When storytelling, in any medium, it is important to have a clear structure and purpose. Using a story spine is a great way to do just that. The structure of the story spine is broken down into 5 sections.
1. The Beginning
This is when the main character’s world is introduced to the audience. The main character is described and their normal routine is established. The sentence starters used in this section of the story spine are:
Once upon a time…
Every day…
2. The Event
The next step in the story spine is the event, this is where the routine is interrupted. Something happens in the main characters life or world that breaks the normal everyday routine that is established in the beginning. The sentence starter used in this section of the story spine is:
But, one day…
3. The Middle
This is where the bulk of the story takes place. The main character experiences major consequences as a direct result of the routine being broken. There is no clear path and the outcome is unclear. The sentence starters used in this section of the story spine are:
Because of that…
Because of that…
Because of that…
Typically there are 3 incidents in the story that the main character experiences. One is a result of the other.
4. The Climax
This is where the main character’s journey comes to a peak. They experience success or failure as a direct result of what they were faced with. The sentence starter used in this section of the story spine is:
Until finally…
5. The End
For the main character the world has forever changed. Whether the they have success or failure, in the end, a new routine is established. The sentence starter used in this section of the story spine is:
And, ever since then…
The author, Kenn Adams, who created the story spine has said that over the 3 decades since he developed it others have taken it and modified it to make it their own. But some of these adaptations have made it less powerful. I think that the power of the story spine is in its simplicity. It gives the author a structure of a story of which they can build upon.
You have a small window of opportunity to stop someone from scrolling and be interested in what your post has to offer. What can you say to make someone stop scrolling? How do you keep their attention? Make them react?
You want to convey a good story, all within the limitations of a social media platform. To do this, there are a few simple tricks that will help your social media writing and grab your readers’ attention:
Having hypnosis and improve come together is like a perfect storm. The power of relaxation and meditation, with the only thing holding you back is your morality and the power of suggestion. Mix that in with the force of improve with a Canadian legend, and you have yourself a winning combination. Hypnosis shows can be a little lackluster and repetitive, but when you have the comical mind and imagination of Colin Mochrie, it takes it to the next level!
I was lucky enough to have seen Colin Mochrie’s Hyprov comedy show for our company’s Christmas Party this year, and it was one for the books! I’m a 90’s baby, so I grew up watching Whose Line Is It Anyway? and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to experience an inkling of the cult classic. The show was hilarious and the volunteers were great and it’s what prompted me to live tweet a segment from the show.
Just had my company’s Christmas Party. And oh. my. gOD. I NEED TO TELL YOU ABOUT IT HAHA. Let’s set the mood, right? Just had a nice, fancy dinner at Vicky’s Bistro (#iykyk get the Alaskan, it slaps so hard every time) #EXSM3989pic.twitter.com/0SUdbEQuOs
When I was live tweeting, I wanted to follow a few simple principles of snippet storytelling. I wrote the way I talk – I wanted to share my experience with others, and I wanted others to be as excited as I was. I wanted my thread to have intent and to set the stage for the joke. I tried to be relatable with how I posted, and wanted to build up the suspense for the zinger that one of the volunteers had. I tried to evoke a reaction/emotion, be it warm and fuzzy for remembering the joys of Whose Line Is It Anyway? or the absolute hilarity that ensued from the joke. I added hashtags where I could and also included visuals that would hopefully catch the eye and used punctuation in a way that would maybe stop someone from scrolling and be interested.
And now for a classic Whose Line Is It Anyway? moment #arctictern
With the number of movies, I have viewed and books that I have read, this story stands out. It is their ability to compose a story that is universal, timeless, and leaves an impression on the heart. This storytelling masterpiece is Pixar’s Up. It was released in 2009, and continues to embrace audiences with its emotional journey, and memorable characters. It’s incredible visual storytelling weaves a wonderful unique story. Although it follows the principles of Pixar’s story spine, its relatable because its on base of the real-life story. The article “Even in death, ‘Up’ house owner Edith Macefield remains a mystery” written by Jayson Jenks tells a story that has some parallels to Up. There are similarities with both of the homes being threatened with construction of newer developments and the senior citizens owners are not wanting to sell their property. https://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/searching-for-edith-macefield/ Although the Up movie has found its own heartfelt story and it takes you on a wild adventure. The parallels in both of these stories that I like is that money does not win.
Oh, that montage!
