Business Stories: Stories in Movies

Many people tell me when they hear the word storytelling they think immediately of an activity for children. I'm also told they identify the activity as something done in libraries. Funny how a word can evoke such strong identifiers and still surround us in so many other ways, movies, music, books, news reports.....

I was reminded of this recently by a feature article in USA Weekend (Oct 2010). There was an article on the stories told in movies. Scorsese, Lucas and Spielberg were interviewed for the article which talked about stories in movies and the development of a ground-breaking middle school class, "The Story of Movies". Films chosen for study had to have children in the key role, include a distinctive style of visual storytelling and have a person who makes a difference in our lives by fighting on our behalf. (The 3 films studied in the class are The Day the Earth Stood Still, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and To Kill a Mockingbird)

At the end of the article Spielberg is quoted "It is quite possible that a child who is taking this course will grow up and tell a great story like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Life is a story. We - all of us - are stories. Film teaches that. And if we could be like the main characters in these three movies, we would be better people."

Mr. Spielberg said it beautifully. Let's not forget that we are all stories and that includes our business lives. Stories are not just for children!