WHY STORYTELLING-The Big Question.

I discovered my gift of writing in April 2009 when I was just 18 years of age. Before that, I had been writing but was not aware of embracing it as a gift full-time. Years that followed my discovery, I struggled with understanding why I was born to write and not a football player, one thing I skipped classes at school all the time. Nearly 5 years collapsed in front of my eyes, I was just beating around the bush finding it hard to express myself.

The year 2014, May, I decided to write professionally by applying for a diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication at Christian College Of Southern Africa in Harare. Because I knew something was lacking in my life as a writer. Fast forward to 2018 I wrote, produced, and directed my first short film about domestic violence. Can you imagine 9 years passed after discovering myself? when I was preparing for this newsletter I was taken back to where it all started and how I have managed to show the world what I possess in the writing world, something that many of my writing friends have been doing ever since a time ago.

After being involved in many film productions as cast and crew member I have come to the light of the importance of storytelling. Going back a little, I started acting in 2015 I landed my first acting role in one of Zimbabwe′s best series productions. A couple of years later I decided to shift to behind the camera after pocketing 5 films as an actor. Storytelling has an impact on the lives of all of us regardless of race, culture, religion, etc. A good related story can bring back good old memories [the opposite is true as well].

When you read, watch, or listen to one story be it from a book, movie, or radio memories and motivation have got ways of attaching to ourselves coming from stories alone. This is my example, I do have a story I am writing about one guy who finds himself in a position to fight for the rights of other people, a situation he did not come prepared for in his hometown. this is just a small summary. I got the idea when I left one local town relocating to another but memories of what happened in that area for me still flash in my mind like everything happened yesterday.

So a story like that when watched in visual format can trigger memories as well of someone who went in the same situation. Therefore the incident can be called the "What I used to be" [what I love calling it]. That is the power of storytelling. Somehow we all find a way of relating our lives to what the story carries behind. This is the first rule I learned as an actor and the first rule I understood when I switched to behind the camera.

Storytelling has the power to motivate one into doing something he or she has been either procrastinating or wishing they could do but did not know how to. Come to think of the power motivational speaker carry when delivering their respective speeches all over the world. Every time we as writers write something for our audiences, we just think of how to make you do what you love doing the most without forcing you physically. For centuries, this method has been crafted better to suit what the masses want and accept.

In the filmmaking world, it is all about the storylines that are crafted professionally, good equipment [depending on your budget], a good cast, and much more experienced and more passionate crew members that deliver a story that compels people to step forward. Combined factors do have the power to straighten up your life as an individual, the same with when you go to university to study for any degree of your choice that will bring change in your knowledge of how things must work. Storytelling I am sure you now see how powerful it is in our day-to-day living.

I was taught to respect the art of writing and telling stories in different ways writers approach us. Because out of that comes issues we relate to and achieve our goals, dreams, visions, aspirations, and most importantly our personal development. Whenever you watch a movie, read a novel, or listen to anything audible, it is important to reflect on matters that can help you with anything in life. for me, those are the types of stories I love telling my audiences. Although not all stories must be based on what you must learn education-wise, some are there just for laughter and that is good enough to say.

I love storytelling with my everything and that is why from the time I produced my first short film titled My Father is a Devil I have never looked back. I believe that the world needs to hear many stories of different backgrounds and relate to our ever-expanding global community.