Trek (3 of 7): Finding Filmmakers for Storytelling

The most beautiful storytelling DVD is "The Call of Story" created by KBYU/BYU Broadcasting and PBS.

This is three of seven posts relating to my info-gathering trek to BYU on October 21, 2008.

Since KBYU's home is in the Harris Fine Arts Center at Brigham Young University, I headed to the office to find out who was still around from that 2002 project (though copyright would suggest 2005).

I did have a name given to me from the 2008 Timpanogos Storytelling Festival. The young man behind the desk scrunched his face at the mention of the name for it was unfamiliar.

The man said, "Perhaps you were given the wrong spelling." He thumbed through the massive Rolodex of all the employees, staff, producers, and directors. No results. He even called the head director of KBYU and the name did not ring a bell even at that point.

Rather than sticking to the name I was given, the young man at the desk suggested we look at the credits for "The Call of Story".

I felt like I had to bang my head with my hand at that point. "Of course," I told myself, "Why didn't I think of that?"

Before heading to this info-gathering trek at BYU, I did peruse "The Call of Story" website. With all the research, I did not look at the credits. I had too much confidence in the name I was given at the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival.

Though the young man did not have a copy of the DVD on hand, he did search for the credits online and found them.

At that point, I was told to get in touch with the Executive Directors: Thomas J. Lefler and Sterling Van Wagenen.

This was not the first time I heard the name "Thomas J. Lefler". Other professors I had met during my trek had said he was a Theatre and Media Arts professor and may be interested in my project. No one had mentioned his connection--a major connection at that--to "The Call of Story".

The young man at the desk gave me Lefler's office and contact information. I crossed my fingers, hoping that an unannounced visit would be successful and welcomed by Lefler.

I found his door and I knocked. No answer. Perhaps he was not in his office after all. Yet, something told me to linger in the hallways a bit. I walked down towards the bulletin board with the "Call to Actors, Producers, etc." I never majored in Theatre so I was curious. After ruffling through a few announcements hung on binder-type rings, I returned to Lefler's office.

This time someone answered.

My muscles were more tense than usual as someone earlier had told me how intimidating Lefler was because of how direct he was in his speech. After a deep breath, I entered.

I outstretched my now sweating hand. "Hello. I am Rachel Hedman, professional storyteller, and I would like to talk about "The Call to Story" project you did and how it may relate to my project."

After the introduction, I felt at ease. He was not the intimidating man that I imagined though he was kind to share information I needed to know. He told me he did not do those type of filming project anymore, but he did give me names and direct lines to the partners of Kaleidoscope Pictures.

One of Kaleidoscope's projects included filming national storyteller Donald Davis in spring 2009 on how families tell stories. Most of the shots would take place at Davis' home on Ocracoke Island, North Carolina.

Eventually, I learned that Lefler was first cousins to national storyteller Elizabeth Ellis. My jaw dropped as I told him that Ellis was also my professor at East Tennessee State University for my Storytelling Masters and that my "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" project came to life because of the assignment she put forth for us students.

At that point there was no fear whatsoever of the man as he proceeded to go online and show the place in Tennessee that he grew up alongside Elizabeth Ellis.

Besides this amazing experience, another professor gave me a name, office address, and email for the producer and director of the LDS Motion Picture Studio. This professor was the Content Director of the "Real Families, Real Answers" reality show.

Between Kaleidoscope Pictures and the LDS Motion Picture Studio, that is where the true intimidation lies. To even consider the possibility of being filmed by either one of them is almost unthinkable.

I have found in this world that it does not hurt to ask.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

Trek (2 of 7): Meeting Professor of a Like-Mind

When I introduce myself as a professional storyteller, usually I must explain what I mean by "storytelling".

Then you meet rare individuals who know exactly what you are talking about like David C. Dollahite, Brigham Young University professor.

This is two of seven posts relating to my info-gathering trek to BYU on October 21, 2008.

When I scheduled an appointment with Professor Dollahite at 10:00am on October 21, 2008, I already knew that the courses he taught aligned with my "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" narrative production. As my outlook for the program reflects "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" document, he teaches a whole semester course entitled "Strengthening Marriage and Family: Proclamation Principles and Scholarship" based on that very document.

There may have been over 45 BYU Family Life faculty, though his vita stood out.

These are other topics he researches/teaches:

• Religion and family life in Christian, Jewish, and Muslim families
• Latter-day Saint (Mormon) family life
• Fathering and faith in fathers of children with special needs

On top of these pursuits, he received Award of Merit for creating the hymn "As Families in the Latter Days" from the LDS Music and Cultural Arts Committee 2006.

As I knocked on Professor Dollahite's door and he welcomed me inside his office, I had to smile as I could tell in that instant that regardless of how he could assist in my narrative production, here was an all-around good person. He is the kind of guy who inspires ideas simply by being in his presence.

