Marketing

From Presentation Zen to Filmmaking Zen

Joey Daoud

Joey Daoud is an award-winning documentary filmmaker. His past films have appeared on Netflix, The New York Times, and National Geographic. He is also a YouTube creator across multiple channels with videos garnering millions of views. In his free time, he likes to climb mountains, scuba dive, and brew unique coffees.
April 30, 2008

Presentation Zen

I like presentations. Let me correct that. I like good presentations. People seem to have finally woken up and realize that good presenting requires a good story (and no bullet points).

Presentation Zen, both the book and blog, utilize the visual power PowerPoint/Keynote provide to make presentations better.

Of course you don’t have to be a Venture Capitalist to pick up a few useful tips. Here’s what a filmmaker can get from Garr Reynolds’ insight:

Planning Analog (45)

“As wonderful as digital technolog is, I don’t think anything is as quick, easy, and immediate as a simple pad and pencil, and nothing gives me sapce to jot down ideas quite like a massive whiteboard.” (47)

As pretty as a nicely formatted Word Notebook outline, or bubbl.us mindmap looks, a pad of graph paper (I like to draw in the boxes during blocks) and a Sharpie are my outlining tools. Bottom line: plan with pen and paper, post-its, or whiteboards. Not software.

What’s your point? Why Does it matter? (62)

This should be something that’s always in the back of your mind, from the big picture (why is this documentary important?) to the minute detail (do we need to see her walk in the door and up the stairs, or just cut to the office?)

Dakara Nani? So What?

Is your point relevant? Every shot needs to matter.
“It may be cool, but is it important to further your story, or is it included only because it seems impressive to you (but few others)?”

Elevator Test

“You run into an executive in an elevator. Or your meeting is cancelled and he needs you to describe your project as you walk to his car. Can you get your message across in 30-45 seconds.”
I’ve seen many pitches last longer than the film they’re talking about. Keep it simple. Stupid.

What Makes Ideas Stick? (76)

I’ve talked about my love of Made to Stick during documentary editing. You need to read it. I need to buy it (it’s that good). The six points are:
  • Simplicity
  • Unexpectedness
  • Concreteness
  • Credibility
  • Emotions
  • Stories

Kanso, Shizen, Shibumi (107)

This is Zen for design. For filmmakers/marketers, this is Zen for your posters.

Kanso (Simplicity)

Beauty and visual elegance are achieved by elimination and omission.

Shizen (Naturalness)

Keep it simple.
“Graphic desingers show restraint by including only what is necessary to communicate the particular message for the audeince. Restraint is hard. Complication and elaboration are easy…and are common.”

Shibumi (Elegance)

The original ‘less is more.’ Don’t spell everything out – leave stuff up to the imagination. Be suggestive rather than the descriptive or obvious. Embrace empty or negative space. Elimate the nonessential.
Tags: Design Documentary Documentary Editing Editing Filmmaking Outline Planning Posters Presentation Producing Screenwriting Story Tips Tools

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