Crafting Deeper Stories that Foster Personal Connections
In a world where people are bombarded with a constant stream of information, photos and video, it’s hard for content to rise above all the noise. With short attention spans, if viewers don’t connect with the medium or story within just a few seconds, they’re on to the next post in their newsfeed.
Fortunately for us, and for the future of the seas, award-winning filmmaker and environmental biologist Gianna Savoie understands how to craft deeper stories about the ocean that draws viewers in and keeps them raptured by her imagery and narrative.
So how exactly has Gianna found success? What’s her secret to rising above the noise to connect with her audience?
Gianna credits her ability to hone in on the why behind the story she’s trying to tell instead of focusing on the what or the information of a subject.
By asking herself why she cares about a topic, she’s identified her starting point. From there, she delves into why others with different viewpoints might be interested and explores the subject with them as she captures content for her films.
“It’s about empathy and connecting,” Gianna told Blue Ocean Summit host, Laurie Wilson, at the 2016 event. "Put yourself in their situation.”
Most importantly, Gianna believes that you cannot lose control of your message. Throughout production, filmmakers must protect the movie's message and the audience take-away must be “crystal clear.” She urges filmmakers to not focus solely on the doom and gloom, but to find a more
Gianna Savoie
The mighty Yellowstone River is a force that shapes both the land and the people who walk its ever-changing banks. It is a river defined by change. Ocean Media Institute and the Montana Aquatic Resources Services have teamed up to show the Yellowstone through the eyes of those who love, study, and depend on it.