Matt:
Hello, this is Sydney Story Factory. My name is Matt and I'm the deputy storyteller here. One day, if all my dreams come true, I will be chief storyteller. Then I will be the person who decides which stories get told here. Until that day, I am tasked with explaining to you how to build stories.
People always ask me three questions: How long is a story? How often is a story born? And like, what even is a story? Literally every day, someone will come up to me and say, is this a story? And I'll say, yeah, you know, probably. Is this a story? Yes. Is this a story? Yes. Is this a story? Probably. Is this a story? Maybe? Is this a story? It could be. Is that a story? Definitely.
Look, we all know what a story is. It's the best thing to listen to and the thing we can't help telling the moment we open our mouths. A story happens every second.
Matt:
And as soon as one ends a new one begins.
Student:
So what does a story do?
Matt:
Ha, where did you come from?
Student:
I'm a student. I've been here ever since there was something for teachers to teach.
Matt:
Okay. Sorry. What, what were you saying?
Student:
So what does a story do?
Matt:
I think a story does four things. It instructs, it educates, it emotes and it entertains.
Student:
So when you say it instructs?
Matt:
I mean, like, it explains things for us. Like a fable about vanity or how-to guide on telling birds apart.
Student:
So when you say it educates?
Matt:
It teaches us things. Like an exposé on jelly beans.
Student:
So when you say it emotes?
Matt:
I mean it makes us feel something. Like a poem about high diving or the memoirs of a failed astronaut.
Student:
So when you say it entertains?
Matt:
It makes us feel less bored. Like a comic about a woman made of maggots or a movie about president donut.
Student:
Okay. I still don't get what is and what is not a story.
Matt:
For real? What do they teach you in school?
Student:
I don't go to school. I'm 47.
Matt:
Touché. Okay, let's try this. If we put this here, take that over there, connect this to that, and then we join that to that, I think we've got it. And that, my friend is a comprehensive guide to everything that might be a story. I also think it might lead you to a very tasty pirate treasure.
Student:
Can I have it?
Matt:
No. Go make your own. In fact, all of you go and make your own story maps. Go on, get out of here. You can do it. I believe in you.