The sacred work of storytelling

I believe film has a unique ability to build community, and to engage audiences to listen more carefully to voices that are silenced, because it brings us into the lived experience of those on screen. Truly understanding someone else can change us on a cellular level when we see each other’s humanity, perhaps for the first time. As a filmmaker, I explore storytelling as a sacred practice that counters narratives of individualism and encourages dialogue, communion and seeing the Divine in each other. What does that mean in practice? 

When we begin to develop a story, we bring stake-holders together in conversation. Taking the time to build a collective story together, rather than assign a “director” the role of crafting the story, creates space for deeper understanding to emerge, and new possibilities to grow. In doing this, we build a communal space where we challenge each other to get closer to truth by listening.

As we move into building a narrative arc, and planning an artistic approach to a project, we carry our shared wisdom and continue the practice of deep listening. One person’s idea is expanded by the next, until it becomes a vision greater than what any one of us could have imagined.

Stories are fundamentally about people encountering challenges and overcoming them. The best storytelling leaves viewers transformed. I am convinced that as storytellers, we are also transformed. This process of deep listening to collectively tell a story leaves us with a much more profound understanding of each other. Once we have a new perspective, we cannot go back. We are new people.

This can also be true for audiences. Next time you watch a great film that introduces you to a world you did not know, consider the ways you have changed. Will you ever see the world in the same way? How does this transformation feel in your body?