

Mattia Temponi

Director/screenwriter @ Cinefonie

Cunsultant professor in communication and social-media-strategies

Graduated in theoretical philosophy @ Turin University

Former Avogadro's student

Turin | October the 1th, 2012

About me#2 Doesn't matter how serious an adult

looks like, very likely he did something stupid in his youth, like wearing an hawaiian shirt

Turin | October the 1th, 2012

What this presentation

is about

Since your task is to produce a short video (1 min. lenght) on an enviromental subject, this presentation will provides you:

• Some advice on what makes a short video effective – with examples

• Some advice on the basic stages of video production

• Some advice on how to manage teamworking

Turin | October the 1th, 2012

What this presentation

isn't about

Since your task isn't to produce a full length award winning motion picture, this presentation won't provide you:

• Any advice on cinematic technique or languages

• Any tutorial about editing programs or post-production software

• Any money – just to make it clear!

Turin | October the 1th, 2012

What you have to do

For the end of the week you'll have to present us what's usually called a Rough Cut

– “Rough cut” isn't the final version of your project, it's “the idea” in its early stages of development

– In order to complete your task, you'll have to answer to the following questions:

» What your idea is about?

» Why did you choose this particular subject?

» How do you want to deliver it?

Turin | October the 1th, 2012

storytelling

Storytelling is the practice throw someone organizes a sequence of events (fictional or not)

Some philosophers of language say there's no way to escape from storytelling process; humans always organize their experience in a narrative framework

Facebook timeline

Turin | October the 1th, 2012

Telling stories and

spreading knowledge

Turin | October the 1th, 2012

How do we learn to use

the framework?

Turin | October the 1th, 2012

What makes a storyteller

a good one?

The Star Wars kid

Turin | October the 1th, 2012

The empty page

In most cases, when you're trying to find something to say...

...you have too much ideas, or...

...you have no idea at all!

Turin | October the 1th, 2012

brainstorm

Finding a subject is always hard

Here's some advice to help you:

• Be aware: make sure everyone knows the theme you've to deal with

• Be simple: remember that every idea is more complex than it appears

• Be open to changes: especially when it touch one of your ideas

• Be practical: once a decision has being taken, show your commitment to it

Turin | October the 1th, 2012

The team work

First of all, ask to yourself and answer – honestly – : am I a leader or a follower?

Then...

...if you're a leader, make a step back

...if you're a follower, make a step forward

Turin | October the 1th, 2012

How simple is simple“ ”

Most of the movies are about a simple idea, a universal theme the viewer can identify with

– Try to explain your idea in four lines; if it works, than...

– ...look for a logline, a simple sentence that shows to your listener what the core theme of your project is about

– Once you have all the ingredients, stay faithful to the recipe!

Turin | October the 1th, 2012

Do the benchmark

So you got an extraordinary idea. Glad for you but, very likely, someone already got it.

Canvas Bags by Tim Minchin

Turin | October the 1th, 2012

Be deeply aware of

what your chance are

Jurassic Park

– It's not about knowing your limit, it's about exploiting your potential

– Improvisation is ok, but planning works better

– Pre-visualize your project

Turin | October the 1th, 2012

Your most powerful

tool

Prop. 8: the Musical

Turin | October the 1th, 2012

Don't forget fair play

If you stand for a cause, don't forget:

• To treat your opponent with respect: if you tease him, never cross the line of the fair-play

• That your goal is to convince your audience, not to make them feel guilty

• Use irony for everyone... included yourself

• Look for a positive conclusion: show to your audience a possible solution and make everyone part of it

Turin | October the 1th, 2012

recap

What your idea is about?

Be simple, you don't have to produce the “human knowledge compendium”

Why did you choose this particular subject?

Express in a logline the core theme of your idea in order to tell us why it's important to you

How do you want to deliver it?

Manage the teamwork and don't forget irony (with fair-play)

Turin | October the 1th, 2012

Final advice

Have fun

Learn something from someone

Teach something to someone

Look for an hawaiian shirt

Turin | October the 1th, 2012

Good luck andThanks for your

attention