This week I got a chance to work with Twine, a software purpose-built for interactive and individualistic storytelling. This was very exciting as a chance to visually interact with the idea of the butterfly effect, which says the smallest actions all have consequences. Also, some of the best games in the past 2 years have revolved around stories that produce different outcomes based on the choices each player makes, so exploring this idea hands-on was exciting. Another unexpected benefit I came across when using twine is that it helps you decide where you want to take your story if you’re ever lost on which path to take. You can explore both paths and then go with the one which suits you. Not to mention, because of the way it’s laid out you’re likely to end up making connections you will have never seen before. Although the story I made is simple, the idea was to highlight how well Twine allows you to present an interactive story with multiple outcomes.

“Tales That Teach: The Impact of Sensory Storytelling on Learning”

In the riveting world of TED Talks, one man’s story stood out as a shocking masterpiece: Zal Ebrahim’s, I am the son of a terrorist. It defied my initial expectations and unveiled an entirely different, unexpected narrative

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyR-K2CZIHQ&ab_channel=TED

Zak Ebrahim – I am the son of a Terrorist

What Made it Impactful:

The way he was able to throw such a curve ball at his listeners, an idea society is so obviously against, and yet he was able to transform everyone’s perception, which is truly remarkable. Would you agree with the son of a terrorist? Is this someone you would trust? And yet by the end, you can’t help but agree with him.

Within 9 minutes, he has the audience questioning whether they’re now friends with someone who is affiliated with terrorism.

Storytelling telling techniques he uses:

  • Personal storytelling: He’s not talking about someone he’s heard of or something he’s seen, this is a man who is vulnerable in front of the audience he hopes to win through his story and it shows.
  • Creates Suspense: When he starts by telling you who he is, you can’t help but stick around to see why he thinks he can win your support. It’s almost like a challenge and it’s irresistible.
  • Positive Takeaway: He finishes off by not only humanizing himself, which was something most would’ve thought wasn’t possible a few minutes ago, but he also has takeaways that are larger than him and his specific scenario and beneficial to all.

Practicing Our Techniques

Implementing what we’ve learned so far can prove to be an enlightening experience for anyone willing to try. It’s one thing to believe you’ll have everyone hooked from the get-go and a completely other thing to pull it off. Portraying what you want to say without blurring the lines has proven to be a challenge, and adding meaning to shots has been tough. Regardless, here’s a look at our storyboard below.