Story+Telling

Story Telling: Depicting a story that engages an audience through the use of character voices, bodies, and gestures.

When we read a story, we imagine what the characters sound and look like in our mind or maybe we don't! Maybe the author has gone through a lot of trouble making sure the "he said"s and the "she exclaimed"s are all perfect so the reader does not have to do any hard work of imagining the world of the story, including what the people who inhabit it look like. When we are told a story; however, we, as an audience, do not have the story in front of us. We cannot read a long with the storyteller. So the storyteller has to do a little more work to make sure the audience knows what is happening.

One thing the storyteller will do will be to change his or her voice to that of the character's voice. Each character will have a different voice. Little kids are high pitched, adults are low pitched, and giants are REALLY low pitched, but it is more than just "are they boys or they girls," the voices will tell the audience what KIND of person the character is. A sweet little girl might have a lilting voice, while a bratty boy might have a sharp nasal sound. So as a storyteller, you must decide the voice and characteristic of the people you are portraying.

Another thing a storyteller will do to help the audience understand the stories they are telling is to have different body positions for characters. To play an overweight giant, you might lean back as if you had a big belly and look towards the floor as if everyone is smaller than you. To show a timid little girl, you hunch your shoulders, bring your hands together in front of you and turn your feet inward awkwardly. All these different body types can be seen everyday in the world, and your job as a story teller is to begin to notice them and create a mental catalog of bodies you could use for characters.

Finally, a helpful thing a storyteller will do is to perform gestures, or miming actions, so that the audience can begin to "see" the story. If you are telling a story about a boy walking into a room carrying heavy box, you may chose to portray the boy carrying the box (arms out, wide, face to the side, knees bent, back bent backwards as if carrying a big burden of a box.) What this does for the audience is helps them really see action, just like in a movie or a tv show, only the storyteller PRETENDS to have a box, or a jump rope, or anything the characters would be holding or picking up.

When a storyteller performs all the actions that are listed: different character voices, different character bodies, and mimed gestures, he or she helps the audience follow the story. Below, we will begin our journey through the art of story telling.

STEP ONE: Choose a Story to Tell
 * Make sure there is not a lot of narration. We want to "see" the characters doing things, not be told what the characters are doing.
 * What narration there is, make sure it is descriptive and exciting. Not just a bunch of "he saids," or "she states"
 * Make sure you are physically able to portray the characters. If you are a girl, don't pick a story that is an ALL male cast.
 * When you are beginning, avoid stories with complicated gestures and actions. Does this story require you to do a flip in the middle?

STEP TWO: Mapping out the characters' bodies and voices
 * Use this [[file:Character Chart.doc]] to help you map out what your characters will look and sound like.
 * Make sure the body position is comfortable to you. Ask yourself, "Can I comfortable stand in this character's body for at least a minute?"
 * PRACTICE going back and forth between the different characters. Be able to "pop" back and forth.
 * Try saying different things as the characters. Are there any hard words or phrases?
 * Be sure you can "be" the character without laughing. THIS WILL TAKE PRACTICE!

MORE STEPS TO COME AS WE GET FURTHER INTO OUR JOURNEY!

TIPS on Learning Character Voices and Bodies:
 * 1) **Think of funny characters.** If you come up with a character, you're in charge of the voice and body. Instead of video-gaming, get up and go outside to play robots. Imagination is unlimited when it comes to this form of play. This will strengthen your imagination muscle so that when you are presented with a type of character, you may have something you already came up with.
 * 2) **Watch cartoons.** THAT'S RIGHT! I am giving you permission to watch cartoons (age appropriate please!) Watch a cartoon, and when a character says a line, or a piece of script, then hit the pause button and try your hand at it. There is no right or wrong, just close and closer. Don't think about getting it exactly right, you are simply trying to find where in your throat or body the voice comes from.
 * 3) **Stretch!** If you are stretched and limber then you can find more and more different body positions to use in your story. Also, it feels good when you're all nice and relaxed, doesn't it?
 * 4) **Mimic others' bodies.** When you see someone walking down the street or in a TV show, try your hand at walking like them. Try to walk with the same attitude, same speed, and rhythm. Try to notice any interesting or distinguishing things about their walk or body. Do they have a limp? Do they walk on the balls of their feet or their heels?
 * 5) **PRACTICE!!!!** Practice may not make perfect, but it sure makes permanent. There is a lot to be said of those with the ability to tell a great story using bodies and voices, but they were not born with this talent. it takes years of perfecting it and cultivating their talent. Whatever you do, DON'T GIVE UP! Many people start training to do voices and bodies and give up because they feel silly. OF COURSE YOU FEEL SILLY! You're pretending to have a big fat belly when you don't, you pretending to be a giant when you're not! IT SHOULD BE SILLY!
 * 6) Finally, **HAVE FUN!** There is nothing more depressing than watching someone blandly tell a story. As an audience member, we want you to have fun, even if it is a sad story, we want you to enjoy telling the story. If you are engaged in the story, we will be too!