Pixar’s 22 Rules of Storytelling – Rule 3

Hey there!

I can’t stop talking about 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 giving you one of these rules every so often as we move through the next several months, along with how you can apply the rule to your VO artistry.

Today, Rule 3…

Trying for theme is important, but you won’t see what the story is actually about til you’re at the end of it. Now rewrite.

I often advise students and clients who haven’t taken the time to read the script, and just start voicing it, to take a moment and reconsider.

I even advise you to read the script out loud, simply, and without a lot of performance, just to get the words and construction, and to see where the copy leads you.

When you get to the end – keep acting, even after you’ve stopped talking. And make sure that the journey makes the end really satisfying.

You might have to read it a couple of times to figure out how a commercial tag line should be said, or where the last few lines of an audiobook chapter should leave the listener.

But it’s worth it. And it makes you a better story teller.

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Next rule?

Once upon a time…

I’ll share that with you next time.