This warm-hearted journey has all the fundamentals of great storytelling, but the montage in the beginning creates an instant connection to the audience. This connection has us cheering for Carl, and wishing positive outcomes for him. We all share the experience the loneliness Carl is enduring within his life. The loss of Ellie his wife draws out a sense of empathy for Carl, we even forgive him for being a grumpy person. The audience recognizes that losing someone changes you. A bond has been established with Carl, the audience is engaged, earnestly anticipating to see what unfolds next for him. Up has found its audience and provides a meaningful connection that ensures this story to be memorable. Even within the IMBd website, the favorable reviews speak of Up being one of the best Pixar movies ever made, some even say it’s masterpiece. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1049413/reviews?ref_=ext_shr_lnk In reading the reviews there is a common theme of the write ups, it is an emotional story that captures our hearts. This story crosses my thoughts from time to time, serving as a reminder that embracing change can be an adventure.
Up and away!
With the threat of being put into a senior’s facility and losing his home. Carl decides to have an adventure by attaching thousands of balloons to his home in hopes of fulfilling his promise to Ellie by reaching Paradise Falls and escaping the insistent developer. Although this idea may seem impossible, there was a group that tested this idea with surprising results. This experiment only adds more magic to this story and the excitement is evident on all the volunteers involved. ABC news reports on the Disney’s “Up” house created in real life and flown for National Geographic show. This is a must watch report that will stir up that magical feeling of wonder. https://youtu.be/rV6rNqin4P8?si=nOenIIP9d_o6GTmx
What now?
Even with the home taking flight, there are still many conflicts and challenges along the way. Such as Russell, the eager Wilderness Explorer who accidentally tags along on this adventure, adding another likable character to the mix. Russell and Carl find commonalities and build an unlikely friendship during this wild ride to Paradise Falls. Indeed, a villain is present in this story. Charles Muntz, is attempting to take the rare bird who is traveling with the duo. Charles and his speaking dog army are trying to steal the bird, no matter the cost. Doug, the gentle canine escapes Charle’s army, and joins Russell and Carl befriending them on the journey. This conflict helps these lovable characters in forging bond. They must collaborate to defeat Charles Muntz, and navigate the dangerous environment.
It’s a win!
After overcoming all of the obstacles, this adventure changes Carl. Who becomes a sympathetic mentor and friend to Russell, and far less grumpy. It reminds us of how to be courageous, be adaptable and the power of love. The end scenes will beautifully tie up all loose ends, leaving the audience with a profound sense of closure and fulfillment.
This story.
The manner in which this story is crafted along with the visuals, took my heart and I was ready to go the distance with Carl. The relatability of this movie shocked me at the beginning of how deep it went, especially for a Pixar picture. The sense of loss and loneliness is something I truly understand. This story reminds me that being uncomfortable will sometimes delivers the best growth moments in life.
You know, a nervous dog mom who is super paranoid about the safety of her pet. But somehow, I can rival a helicopter mom jacked up on a double-shot vanilla soy latte after spin class when it comes to the welfare of my fur child.
We grew up with big dogs like golden retrievers, Great Pyrenees, yellow labs, and Newfoundlanders so I never really worried about them. They were huge and could protect our family and themselves when needed. So, when my partner and I decided to expand our family, I thought that we would get a big dog. My partner is an avid hunter and outdoors person and so, for our lifestyle, I thought we should go to the shelter and see if we could find a big mix-breed dog that was good with kids and liked to run and be outside. But my partner had another idea. He always wanted a little chihuahua, and so one Sunday morning when I got an alert that a chihuahua pup needed to be re-homed our family went from two to three.
Roo is perfect. She is a sweet, loving little soul with a bratty personality. She is an avid walker, likes her toys and her grandma, and hates to eat all the healthy and expensive food and treats I buy for her. At Christmas one year she ate an entire bowl of sour patch kids that I left on the coffee table and has rallied through a hunger strike for more than 2.5 days when the $20 tin of dog food I tried to feed her did not suit her pallet.
I have to admit, when I first got her, I was easygoing. I kept my cool when she leaped off the local pond dock into ice water during spring breakup and my partner and I had to go in a save her (she was 4 months old), and I did not freak out when I was cleaning the shower and she jumped into a bathtub of boiling hot water at 5 months. I just put her under cold water, called my mom, got in the car, and rushed her to the emergency vet with unbelievable calm.
My anxiety over this little dog’s safety all stems from a friendly vet visit when she was 6 months old. During this visit, the vet took me aside and said to me in a very stern voice,
“DO NOT EVER TAKE HER TO A DOG PARK. IF YOU TAKE THIS DOG TO A DOG PARK SHE WILL DIE. THE OTHER DOGS WILL KILL HER. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WITH LITTLE DOGS. DO NOT DO IT”.
And so, I have NEVER taken little Roo to a dog park.