Imagine my surprise when he mentioned he attended the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival and that he even performed at it a couple times!

He was also more generous than expected. He gave me a 377-page copy of "Helping and Healing Our Families" (see above picture) that he edited along with Craig H. Hart, Lloyd D. Newell, and Elaine Walton. Then he made copies of various articles he wrote such as "Forging Family Bonds Through Storytelling" and "Turning the Hearts of the Fathers to the Children: Nurturing the Next Generation" to articles written by other experts like "Tales from Family Therapy, Life-Changing Clinical Experiences" by Frank N. Thomas and Thorana S. Nelson. Finally, he gave copies of both songs he created of "As Families in the Latter Days" and "May Thy Face of Shining Splendor".

The copies, placed in a large manila envelope, was at least an inch thick.

I asked if he or his department could sponsor "Family Famine: Hunger for Love." He said he wish he could and that two years ago that something like this would be promoted in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, there had been some changes in the department that would make it difficult to do such a thing now. I could tell he wished to help me. He did say he planned to attend the performance and could encourage his students to look into it.

I promised to send Professor Dollahite each of my two storytelling DVDs.

I will undoubtedly stay in touch with him.

I know there are many professors out there who would love to connect with storytellers that relates to their focus somehow. It is only a matter of searching.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

Trek (1 of 7): Club vs. Department Sponsorships

Although I graduated from Brigham Young University in 2001, I am not a current student and this would limit my options in regards to scheduling a venue for the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" narrative production premiere.

This is one of seven posts relating to my info-gathering trek to BYU on October 21, 2008.

Rather than stopping by at the Campus Scheduling Office unannounced, I set an appointment at 8:30am on October 21, 2008 so I could sit down with the people and not feel rushed in asking questions.

As to be expected, the cost of the rooms vary depending on:

• number of hours needed (with four hours being the base number)
• size of the room
• use of stages, microphones, or risers (up to 5 available)
• sponsorship of BYU department
• sponsorship of BYUSA club

The Campus Scheduling Office could reserve rooms for anywhere on the BYU campus except the Harris Fine Arts Center, the building that houses the College of Fine Arts and Communications. The HFAC was the place I hung out while majoring in Communications Marketing.

If I desired the Gerrit de Jong, Jr. Concert Hall (1,268 seats) or the Franklin and Florence Jepperson Madsen Recital Hall (402 seats) or the T. Earl and Kathryn Pardoe Drama Theatre (509 seats), then the HFAC Scheduling Office rather than the Campus Scheduling Office would be my destination.

Though I have attended many shows in each of the aforementioned popular places in the HFAC building, while at BYU I had to take a peak. I felt my heart pound and my jaw drop as the places looked even more beautiful than I remembered. Something inside me said, "If I can't reserve one of these HFAC places, then I need something of equal prestige."

The only option left would be to book a place off campus.

While in awe of these venues, I still considered the Varsity Theatre at the Wilkinson Student Center. Though not as glamorous as HFAC, the Varsity Theatre still had 396 seats with cushioned red seating and a lovely stage area. It could work.

The prices for Varsity Theatre of minimum 4-hour use:

• $400--commercial
• $200--non-profit
• $160--sponsored by BYU department
• Free--sponsored by BYUSA registered club (such as the BYU Storytelling Club)

I was the president of the BYU Storytelling Club from 1997 to 2001 and the Varsity Theatre was not free during that time for us. Since then, the Wilkinson Student Center is considered the "home" of BYUSA clubs and so there is the benefit of the free use of rooms--any rooms.

I already planned to meet with the current BYU Storytelling Club president, though learning the "free" factor made it more urgent.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

Preparing for the "Info-Gathering" Trek

Info-gathering is needed before an info-gathering trek.

As Tuesday, October 21st, was set for the time to meet with professors and people over venue scheduling, I needed to make my trek to Brigham Young University as productive as possible.

One bit of information can open the way and often get one closer to other information necessary to reach the goal.

I decided that the College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences--particularly the School of Family Life--would be most important to make connections.

I reviewed the faculty for this area. With 45 professors on the list, I needed to focus on who was more in line with the themes of "Family Famine: Hunger for Love". One Family Life professor taught a whole course on "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" and I scheduled an appointment at 10:00am on Tuesday, October 21st.

I called the two scheduling offices at BYU: Campus scheduling as well as the one specific to the Harris Fine Arts Center. The campus scheduling set an appointment with me at 8:30am on Tuesday, October 21st so I could ask my questions with a person and gather information in regards costs and what my status as a BYU alumni means, if any, in regards to reserving a room.

With all the other departments and colleges to visit, even without set appointments, my time at the BYU campus would fly by.

