Pixar’s 22 Rules of Storytelling – Rule 13

Hey there!

I get really enthusiastic when some asks me about storytelling, and how important it is to your VO career to develop and hone your storytelling skills.

It’s essential.

So, every so often, I like to roll out items from this list from Emma Coats, who used to work at Pixar as a story artist, and who serially tweeted Pixar’s 22 Rules of Storytelling.

I’m sharing with you one of these rules every so often, along with how you can apply each rule to your VO artistry.

Today, Rule 13…

Give your characters opinions. Passive/malleable might seem likable to you as you write, but it’s poison to the audience.

So – you have the script, you see the words, you build your target audience member, you create your character – but does that character have goals, aspirations, experience, dreams, political leanings, morals, ethics – opinions on things that matter?

That character certainly should.

Rarely should a character be Benetton-American-Eagle-GAP non-offensive and all-inclusive, friend to everyone.

No.

Your characters, if you want them to be memorable, if you want them to get you noticed (in a good way), if you want to book with them…better have a point of view.

Make sure you know what that point of view is before you even think about beginning your performance.

And then, blast away. Your decisions and choices will be that much easier to make.

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Next rule?

Finding the passion in your voice work.

I’ll share that with you next time.