Le Storytelling

graphic by Marc C. Scott

The French have discovered a new tool which is proving very effective in communications, whether related to politics, marketing or corporate communications. They call it ... "Le Storytelling".
http://www.rezonance.ch/rezo/classes/ft-first-tuesday/geneve/20101102/one-community?page_num=0#programme
Translation of the introduction to the conference: "Humans have always told stories. The Anglo-Saxons, aces of storytelling, have realized that the narrative is a powerful communication tool. It's the best means to remember a message. Telling a story helps to seduce, convince and stimulate an audience, whether addressing voters, clients and collaborators. Raising emotions, stories reach reason through the heart. A hero is worth a thousand statistics!"

We'll try not to be smug, but we've been saying so for years!

graphic by Marc C. Scott

What is Storytelling Without Relationships?
http://bit.ly/ddC7Cu
"As technology provides us with more and more ways to tell stories, we would be wise to ask ourselves the extent to which any given storytelling medium enables us to preserve relationships"
In this interesting piece by Dr. Kathy Hansen, PhD, the specific role of connections and relationships in storytelling are examined. She first looks at a publication from Mark Oppenner called 'Different Ways of Remembering: The Example of Storytelling' (http://bit.ly/dnMPyN), who suggests that storytelling not only involves the physical presence of the audience and storyteller, but also a relationship that is formed between the two parties. Hansen also analyzes 'Storytelling As a Connective Tissue' (http://bit.ly/9PnBaU), where Laura Packer uses a different angle of seeing storytelling as the tool that shapes individuals as the hear and repeat stories.

Storytelling: It's Role in Information Visualization
http://bit.ly/9bvcpz
In this paper based on the works of Thomas, Gershon, and Ward, the Wojtkowski's explore the use of storytelling to support information visualization. They suggest that the development of technology and computers over recent years has helped to create new media and methods which can be used to deliver information in a fashion similar to storytelling. They argue that designers in these areas of technology still use paper-based modalities as replicas for their new media ones.

Telling the American Story
http://bit.ly/9uVFoq
In this 'structural and cultural analysis of conversational storytelling,' Livia Polanyi asserts that stories reflect culture, and thus, American stories reflect American culture. Her book provides thoughtful insight into many features of conversational stories that have either been put aside or omitted from formal analysis in this area of study. She also examines the structure of autobiographical stories, specifically the storytellers own evaluation of the events he or she is describing. The later chapters move to examine specific stories of American culture, from which Polanyi draws broad cultural assumptions.

Mastering the Discipline of Business Narrative
http://bit.ly/9HvzYk
Former world bank executive and master storyteller Stephen Denning's work looks at storytelling with a specific focus on it's role within the business environment. He is interested in expressing how important the skill of storytelling is for leaders, particularly in businesses. Most businesses, however, need assistance in implementing these narrative skills to effectively inspire and guide their organization. Also check out Denning's book, 'The Leader's Guide to Storytelling' (http://bit.ly/bzcuZr).

In French:

http://www.paperblog.fr/1850451/enquete-le-storytelling-en-entreprise/

a very interesting article about communication tools


With contributions by Andrew Chase

Gleaning

Helga, by Andrew Wyeth

In our world of technology we are exposed to a massive amount of information. Sometimes a voice pierces the noise, a message, a statement. Two interviews did it for me this week.

“The difference between me and a lot of painters is that I have to have a personal contact with my models. I don’t mean a sexual love, I mean real love….I have to fall in love with [my models]—hell, I do much the same with a tree or a dog. I have to become enamored. Smitten. That’s what happened when I saw Helga walking up to the Kuerners’ lane. She was this amazing, crushing blond.”
Andrew Wyeth

This quote from an interview with Andrew Wyeth echoes the way I feel about my approach to work. I hadn't realized until I read it, but that's exactly how I function, I need to fall in love with the subject. Whether it's a student aspiring to open a non profit or a CEO excited about redefining the brand of his/her company, I tend to feel completely smitten, and strives for it to translate in the final product. That's my process, that's who I am.

An interview on NPR with Tina Brown also caught my attention.

http://n.pr/chwbf4

"I've never been one who kissed off the world of print"

In a marriage of old media and new media, Tina Brown announced last week that her online 'The Daily Beast' will merge with the printed magazine 'Newsweek.' Brown will take over editing duties of both publications, making her the first female editor of the magazine which was first published in 1933. The two entities will be combined to form the Newsweek Daily Beast Company.

