How to Find Your Story!

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The climax of my Hollywood producing career was being showrunner for a television documentary show. In that climactic gig, I wore several heavy hats. Producer, director, writer. But my most important job was to find the story. Literally. I had to find kids who had created a big success in their young lives. And then I had to -- most vital of all – find the story in their story. What was the best story?

The show had a rule. Never talk to the kids before production day. Why? Because they were under the age of 18 so it was safer that an adult producer never interacted alone with a child. Good common sense and protection for all. When we were shooting the kid in the field, there would always be a parent present.

The rule once bit me.

I did my research of this particular story, of course, but none directly with the talent. The kid hero in this story was a one-armed soccer player having a rocketing career at a famous club. We – me and two crew – rolled up at the assigned location with a three hour window to shoot B-roll and the stand up and sit down interviews. My job was to get on tape everything we needed to produce and cut this kid’s story. As the off-camera interviewer, it was fundamental I get the bites that would tell the story.

We did the B-roll first, to relax the kid. Not that he needed it. He was a cool kid. Intelligent and confident. Ready to talk and to show.

We started the interview, my questions beaming up at me from my clip board. My story premise was clear in my mind -- that it was a big challenge and struggle for this kid with only one arm to become a star soccer player. Now he would tell me about all his challenges and skills to overcome these problems.

He told me he had no problems being a soccer player with one arm.

FUCK!

I stood there as calm as I could muster. My jaw in the dirt. My story. My prep. All my thinking and most of my questions were out the window. And no time to research and come back for a pickup. What story was I going to find and shoot? Now!

Then it hit me.

The story was that he never believed he had a disability. It was totally natural for him to live life and play soccer with one arm and to succeed at a very high level. He didn’t have a disability. That was the story!

I dived in this new story direction and got the bites of how this boy thought about himself and his life. We captured his totally positive attitude about what most of us would think was a big problem.

A great kid. It turned out to be an inspiring story. Attitude is king!

What’s the Lesson Here?

Every storyteller must find the story in his or her story. The best story.

Every story has possibilities of what is the core of that story. You have watched I’m sure many films and TV shows and exclaimed, “Why did they go in that direction? Why make that the story or theme or main element or focus of this story?” That’s a key reason many film and television stories fail.

Solution

I got lucky that day with the soccer kid. My subconscious very quickly spat out the solution to my problem. After I heard his answer and desperately ordered myself to find the story, it popped up. Most times that is not how it is going to happen. But a trained mind is a prepared mind.

Great story pros -- and that’s why they are legendary story pros -- such as producers Zanuck, Selznick, DeMille, and Spielberg -- have a great story gut. A story radar that finds the best story in their story. (Read this article about story sense and great producers.)

The rest of us have to work hard to find the story. For example, I’m working on a new World War Two POW story. I had to deeply research and struggle to find the key theme and story angle to make this story different and new.

Or consider the classic film Casablanca. Its story is not primarily refugees and villains hunting for transit papers during World War Two. The real story is a love triangle of three good people torn between love and a cause. This love triangle and the related big choices these characters must make is what lifts Casablanca to be a classic film. The producer and writers of this film found the best story in the story.

Actionable Creative Takeaway

To help you find your best story ask yourself these questions:

Questions to Ask

1) What is the purpose of my story?

2) What is the theme of this story?

3) What is a new story angle in this story?

4) What makes this story different?

5) What is the big value conflict in this story that will resonate most with an audience?

6) What is the huge personal risk, stake, choice in this story?

7) What goal, arc, or meaning does a lead character have that people will empathize with?

8) What is the deep personal meaning in these events?

Chew on that!

It is difficult to find the most original, dramatic, and resonant story within your story. Much will depend on your sense of drama, your value set, your skill and experience as a story person. Most stories fail because the best story was not found. With more thought, struggle, and hard work you can dig out and develop the killer story in your story.

If you need support to find your story, reply STORY.

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