Story telling - How Hollywood Stole from you....

16 replies
So we all know that story telling is probably the master skill in selling, because it draws on the other principles, which are:

Persuasion, influence, seduction (if needed), humour (if needed), entertainment and of course selling.

Now Hollywood has gone and robbed us of our most vital skill. This is evidenced by how many movies have the same damn recurring underlying theme, seriously that's the only reason most movies make millions, is because it's very repetitive.

So how do you reclaim it?

Simple...

Do the following:

Go to the cinema's or book store or library, Watch a movie, read a few books and check out cosmopolitan magazine. Start looking at the sub plot. Are they using the underdog , Reluctant hero, obvious hero, realist or pandering to the era style writing/movie.

An example of this, the movie swordfish, played on a conspiracy theorist point of view, but also used the reluctant hero and underdog plot lines to create the hit it was. IF you haven't watched it, just check out the trailer.

The way for this to work in your salescopy is pander to the era.

At the time of writing this, the media is focusing on vampire movies and novels as well as aliens, etc.
So create your copy to match it using words that they use.

Example: If you are having trouble writing copy...
then learn the 3 secrets that transformed me from struggling writer to the head writer of my company

Or something like that.

Using these plot lines will greatly make the reader feel familiar with your writing and so it's easier to sell to them.

Hope this helps,

Adil

P.S. Sorry for the sporadic writing
#copywriting #hollywood #stole #story #story telling #telling
  • Profile picture of the author Michael Newman
    Hi Adil,

    I find your suggestion alluring(I am a movie addict) and would explore the strategy in my next letter.Do you have samples of copy where this approach has yielded a lot of dough.
    Thanks.

    Michael Newman
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    • Profile picture of the author Ross Bowring
      Hollywood and TV provide non-stop creative inspiration.

      And don't forget...

      Being a copywriter also gives you permission to politely inform your spouse, regardless of what chores are waiting for you, that you need to "...inhale the zeitgeist for the betterment of our life together and the children we cherish."

      Really, verbatim.

      --- Ross
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  • Profile picture of the author Dean Jackson
    I also read fiction and listen to audio versions of stephen king stuff when I ride in my car. I get the occasional creative squirts from it and it's a great way to "study"...
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    • Profile picture of the author wayne60618
      I once heard that all stories can be broken down into two themes. 1. A man goes on a journey 2. A stranger comes to town. Not sure it's entirely accurate but there are some very fundamental elements to telling a story. If I recall correctly, three elements that every story must have is a desire, an obstacle/conflict, and an effort to overcome.
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      • Profile picture of the author arfasaira
        My literacy teacher bless him told us that there were something like 11 types of stories and that each and every story in the whole world basically fell into one of these types or a version of these.

        I cant remember the types as it was so long ago, but there is usually the protagonist (hero), some dilemma and a resolution or conclusion (some would say climax and resolution and I would agree)

        Very apt for copy, because in copy, our hero is the product, the dilemma is the inherent problems and the resolution is how our hero (the product) solves the problems.

        The climax would be the build up to our resolution and the hooks that keep us compelled to know more. Our conclusion is for us, the call to action and the 'ta da', we solve your problems type setup.

        And yeah, I am sure every copywriter out there analyzes everything they see or read. I know since I have been doing the copywriting, I am constantly watching adverts and asking myself if it was benefit based and if it solves a real need.

        Using this premise, movies are a great way to enhance copy - its something I had never considered but means I am going to irritate my hubby by analyzing our friday night movies!
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        • Profile picture of the author Oxbloom
          Originally Posted by arfasaira View Post

          Very apt for copy, because in copy, our hero is the product, the dilemma is the inherent problems and the resolution is how our hero (the product) solves the problems.
          You familiar with the old saw, "sell benefits, not features?"

          If your product is the hero, you've got nothing but features. If your prospect is the hero, the benefits explode onto the page.

          I may be old school, but to me, making the product the hero is one of the major stumbling blocks in marketing.
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    • Profile picture of the author Michael Newman
      Originally Posted by Dean Jackson View Post

      I also read fiction and listen to audio versions of stephen king stuff when I ride in my car. I get the occasional creative squirts from it and it's a great way to "study"...
      I learnt the great Gary Halbert read a lot of fiction too.There is a lot to learn from fiction writers(especially the bestsellers).After all, a book is a product too,and when someone sells millions of copies...they are "probably" doing some things right,right?
      Stephen king is a master.I read NEEDFUL THINGS twice (intriguing and completely unpredictable),and I am looking forward to reading it again.

      Michael Newman
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  • Profile picture of the author MontelloMarketing
    Adil,

    You're blaming a medium that came along hundreds if not thousands of years too late.

    TV... movies... Hollywood in general did not invent the idea of reusing stories.

    Someone in this thread had it right... "My literacy teacher bless him told us that there were something like 11 types of stories and that each and every story in the whole world basically fell into one of these types or a version of these."

    That's true. There are 11 stories (Many used to think only 7 stories) and depending on who you believe every one of these stories were in the bible. I say "depending on who you believe" because others attribute the 11 to shakespeare.

    I'm pretty sure though since Shakespeare was somewhat prolific that he would have ultimately written at least one of each 11 stories even if they were first told in the bible.

    That said... I'm gonna say this goes back further than the written bible. The 11 stories go back to storytelling's origins and who the hell knows what the year is on that? I'd say year 1 day 2 someone was telling a story.

    So... you can blame hollywood for plenty (Like Lindsay Lohan for one) but the reuse of stories isn't something they invented. I worked as a writer in Hollywood for 20 years I know for a fact that we are constantly pressured to make stuff seem fresh. And it's hard.

    boy meets girl... boy loses girl... boy gets girl back. It ain't easy doing that in an original way.
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  • Profile picture of the author buslead
    I like the steer to make the client the hero, of course the product becomes Luke Skywalker's lightsaber, may the force be with you
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Newman
    I am not an affiliate for Stephen King,but NEEDFUL THINGS revolves around a store where you can buy anything...everything your heart desires.What a fantastic idea!

    Michael Newman
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  • Profile picture of the author AdilAmarsi
    Hey Dean,

    Definitely gives me ideas from time to time.

    Montello - Sorry If it sounded like I was blaming it, but actually I didn't mean it to sound that way, I was more going toward how everything really is just generic and well not as brilliant as it used to be. Anywho you did make me laugh with the Lindsay Lohan bit haha

    Michael - not anything online that isn't "off the shelf". Will add some soon (might use it in my launch ).

    Ross = LOL true, or your parents (I'm still at home, being 21 is fun when its okay to stay at home haha).
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  • Profile picture of the author Gary Pettit
    OMG... if I had a nickle for every plot-line I've conceived which, then, two years later ended up on the market (in Hollywood, or otherwise), I would be rich.

    Oh, wait. I am. :-)

    I don't fault those who stumbled on my un-implemented ideas after me and still made a fortune. (Maybe I should patent them and sell them...?)
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  • Profile picture of the author EvolBaby
    Don't get me started on Hollywood!

    I've had three books of mine optioned for movies over the past 20 years.

    You would be surprised at how that goes and being a master storyteller I
    have directors and other comics artists and writers biting off my storytelling
    quite often.
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  • Profile picture of the author M_Jones
    This is a good topic. Do i smell a WSO in the mixx ??
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