This is a landmark event given the struggles of the magazine industry in recent years. Brown and the 'Beast' team look to incorporate their experience in online journalism into the magazine world, which she says allows for "a different kind of narrative rhythm. In a magazine you can be more reflective." says Brown."

As she has worked extensively in both media, really interesting to hear what she has to say about the future of print vs web.. Twenty years ago, it was predicted that paper would disappear from the office in a matter of years. While it's really starting to happen now, we haven't gotten quite rid of our filing cabinets at the office yet! Many businesses are wondering whether the actual world will be completely replaced by a virtual one. Will people stop buying their bottle of wine from the local store to order exclusively online? Will they watch 40 second content on their mobiles rather than sit in a theater for two hours ? Will they commute or telecommute? Will they visit their doctor's office or will the doctor examine them through web consultation tools? Tina Brown says: both. I tend to agree with her.

An article with a more technical approach about the merge: http://mashable.com/2010/11/15/newsweek-com-tumblr/

One of our favorite actors, Lisa Eichhorn, honored at the Reading Film Festival

Lisa Eichhorn in Yanks

The Berks Arts Council with the Greater Reading Film Festival are celebrating "Women in Film" in this year's edition of the festival. What better choice than Lisa Eichhorn, who was born in Reading and went on to a distinguished acting and teaching career? After studying in Oxford where legend has that she supported herself by gambling on races, she auditioned for the role of a young Northern English woman in Yanks, a film by John Schlesinger. Her acting and accent were so convincing that the famed director selected her even after she revealed she was not English, but an American. She later appeared in the Merchant/Ivory production The Europeans.  Her role in Ivan Passer's Cutter's Way brought her great critical acclaim. In this powerful drama, she plays John Heard's depressive wife while he's an embittered crippled veteran.

Lisa in A Modern Affair by Vern Oakley

We might be biased, but our favorite Lisa Eichhorn movie has to be A Modern Affair. She plays Grace Rhodes, a professional woman who hears her biological clock ticking and decides to resort to a sperm bank. Curious about her donor, known only as "#247," Grace tracks down Peter Kessler, played by Stanley Tucci, a handsome photographer who is skirting any kind of commitment. When Grace and Peter finally meet, they begin the journey down the rocky road to parenthood and possibly from there to love. Lisa understands perfectly the balance a romantic comedy requires, between reflective moments and more comedic or joyous episodes. The film is a natural fit for this year’s festival theme as Lisa’s character Grace Rhodes is a strong female lead in a film exploring the dynamics of modern sex relations.

A Modern Affair will screen this Saturday Nov. 13 2010 at 7 p.m., followed by a Q&A panel. …Around, a film produced by Lisa Eichhorn and directed by David Spaltro, will screen the following day on Sunday Nov. 14 at 3 p.m.


For more information about the festival, go to their website at http://www.berksmoviemadness.com

In Prague, is illusion everything?

View of Prague at dusk

I make a commitment to go to the IQ (International Quorum of Motion Pictures Producers) conference every year. My wife Mary-Jo was able to join me this year. She actually got to see quite a bit of Prague while we were in meetings and presentations practically every day from 7am until 12pm. While the use of Internet, iPhone, and webcam helps to some extent. spending one week away from business poses a real challenge when we have several projects at different stages of completion. At times it seems like a lunatic idea. Once at the conference, I realize how much it has to offer, and how belonging to the organization has helped me run Tribe over the years. The theme this year was "Illusion is everything". Pretty creative! The conference had a definite European flavor, with a lot of focus on style and techniques. Some of the issues presented at the conference are more business oriented - the 2007 issue of the conference was hosted here by Tribe, its theme: Show me the money! This year IQ members had the opportunity to present their work to the whole association, whether video clips, powerpoint presentations or any other creative format. I screened a pilot for a TV show entitled "The Call", which takes an unusual look at the spiritual side of the world. We will introduce it soon on our News blog, expect to be surprised and entertained.

Photo by Thom Gonyeau

The viewing of presentations from all over the world is compelling. It reminds us of our primary role: storytelling. The variety of creative solutions is inspiring. Mind boggling. Saga Films, the IQ member in Iceland, produces hundreds of hours of TV and commercials a year. An awesome output for such a small country. And the quality of the productions drives us all to do better and come back with even better products next year. I always return from the IQ Conference with a satchel full of ideas, new outlooks, creative solutions.

Tribe and IQ have some important news to announce for 2011, more about that in our next communications.

Enjoying a break between presentations: Mary-Jo & Vern Oakley