OVERVIEW

Since 1994, the Environmental Initiative Awards has recognized change-makers. They bring partners across the environmental community to honor people and projects during an inspiring celebration and networking event.

As Environmental Initiative's storytelling partner, we aim to tell inspirational stories that sustain the program and provide award winners with valuable stories they can use.

CHALLENGE

Over the years, our challenges included establishing a repeatable and effective process within a short production schedule, replicating prior successes, and consistently inspiring a diverse audience with emotive environmental storytelling.

CLIENT

Environmental Initiative

TEAM

Danami-Maurice Champion
George Eid
Eliora Vesper
Old Saw Media (Additional Filming)
Andrew Bydlon (Additional Filming)

SERVICES

Story Strategy
Project Management
Filming and Editing
Event Photography

EVENT RECAP, 2022

STORY STRATEGY

Storytelling Workshop

One of our goals is to provide award winners with a tangible story they can use and teach them the art of nonprofit storytelling.

Our online workshop offers a framework that explores seven story types, equipping them to craft compelling narratives for the Environmental Initiative Awards event and beyond.

Story Development

Once the award winners have watched the workshop and created their story draft, we work with them to refine their story.

6 essential plot points. These plot points keep the story engaging. They follow a specific order, each uniquely contributing to the story's overall structure and impact.

Hook: The opening of the story that instantly captivates the audience's attention.
Conflict: The problem or situation where the main character encounters a significant challenge.
Initiation: The moment after the Conflict. It's when the character's journey begins, showing determination and resilience in the face of adversity.
Journey: Key moments happen when our character attempts to overcome the Conflict.
Resolution: The ending of the story. It's the big punch to the gut that the audience feels and is left with. It expresses what the Heart has learned from its journey and what it wants to share with the audience.
Jab: The Jab is universal and often includes a call to action for the audience, tying back to the action the story was designed to create.

Revise, Revise, Revise

We usually have 2-3 revision calls with the winners. This process is collaborative; often, we revise the entire story, and the winners build on it.

Preparation for Filming

Most of the award winners have yet to be on camera. Even if they have, being on camera is something other than what they do regularly.

We empower the winners' clients by guiding them to imagine the vivid details of their stories as they rehearse them.

This transformative process allows for the effortless flow of tone, gestures, and timing as their mind fully experience their story's sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and tactile sensations.

We even suggest clothing colors that represent their story's themes.

OUR APPROACH

Break the 4th Wall and Spotlight the Award Winners' Stories

Since the video stories of the winners are played at the awards in a room full of hundreds of people, we want the winner to talk directly to the audience.

Using an interrotron-like system, the award winners recited their stories looking directly into the lens, creating an intimate experience for the audience.

Imagine being on a theater stage with black curtains behind you. It's just you on the stage. Using a black background creates a similar experience to isolate the story.

The black background allows the viewer to focus solely on the person and their story, maximizing the production's impact.

STORY EXECUTION

A Few of Our Favorite Stories

THE OUTCOME

Story Transformation

These stories have created a new experience for this celebratory event. The story's emotive approach has raised the bar for sustainable storytelling and set the standard.

Plus, award winners have felt heard and seen throughout the process, showing just how powerful storytelling can be for environmental causes.

Rachel Geissinger

ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE STAFF

"You pull out the most beautiful stories from individuals. Your work has helped us transform the awards ceremony/program into what it is meant to be."