Understand-Care-Feel-Understand-Care-Feel-Learn:Learn:

A method for writing creative non-fictionshort story videos

If you don’t understand, you won’t

care.

If you don’t care, you won’t feel

emotion.

If you don’t connect through feelings,

You will not learn.

Understand-Care-Feel-LearnUnderstand-Care-Feel-Learn

Creative Non-Fiction Model

• Understand

• Care

• Feel

• Learn

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Understand

Care

Feel

Learn

Problem

Emotion

End part 1 with a

statement of the

problem or conflict

in the story

“The problem is___________________________”

Part 2 Explore the details about the

problem. Discuss the issues surrounding the

conflicts. Arrange ideas from least to

most important to the story

End part 2 with the strongest statement

Convert the ideas from your “brain-storm” from this idea web into a bulleted outline.

UnderstandPart 1

• Interesting Lead: Capture attention in the first 15 seconds (The Lead)

• Could be in the form of a “Stand-Up” (record on location)

• Back Story---Everything that leads up to the situation.

UnderstandPart 1

Stories are not about the facts...they are about problems.

• Identify the Problem, Issue or Situation

• There must be only ONE problem in the story (one point/focus statement)

• This is the motivation for your story. Everything else is just (boring) facts

• There are always “issues” or “situations” in life.

End part 1 with a

statement of the

problem or conflict

in the story

“The problem is___________________________”

Part 2 Explore the details about the

problem. Discuss the issues surrounding the

conflicts. Arrange ideas from least to

most important to the story

End part 2 with the strongest statement

What type of information would you place in part 1 of our story?

Brainstorm ideas that set up the problem.

Help the viewer to understand what they are about to see.

UnderstandEnd of Part 1

• After you have created enough backstory you must deliver the “problem”.

• A clear statement of the problem by the narrator or the interviewee should be placed at the end of part 1

• You don’t have a strong and interesting story without a problem, situation or issue.

End part 1 with a

statement of the

problem or conflict

in the story

“The problem is___________________________”

Part 2 Explore the details about the

problem. Discuss the issues surrounding the

conflicts. Arrange ideas from least to

most important to the story

End part 2 with the strongest statement

Convert the ideas from your “brain-storm” from this idea web into a bulleted outline.

This is where you should write the problem statement on the Idea Web.

CarePart 2

• Part 2 follows the path of identifying the issues related to the problem

• Talk about the details, obstacles, conflicts

• Everything in Part 2 must point to ONE thing identified in Part One (the problem).

End part 1 with a

statement of the

problem or conflict

in the story

“The problem is___________________________”

Part 2 Explore the details about the

problem. Discuss the issues surrounding the

conflicts. Arrange ideas from least to

most important to the story

End part 2 with the strongest statement

Convert the ideas from your “brain-storm” from this idea web into a bulleted outline.

Jot down ideas that point to the problem around the spokes of the web.

When you write your outline, order the information from general to specific and from lowest impact to strongest impact

• After the viewer understands and cares, this is when you can make them feel.

• What is the lowest point of the story? (The emotional low point)

• OR---The highest part of the story (The emotional high point)

FeelEnd of Part 2

Convert the ideas from your “brain-storm” from this idea web into a bulleted outline.

Part 2 Explore the details about the

problem. Discuss the issues surrounding the

conflicts. Arrange ideas from least to

most important to the story

The emotional impact works best in this location in the story.

Save the strongest statement about the problem and place it in this part of the Idea Web

We want the viewer to feel the strongest emotion here.

End part 1 with a

statement of the

problem or conflict

in the story

“The problem is___________________________”

End part 2 with the strongest statement

Predict what the strongest emotional statement might be.

LearnPart 3

• What can we learn from the experience of the story?

• What is in the future?

• What is the pay-off?

• These statements create closure

LearnEnd of Part 3

• Bookend the story by repeating or completing the lead statement from part one (Completion of a theme)

• Reporter on location with relevant background

• Sign off (Reporter tag) “Reporting for C-TV News I’m...”

Identify the types of statements that will help conclude your

story.

Bulleted OutlinePart 1•Back story item•Some Ws and H•Set-up info•THE PROBLEM IS________________________

Part 2•Details “Three quotes”•Details “Three issues related to problem•THE MOST EMOTIONAL OR STRONGEST STATEMENT

Part 3•What was learned, or•What is next, in the future etc, •Sign off

Other Items• Rule of threes

• How to write leads: SEE HANDOUTS

• There are several creative ways to begin your ENG report:

• Use a sound bite to begin your report.

• Start your ENG report with a POV (point of view) shot, such as a guest walking into a ballroom filled with music, dancing, and dining.

• Begin the report with a sequence of shots and use the reporter’s lead-in as a VO narration.

If you want people to care, they must first understand.If you want people to feel, they must first care.If you want people to learn, They first must feel.