You Are a Storyteller

On this week’s episode, Brian and Jesse discuss feedback and dive into questions like, "How do you give good feedback?" and "How do you sift through feedback you've received?".

This program is produced in Seattle, WA by Belief Agency.

As a storyteller, how should you be measuring and defining success? On this week's episode, Brian and Jesse dive into what it truly means to succeed.

You Are A Storyteller is produced in Seattle, WA by Belief Agency.

On this week's episode, we conclude our two-part series discussing Brian's influences and the importance of mentorship.

In the first of a special two-part series, Brian McDonald and Jesse Bryan talk about Brian's influences - who they are, what he learned from them, and what you can learn from them, too.

In this week's episode of You Are A Storyteller, Brian McDonald and Jesse Bryan talk about how to get unstuck. When you know how to get unstuck, you can avoid some of the stress and anxiety that comes from working under tight deadlines and deliver great stories on time.

Behind every moment of triumph, there’s a story of struggle. For Brian McDonald, that story has been 33 years—and a lot of struggle—in the making. In this week’s episode, Brian talks about the release of his new graphic novel, “Old Souls,” and the journey from first word to launch.

In this week’s episode, we discuss how understanding the power of simplicity allows you to make creative decisions that better serve your story.

Belief Agency founder and executive creative director Jesse Bryan and chief storyteller Brian McDonald discuss the importance of simplicity in storytelling.

Belief Agency is a full-service marketing and production agency in Seattle, WA. We build brands with conviction.

Show notes:

Brian’s Invisible Ink blog about simplicity: http://invisibleinkblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/again-with-simplicity.html (3:32, 9:34)

Opening scene of Oklahoma:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5APc0z49wg (26:49)

Jaws written on piano keys: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/256775616226044463/ (33:54)

Tyrus Wong quote about simplicity in painting and examples of his work: https://ohmy.disney.com/movies/2017/05/19/see-disney-legend-tyrus-wong-talk-about-his-work-on-bambi-in-this-exclusive-video-2/ (38:48, 39:50)

New Neighbors by Norman Rockwell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TA7A7lciQGo (1:02:41)

The Jury by Norman Rockwell: http://images.art.com/images/products/regular/13214000/13214017.jpg (1:08:22)

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Humans are natural-born storytellers. We tell stories instinctively; they’re the basis for conversation and communication. Everything we do as humans requires a story, and your core, you are a storyteller. We all are. In this episode of “You Are a Storyteller,” Belief Agency founder and executive creative director Jesse Brian and chief storyteller Brian McDonald share the armature of our series (you've probably already guessed it), and the ways in which storytelling can be a catalyst for change.

Belief Agency is a full-service marketing and production agency in Seattle, WA. We build brands with conviction.

To develop as a storyteller, writers must learn to avoid certain traps. One trap is the temptation to create from a place of ego—making choices to stand out rather than to serve the story. Another trap is the allure of presentation, whether it's focusing on screenplay formatting, filmmaking equipment, or new technology. But there's a healthier way to grow as a storyteller that will ultimately benefit your stories and your audience—and that's writing from a place of truth.

A "beginner's mind" is a Zen principle which means adopting a humble, teachable attitude. From studying classic films to reading great screenplays and interviews with impactful filmmakers, humility helps writers develop their craft and get a sense of bearings so they become free to write more honestly. By getting beneath the surface, writers can create truthful stories which resonate with an audience precisely because they come from a place of real conviction, fear, and vulnerability.

On this week’s episode of You Are a Storyteller, Brian and Jesse discuss Brian's history as a storytelling teacher, recall some of their shared influences, and offer insight as they explore how to write with "emotional truth."

One of the most powerful ways to move people is through stories. They contain the wisdom we need to survive. They’re essential for us as we live in and navigate the world around us. They are our hope when we are in despair. They are our guide when we’ve lost our way. And they are our inspiration when we are weary. We need stories—we simply cannot survive without them.

When we understand the power of story, we have an obligation: to tell true stories. And some of the truest stories, the ones that tell us the most about ourselves, are about princesses and pigs and dragons and wolves. But when we use the power of story to tell lies instead of the truth, we manipulate when we should inspire, mislead when we should reveal, and make poison when we should make medicine.

On this week’s episode of You Are a Storyteller, Brian and Jesse explore the ways we’ve used stories throughout history—and the power they’ve had in shaping and reshaping our lives.