We drive past them every day, and they look like fun. We see the neighborhood dogs walking to the dog park through the front window every night too and they seem happy. I could never understand how they could be such little dog murder machines, but if the vet said it, it must be true, right? Poor Roo though, she just wants to go, have fun, and be included with her dog friends (or lack thereof because of me, her mean, scared mom).
So, this weekend I decided I wanted to give my fur child the opportunity to go to the dog park. This brave dog mom researched her heart out to be prepared and took Roo to the big dog park by the river for 37 minutes of incredible, horrifying fun.
During my research, I was surprised at how few websites discussed little dogs at dog parks. I was hoping to make this a how-to blog post with some trustworthy links for other dog mamas out there. I couldn’t help but wonder if I should buy anything special for our trip. Do I need a stick, a cattle prod, or should I just get some good-kicking boots in case I need to defend my baby? But there was no mention of these required tools.
There was really nothing out there that was super informative. Some websites talk about staying close to your dog (do not focus on your phone and lose sight they say), watching out for wildlife and do not take the dog somewhere with threats like birds and snakes, and, keeping the little dogs in the little dog area and the big dogs in the big dog area. Don’t EVER mix them they say. There was one blog that spoke quite profusely about how irritating and disrespectful it is to big dog owners when little dog owners pick their dogs up and walk past the big dogs.
We got to the river dog park, and there was no small dog area, just a big open space for all the dogs. I expected Roo to act like all other dogs on Instagram. You know, run around like crazy and have fun (something that I could video and put sound to and share for this assignment). But she didn’t, she never left my side, she stuck close and only ventured off a couple of meters from me. During our time down there, I only had one freak out. I looked up from my phone at one point and Roo was nowhere to be seen, but then I realized that she was just right behind me, walking less than 3 inches from my feet. I just couldn’t see her because I was taking pictures with my phone.
Her little face and mine were both full of worry during the trip, but I knew she felt wild and alive because she was finally at the dog park. I felt wild and alive! She sniffed every blade of grass and played for a couple of minutes on the rocks by the river. There were only a few other dogs at the dog park; a Rottweiler, a pit bull, shepherds, and a dumb doodle that would not stop jumping on me when I walked past holding Roo. His owners suggested I put her down so they could play. I graciously said, “No thank you” thinking that I didn’t want my baby trampled to death.
The dog park was stunning, a great place to bring Roo and let her play. It’s a special place with a beautiful landscape and is a wildlife sanctuary for rattlesnakes.
Roo and I both slept well last night. Probably from both the stress and excitement. I am proud of both of us though and I feel that if I can be this good of a dog mom to my little golden Roo, and not be a helicopter mom I do not understand why parents say it’s hard with human children.
Roo and I are going to visit another dog park in the town beside us next week. It apparently is right next to the “Birds of Prey” center which is a refuge for eagles, hawks, and falcons and should be lovely.
Hey there, DIY enthusiasts! Jill MacDonald here and I’m thrilled to share my latest renovation project with you. This time, I tackled the downstairs bathroom, and boy was it a ride! From measuring twice and cutting once to hammering out the details, I’ve got all the puns and dusty details to share.
At the beginning of this course, I shared the process of hanging a mirror in my main floor bathroom on Twitter. I casually mentioned I was on a HGTV show called “Home to Win” in 2016 and figured this would be the opportunity to elaborate on that experience and how it helped me with the renovation.
I landed on the show after submitting an overly emotional video a few days after being evacuated due to the Horse River wildfire. Never in a million years did I expect to be selected and the experience was certainly full of highs and lows. I was hoping I could share my video summary package but alas, it’s been removed. This show promo will have to do.
I’d like to think that my experience on Home to Win has helped me in more ways than just getting better at home improvement tasks. I learned how to work under pressure and how to make quick decisions when things don’t go as planned. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned from renovating my own home; things NEVER go according to plan. Check out the full episode on Prime (S1, E10) to see how things panned out.
Now onto the renovation at hand. The downstairs bathroom. *insert dark ominous tones* DUH-DUH-DUHHHH
First things first, I knew this bathroom needed a facelift. It was just begging for some TLC, and I was more than happy to oblige. So, I put on my tool belt, grabbed my measuring tape, and got to work. I knew this was going to be a long journey, but I was ready to plunge in! The first step, of course, was coming up with a plan. I put my creative mind to work, brainstorming ways to make this bathroom pop. When I finally had a vision, it was time to source all the materials.
I picked out a beautiful wallpaper for an accent wall, a paint color for the vanity, and some funky accessories to help with storage. I couldn’t wait to see how it would all come together. Once I was happy with my direction, it was time to flush the old and welcome in the new. After I cleared everything out of the bathroom it was time to get to work.
