When we sit down to watch a movie or settle down to get stuck into a TV series we are expecting a good story.
Sometimes we’re left disappointed. The story is terrible, the plot is all wrong and we’ve lost all interest 20 minutes in. But what about those great movies and TV shows that keep us gripped?
They tell amazing stories in amazing ways. That’s what keeps us watching. So, what can we learn from them?
Learn more about storytelling by requesting a free copy of our Storyteller’s Manifesto here.
Here at All Good Tales, we love a good story and are always looking for story inspiration. We’ve picked out some top tips from TV and film that you can use when telling a story for your business.
Use visuals
When it comes to taking advice from films and TV series using visuals may seem like an obvious piece of advice. But it is important to remind businesses that using visuals in their storytelling helps resonate with your audience.
When telling stories for your business, both your brand story and in your marketing and communication efforts, video and images from your company should always be used.
Instead of writing a 2,000-word feature detailing the story of your company on your website why not shoot a video? A two-minute-long video will resonate more with your audience, they will immediately see who you are, what you stand for and what the company is about.
A good visual will help hook an audience onto your story and keeping them wanting more.
Follow the three-act structure
When it comes to storytelling every great story follows a structure.
When you think about your favourite TV series you will begin to notice that every episode follows the same structure. It is what keeps you watching and keeps us coming back from more. It is also what makes bad TV shows so entertaining. The worst reality shows have high audience figures because they follow a structure that gets people hooked.
Here at All Good Tales, we always follow the three-act structure.
You can see here that even though it may seem complicated but is in fact quite simple.
Act one is the build-up, we are introduced to our main character and their flaw (what they want or what they have to overcome). At the end of Act One, a turning point will bring you to Act Two.
In Act Two your main character will go on a journey. They will discover ways to overcome their flaw and sometimes try alternative methods before finding the right path.
By Act Three, your character will know how to overcome their flaw. They will have one final battle where they overcome their flaw and claim victory. This usually marks the end of your story.
Don’t be afraid to add emotion
Emotion is one of the most powerful tools you can use to connect with your audience.
Whether it is sadness, anger or happiness some of the best films and television shows are high quality because of their use of emotion.
This is something you can easily bring to storytelling for your business.
Maybe it’s a story about your business journey, a time when things weren’t going to plan or maybe it’s a more personal anecdote. Find the right story that envokes the emotion you want and tell it. Write a blog post, film a video or post on social. Telling an emotional tale will engage with your audience and bring them on your side.
