Storytelling isn’t magic. It’s a trick. A trick that when done right, seamlessly guides you on a spellbinding journey. But this only happens when every scene transitions well into the next one. So, as a creator – how do you achieve this?
Hooks don’t just belong at the start. Your video should be riddled with them. Whether it’s an intriguing detail, a surprise discovery, or a question that must be answered – sparking curiosity like this is essential for seamless flow.
But then comes the crash. Before that curiosity is answered, get real for a second. Cut the music. Stare down the lens. Indicate the stakes of what’s about to come. We need stillness, for just a second, so –
SMASH! The impact of the scene switch has more weight. Reveal the answer, or at least start to. Remember, high energy doesn’t always mean loud and fast. It could be an emotional intensity, which might be slow and quiet. The shot you cut to as you switch scenes should deliver emotion, as well as provide context for the scene ahead.
But how do you know your shot says what you want it to? Stay tuned next week.
Unfinished Chronicles
Previous week’s goal: find title and thumbnail for next video ❌
Next week’s goal: title and thumb done, edit started
Broke rule #1 and wrote my whole script before even deciding on a title and thumbnail. For next week, I’ll have a great design, catchy title, and the basics of an edit assembly. I’m excited!
Creators giving advice often default to “what is your why? Just start there!” But why should you start with your why? Let’s figure it out.
Which one of these sales pitches from Apple is more compelling?
We make great computers. They’re user-friendly, and well-designed. Wanna buy one?
Or…
Everything we do, we believe in challenging the status quo. The way we do that is by making exemplary products that are user-friendly. We just happen to make great computers… want one?
If you can fog a mirror, you’d recognize the latter as being more compelling. But why?
According to author and speaker Simon Sinek, it’s because people don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it. The two examples above make use of Simon’s Golden Circle.
The first starts from the outside of the circle - What does Apple make? Computers. How do they make them? User-friendly. Why should you care? Idk lmao but we got ‘em.
The last does the inverse. WHY does Apple do what they do? Because we want to empower people to Think Different. HOW do they accomplish this? By making products that are beautiful and user-friendly. WHAT products are the result of this way of thinking? Consumer electronics.
Why do I make videos? To empower people to become more self-aware. How do I accomplish this? Through beautifully edited pieces of content. What’s the result? A community of individuals interested in self-development. Want to be a part of it?
People don’t buy WHAT you do, people buy WHY you do it. Find your mission, purpose, or calling as a creator, and everything else will fall into place.
In order to really make an impact, you need to inspire.
Unfinished Chronicles
Previous week’s goal: Edit / upload long-form video ❌
Next week’s goal: Upload long-form video!
Been super fired up on starting this podcast, which is what these long-form videos are. I’ve been more focused on stacking a few episodes in the bank, less focused on getting them online. Most of the hard work is over, all I gotta do is hit upload now :)
Shit in, shit out. If I were to summarize the most important lesson when it comes to ChatGPT, it’s that. Shit in, Shit out.
Casey Neistat recently uploaded this video asking ChatGPT-4 to recreate a vlog in his style. It does its best but in the end it feels like a photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy of something that was good. Casey concludes the video saying AI is powerful, however it doesn’t have soul or humanity.
Solid ending right? Well no. This video was criticized by the tech bros on Twitter, and properly so! Casey simply typed into ChatGPT…
write a script for a Casey Neistat vlog. the script should include dialogue as well as a shot list… filmed in manhattan… and be 3 to 4 minutes…
According to Linus Ekenstam, this prompt is shit. Therefore, Casey got a shit output.
Fortunately, Linus adds how Casey could’ve better made this script, and this part was fascinating. In a simple 3-minute video, Linus goes through a whole conversation with ChatGPT, eventually crafting quite a soulful Casey Neistat script.
The main takeaway is, these tools (LLM’s) need context. You need to provide examples, critique its work, ask it how you could prompt it better. Treat it like a person. They are made to engage in a conversation, allowing you to chisel down its output to your liking.
*P.S. I respect Linus’s criticism however do believe it is wrong that he downloaded Casey’s video without consent and attached it to his title tweet in that thread.
Unfinished Chronicles:
Previous week’s goal: Finish up all my other “things” and enter a Season of No. ✅
Next week’s goal: Finish pre-production and film my next video.
Last week, I had a cathartic moment in that the only reason I was failing at my personal brand dreams is because I kept saying yes to other opportunities. This week, I’m glad to say that I have said no to many things - 15 min calls, paid opportunities, etc. all to focus on a video that I am really excited for.
It’s a simple equation I’m realizing: More time into a project -> the better it’ll do.
Y'all do a great job at putting everything you write about in a nice practical and useful manner. Thanks!
Love the WHY reflection, Sean! Definitely reprioritizing things in my soul =)