Hello Storytelling!

Learn the foundational skills and mindsets of storytelling through film

Develop a common language and understanding of storytelling across your organization, inspired by timeless films. This flexible, online experience introduces non-storytellers to the concepts of the storytelling process and offers business storytellers (in design, innovation, creativity, advertising, marketing, communication, PR) a tried-and-tested approach to creative problem solving. Through case studies with Peter de Kuster drawing from iconic films like The Godfather, Star Wars, and Casablanca, plus five quick activities, you’ll walk away with knowledge of how storytelling works and how to apply these film-inspired tools and processes to your own work. It’s the first step in unlocking your creative potential.

Introduction

Learn storytelling, a process for creative problem solving.
In this class, we focus on four main phases of storytelling: gather inspiration, generate ideas, make ideas tangible, and share the story.

Getting started: Why storytelling matters today — turning everyday challenges into compelling narratives like Rocky or Forrest Gump.
Activity: Select the story problem you’ll work on during the class.

Gather Inspiration

Inspire new thinking by discovering the stories people tell and what they really need — just like in Good Will Hunting.

Case Study: Grow your business through asking for your clients’ story.
Learn: Six Tips for making connections with stories from Peter de Kuster.
Activity: Observe stories from films, literature, and art (The Shawshank Redemption, Pulp Fiction) to spark new ways of thinking.

Generate Ideas

Push past the obvious to get to breakthrough solutions — like the nonlinear genius of Inception.

Case Study: Stretching past the obvious.
Learn: Practice divergent thinking by bringing unexpected stories together (The Matrix meets When Harry Met Sally) to spark fresh ideas.
Activity: The Best Story Wins!

Make Ideas Tangible

Build rough prototypes to learn how to make ideas better — inspired by La La Land‘s rehearsal process.

Case Study: Testdrive your dream job or project.
Learn: Storyboarding with Peter de Kuster.
Activity: Storyboarding to think.

Share the Story

Craft a human story to inspire others toward action — like The Pursuit of Happyness finale.

Case Study: Inspiring story for the future of bookstores & libraries (You’ve Got Mail style).
Learn: 4 Tips for story impact from Peter de Kuster.
Activity: Share your idea in a story.

Why Take Hello Storytelling!

Over the course of this virtual journey, you’ll tackle a problem by moving from a seed of an idea to building something tangible you can share with others — using storytelling techniques from the world’s greatest films. Learn a process you can use to grow your creative skills and solve complex challenges. You’ll gain a toolkit to help you bring storytelling methods and mindsets into your workplace.

This Virtual Journey Will Help You

• Establish a common language and process for creative problem solving.
• Apply storytelling methods to your work.
• Practice storytelling skills through hands-on activities.
• Learn a methodology for creative problem solving you can use again and again.
• Increase your confidence in your creative abilities.

Practical

Start Date: At any date
Time: Five weeks, one hour each week
Form: Online conversation with Peter de Kuster
Price: Euro 899
Book your virtual journey by sending Peter an email to peterdekuster2023@gmail.com

The format is highly interactive, combining teaching and reflection. Peter de Kuster creates a confidential space where you can contribute freely. Questions about the format? Email peterdekuster2023@gmail.com.

About Peter de Kuster

Peter de Kuster is the founder of The Heroine’s Journey & Hero’s Journey project, a storytelling firm which helps creative professionals create careers and lives based on whatever story is most integral to their lives and careers (values, traits, skills and experiences). Peter’s approach combines in-depth storytelling and marketing expertise, and for over 20 years clients have found it effective with a wide range of creative business issues.

Peter is writer of the series The Heroine’s Journey and Hero’s Journey books, has an MBA in Marketing, MBA in Financial Economics, and graduated at university in Sociology and Communication Sciences.