PUSHING BOUNDARIES IN GLOBAL HEALTH STORYTELLINGA WEBINAR WITH FILMMAKER AND CREATIVE ACTIVIST, LISA RUSSELL, MPHJULY 17, 2018

AGENDA

Welcome & Logistics— Liz Kohlway, Global Health Council

Global Health & Storytelling: Making the Connection— Anupama Varma & Melissa Chacko, Global Health CouncilPushing Boundaries in Global Health Storytelling

— Lisa Russell, StoryShifter

Questions or Comments from Participants— Anupama Varma, Global Health Council (moderator)

— Lisa Russell, StoryShifter

@GLOBALHEALTHORG @LISARUSSELLFILM

WELCOME & LOGISTICS LIZ KOHLWAY | GLOBAL HEALTH COUNCIL

@GLOBALHEALTHORG @LISARUSSELLFILM

QUESTIONS?

◼ If you would like to ask a question, please use the chat box →

◼ When asking a question, please type your full name and organization:◼ Ex. John Smith, Global Health Council:

How do I ask a question?

ABOUT GLOBAL HEALTH COUNCIL ◼ Mission: We use the power of the collective voice to improve

global health and wellbeing through informed investments and policies.   

◼ Vision: We envision a world where health and wellbeing for all is ensured through equitable, inclusive and sustainable investments, policies, and services.

◼ Statement of Purpose: Global Health Council (GHC) leverages the power of collaboration and collective action to monitor, inform, and accelerate global health engagement and investment by governments, multilateral agencies, and the global health community.

GLOBAL HEALTH & STORYTELLING: MAKING THE CONNECTIONANUPAMA VARMA & MELISSA CHACKO | GLOBAL HEALTH COUNCIL

@GLOBALHEALTHORG @LISARUSSELLFILM

SO STORIES MATTER..

As global health advocates, we strive to create stories that should inspire people to take action.

But is there a better way of capturing those voices?

Who or what is the missing element?

ABOUT LISA RUSSELL, MPH | FILMMAKER, ARTS CURATOR, FOUNDER | STORYSHIFTER

◼ Lisa Russell is an Emmy-winning filmmaker, UN/NGO storyteller and artist-curator, 2x TEDx speaker, workshop facilitator and teaching artist.

◼ Her film work includes:■ “Love, Labor, Loss” on obstetric fistula in

Niger.■ "Heroines of Health" profiling three women

leaders in global health.■ "Mother's Cry", an award-winning short

poetry video on climate change.■ “#Create2030” on engaging artists in

meeting the SDGs.

“It has been said that next to hunger and thirst, our most basic human need is for storytelling.”

- Khalil Gibran

◼ What is storytelling?

According to the National Storytelling Association, storytelling is “the art of using language, vocalization, and/or physical movement

and gesture to reveal the elements and images of a story to a specific, live audience.”

Storytelling is the act of telling and writing stories.

Who are storytellers?

- filmmakers (documentary, narrative),- writers (fiction/non fiction),- photographers, - poets, - musicians, and - others.

Who are storytellers?

◼ What storytelling and stories are not:− journalism− marketing/messaging/advertising− anecdotes − campaign slogans− communications

They are complimentary means of communication but they are different and require different skill sets and workflows.

“Most people tell each other anecdotes, thinking that they’re telling stories. An anecdote is something that happens. A story has a structure that makes it memorable. To be an effective communicator, you should stop telling anecdotes and start telling stories. “ - Nick Morgan

Global Health Storytelling - Opportunities and Challenges

If done well, global health storytelling can enable the global health community to elevate stories of struggle and resilience in a way that

reaches a larger audience and has greater impact on funding and legistation.

If done poorly, can perpetuate “poverty porn” and a storytelling trend that is not effective, respected or sustainable.

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◼ Why engage storytellers and artists in global health advocacy?

− Artists and storytellers can be a lot of things that institutions cannot be - emotional, bold, activists, etc.

− They often have large group of followers/fans that would care about your issues - if they knew about them

− They can help orgs reach a wider audience by the way they translate dense topics to more digestible content.

But we need to understand their work culture and respect their rights as artists.

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CASE STUDY: Heroines of Health

(EP by GE Healthcare)

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What is a “story”?❏ Usually has five elements:

❏ characters,❏ the setting, ❏ the plot, ❏ the conflict, and ❏ the resolution.

Section ii

Compelling stories usually follow a narrative/story arc vs “flat” story.

versus

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◼ “Heroines of Health” Storytelling Devices○ Break stereotypes.○ Show women characters as women first, before women dealing

with global health issues.○ Don't lead with trauma or be afraid of humor or light hearted

moments. ○ No talking head interviews.○ Find universal themes that all viewers can relate to.○ Follow narrative arc story structure – characters, climax, etc.

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◼ “Heroines of Health” clips: https://youtu.be/FpVzvY636TA

○ Clip #3: 19:38- 22:24○ Clip #2: 4:56-9:09○ Clip #1: 1:50-2:58

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How can we build sustainable partnerships with storytellers? ● Build institutional credibility of storytellers in the global health arena

(ie invite them to sit “at the table.”) ● Invest in their understanding of your org and the issues you focus on.● Create artist scholarships and passes for global conferences.● Invite them to host professional development workshops for staff

and/or patient advocates.● Let’s create an Arts Envoy offices at the UN, Missions, Donors

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BIG PICTURE!

Storytelling is a very important element of global health advocacy but we need to invest as a community in making sure the stories we tell are accurate, respectful and responsible. That comes with investing time in teaching/learning and growing the craft. It’s a relatively new trend in the global health community but it needs to be based on true storytelling for it to be high quality and sustainable.

Thank you and stay in touch!

● Follow Lisa and StoryShifter on social media.● Sign up for Lisa’s newsletter on arts and global health storytelling at

lisa@lisarussellfilms.com.● Follow #Create2030 campaign on engaging artists in SDGs.● Available for workshops, presentations, webinars, and collaborations.● Submit to Women Deliver Film Festival Lisa is curating (early bird deadline - 7/31)

@GLOBALHEALTHORG @LISARUSSELLFILM

@GLOBALHEALTHORG @LISARUSSELLFILM

Lisa’s New TEDx Talk on “Shifting the Story”●

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?ANUPAMA VARMA | GLOBAL HEALTH COUNCIL (MODERATOR)LISA RUSSELL | STORYSHIFTER

@GLOBALHEALTHORG @LISARUSSELLFILM

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