First step was to get rid of the sad brown colour. I’m sorry but who would EVER paint their bathroom BROWN? I mean… I know what we all do in there but that’s a little on the nose don’t you think?
After letting the beautiful white walls dry it was finally WALLPAPER TIME! Thankfully my sister is an expert in this area and offered to give me a hand. Knowing that a busy pattern would require WAY more brain power than I was willing to spend on this project, I opted for one that was going to be easy to line up. #winning
Two sets of hands meant this part of the project went quickly. I can’t stress that enough! If you plan on hanging drywall, go for an easy pattern, one that is pasted or unpasted and use glue. Peel and stick wallpaper is a NIGHTMARE. If you’ve ever tried to hang it, you’ll understand. The bubbles are so difficult to get out and although you can peel it back and readjust, it’s just not easy to work with.
Once the wallpaper was up it was time to refinish the vanity. Since the wallpaper was a darker grey, I wanted to paint the vanity white so it would pop next to the wall. Three coats of high coverage cabinet paint and we’re starting to get somewhere!
Once the paint had dried and the cabinet doors were re-installed it was time to mount the new vanity and facet. Oh husband? I have a job for you! Goodbye 1980’s vanity top! Not that the 80’s were ALL bad. I mean I graced this planet in 1983 so…
The final large project I had to tackle was caulking and painting the mouldings. This unfortunately is where I ran into problems. The Caulking fiasco can be viewed in all it’s glory HERE . An entire tube of caulking wasted, but we finally got back on track and finished up the space.
I’m ‘flush’ with happiness now that my bathroom renovation is finished! All in all, this renovation project was a success. I’ve proven that with a little hard work, a dash of creativity, and a healthy dose of humour, any project can turn out beautifully. So, to all you DIY enthusiasts out there, keep hammering away and remember to always measure twice and cut once – it’s a nail-biting experience, but the end result is worth it.
First of all, who has NOT seen this movie?! I just checked and it looks like its streaming on Disney+, Amazon Prime, and Crave…I highly you recommend you watch it. I admit, I love love love this movie because I love love love Dolly Parton but of course, there is much more to this movie than the Queen, Dolly. Go give the iconic song “9 to 5” a listen while you’re at it; Dolly Parton wrote it on set to kill time!
Once upon a time there was a receptionist, Doralee, who was beautiful and sexy, but also kind and smart. Every day, two other women in the office, Violet and Judy, would gossip about Doralee, implying she is sleeping with the Boss, Franklin, who by the way is a chauvinist and sexually harasses Doralee on a daily basis. But, one day Violet and Judy see they were wrong and that Doralee is the loveliest lady and a devoted wife. Because of that, they decide to teach Franklin a lesson and through a whirlwind of nonsense, end up kid napping him. Because of that, the 3 women end up running the office and make a ton of changes all under the guise of Franklins instruction, like daycare, flexible hours, job sharing, etc . Until finally, Franklin manages to escape and the ladies have no other option but to go to the office with him where he plans to out them; the Chair of the Board happens to show up and praises Franklin for all the changes he has made to boost morale ( the ladies unfortunately still do not get any credit because it was all done under Franklins name). And ever since then, Franklin was rewarded for his “hard work” by being promoted to a new position in Brazil and the women will no longer be subject to his chauvinistic ways. In fact, Violet gets promoted and takes over Franklins position in the office!
The story has it all – characters you are rooting for and can identify with, especially if you are a woman or have ever felt over looked at your job, it inspires us to stand up for ourselves, to incite change, and visually it grabs your attention, especially if you are a vintage lover. Whenever I watch an older movie or period pieces, I am always excited by the styling and design – it is a huge part of the story for me. Doralee, especially grabs my attention. While this movie takes place in the early 80s, Doralee has a lot of 50s/60s styling, she puts a lot of effort in to her look, and it’s one of the reasons she is a target; that could be a whole blog post on its own – why are women who do their hair and makeup, who put obvious thought in to their outfits, who have any sex appeal “hated” and labelled as stupid, slutty, distracting, etc., by, often and sadly other women, but also just society in general. It isn’t until Judy and Violet are forced by the situation to get to know Doralee that they realize she is kind and smart and only interested in her own husband. Which, I think, makes Dolly Parton the absolute perfect person to play this part.
Throughout the story, you establish an emotion connection with the characters, you are able to justify their actions, and you are really rooting for them to come out the other end as champions. This story has all the ingredients for a compelling story and is able to combine them in the exact way to give the audience, me, you, a great story, that is visually fantastic, but would be great if told in any era or medium.