For those I would meet, I created a one-page info sheet on my project that included: name of my organization, business status, project, project description, artist statement, contact information, and extra facts about me.

I also had these sections:
What I can do for you--

• Present "Family Archetypes in Folklore and What This Means for Families Today" previous to the performance in February
• Reduced rate (or possibly complimentary) for students to attend based on if attendance is part of the syllabus or if it is voluntary and/or level of sponsorship
• Announce sponsorship in press releases and advertising

What you can do for me (Any of following is appreciated, though feel free to add your ideas.)--

• Encourage attendance of "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" with students, possibly adding it on Winter Semester syllabus
• Sponsor part of the narrative production whether as professor, department, or college
• Introduce to professors from BYU as well as other universities who would take interest in the program and/or Family Archetype workshop
• Guide to research that would enhance the narrative production

To each one-page info sheet I paperclipped my business card.

With the info sheets printed, my bag is packed and ready for the morning.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

Trek for "This is the Right Place" Venue

I have yet to announce an official venue for the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" narrative production premiere on February 9, 2009.



One thing is certain--I will perform at Brigham Young University.

Now I have set an additional date. My trek to the BYU campus will be on Tuesday, October 21st. I will already be in the area as some storytelling friends, Wendy Gourley and Nannette Watts, are performing in combination with the Utah Valley University Contemporary Dance team in Orem, UT (neighboring city to Provo).

While at BYU, I do not expect to have a place reserved though I do hope to meet the people over scheduling. Depending on the costs to reserve the place, I may need to secure sponsors.

While on campus, I will also attempt to meet with:
1. Family Science professors
2. Folklore professors, including the two who have been advisers for the BYU Storytelling Club since I jumpstarted it in 1998
3. Humanities professors
4. Education professors
5. Art professors
6. Theatre Media professors
7. Current BYU Storytelling Club President

I will likely have a follow-up day to return to the BYU campus for the professors I cannot see on Tuesday.

Though I am a proponent for the use of technology for networking, I still place the most value in meeting people face-to-face. Once I have met someone, then I feel more comfortable communicating through mail, telephone, and email.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

A Picture is worth 1,000 Stories

From left to right (8-year-old brother Nate, 10-year-old "big sister" Rachel, and 3-year-old sister Care).

I glanced at the bookshelf and my eyes rested on the brown Photo Album that held pictures from the first camera I owned.

Flipping through the pages brought back memories faster than reading through the journals and diaries I kept as a six-year-old, seven-year-old, and older. Perhaps reading what a six-year-old has to say is vague regardless of the topic.

Then surprise of all surprises--I took pictures out of the sleeves and discovered that each one had at least one or two handwritten lines on the back.

As a kid I was smart enough to do so, though I have not kept that habit as an adult. In fact, with all the digital pictures, rarely do I print out hard copies so notes could be kept on them.

I will be studying these pictures more over the next few days to see what stories come to mind that would work for "Family Famine: Hunger for Love".

As for the picture and my hand-written description, this is when my family picked me up after a week at Girl Scouts camp. Though part of my brother Nate's head got cut off, it is still one of my favorites. I may have been the oldest sister though they still could miss me when I was away. (And, of course, I missed them.)

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

Volumes upon Volumes: Never-ending Programs

Eric Wolf reminded me how important it is to have volumes or series in connection to a CD, DVD, book or even a program. Already I am thinking how to apply this thought to "Family Famine: Hunger for Love".

This brainstorming was inspired while listening to the "Panel on the Future of Storytelling Online" from the 2008 National Storytelling Conference that Eric Wolf posted on his "The Art of Storytelling with Children" podcast and blog. Wolf led the panel and I was honored to be invited on it to talk about blogs. Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo focused on podcasts while Mary Margaret O’Connor shared thoughts on iTales.com and downloads. Finally, Fred Crowe revealed some of the Internet international scene. Karen Chace provided a hyperlinked handout of website resources and sites that assist storytellers.

Amongst all the wonderful advice Wolf shared, he mentioned how he has a Fairy Tales Forever storytelling set. He keeps the same name when he adds to the series with labels of "Volume 1", "Volume 2", etc.

This means the first DVD, CD, books, etc. that I put out about "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" will share that concept. People will know that I plan for more to come. As Wolf challenged, "It's time storytellers go back to Old Time Radio", which promotes that idea that the program ends with satisfaction though there is still a kind of cliffhanger to see and hear more.

My volumes could be connected with specific themes. For example, one show could focus more on orphans and adoption through family folktales while another volume could delve into child abuse through stories while another could focus on husband/wife relationships--all under the same name as "Family Famine: Hunger for Love". Geographical elements could be added such as one that had all North American stories while another had all Asian stories.

It's nice to decide this now so the first label reflects the goals of the future.

Thank you, Eric Wolf, for your genius!

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller