Telling a Story with No Words
I am completely entranced with the animated short “Us Again” which is available on Disney+. It’s six minutes of sheer joy! It illustrates the amazing power of this medium, telling a humorous, engaging, and moving story without a single spoken word.
What is used to tell the story is dance, music, movement, color, environment… all of the things that WE use in the marching arts. The power of these tools to create an emotional story is on full display in “Us Again.” ” I hope you’ll take time to watch.
Seeing the impact of a story without words reminded me that I almost always prefer my marching productions without words. Our activity really is art, or at least has that potential, and we need to allow our audience to be a part of the process. If we are completely literal and tell them everything they need to know, then the audience loses the joy of making discoveries and figuring out our message themselves.
I love a show that makes me feel smart. I love when I realize what the concept is, or what the show is about. I love when I can recognize a phrase of music or a visual image that helps me to put the pieces together and figure it out!
A recent trend has us being more and more literal. Rather than give the suggestion of something, many feel they have to show us exactly what it is. For example, I was consulting with a band that was telling the famous Cinderella story. They were agonizing over how to budget for and create a pumpkin carraige. My suggestion was to stop trying to be so literal. A flag with a pumpkin on it, then a second flag with a carriage will tell the story and we can fill in the blanks in our imagination.
It’s also true that if a show is more abstract and “artistic,” judges will usually give you the nod for taking a less literal approach. So rather than risking having a prop that is less professional or not in exactly the right style or color, give the suggestion of this prop in an artistic way and we’ll all go along for the ride.
Dance is used as the main medium for telling the story in “Us Again” and it couldn’t be more joyful and expressive. We know exactly what the characters are thinking and expressing without a single word being said. The marching arts is based on movement, and dance is powerful. Allow this expression through movement to be your primary story teller, mixed with suggestions from color and props to give further suggestions. Add the power of music and you have artistic storytelling full of emotion!
Any chance you have to NOT use that voice-over, please DON’T use it! Shows with endless talking can be incredibly tedious. I want to hear the music, not your long-winded explanation. There are countless masterful examples of this through the years in every aspect of our activity. Study those shows, cut the talking, and allow your audience to feel smart as they discover the message. As this animated short proves, it can be endlessly more delightful and emotional.
Tim Hinton
June 12, 2021
