This is the presentation for a workshop done at Bilder Nordic School of Photography in advanced storytelling. The aim is to teach the difference between making narratives that moves the world, instead of just social media updates. The presentation also includes assignments done with the Duckling Documentary App: https://bit.ly/getduckling

1. THE BIG WHY
TELLING STORIES

2. OBJECTIVE REALITY

3. SUBJECTIVE REALITY

4. INTERSUBJECTIVE REALITY

5. REALITY = STORIES

6. EVOLUTION = THE STORIES WE CHOOSE

11. DEMO

12. MICRO
DOCUMENTARY
ASSIGNMENT

13. • A PROJECT YOU WORKED ON IN THE PAST
• A BOOK, MOVIE ETC THAT INSPIRES YOU
• A PERSON THAT EXPIRES YOU

14. • INTRO CARD WITH TITLE
• 5-10 PHOTOS OR VIDEO CLIPS
• MAKE A CAPTION (CAN BE AUDIO)

15. TAG IT WITH:
“BILDER”
“F02"
“STORYTELLING”
+YOUR TOPIC FX. “ROBOTS”

16. WHAT IS A
NARRATIVE?
A BIT OF THEORY

17. An account of connected events

18. Beginning, middle and end

19. The Hollywood Model
TEASER ELABORATION P-O-N-R ESCALATION CLIMAX RESOLUTION
Time
Excitement

20. Most stories or plot
lines follow the same
basic pattern or path.
There are 5 steps:
TODOROW’S
BASIC PATH

21. 1. Equilibrium
Everyone are content, and
things are in a normal state.
Protests at Standing Rock, North Dakota. By Larry Towell

22. 2. Disruption
An outside force introduces
problems and breaks the happiness.
A pipeline is planned to travel under the Missouri River,
the primary water source for the Standing Rock Sioux.

23. 3. Realization
Everyone realises that there is
a problem and chaos kicks in.
Protesters during a prayer ceremony at a roadblock
in Standing Rock, North Dakota, on Nov. 18, 2016.

24. 4. Restored order
Central characters works
to solve the problem.
Waiting in the camp while president Obama is
working to halt the planned pipeline.

25. 5. Equilibrium again
The problem is solved and
normality can resume again.
Sweetgrass is a sacred plant for many Native Americans.

26. PROPP’S BASIC
CHARACTERS
Characters have a
narrative function.
They provide structure
for the content. There
are 7 basic characters:

27. 7 Basic characters
1 The villain
2 The dispatcher (often the princess father)
3 The helper (often a magical entry)
4 The princess (or price)
5 The donor (usually gives hero a magical object after a test)
6 The hero
7 The false hero (takes credit for hero’s actions)

28. BOOKER’S
BASIC PLOTS
Almost all stories are
based on one of the
7 basic plots:

29. 1. Overcoming the monster
The protagonist sets out to defeat an
antagonistic force (often evil) which threatens
the protagonist or protagonist's homeland.
• Robert Capa: D-Day
• Lord of the Rings

30. 2. Rags to riches
The poor protagonist acquires things such as
power, wealth, and a mate, before losing it all
and gaining it back upon growing as a person.
• Philip Jones Griffiths: Vietnam Inc.
• Pretty Woman

31. 3. The quest
The protagonist and some
companions set out to acquire
an important object or to get to
a location, facing many
obstacles and temptations.
• Alex Webb: Crossings
• O Brother, Where Art Thou

32. 4. Voyage and return
Protagonist goes to a strange
land and, after overcoming the
threats it poses to him or her,
returns with experience.
• Meiselas: Pandoras Box
• Finding Nemo

33. 5. Comedy
A dramatic work in which the central motif is the
triumph over adverse circumstance, resulting in a
successful or happy conclusion. Booker makes sure
to stress that comedy is more than humor. It refers
to a pattern where the conflict becomes more and
more confusing.
• Thomas Dworzak: Taliban
• Four Weddings and a Funeral

34. 6. Tragedy
The protagonist is a hero with one
major character flaw or great
mistake which is ultimately their
undoing. Their unfortunate end
evokes pity at their folly and the fall
of a fundamentally 'good' character.
• Fusco: Funeral Train
• Breaking Bad

35. 7. Rebirth
During the course of the story, an
important event forces the main
character to change their ways,
often making them a better person.
• Salgado: Genesis
• Beauty And The Beast

37. Throughline

38. Why your story matter?

39. Get personal

40. Avoid being tribal

41. From issue to idea

42. Use examples and metaphors

43. A DENT IN THE
UNIVERSE
COLLABORATE DOCUMENTARY

44. Stories about people, companies
and products that are changing
the way we see the world.

45. • Title of story in max 10 words
• Why your story matters
• Why are you passionate about this story
• The main character and why you emphasize
• What are the key events
• How will you make it personal
• Tags: BILDER F02 STORYTELLING SYNOPSIS
ASSIGNMENT: MULTIMEDIA SYNOPSIS

46. BJARKE:
+4520978596
B@STORYFRIEND.CO
FACEBOOK: “BJARKE CALVIN”
TWITTER: @BJARKECALVIN