What’s interesting still, is that the story of 9 to 5, while about 40 years old, is still pretty relevant, which, again, is a whole different blog post. So, in the meantime, read this Rolling Stones article, that talks about how the themes in the movie still hold true today, in real life.
The story I am about to tell begins with one’s worst fears coming to fruition. The nightmares you think are sealed into the realms of the dreaming world when abruptly leak into the waking moments can leave you tensed, torn and terrified. Summer of 2021, when the world was trying to recover from the tragedy of the pandemic, the Universe was getting ready to jolt me out of my comfort zone. My mortal fears have always been made of the inability to choose and control the events in my life! I am a person who is dreadfully resistant to the idea of change. And I mean any change. A new couch that I thought would go well with the décor when actually placed in the living room can make me ruefully question my life decisions.
The change that was staring me in the eye this time was colossal! Circumstances were leading to the inevitable reality of giving up my London apartment, one that I pieced together bit by bit. One that was my constant and one I hoped to keep even when everything else would change. But this was not to be. And just like that, my home became Flat 8!
The following months after I packed away my home was challenging, one that was filled with grieving, anger and, at times lack of spiritual connection that I had never felt before. Everything seemed like a test that would eventually lead to another massive failure. How does one explain grieving, especially if it’s not a dear one that you are mourning but a way of life and space that was sacred? With a bruised ego and a broken heart, I decided to move away from the UK. Perhaps new meanings of home or hope lay elsewhere. The process of healing, like tragedies, has a way of finding you without warning. Edmonton, Alberta, was like a breath of fresh air.
Someone like me, who rigidly prefers to stay on track and cannot fathom the idea of a detour while travelling to Canada via Paris, decided to make the most of a six-hour layover. I still have to pinch myself over it!
I knew something had to shift inside of me to breathe again. So, there I was, throwing caution to the wind, standing next to the Eiffel Tower, gleefully reminding myself that the choices of the living must remain in living and preferably in the present.
There could be myriad ways my story could have ended. One that began with displacement could have ended in me pirouetting around my fractured heart, engulfed in self-pity. Instead, my story ends with hope. No matter where I land, I must never give up on Hope because Hope is the thing with feathers bound to carry you to beauty and beyond!
The Story Spine method helps convey the key moments. However, Casablanca is highly complex, explores multiple character arcs and has numerous twists, which is why the film is so enduring!
Act 1 – Setting the scene
Once upon a time, as people flee German occupied Europe desperate to reach safe-havens, they pass through Vichy controlled Casablanca.
Every day, cynical Rick manages ‘Rick’s Cafe Americian’, a popular Casablanca casino, which is known for it’s music. This song is one of the reasons I love this film!
“Play it again Sam” is never said in Casablanca!
Act 2 – all about the girl?
But one day, Victor and his wife Ilsa walk into Rick’s Cafe seeking help.
“Of all the gin joints in all the towns in the world, she walks into mine.”
Rick Blaine (played by Humphrey Bogart)
Because of that, Rick is conflicted, as he sticks his “neck out for nobody“. Through flashbacks we explore his history… we start to understand Rick’s jaded attitude…
Because of that, despite Isla’s pleas Rick won’t hand over the papers he has acquired that the couple need to escape. Victor is subsequently arrested at an underground resistance meeting. Rick still loves her???
Because of that, Rick tells the local Vichy French police chief, Captain Louis Renault, that he wants to leave Casablanca with Ilsa. Rick suggests the police release Victor and create a trap. If the police can detain Victor attempting an escape, he will face harsher punishment and Renault can win favour with the local German Commander. A cunning plan…
Until finally, Rick double-crosses Renault, forcing him to phone his officers sending them away. Unbeknownst to Rick, Renault calls the German Commander, who tries to stop the plane, but is shot by Rick. Ilsa and Victor to escape on a plane bound for Lisbon. Which was Rick’s plan all along… Plot twist!
Character motives and pasts are explored in flashbacks and call backs throughout the film.
Act 3 – Spoiler! He doesn’t get the girl…
And ever since then, Renault doesn’t arrest Rick nor stop the plane, but suggests he and Rick escape Casablanca and join the French resistance! Rick’s jaded outlook fades as he returns back to his idealist ways.
“Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”
Rick Blaine (played by Humphrey Bogart)
Bonus – Unsolved mystery
Rick’s past is alluded to, but we never find out why he can’t go home to America… Leaving an unanswered question divides critics, some feel it leaves the consumer empty whilst others feel it’s important to be left wanting more. I quite like that we are left with the mystery….
EXSM 3989 - Digital Storytelling Class Blog 