There is no denying that we live and breathe stories – in the form of books, plays, films, TV drama, news and internet gossip.
All stories, in all cultures, explore how and why life changes
We tell and absorb stories as much as we spend time sleeping.
Famed philosopher Kenneth Burke tells us that stories are equipment for living.
Enter Robert McKee, a creative writing lecturer and author of the screenwriters’ bible known as Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting.
Widely regarded as Hollywood’s “most wanted screenwriting teacher”, Mr McKee devotes his life to storytelling through four-day,
32-hour intensive seminars to sold-out audiences worldwide.
He counts among his former students famed award-winning directors and screenwriters such as Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings), Ed Saxon (The Silence of the Lambs) and Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo).
The 72-year-old will be visiting Malta in November not only to conduct his celebrated Business Story Seminar but also to officially launch his International Writers’ Institute, which he describes as “a centre where writers can gather from all over the world”.
He said it had always been his wish to set up a hub that would generate an exchange of ideas, a place where he could meet writers and provide guidance for their creative problems.
But why did he choose tiny Malta as the location for an international institute?
“I fell in love with the island,” he smiled.
“Malta is very accessible and has a certain separateness that you don’t find in the hustle of big cities such as
London or New York. It’s a neutral location which is very conducive to thought and feeling.”
Mr McKee has a very clear outlook on what he wishes to achieve and this clarity is reflected in his teachings.
But how exactly would he define storytelling?
“The essence of storytelling is the human element. Human beings in stories struggle to try and restore balance in life. All stories, in all cultures, explore how and why life changes.”
Yet his own story is definitely one of success.
Veteran actor Kirk Douglas was 80 when he attended Mr McKee’s seminar, deciding very late in life to become a writer.
“After attending my lectures, he wrote two wonderful novels. He then suffered a massive stroke, fought his way out of it through therapy and went on to write a great one-man play.”
Akiva Goldsman (screenwriter of A Beautiful Mind) was on the verge of giving up after 10 years of failing to make it.
He used his last savings to attend the seminar, planning to take the first plane home and join the family business. Instead, he rewrote one of his works and sold it. The rest, as they say, is history.
By Mr McKee’s own admission, his storytelling seminars mostly attract people with a background in arts – those who have to read, create or work with stories in their professional lives.
However, he has also found a keen market for his Business Story Seminars where he helps people in business think in terms of narrative and enhance their quality of communication.
“The power of storytelling lies in the ability to move people to action to purchase your product or service. It’s not just about making your brand famous, it’s also about surrounding it with a positive glow and storytelling is the most effective way to do that.”
According to Mr McKee, leadership and decision-making are based on a broad understanding of reality.
“I teach the story of leadership. A leader is a person who has a vision and understands, in the most complex way, ‘what is’.
“I teach stories to help leaders step back from the realities surrounding their company and have a master vision of what is. They need to then acquire the ability to tell that story to themselves and then communicate it to others.”
“I teach the art of storytelling in order to persuade others.”
Robert McKee’s Business Story seminar will be held on November 29. For further information visit www.writersinstitute.eu.