235. How to Storytell Your Mission Through the Power of Video - Jonathan McCoy, CFRE, Becky Endicott, CFRE and Derek Watson
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Overview
Meet Derek🎥 This filmmaker and storyteller has captured story in nearly 50 countries and believes everyone has a story to tell. BUT the way it's told possesses the ability to connect hearts, community and purpose like never before. We firmly believe a compelling video can better launch your mission's story to a global community🚀 Join us and this Emmy-winning filmmaker to talk through the storytelling arc and why you should be investing in video right now.
💡LEARN
-Why video is a trend nonprofit organizations should be paying attention to 👀
-Walking through the storytelling arc process
-Different ways video can be used to deepen mission impact delivery
-Examples of nonprofits who leverage the power of visual storytelling well
Today’s Guest
Derek Watson, Founder + Filmmaker, Lampstand Story Co
“We have to talk about the hope, and to get somebody to open up about some of those most dramatic moments in their life, you have to earn that trust. Then, you have to do well with it on the backside. We don’t want to just tell a story. The way in which we tell a story has to matter, as well.”
Episode Transcript
Download Full Episode Transcript Here
Episode highlights
Derek’s story and journey to where he is today (2:50)
The founding story of Lampstand (5:30)
The growing trend for investing in digital storytelling (8:30)
Derek and his team’s storytelling process and the elements they focus on to build an authentic narrative (11:00)
Derek’s advice around making someone feel comfortable and safe to share their story during the interview process (14:00)
Finding hope within each story (21:00)
Ethical storytelling (23:00)
The case for investing in video (27:00)
A powerful moment of philanthropy in Derek’s life (33:00)
Derek’s One Good Thing: Everyone has a story. How will yours be told? (36:00)
powerful quotes
“I grew up just devouring National Geographic documentaries and that kind of stuff and thought, if I could have a camera in my hands, traveling the world, that would be the absolute best, biggest dream I could ever have, and hopefully making a difference in the world.” -Derek
“We firmly believe that storytelling is such an innate human experience.” -Derek
“If you think of any revolution, or you think about any movement, or any product, or any sort of social change that has ever happened in any, you know, in the world, it's always come about because of really powerful storytelling.” -Derek
“You can think about your own personal moments in your life about where you got to where you are, or why you do what you do. And there's a story behind it. There's an arc, there's tension, there's overcoming, there’s sacrifice. And there's resolve to absolutely overcome that.” -Derek
“We love working with nonprofits, and fundraisers are some of our favorite people on the planet, because there is a passion and dedication to change the world around them.” -Derek
“There's a whole ecosystem that takes that makes really great fundraising and giving work, but one tool is absolutely film.” -Derek
“Really, it's sitting down and listening and trying to understand. What is the core ethos of this mission here? How do we really start to align the emotion that we're trying to communicate? We really try to be students right off the bat.” -Derek
“We're sitting down with a human being that is giving up one of the most powerful things that they can give us. And that's their story.” -Derek
“We have to talk about the hope, and to get somebody to open up about some of those most dramatic moments in their life, you have to earn that trust. Then, you have to do well with it on the backside. We don't want to just tell a story. The way in which we tell a story has to matter, as well.” -Derek
“The pieces that you're making are going to be out in the world forever.” -Derek
“Every story is completely unique. If everyone does have a story, and we truly believe that they do, how do we tell that story in the most powerful way possible?” -Derek
“People's lives are changed by the work that philanthropy does. I think sometimes we can forget those little individual stories to see the story arc beyond the film and beyond the story that we show.” -Derek
“We're a part of a much bigger story in our lives. And there, there's tension, and there's failure, and there's victory.” -Derek
“This is just one chapter of your story. So whether it's hard or it's difficult, or you don't know what's coming next, you're a part of this much bigger story, and we have a chance to leave the world in a better place than than where we found it. Your story is not over.” -Derek
Connect with derek and lampstand
LinkedIn / Website / Instagram / Films / Contact
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Episode Sponsored by
Julie Confer, Becky Endicott, Jonathan McCoy & Derek Watson
